All-Russian Library Congress: The 29th Annual Conference of the Russian Library Association (RLA) was hosted on May 26—29, 2025 in Izhevsk. Its theme, “Victory. Stronger Together,” reflected the importance of libraries as centers of patriotic education, preservation of cultural heritage, and information and educational activities. For the first time, the RLA Congress was held in the format of thematic tracks reflecting the development directions of the country’s libraries, outlined in the “Strategy for the Development of Librarianship in the Russian Federation for the Period up to 2030.” The following tracks were organized: “A Modern Library in Demand as a Strategic Resource of the State,” “Library Collection as a National Heritage: Development and Preservation,” “Information Services for Users in the Digital Age: Resources, Methods, Tools,” “Digital Reboot: New Reality of Library Practice,” “Library Personnel Policy. How to Raise a Good Specialist”, “Scientific and Methodological Support for Library Activities”, “How to Raise a Generation of Winners: The Library in the System of Patriotic and Civic Education of Children and Youth”. The RLA Congress in Izhevsk brought together almost 1,200 representatives of the library industry from 78 regions of the Russian Federation, as well as specialists from foreign countries. For the first time, a delegation of heads of the largest scientific and university libraries in India took part in its work. The business program included special events and international discussion platforms. The School of the Restorer, the School of the Cataloger, the School of the Library Blogger and the School of the Acquisitions Librarian were conducted. The Day of Libraries of the Volga Federal District was held. A special event was organized: “Spiritual and Moral Values of Russian Culture: National and International Levels”, an open discussion panel “Modern University Library: Models, Contents, Services”, a round table “New Roles for New Times: Russian Libraries as a Humanitarian and Information Mobilization Resource of a Special Military Operation”, a round table of military libraries, a case laboratory “Cultural Heritage and Its Development by New Generations. The Role of Libraries”, as well as a mobile laboratory “Studying Reading”. A significant event was the approval of a new version of the RLA Charter, which reflects both legislative innovations concerning the activities of non-profit organizations and the active role of the RLA as the largest professional association. The topics of various events of the RLA Congress covered a wide range of current issues facing not only libraries, but also all of Russian and world culture and science. Participants discussed the digitalization of libraries, information services for users, the work of cultural institutions during a special military operation, and many other issues. The RLA confirmed its readiness to engage in solving problems and achieving the goals outlined in the country’s strategic documents.

Within the framework of the All-Russian Library Congress: 29th Annual Conference of the Russian Library Association in Izhevsk on May 28, 2025 the track “Information Service to Users in the Digital Age: Resources, Methods, Tools” was organised. Information service of users is the main direction of libraries’ work. Its development requires special attention in the context of expanding the resource base of services, updating the usual system of services, and applying innovative software and technology solutions.

As a backbone of information and library activity, information service of users is an object of increased attention in modern library science and practice. The relevance of the development in this direction is due to the need to optimise the resource base, modernise the traditional set of services, as well as the implementation of innovative software and technology solutions that meet the requirements of digital transformation. The focus of these problem areas was the programme of the considered track, which included thematic blocks: “Information Service in the Library”, “Information Resources and Services”, “Digital Technologies in the Library”.

An analysis of the results of the track’s work allows us to state its significant effectiveness as a platform for intensifying professional discourse, accumulating experience in the field of information services for users, and developing promising methodological approaches that meet the requirements of digital transformation.

Within the framework of the track, reports were presented that contained the results of in-depth analyses of key trends in the development of the information and library sphere, which made it possible to identify strategic directions of development relevant to the challenges of the digital era and focused on ensuring the sustainable functioning of libraries in a dynamically changing information environment. In particular, the issues of building digital collections, developing remote access services, and using artificial intelligence tools were considered.

The recommendations proposed by the track participants and the expert assessments developed based on the synthesis of theoretical knowledge and practical experience have a high potential to influence the further development of information service in libraries of the Russian Federation. The implementation of these recommendations will contribute to the improvement of the quality characteristics of the services provided, ensuring their compliance with the information needs of modern users, as well as optimising the processes of information support for scientific, educational, cultural and educational activities.

On May 14—15, the Russian State Library (RSL) hosted the All-Russian Scientific and Practical Conference with International Participation “Preserving the Historical Memory of the Great Patriotic War: The Role of Libraries”, organized with the support of the Russian Library Association. The forum brought together more than 500 specialists from 63 regions of the Russian Federation, as well as from Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan and South Ossetia. Colleagues presented research work on studying the history of libraries during the war years and modern activities to preserve the historical truth about the events of 1941—1945. The event was held in the format of a plenary session and three sections: “Library and Information Resources About the Great Patriotic War”, “Activities of Libraries to Preserve Historical Memory and Patriotic Education of the Population”, “Libraries and Librarians in the War Years: Pages of History”. Within the framework of the conference a round table “Historical Memory of the Great Patriotic War in the Activities of Libraries of New Subjects of Russia” was held, where historical and cultural projects of libraries of the Lugansk People’s Republic, Donetsk People’s Republic and Kherson region were presented. The conference held in the Russian State Library showed that research and historical-educational activities of libraries to preserve the historical memory and heritage of the war years is a systematic work that confirms its demand by the interest of readers. The publishing house of the Russian State Library “Pashkov Dom” published a collection of conference materials. It presents articles on successful practices of libraries in the field of historical education, which can be used as methodological models and implemented in libraries of all types.

The results of statistical grouping, generalization and identification of patterns among library projects that won competitions of the Presidential Foundation for Cultural Initiatives (PFCI) in 2021—2024 are presented in the context of library innovation at the local level.

PFCI was created in accordance with the Decree of the President of the Russian Federation dated May 17 2021, No. 287 to support projects in the field of culture, art and creative (creative) industries. As of the beginning of 2024, PFCI held 12 grant competitions. Within the framework of which 7,202 projects were supported for a total amount of 25,4 billion rubles. The key aspect is the possibility to participate in competitions of municipal institutions, which includes most public libraries.

In this work, an analysis of 430 library projects supported by PFCI has been carried out. The sample included projects that won the first competition in 2021, the first and second competitions in 2022, the first and second competitions in 2023, as well as the first competition in 2024 (out of scope were the second competition in 2024 and five special competitions). A complete list of library projects implemented during this period has been compiled.

Projects of specific types and thematic areas are accepted for PFCI competitions. In the conducted study, a ratio of library projects — winners of PFCI competitions by types and thematic areas was identified. Structural-statistical groups based on the analysis of goals, objectives and descriptive part of projects were identified and the number of winning projects was determined: “Development of leisure clubs and creative spaces, development of board games” (82), “Creation of digital and interactive content and printed publications on culture, history, literature etc.” (66) , “Promotion of the creativity of writers” (65), “Organization of quests, role-plays and theatrical performances” (48), “Study and popularization of books and reading” (46), “Creation of guides, exhibitions, excursions and exhibitions” (45), “Creation of cartoons, comic books, holding competitions of painting and photo works” (40), “Study of culture and history of the small homeland or Russia in general” (35), “Promotion of folk arts and crafts” (24), “Promotion of emblematic personalities” (17), “Professional orientation, organization of meetings with various specialists and leaders of public opinion” (13), “Work with people with disabilities” (11).

The results of the study presented in the article can be used by library specialists who prepare grant applications, library managers for developing projects within the PFCI framework, as well as teachers and students.

The possibilities of artificial intelligence (AI) application in the National Library of the Republic of Sakha (Yakutia) are studied. The works by domestic specialists proving the advantages of AI for effective information retrieval, resource formation, digitalization of service processes and big data analysis are considered. The experience of the National Library of the Republic of Sakha (Yakutia) shows positive results of integration of AI technologies. A number of AI products modernizing library services have been analyzed. The central element is the use of API of the GigaChat neural network model for the development of own products and services. Six innovative projects implemented in the library are described in detail: VoiceNLRS voice data collection platform, speech synthesizer in Yakut language “Istin”, chatbot “Yakutia Expert”, document handling service “AI-Text”, telegram bot “Yakutia Digital Librarian”, module of automated cataloging based on AI (AI-Cataloging). These solutions increase the efficiency of user service, improve interaction with library resources and contribute to the digitalization of library processes. A comparative analysis of similar projects abroad is carried out. The issues of creating a unified AI platform of a new generation for libraries are raised, the associated challenges and risks are analyzed. The paper proposes ways for libraries to develop in the field of AI and aims to provoke a discussion in the library community about the future application of AI in libraries.

There is a strong tradition of biographical publications on figures in the field of bibliology. Many large libraries publish such book series. Interest and attention to the works and biographies of their predecessors are associated not only with the activities of researchers in the history of books and libraries, but also indicate an awareness of their professional identity and the social significance of their work. The purpose of the publication is to conduct a comparative analysis of two books in the biographical genre, published in 2025: “V.D. In Memory of a Unique Person” (contains materials and concerns the activities of foreign agents) and “Maslov Dmitry Petrovich”. The obtained result can help in the preparation of similar publications in the future. A book dedicated to V.D. Stelmakh (1935—2023), who headed the Book and Reading Sector of the Research Department of Library Science and Theory of Bibliography of the USSR State Library named after V.I. Lenin (now the Russian State Library) is a collection of memoirs and other ego-documents that not only present her professional path, but also provide facts from the history of the country through individual, emotional perception. Under the leadership of V.D. Stelmakh, all-Russian sociological studies on reading were conducted in the 1960s and 1970s. On her initiative, a section on literacy and reading was created within the structure of the International Federation of Library Associations and Institutions. The publication by the staff of the Scientific Library of Tomsk State University is dedicated to D.P. Maslov (1912—1974), a graduate of the Moscow State Library Institute (now the Moscow State Institute of Culture), who set a high professional bar for subsequent generations. The book consists of a preface, a biographical essay, an index of works, a list of literature on his life and work, and also includes archival documents in facsimile reproduction. Two different approaches to publishing are characterized by attention to the personality of the heroes, the use of oral history methods, and the opportunity for readers to familiarize themselves with different types of photo and office documents. The function of a biography is not just a life story, but a meaningful presentation of facts selected by the biographer. For scientific communication, the role of biographical publications is even higher; they serve to preserve the values and meanings of professional activity, as well as the memory of predecessors.

Regional studies on the history of librarianship in the perestroika period contribute to the reconstruction of the overall picture of the library industry development in Russia at the turn of the epoch. Certain lacunas in the historiography and the controversial nature of the problem make it necessary to study it further in order to identify the regularities of the evolution of the library sector in a difficult historical period.

The library sector of the Buryat ASSR, along with the existing traditions of the Soviet era, was searching for its niche in the changing society. Various problems were fixed: the shortage of certain types of publications, the decline in library attendance, the decreasing interest in reading among the younger generation. The introduction of new forms and methods of work, self-financing, paid services, and automation of library processes should have helped to solve the problems to a certain extent.

In the Buryat ASSR, where the provision of library resources was quite favorable compared to some other regions of Siberia, there was, on the one hand, a slight increase in the number of state mass libraries and their collections, on the other hand, a reduction in the network and book wealth of the libraries of trade union, scientific and technical, and higher educational institutions. Negative dynamics of the main indicators of mass libraries’ activity appeared: the number of users, book delivery, and readability. At the end of the 1980s, the Buryat ASSR faced problems of financing and, as a consequence, of acquisition of funds, material, technical and personnel support of libraries. The orders of centralized library systems for literature were half fulfilled. The area of large libraries, the M. Gorky Republican Scientific Library and the Republican Children’s Library, was many times less than the normative one, dozens of state mass libraries were located in unsuitable premises. There were staff cuts in scientific-technical and trade union libraries, and insufficient staffing in some library institutions. During these years the intersystem book exchange in the state mass libraries continued; offices and bureaus of scientific and technical information worked; there was an experimental testing of interdepartmental book exchange, servicing of workers of the regional agro-industrial complex. The methods of literature promotion aimed at active communication with library users were increasingly used.

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