Innovative Activities of National Libraries of the CIS Countries

The article considers the results of study of current trends in the innovative activities of 15 national libraries of the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS). In research, the author applied the methods of polling, comparative analysis, expert review, analysis of websites and printed sources in order to detect the promising areas for international library cooperation and partnership in the CIS. The author underlines the relevance of this research connected with the need to analyse the strategies of the CIS national libraries developed up to date. The article presents information on technology innovation, changing processes and reconfiguring products and services, as well as on organizational and management advanced innovation. The core programs of all national libraries of the CIS countries are focusing on e-library development, including coordination activities on the creation of national electronic libraries in the countries, full-text databases, as well as projects promoting international academic movement Open Access. The article presents the studies on scientific description and creation of soft copies of the unique national documentary monuments, as well as development of information portals and websites. Organizational and management innovation of national libraries of the CIS countries focuses on structural changes. These transformations promote creation of virtual reading rooms, electronic resource rooms, book and book-printing museums, as well as educational projects — training centres, including distance learning centres, and schools for conservation and restoration of manuscripts. Based on the analysis of empirical data, the author concludes that the priority innovative projects of national libraries cooperation are focused on provision of remote access to the most complete volume of document collections available in the CIS countries; these projects increase satisfaction of the needs of users of national libraries and the whole population in the relevant information.

innovative activities, libraries of the CIS countries, national libraries, technological innovation, organizational and management innovation, electronic libraries, library-information services

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