This article introduces a thematic issue of the journal “Bibliotekovedenie” dedicated to the Special Military Operation (SVO), which features original research articles and reviews based on papers presented at the All-Russian Scientific and Practical Seminar “Society’s Recognition of the Merits of SVO Veterans: The Role of Libraries” (February 26, 2026, Russian State Library). The professional dialogue within the library community focused on understanding the role of libraries in recognizing the merits of SVO veterans and supporting combat participants and their families. The forum comprehensively reflected the contribution of libraries to the holistic system of measures to perpetuate the memory and glorify the heroism of SVO participants. Libraries’ efforts to recognize the merits of SVO participants and veterans should be guided by traditional Russian spiritual and moral values and be comprehensive, systemic and systematic. Such activities require particular sensitivity, respect, and professional responsibility. In the context of the Second World War, when our country is undergoing severe trials, culture is the moral core that resists the pressure of circumstances. Culture is a strategic resource for the state and society, a tool for preserving sovereignty and building national resilience in the face of any challenges. Libraries serve as a living mechanism for transmitting cultural codes from generation to generation. They systematically collect, verify, and archive contemporary evidence—from personal letters to digital materials. This activity creates an authoritative source base for future researchers and serves as a tool for protecting historical truth. At the same time, libraries are developing as social spaces. Their educational mission, based on the examples of courage of our soldiers, is acquiring particular significance. Libraries are becoming spaces for social therapy and cultural continuity, where the memory of the past meets the challenges of the present, forming the foundation for a sustainable future. The publications of the journal “Bibliotekovedenie” exemplify the creation of a body of scientific and practical materials that can be subsequently consulted by researchers of this pivotal historical event.

A key focus of Russian libraries is strengthening traditional spiritual and moral values in society, including patriotism and the unity of the peoples of Russia, service to the Fatherland and responsibility for its fate, historical memory, and the continuity of generations. During the Special Military Operation (SVO), support for these moral guidelines has increased, and libraries have been hosting a growing number of patriotic events. This work requires attention to information security, professional responsibility, and an awareness of the value-based aspects of life.

A notable event was the All-Russian research and practical seminar “Public Recognition of the Merits of SVO Veterans: The Role of Libraries”, organized on February 26, 2026, by the Russian State Library with the support of the Russian Library Association and the All-Russian library movement “Stronger Together”. This article provides an overview of the seminar and outlines the experience of Russian libraries in providing information, social, and humanitarian support to military personnel and preserving the historical memory of the SVO. Speakers and attendees included representatives of government agencies, directors and specialists from federal, central, regional, and municipal libraries, as well as scientific and public organizations, and educational institutions. The seminar was the first event whose program comprehensively reflected the activities of libraries within a holistic system of measures to perpetuate the memory of SVO heroes, glorify the heroism of servicemen, and provide assistance to them and their families. The event was held in the format of a plenary session and three sections: “Library Initiatives to Recognize the Merits of SVO Participants and Provide Support to Them”, “Libraries’ Participation in Preserving the Memory of the SVO and Patriotic Education”, and “Library Initiatives Aimed at Public Recognition of the Merits of SVO Participants”. These sections focused on a range of informational, cultural, social, educational, and outreach activities of libraries of various types and kinds, aimed at honoring the contributions of SVO veterans and ensuring their support. The seminar materials can be used in library methodological work.

The comprehensive activities of the Russian State Library (RSL) in providing sociocultural support to participants in the special military operation (SVO) and members of their families are considered. Based on an analysis of the RSL’s practical experience, the key areas of work are presented: targeted support for employees who have participated in combat operations, charitable and humanitarian events, the organization of cultural and leisure events, the preservation of digital heritage, cultural and educational activities, and the development of the volunteer movement. Particular attention is paid to the systemic and multi-level nature of the initiatives being implemented and their organic integration into the system of all-Russian government programs. It is shown that the RSL acts not only as an executor but also as an initiator of the federal agenda, coordinating work with authorities and cultural institutions across the country. It is noted that the combination of traditional library forms of work with innovative practices makes it possible to record current events in the literary and fine arts, elevating them to the national level and ensuring the continuity of generations. In conclusion, it is determined that the RSL is capable of rapidly responding to current social challenges. The library successfully serves as a platform for instilling civic responsibility and social consolidation based on traditional Russian spiritual and moral values, and its accumulated experience can be recommended for implementation in other cultural and educational institutions.

In the context of developing the Russian Federation’s state scientific and technical information system and preserving and strengthening traditional Russian spiritual and moral values, this article presents an analysis of the implementation of the “Library for Our Own” project, which operates at the Russian National Public Library for Science and Technology (RNPLS&T). The project aims to develop a specialized collection and a union catalog of literature published by public associations and other non-governmental organizations, reflecting patriotic initiatives, scientific and technical education, and historical memory preservation practices. As a core institution of the state scientific and technical information system, the RNPLS&T collaborates with the Russian State Library on the legal deposit mechanism and the development of the national library and information space. Particular attention is paid to the project’s regulatory context, including state policy provisions on preserving and strengthening traditional Russian spiritual and moral values, legislation on legal deposit, and documents regulating the functioning of the state scientific and technical information system. “Library for Our Own” is an integrated information and analytical resource focused on documents that interpret traditional spiritual and moral values in the context of contemporary scientific, technical, educational, and professional practices. The project’s primary objectives are to identify and bibliographically register publications, to develop the collection with all types of scientific and technical information and literature on the topics covered, and to ensure access to the resource for various categories of users. The collection is acquired through: legal deposit copies; publications received under contracts with publishers and public associations; gifts and complimentary copies; targeted donations; exchange funds; and joint projects with scientific, educational, and cultural organizations.

The “Library for Our Own” project is presented as an initiative that combines the professional objectives of library and information services with the goals of patriotic education and the preservation of historical memory. Its implementation promotes the integration of public initiatives into the national library and information space and expands the possibilities for using scientific and technical information in cultural, educational, and outreach activities.

Using the activities of the Donetsk Republican Universal Scientific Library named after N.K. Krupskaya (DRUSL) as an example, this article presents an analysis of library practices for preserving the historical memory of the events of the Special Military Operation (SVO). Given the development of historical knowledge and the strengthening role of cultural institutions in civic-patriotic education and social consolidation, it is necessary to understand contemporary library practices. Library initiatives are considered comprehensively as multi-level systems of socio-cultural activity integrating traditional and innovative forms of work. This is realized through exhibition projects, documentary and literary displays, and interactive formats using digital technologies.

The article describes the main areas of activity of the DRUSL, aimed at capturing and disseminating contemporary evidence: organizing exhibitions (in particular, “Father of a Hero”, “Heroes of the SVO as the Pride of Russia”, “Hall of Military Glory”), creating thematic exhibits, holding comprehensive events (“The Truth About the SVO: Know and Remember”), as well as presentations of publications by participants in the events and war correspondents (for example, G.A. Medvedev’s book “Along the Military Road: Gorlovka, Yasinovataya, Shebekino”, I.N. Solovyov’s works “Father Vladimir” and “Voices of Victory. War Stories”). Particular attention is paid to the use of multimedia solutions as tools for expanding the communication space and engaging a young audience.

An important area of activity for the libraries is participating in the compilation and publication of books dedicated to the SVO. For example, together with the Russian State Library, DRUSL implemented three publishing projects: “The Military Glory of Donbass” (2024), “The Chief Private of the Donetsk Land: Literature of the Fighting Donbass” (2025), and “Saur-Mogila: From Legend to Feat” (2025).

The results of this work suggest that the library is transforming into an active center for the formation of collective memory, ensuring the preservation of documentary and cultural heritage and fostering the development of social values.

The purpose of this article is to present activities supporting participants and veterans of the Special Military Operation (SVO) and their families, as well as patriotic education for young people, using the best practices of libraries engaged in patriotic work in the Sverdlovsk Region as examples. Libraries, particularly regional ones, are now not mere book repositories but also social institutions and regional centers with their own structures and missions, working to ensure public well-being and preserve the legacy of heroes. Adolescents and young adults are actively interested in patriotic sociocultural initiatives, as evidenced by statistics on attendance at public events. In 2025, the total attendance at events dedicated to the SVO in the Sverdlovsk Region was over 46,000 people.

This article presents the results of the activities of the Sverdlovsk Region’s libraries within the framework of the All-Russian library movement “Stronger Together”. The article describes the experience of the All-Russian patriotic event “Literary and Historical Halt ‘Frontline Poetry. Parallels’” at the Verkhnyaya Sinyachikha Central Library, the “Spark of Goodness” and “Peace” projects in the libraries of the Pyshminsky Municipal District, the “Book of Memory” project in the Berezovsky Municipal District, and the literary and poetry marathon “Our Heroic Strength!” in Nizhny Tagil.

The measures proposed by the Sverdlovsk Regional Universal Scientific Library named after V.G. Belinsky (SRUSL) to strengthen social ties, foster morale, and ensure the subsequent reintegration of SVO participants into society include a variety of volunteer and legal assistance, among other things. The creation of an Interregional Expert and Methodological Council on Literature of the SVO, with the participation of professional writers and critics, is of great importance. The SRUSL presented a book about the Donbass resistance by Bulat Arsal (A.A. Salakhov), “War Under the Slag Heaps”, and a poetry collection by writers from the Urals, Western Siberia, and the Volga region dedicated to SVO participants, entitled “Behind the Ribbon...”, prepared by the Ural Writers’ Association and the regional headquarters of the Cultural Front of Russia in the Sverdlovsk Region. Bibliographic research is actively underway to identify fiction and critical literature on the SVO. Library staff in the Sverdlovsk Region are committed to applying their professional skills and human qualities to the patriotic education of the younger generation.

This article examines the Valuyki Centralized Library System’s experience in developing a comprehensive archival and memorial complex in a border region. It describes a three-tiered model of work, including the collection and verification of facts, the interpretation of events through creativity and dialogue, and practical support for the population.

The factual level presents a system for documenting contemporary events, implemented within the framework of the regional project “Chronicle of Settlements of the Belgorod Region” (966 entries for 2025) and the maintenance of an internal electronic album “Memory Z” (59 biographical notes). Particular attention is paid to issues of ethics and information security: the strict selection of information, the protection of personal data, and the local storage of materials. The second level is developed through publishing activities. Using the example of the poetry collection “On the Edge of Silence” (63 works by 13 authors), it demonstrates how the library becomes a platform for preserving the emotional layer of historical memory. The texts are processed with careful editorial attention and control, eliminating destructive tendencies while preserving the sincerity of the experiences. The third level is presented as the practical application of accumulated knowledge. The following areas of activity are described: legal counseling for the families of SVO participants (approximately 150 consultations), volunteer assistance (more than 70 volunteers), book collection campaigns, the production of camouflage nets and trench candles, and the organization of leisure activities for military personnel and their families.

Special attention is given to the organizational principles that allowed for the development of the system: coordinated planning taking into account territorial specifics, social partnerships with veteran, student, and volunteer associations, and a personalized approach to each event.

A conclusion is drawn about the transformation of the library profession: from a custodian of collections to an active social institution, combining the functions of an archive, a research center, a mediator of public discussions, and an organizer of practical assistance.

The accession of the Donetsk People’s Republic, the Lugansk People’s Republic, and the Zaporozhye and Kherson Regions to the Russian Federation in 2022, following referendums, and the implementation of the Special Military Operation (SVO) marked the beginning of a new stage in modern Russian history. From the first days of the SVO, public libraries across the country launched social, cultural, and humanitarian projects aimed at supporting those on the front lines and in the rear. They actively participated in fostering civic responsibility and patriotism in the younger generation, providing cultural rehabilitation, and offering bibliotherapeutic support to SVO participants. Libraries in the South-Eastern Administrative District (SEAD) of Moscow also joined this work. Institutions of the Association of Cultural and Leisure Centers of the SEAD of Moscow provide informational, social, and humanitarian support to SVO participants, veterans, and their families. They collect humanitarian aid, sew and knit warm clothing for soldiers, and act as volunteer gathering, training, and coordination centers. The article provides information on participation in the “Postcard for a Soldier” and “War. Victory. Memory” campaigns, as well as the “Military Echo of the South-Eastern Administrative District” project, which features exhibitions on patriotic themes. One example of a patriotic center in SEAD of Moscow is Library No. 134 (Kapotnya District), which is the initiator of the “Kapotnya to the Front” volunteer community. The library regularly participates in collecting aid for victims in the Kursk and Belgorod Regions. The book collection for cultural institutions in the new regions of the Russian Federation is also noted: since the beginning of the SVO, more than 21,300 copies have been donated, including to hospitals and mobile libraries in the combat zone.

The article presents to readers and the professional community two books from the “Literature of Fighting Lugansk” series, published by Pashkov Dom, the publishing house of the Russian State Library: “These Russian Boys...” (2024) and “For Our Fatherland and Our Country” (2026). These publications were prepared jointly with the Gorky Lugansk Republican Universal Scientific Library and the V. Dal Lugansk Republican Branch of the Writers’ Union of Russia. These collections represent the authors’ sincere responses to the events associated with the special military operation (SVO). The books include works by participants of the SVO (including volunteers, militia members, and journalists): Yu. Zhila, A. Ivakin, Yu. Kovalchuk, A. Marfunin, L. Serdechnaya, S. Tishkin, and others.

The authors of these volumes have lived or currently reside in territories that bore the brunt of the conflict unleashed by the Nazi regime in Ukraine and backed by the collective West. They have developed an understanding that the root causes of Ukraine’s division lie not only in the West’s desire to wage a proxy war against Russia, but also in Ukraine’s own nationalist, Banderaite ideological foundations. Crucially, the SVO leads to a broader recognition of the significance of the experience of the Great Patriotic War of 1941—1945.

With the widespread adoption of generative artificial intelligence (AI) models in publishing, libraries are facing a new professional responsibility: ensuring trust in published bibliographic information contained in reference lists (sources). Based on a review of domestic and international studies, this article examines the transformation of the librarian’s role: from navigator of information resources to verifier of validity. It is shown that this role includes identifying bibliographic confabulations (fake or hallucinated references in reference lists generated by generative models), interpreting the results of automatic detection, and developing users’ skills for critically examining generative model responses.

The aim of this study is to demonstrate the verification capabilities of librarians in the context of the proliferation of generative AI models and demonstrate their importance for maintaining the credibility of the publishing environment. The materials and methods include an empirical verification of 306 bibliographic references previously confirmed by the author as confabulated. The verification was conducted using specialized automatic detection tools, bibliographic services, and large language models (LLMs).

The results showed that none of the resources used provided 100% agreement with the librarian’s findings. Even the most effective tools required expert interpretation, re-checking, and comparison of data across multiple sources. It was established that automatic detection can be a useful verification step, but does not replace professional judgment regarding the veracity, context, and consequences of the dissemination of fake bibliographic information.

The findings confirm the need for the library community to move from simply discussing the problem of confabulation to implementing regular verification practices, consulting, and user training. In the era of generative AI, librarians are becoming not only information retrieval specialists but also professional guarantors of its veracity. The discussion identifies existing gaps in modern library practice that require prompt intervention to maintain user trust in the information provided by libraries.

The article is devoted to the Popov-Dmitriev-Sukhorukov labor dynasty, which is associated with the activities of the Russian State Library (until 1913, the Library of the Moscow Public and Rumyantsev Museums; until 1917, the Library of the Imperial Moscow and Rumyantsev Museum; until 1925, the Library of the State Rumyantsev Museum; until 1992, the State Library of the USSR named after V.I. Lenin). Particular attention is paid to the educational work of the priest V.I. Popov (first in Bryansk, and then in Moscow). The main biographical information related to his socio-cultural activities is presented. V.I. Popov was the author of publications on historical-religious and historical-archaeological topics, and participated in publishing activities. Significant space is devoted to the description of his inventory work in the Library of the State Rumyantsev Museum in the post-revolutionary period, as well as the activities of his daughters and representatives of other generations of the dynasty in the library. The chronological scope of the account of the life and work of V.I. Popov and his descendants extends from the late 19th century to the modern period. The priest’s multifaceted activities are considered within the context of the most important events in Russia (particularly in the cultural sphere, as the Rumyantsev Museum and its library have always been one of the main centers of cultural development). The article is rich in factual data and draws on archival documents introduced into scholarly circulation for the first time. This source material enables further research into Russian book culture, including the interaction between its ecclesiastical and secular components. In Russia, these two cultures enriched each other for many centuries, as demonstrated by the life story of the Orthodox priest V.I. Popov.