Russian Librarianship Research Articles

Alphabetical Index to the Tables of the Library and Bibliographic Classification: Theory and Practice of Formation

The article reveals the main principles of formation of the alphabetical subject index (ASI) to the tables of the Library and Bibliographic Classification (LBC). The main functions of the ASI are considered. The significance of the personality of one of the developers of the LBC of Cecilia Moiseevna Berdichevskaya in forming the potential for further development of the national classification system, ensuring its fundamentality, comprehensiveness and integrity at all stages of development is revealed. Directly C.M. Berdichevskaya prepared the original methodology of compiling subject indexes to systematic catalogues of libraries, which was later used in the creation of the ASI to the tables of the LBC. The completion of the publication of the LBC tables for scientific libraries (1960—1968) was an outstanding event in Russian librarianship. The theoretical development of the ASI to the LBC tables was most fully reflected in the “Introduction” to the classification and in articles published in special periodicals.

Methodological Activity of the Republican Youth Library of Tatarstan

In recent decades libraries have faced global societal and technological challenges. At the same time, the state support of Russian librarianship is increasing. Libraries have every opportunity for development, they are becoming even more in demand and modern.The Russian Government Order No. 608-r of March 13, 2021 approved the “Strategy for the Development of Librarianship in the Russian Federation until 2030”, which served as a powerful impetus for the improvement of the country’s libraries. “Strategy...” is aimed at comprehensive development of librarianship, modernization of the library system of Russia, preservation and replenishment of library collections, expansion of free and equal access of citizens to information, improvement of the quality of library staff training, introduction of information technologies. The need for scientific and methodological support of library activities is also taken into account. In 2022, the professional standard “Specialist in Library and Information Activities” was approved, which establishes unified requirements for the content and quality of professional activities of specialists in all functional areas of the library.Federal and regional libraries as focal points for other types and kinds of libraries accepted the challenge to change and revised their activities.The library network of the Republic of Tatarstan includes 1508 libraries. The state programme “Development of Culture of the Republic of Tatarstan” was adopted in the region. The experience of the Republican Youth Library as a methodological and coordinating center of libraries of the Republic of Tatarstan working with youth, as well as a project office for the creation of model municipal libraries in the Republic of Tatarstan is presented.

Methodological Activity of the Republican Youth Library of Tatarstan

In recent decades libraries have faced global societal and technological challenges. At the same time, the state support of Russian librarianship is increasing. Libraries have every opportunity for development, they are becoming even more in demand and modern.The Russian Government Order No. 608-r of March 13, 2021 approved the “Strategy for the Development of Librarianship in the Russian Federation until 2030”, which served as a powerful impetus for the improvement of the country’s libraries. “Strategy...” is aimed at comprehensive development of librarianship, modernization of the library system of Russia, preservation and replenishment of library collections, expansion of free and equal access of citizens to information, improvement of the quality of library staff training, introduction of information technologies. The need for scientific and methodological support of library activities is also taken into account. In 2022, the professional standard “Specialist in Library and Information Activities” was approved, which establishes unified requirements for the content and quality of professional activities of specialists in all functional areas of the library.Federal and regional libraries as focal points for other types and kinds of libraries accepted the challenge to change and revised their activities.The library network of the Republic of Tatarstan includes 1508 libraries. The state programme “Development of Culture of the Republic of Tatarstan” was adopted in the region. The experience of the Republican Youth Library as a methodological and coordinating center of libraries of the Republic of Tatarstan working with youth, as well as a project office for the creation of model municipal libraries in the Republic of Tatarstan is presented.

The Libraries’ contributing to the Victory in the Great Patriotic War

Review of the book: Mazuritsky A. M. Libraries in the years of Great Patriotic War: A learning guide. – Orel, 2020. – 139 p.The reviewed textbook introduces to the history of Russian librarianship during the Great Patriotic War. The structure of the manual is overviewed. The didactic analysis demonstrates the presentation logic which facilitates learning and is of great ethical educative value. In terms of scientific discussion, recommendations are given for further development of this subject scope to cover the following issues: 1) library support facilities for high morale and combative mood of the Red Army (the front-line and navy libraries); 2) library support of healing and bibliotherapy (hospital libraries); 3) library and information support of promising research and development projects (scientific and technical libraries of plants and factories); 4) libraries in the system of cultural, educational, moral and psychological support for the residents of blockaded Leningrad; 5) library support of high morale of the population and its faith in the victory over the enemy. The significance and relevance of the learning guide is emphasized. The reviewer recommends to prepare a textbook on the history of library construction during the Great Patriotic War.

Perestroika in the Stacks: Independent Library Associations in Moscow and Leningrad

ABSTRACT Libraries in the Soviet Union were enlisted in propaganda efforts from the time of the 1917 October Revolution. The introduction of perestroika and glasnost reforms in the mid-1980s shook the decades-long principles of Soviet librarianship. As the party loosened its controls on information and cut funding of libraries, a grassroots movement for reform developed among Soviet librarians. Through the formation of independent library associations (ILAs) librarians sought to reimagine the role of the library in a democratizing society. This article uses the establishment of ILAs in the two largest Soviet cities, Moscow and Leningrad, as a lens through which to examine Russian librarians' responses to changes under perestroika and the resulting growth of professional self-awareness that led to the adoption of new values that continue to influence Russian librarianship.

«The Ministry of National Education Journal» as a source on the history of Russian librarianship and library science

The article is devoted to the analysis of the «Ministry of Education Journal» as a historical source on the history of libraries and librarianship. The magazine was published in 1834–1917. During the journal activities it published about 45 thousand articles, over 300 of which were devoted to librarianship. This is an average 3.42 publications per year. They are normative acts in the field of librarianship, articles devoted foreign librarianship, history of domestic libraries. A large number of notes were reprinted from local editions and dedicated to the provincial public libraries and libraries of educational institutions.For the first time in the national librarianship the author analyzes the editorial policy of the journal related to library construction. The first stage was based on the concept of official nationality of the Minister of Education S. Uvarov, which was focused on publishing articles on the library system organization and familiarizing readers with the world librarianship development. The editorial policy second stage, began in 1860, was based on N. Ushinsky views about education nationality and upbringing through the book. The special attention was paid to activities of the Imperial Public Library, Rumyantsev Public Museum and Vilen Public Library. For the first time the journal publishes articles devoted to the problem of academic libraries acquisition, cataloging, etc.

The Russian Librarianship in Shanghai

The article is devoted to the history of librarianship in Shanghai in the Russian emigration community. For the first time there is described the activities of public and private libraries, and paid attention to the individuals who contributed to forming of these funds.

Pacific Rim Russian Librarianship:1 What Progress? Computers, Contrasts, Contributions, Confessions

In this article, the author discusses her 2008 trip to the Russian Far East (Vladivostok and Khabarovsk), visiting libraries, publishers, bookstores, scholars, and others involved with research and activities of interest to librarians. Scholars interested in the Russian Far East will find descriptions of the two main ones in Vladivostok. Observations are from 1996 and 2008.

Russian Libraries in Australia in the 20th Century

The article deals with review of the history of Russian librarianship in Australia. The role of libraries in preservation of Russian language in the Russian diaspora and national identity in the being in the strange cultural space is defined.

Always at the Library Post! (to the 80th Anniversary of E. Phenelonov)

On the 24th of April 2009 the well-known scholar-library scientist and organizer of Russian librarianship Yevgeny Phenelonov turned 80 years old. His name and works are well known in our country and abroad. He devoted over 50 years to library field, development and enhancement of librarianship, theoretical development of actual issues of library buildings. The article reflects main milestones of life and activity of Phenelonov.

Pacific Rim Russian Librarianship: Forgotten Collectors for the Hoover Institution on Manchuria

ABSTRACT Collecting efforts by the Hoover Institution among Russian émigrés in China is a little-known story, told in this article through the biographies of Harold H. Fisher, Elena A. Varneck, Ivan I. Serebrennikov, and Robert V. Smith. The collection of documents, diaries, reports, books, and periodicals focuses on two broad topics: the Russian civil war in Siberia and the Far East, and the history of the Chinese Eastern Railway. The problems involved in collecting materials connected to events that recently occurred largely centered around money (especially the lack of it) and trying to decide whose materials were the most valuable.

Maurice Line's Input in IFLA History as Seen by a Russian Librarian

The article considers the contribution made to the work of the International Federation of Library Associations and Institutions by Maurice Line, from the perspective of members of the IFLA Russian Committee. On the occasion of his 80th birthday, it lists and comments on the relevant positions held by Dr Line and includes the reflections of Russian colleagues on the impact and influence he has had on librarianship generally, and Russian librarianship in particular. The paper concludes with a bibliography of Line's works translated into Russian.

The Contemporary State of World Librarianship As Reflected by Library Science Literature in Russia

SUMMARY The author reports on a study conducted to determine the extent to which foreign (non-Russian) studies in library and information science for the 1996–1998 period were covered by Russian indexing and abstracting in librarianship. The conclusion is that much relevant material in the library literature–particularly that published in Western Europe and North America–is missed by the Russian abstracting and indexing processes. The paper concludes with comments on the state of Russian librarianship in the post-Soviet period.

Russian Libraries in the Time of Transition

ABSTRACT Russian librarianship is going through an exciting period of change from the world of tight party control and service to the official propaganda to the world of free access to information. However, the new initiatives are not necessarily always supported financially. Issues facing Russian librarianship at present are analyzed by an ALA/USIA Library Fellow.

Krupskaia and Soviet Russian Librarianship, 1917-1939. Boris Raymond

<i>Krupskaia and Soviet Russian Librarianship, 1917-1939</i>. Boris Raymond

Krupskaia and Soviet Russian Librarianship, 1917-1939 (Book Review)

Krupskaia and Soviet Russian Librarianship, 1917-1939 (Book Review)