Personal Library Research Articles

Development of a Hyperspectral Imaging Protocol for Painting Applications at the University of Seville

In the last decade, the hyperspectral imaging (HSI) method allowed performing non-invasive analysis in the field of cultural heritage. However, a considerable limitation was given by redundant and time-consuming features, with the necessary application of statistical algorithms and image-processing tools to extract relevant information. In this study, the Centro Nacional de Aceleradores (CNA) and the Group of Interdisciplinary Physics (GFI) of the School of Engineering (ETSI) of the University of Seville tested the application of three different hyperspectral cameras in the visible and near-infrared (VNIR) and short-wave infrared (SWIR) range for the investigation of an ancient painting. A reference-based procedure was realised to build a starting personal library and to evaluate the best working conditions for non-invasive and non-destructive characterisation with data treatment using the commercially available software Evince® and Specim IQ® to apply, respectively, the Principal Component Analysis (PCA) model functions and the classification method. The evaluation of the protocol was tested by acquiring complementary information by X-ray fluorescence (XRF), Ultraviolet Luminescence (UVL) imaging, and Infrared Reflectography (IRR). This exploration established a simplified protocol to analyse the large collection of paintings of the Archbishop’s Palace and the Cathedral of Seville.

Samuel Wiener’s “Book” Letters to Baron D.G. Günzburg

The article is a publication of two letters from Samuel Wiener, a librarian of the Asian Museum in St. Petersburg in the late 19th century, to the baron David Goratsievich Günzburg, a collector and Orientalist of Jewish origin. The letters were written in Hebrew in 1897–98 and are housed in the Günzburg’s archive at the National Library of Russia. Through the commented translation of the letters into Russian, the article analyzes the subject matter and the level of interaction of Jewish intellectuals in that time: renowned scholars are mentioned (C. Salemann, D. Chwolson, O. Lemm, etc.), books purchased by the baron, in Hebrew and other languages, a problem of delivering these books to St. Petersburg is highlighted. In addition, the letters turn out to be a vivid example of relationship between the scholars, as well as a source of information on the acquisition of personal libraries in the Russian Empire: S. Wiener described in detail what the collectors were “hunting” for and how they competed with each other.

Identification of organic contaminants in water and related matrices using untargeted liquid chromatography high-resolution mass spectrometry screening with MS/MS libraries

Nontargeted and suspect screening with liquid chromatography-high resolution mass spectrometry (LC-HRMS) has become an indispensable tool for quality assessment in the aquatic environment – complementary to targeted analysis of organic (micro)contaminants. An LC-HRMS method is presented, suitable for the analysis of a wide variety of water related matrices: surface water, groundwater, wastewater, sediment and sludge, including extracts from passive samplers and on-site solid phase enrichment, while focusing on the data processing aspect of the method. A field study is included to demonstrate the practical application and versatility of the whole process. HRMS/MS data were recorded following LC separation in both (ESI) positive and negative ionization modes using data dependent as well as data independent acquisition. Two vendor (Agilent's Personal Compound Database and Library and from National Institute of Standards and Technology) and one open (MassBank/EU) tandem mass spectral libraries were utilized for the identification of compounds via mass spectral match. The development of a novel software tool for parsing, grouping and reduction of MS/MS features in data files converted to mascot generic format (MGF) helped to substantially decrease the amount of time and effort needed for MS library search. While applying the method, in the course of the entire field study, 18771 detections (from 870 individual compounds) in total were recorded in 275 samples, resulting in 68.3 identified compounds per sample, on average. Among the top ten most frequently detected contaminants across all samples and sample types were pharmaceutical compounds carbamazepine, 4-acetamidoantipyrine, 4-formylaminoantipyrine, tramadol, lamotrigine and phenazone and industrial contaminants toluene-2-sulfonamide, tolytriazole, tris(2-butoxyethyl) phosphate and benzotriazole. Exploratory data analysis methods and tools enabled us to discover organic pollutant occurrence patterns within the comprehensive sets of qualitative data collected from various projects between the years 2018–2023. The results may be used as valuable inputs for future water quality monitoring programs.

Circulation of books, manuscripts, and ideas between Hungary and Italy. Cultural transfers in the environment of György Klimo, Bishop of Pécs (1751-1777)

The period between 1750 and 1800 witnessed a significant transformation in the modernization of Hungarian culture and literature. The members of the ecclesiastical elite, who had completed their studies at the Collegium Germanicum et Hungaricum in Rome, played a pivotal role in this process; they emerged as key figures in the Catholic renewal upon their return to Hungary following their studies in Rome. Their contributions extended beyond the revitalization of the Hungarian Catholic Church and religious life, encompassing the reconstruction of bishoprics, the establishment of educational institutions and libraries, and the publication and dissemination of both religious and secular literary works. This dissemination of knowledge was also closely intertwined with the influential court in Vienna. On the one hand, the rich heritage of ancient Rome played a crucial role in reshaping the baroque tradition. High-ranking clerics began to take a keen interest in the historical context of their immediate surroundings, initiating local excavations and conducting research in the Vatican Archives. On the other hand, they were greatly influenced by the vibrant culture of contemporary Rome, including Catholic reform efforts, the patronage of the Roman aristocracy, and the volumes of recent Italian literature. This paper explores the cultural influence of Bishop György Klimo of Pécs through an analysis of his correspondence with members of the ecclesiastical aristocracy in Rome and Vienna. Notably, Klimo made significant contributions to the spreading of Ludovico Antonio Muratori’s ideas in Hungary. He also played a pioneering role in disseminating knowledge by being the first among his contemporaries to open his personal library to the public. Furthermore, he commissioned research at the Vatican to compile a comprehensive history of his diocese. By examining Klimo’s endeavors, we gain valuable insights into the transformative influence of Roman culture on the Baroque tradition in Hungary. Moreover, the analysis sheds light on the distinct and organic development of the Italian line within Hungarian culture.

The books of V. Biržiška library at the library of the Kaunas A. Sniečkus politechnic institute

Vaclovas Biržiška (1884-1956) is a famous Lithuanian bibliographer and researcher of the press. The quantitative and qualitative analysis of the collection of books from Biržiška's personal library is given in the article. There are 1,480 publications in this collection. 1,072 books are intended for personal purposes. There are books on bibliography, history, pedagogy, and natural science. The collection also includes fiction by Lithuanian, Russian, Western European, American, and Scandinavian writers. The collection is divided into four parts according to language: Lithuanian (495 copies), Russian (520 copies), Polish (304 copies), and other foreign languages (161 copies). The books are marked by Biržiška's personal ex-libris, designed by P. Galaunė and V. Kosciuška.

Pavel Petrovich Shibanov as a Supplier of Books for the Libraries of the Imperial Family (Late 19th — Early 20th Century)

On the basis of letters from the collection No. 342 of the Manuscripts Department of the Russian State Library (RSL) the co-operation of the famous Russian antiquarian book dealer of the late 19th — early 20th century P.P. Shibanov with the members of the House of Romanov in the field of formation of their personal libraries is studied. The study was carried out with the aim of obtaining reliable information about the editions offered to complete the personal libraries of the Imperial House. On the basis of previously unexplored sources the assortment of P.P. Shibanov’s booksellers, presented for purchase to the members of the Imperial Family, is revealed. The letters from the Shibanov collection of the RSL were received by the bookseller from high-ranking officials of the courts of the grand dukes and grand duchesses, and in some cases directly from members of the dynasty. The material gives an idea of the spheres of intellectual predilections of the Romanovs, of their interest in rare and ancient editions, among which were books of the 17th—18th centuries. The prices for books indicated in the letters are of no small importance. Among the information about the booksellers’ assortment offered to the Romanovs we should mention the books that for one reason or another did not interest the members of the dynasty during the preliminary acquaintance and were returned to the bookseller.In the course of the research, the drafts of P.P. Shibanov’s letters to the Moscow Governor-General, Grand Duke Sergei Alexandrovich, were revealed, and the exchange of telegrams with the Pushkin enthusiast, Prince Oleg Konstantinovich of Imperial Blood, was analyzed.Most of the letters were received from the court offices of the Grand Dukes Nikolai Mikhailovich (a famous historian), Konstantin Konstantinovich and Pyotr Nikolayevich (through the court office of the latter the sending of books to his wife, Grand Duchess Militsa Nikolaevna, for familiarization was discussed).The letters we have identified cover mainly the late 1890s — early 1900s; the latest are a telegram from Prince Oleg Konstantinovich of Imperial Blood, received by P.P. Shibanov in 1913, and a letter from the court office of Grand Duke Konstantin Konstantinovich in 1915.The studied letters reveal the book assortment offered by P.P. Shibanov to the members of the Imperial Family and the book preferences of the Romanovs, but do not indicate whether these books were purchased by them.

The personal library of the poet Jovaras

The personal library of the poet Jovaras

Targeted screening and profiling of massive components of colistimethate sodium by two-dimensional-liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry based on self-constructed compound database

In-depth study of the components of polymyxins is the key to controlling the quality of this class of antibiotics. Similarities and variations of components present significant analytical challenges. A two-dimensional (2D) liquid chromatography-mass spectrometric (LC-MS) method was established for screening and comprehensive profiling of compositions of the antibiotic colistimethate sodium (CMS). A high concentration of phosphate buffer mobile phase was used in the first-dimensional LC system to get the components well separated. For efficient and high-accuracy screening of CMS, a targeted method based on a self-constructed high resolution mass spectrum database of CMS components was established. The database was built based on the commercial MassHunter Personal Compound Database and Library (PCDL) software and its accuracy of the compound matching result was verified with 6 known components before being applied to genuine sample screening. On this basis, the unknown peaks in the CMS chromatograms were deduced and assigned. The molecular formula, group composition and origins of a total of 99 compounds, of which the combined area percentage accounted for more than 95% of CMS components, were deduced by this 2D-LC-MS method combined with the MassHunter PCDL. This profiling method was highly efficient and could distinguish hundreds of components within 3 h, providing reliable results for quality control of this kind of complex drugs.

Implementation of Blockchain Technology in UKTS Library: Challenges, Obstacles and Opportunities

Blockchain is a technology based on cryptography which uses the principle of distributed ledgers (distributed ledgers) distribution) provides a variety of advantages, especially in security matters. Use of distributed ledgers as the basis of blockchain technology turns out to be very similar to that concept is very familiar among libraries, namely LOCKSS (Lots of Copies Keep Stuff Save). This is the meeting point between blockchain technology and libraries. Starting from here, possibilities open up for libraries to implement blockchain technology. Various potential applications of blockchain technology for libraries include: procurement and maintenance of library materials, innovation in circulation services, cataloging, guaranteed protection of personal data and library membership cards, e-book publishing, support for scientific publications and digital rights management, management special collections, research support, financial literacy and UKTS library analysis. However, on the other hand, there are also challenges and obstacles that accompany efforts to implement blockchain technology in UKTS libraries, including: limited knowledge of blockchain technology, challenges in being able to choose the right blockchain, the large costs that must be incurred by libraries starting from implementation costs, maintenance costs to the costs of developing the blockchain system itself, and the last and quite sensitive issue is that there are still some people in scientific circles who think that the issue of personal data security in the blockchain system is not completely safe.

Melzer and the Dead Sea Scrolls: Anna Seghers’s GDR novel Die Entscheidung (1959)

Abstract This article is about German-Jewish author Anna Seghers (1900–1983), who spent half of her productive life in the German Democratic Republic (East Germany). Though Seghers is known for her works from the 1930s and 1940s such as The Seventh Cross (1942), about a prisoner who escapes from a concentration camp, little has been published about her writings under communism, after she returned from fourteen years of exile, having survived National Socialism while active in the resistance. Her mother and aunt were murdered in the Shoah, and Seghers ostensibly discontinued addressing the National Socialist German past once the GDR was founded (in 1949). However, as this article demonstrates, her ‘socialist realist’ novel, Die Entscheidung (1959), complicates this seeming erasure of Seghers's Jewish identity, which can be seen not only in response to the increasing antisemitism in eastern Europe during the Cold War, but also attests to her actual and continuous—albeit ‘hidden’—engagement with the Jewish culture and history of her childhood and youth. Through the autobiographical character Herbert Melzer, it becomes possible to identify secret references and allusions to the Dead Sea Scrolls, first discovered in Qumran in 1947–1953—the same time at which Seghers set the novel. While she was confronted with surveillance, travel restrictions, and censorship, Seghers maintained her own personal exploration of Judaica, as evidenced by her published letters and the contents of her personal library (now the Anna Seghers Archive). This article argues that Seghers persisted in retaining and expressing her original Jewish self-identification through fiction, even in this, her seemingly most ‘socialist realist’ novel.

Personal Libraries in Russia: Research Results

The study of personal libraries is important for understanding socio-cultural processes that cannot be assessed by examining other historical events, phenomena and facts. The article deals with the monograph by O.N. Ilyina “Personal Libraries in Russia: Terminology and Historiography” (St. Petersburg, 2022), published in the series “The Book in Russia in the 19th — early 20th Century” by the Russian National Library and the winner of the All-Russian competition of scientific works on library science, bibliography and book studies in the nomination “The best scientific work in the field of library science” in 2023. The structure of the historical and book studies edition, the content of the chapters and the peculiarities of the author’s approach to the coverage of historiography, as well as the stages of the formation of terminology for the study of personal libraries in the domestic humanitarian knowledge in the second half of the 18th — early 21st century are characterized. The emphasis is made on the artificiality of the division of periods in the study of personal libraries in 1917, noted by O.N. Ilyina, because up to the end of the 1920s, book historians, whose professional career began before the October events of 1917, continued to carry out active research activities. This idea is confirmed by contemporary works devoted to the life and work of book historians and bibliographers born in the second half of the 19th century. Special attention is paid to the terminology for describing the history of book collections as a whole (and the collections within them), as well as book marks and marginalia in individual copies. A number of remarks on the design of the reference apparatus of the edition and the rubrication of the text are made, which, however, do not prevent interested readers. The quality, relevance and scientific novelty of the monograph are noted.

УЧИТЕЛЬСТВО КАК ЦЕННОСТЬ: НЕ РАСТЕРЯТЬ ДОВЕРИЕ (О ПРЕПОДАВАНИИ РУССКОГО ЯЗЫКА)

The article proposes to consider moral qualifications in the context of the teaching profession, as this profession perfectly illustrates an example of the highest moral integrity and professionalism. The teacher profession, especially a teacher of Russian language and literature, requires not only formal skills and teaching responsibilities, but it is also necessary to possess a set of moral qualities. Illustrative materials include data from a comprehensive survey conducted among students of general secondary education institutions in the Republic of Belarus, ranking their interest in Russian language lessons at school. The concept of “moral qualifications” of a teacher is introduced, along with one form of work involving the labeling and description of the values of teaching in the literary club “Value Stories of Teaching”. This club offers thematic fields for discussing works about teachers, childhood/youth, and school. The main goal of this work is to create a personal value library of peace, conscience, and kindness.

Archival documents as a source of bibliographic reconstruction of Orenburg Theological Seminary Library

The author describes the bibliographic reconstruction of the library collection of Orenburg Theological Seminary suppressed in 1919 after the October Revolution. The problems of library collection reconstruction has been studied since the early 20-th century; however, with mainly the personal libraries of individual historical figures or families in the focus. Many methods of reconstruction have been developed. Their analysis examination demonstrates that the reconstruction in these cases is based on continuous looking through the collection in search of bookplates (ex libris), covers, book marks or other tags, or on searching and examining old inventories, library syllabi, and catalogs. However, when the major part of the collection is not preserved within other institutions, and the catalogs, syllabi and inventories do not exist anymore, these methods do not work. To reconstruct the library collection of Orenburg Theological Seminary with the lion’s share lost, the archival documents became almost exclusively the source of information on the library collection, namely teaching and educational reports, administration’s logbooks, bills, etc.

Exploring University Students' Library Engagement: Reading Habits, Preferences, and Gender Dynamics

This cross-sectional study aimed to investigate university students' library engagement, emphasizing preferences, motivations, and reading habits, with an additional focus on gender dynamics. A total of 373 participants were involved in the research, and data were collected through a self-administered questionnaire. Descriptive statistics were used to analyze the participants' reading habits in different library sections, types of books read, and reasons for their preference for reading in the library. The Kruskal-Wallis test was employed to examine potential gender differences in these variables. The findings revealed variations in the frequency of students' reading activities across different library sections, with the main reading room being the most preferred section. The study also identified specific book types, such as personal notebooks and library textbooks, that were frequently read by students. Reasons for students' preference for reading in the library included the motivating environment, availability of book options, assistance from librarians, and fewer distractions compared to other places. The results of the Kruskal-Wallis test indicated significant gender differences in the ranks for certain library sections, book types, and reasons for reading in the library. These findings provide valuable insights into students' reading habits and preferences, highlighting the importance of creating diverse reading spaces, expanding book collections, promoting a supportive library environment, and enhancing librarian support. The implications of the study underscore the need for gender-inclusive services, thoughtful space design, and comprehensive collection development to meet the evolving needs of students and foster a reading culture in libraries.

Unpublished Sources in the Archive of the Samizdat and Non-traditional Printing Sector of the State Public Scientific Technological Library of the Siberian Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences

The aim of the article is to present the structure of the common archive of the Samizdat and Non-traditional Printing Sector of the Laboratory of Book Studies of SPSTL SB RAS formation on the ­example of the main storage units – personal collections of writers, artists, cultural figures and musicians. It provides classification of the existing unpublished sources in the sector’s collections, analyzes authorial materials, dedications, autographs, drawings and markings, mentions of the alternative printing process authors and participants in periodicals and correspondence. The article describes the sources of samizdat and non-traditional printing, existing in the sector, reveals the content of the main thematic directions. It characterizes archival units on the examples of alternative book publishing, various forms of samizdat, ephemera, ego-documents, fragments of personal libraries, examples of periodical printing. It also offers the classification of personal collections based on temporal periodization, thematic and territorial characteristics. The analysis of the content of the presented sources bases on the personal collections of M. Baturin, I. Akhmetiev, V. Ivaniv, O. Volov, E. Shurygin, E. Iordansky, A. Chekanov, as well as various unofficial creative communities and groups. Special attention is paid to the formation of communication chains and links between authors in the informal cultural environment, in the field of samizdat and alternative book publishing from the 1960s to the 2010s that clarifies the criteria of such ties.

The Ego-Text of a Bibliophile: D.V. Ulyaninskyʼs Diary Entries in the “Catalog of New Library Acquisitions”

The article analyzes the handwritten “Catalog of New Library Acquisitions” by the famous bibliographer and bibliophile D.V. Ulyaninsky (1861—1918), stored in the department of Rare books (the Book Museum) of the Russian State Library. It is considered as an ego-text that directly reflects the bibliophile life of the author and his experiences related to it. In the text, the bibliophile not only recorded all receipts to his personal library, but also left diary entries. From them, you can learn about the folding of the library structure, changes in the accounting system, and the exclusion of publications from its composition. In his diary entries, which became acts of self-communication and self-reflection, the bibliophile described his relationship with booksellers, difficulties in collecting, justified for himself the high costs of books, rejoiced at successful acquisitions, noted some events of public and personal life, etc. It is concluded that the “Catalog of New Library Acquisitions” acted as a draft, a pre-text for a detailed bibliographic description of the library of D.V. Ulyaninsky, which received a printed embodiment. Many of his notes remain only in manuscript. This fact makes them a unique source both for studying the biography of D.V. Ulyaninsky and for the history of the world of antique book trade and bibliophilia of the late 19th — early 20th century.

The book collection of A.N. Nortsov: the history of formation, thematic coverage and significance for the creative laboratory of the owner

INTRODUCTION. The book heritage of the region’s personal libraries analysis allows us to understand the reading interests’ specifics of different generations of library owners, and to clarify important aspects of the intellectual and spiritual growth of Tambov bibliophiles in the process of working with books. In this regard, the stages of Alexey Nikolaevich Nortsov’s biography are considered in the context of its influence on bibliophilism.MATERIALS AND METHODS. The fundamental methodology in the work is the principles of objectivity and historicism. The historicism principle made it possible to analyze the book collection of A.N. Nortsov in close connection with the specifics of the epoch and the reader’s needs of the bibliophile. The objectivity principle is i mplemented on the basis of a detailed analysis of historical sources, which makes it possible to comprehensively study the process of completing the Norts library.RESULTS AND DISCUSSION. A passion for genealogy and history of his native land inevitably left a mark on A.N. Nortsov’s library collection. His personal collection included voluminous collections of books on local history, regional archeology, and genealogy.CONCLUSION. The study of A.N. Nortsov’s personal library complements the cultural and educational portrait of its owner. The extensive thematic repertoire of the presented books allows us to speak about the broad reading interests of Alexey Nikolaevich, his high artistic taste. At the same time, the library collection acted as a creative laboratory for writing numerous works on the history of the Tambov Region, philosophical, religious, socio-political works.

Aleksandra Čaka lektora darbība Rūdolfa Egles Literatūras studijā

In the history of Latvian literature, Aleksandrs Čaks (1901–1950) is better known as a poet-urbanist. There is much less information about his work as a lecturer. In 1924, after entering the Faculty of Medicine of the University of Latvia, Čaks could not pass the necessary exams of the first semester and abandoned his studies. Encouraged by his family, in 1925, he entered the Compulsory School Teacher’s Course in Riga and graduated from it, obtaining practical teaching experience at the Drabeši six-grade boarding school and in the Literary Studio of Rūdolfs Egle (1889–1947). The purpose of the research is to describe and find out what was the importance of Čaks as a lecturer in Egle’s Literary Studio from 1935 to 1939, where Čaks gave lectures on the theory of poetry and the history of Russian poetry, paying special attention to the modernists. The study was carried out using the biographical method, which helps to reveal the relationship between the personality and the environment, using documents and memories of colleagues. This allows us to see Čaks’s personality in specific historical circumstances – his interest in the work of a lecturer, which, in the first decades of the 20th century, taking into account the political and social changes in society after the First World War, forced to re-evaluate the subjects and learning methods so that students acquired new skills through practical training. Teaching by doing was also the main idea of John Dewey (1859–1952), and it formed the basis for Čaks’s interest in the lecturer/student collaboration process. Čaks’s interest in Russian poetry began in the 1930s when he published descriptions of contemporary Russian poets in the press. Čaks’s public introductory articles about Latvian writers and their works were also important. It is difficult to evaluate the period of activity of Egle’s Literary Studio in the biography of Čaks because there are no preserved plans and notes of Čaks’s lectures, which could provide a deeper insight into his opinion as a literary theorist. Čaks’s activity in the Studio is evaluated through his publications, the books on the field in his personal library, and notes on memories of colleagues and the Studio’s students, which confirm the importance of Čaks’s personality in the overall context of the activities of the Egle’s Literary Studio.

Neonatal upper limb fractures – a narrative overview of the literature

The aim of this paper is to review the topic of neonatal fractures of the upper limb, describing the different types of fractures focusing on the etiology, epidemiology, risk factors, clinical approach, diagnosis, treatment and prognosis of these injuries. We included all types of research studies, both experimental and observational, published in English, French, Portuguese and Spanish. The information was obtained using the keywords neonatal upper limb fracture, clavicle fracture or humerus fracture from the following resources: MEDLINE database, Embase® database and LILACS database. Other resources such as hand searches of the references of retrieved literature and authoritative texts, personal and hospital libraries searching for texts on upper limb neonatal fractures, discussions with experts in the field of upper limb neonatal fractures and personal experience, were also considered for the completion of the article.Neonatal fractures of the upper limb are consensually considered to have a good prognosis and no long-term sequelae. Conservative treatment is the option in the vast majority of the fractures and is associated with excellent results, with good healing, full range of motion, adequate remodeling without obvious deformity, neurologic impairment or functional implications.

Integration of Social Media Networks with Library Information Services: Best Practices for Users to Protect and Mitigate Privacy Issues

Social networking sites have incredibly impacted digital library services how users stay informed, educated and build connections in the digital age. They offer both opportunities for global outreach and connection, as well as challenges related to privacy, security, and the spread of misinformation. Users are encouraged to exercise caution and responsible behaviour while engaging in these virtual communities. The more public you make your personal information, the higher the risk there is that you’ll be targeted by online scammers. The paper emphasizes the importance of protecting personal data and library information services linked to social media through clear and easy privacy policies and strong privacy settings.