The article is devoted to the analysis of the role of libraries in the modern society. The author seeks to outline the future of libraries in Russia, to determine what information challenges they have to meet in the first place, what groups of population are most appealing to the activities of libraries. There is examined the status of libraries of different profile, as well as the actions that help bringing the libraries to the level that ensures the effective performance of their tasks. There are presented statistical data on the Russian and foreign libraries.

The author outlines the goals, objectives and principles of the “Model Standard for Public Library Services”, developed and approved by the Ministry of Culture of the Russian Federation in the Year of Culture in 2014. There is given the description of the Model Standard, specified the principles of its development. There is identified the primary goal of the Model Standard, which is to enhance the cultural and educational mission of a public library. There are presented statistical data of libraries for the last five years. There are listed organizations and institutions participated in the development of the Model Standard, specified the events, where the discussionsof the Draft Model Standard took place. There are considered three areas of library activities: library as an educational center, library as an active agent in Web space, library as a custodian of cultural heritage. This document marks the beginning of the new stage of libraries development.

At present time methodical activity of libraries acquires great importance among the professional community. Study of this area of library science requires clear and unambiguous understanding of terms and definitions; therefore the problem of conceptual framework of methodical activities is highly relevant to the theory and practice of librarianship. The article presents the modern term system of methodical activities of libraries. Terminological aspects are considered on the basis of wide range of sources, including regulations. The basic terms and definitions in the area of library science and scientific approaches to term formation are analyzed in the paper. The attention is paid to the conceptual meaning and relationship between such terms as “Methodical Work”, “Methodical Guidance”, and “Methodical Support”. It is proposed for consideration the term “Methodical Support” as the most functional one which can be used to describe the concept both at the legislative level and within the library community.

The article is devoted to the theoretical problems of functioning of clusters in Russia and abroad; it also gives the basis to the necessity of applying the cluster approach for raising the competitiveness of regional libraries as social institutes. The article contains the main factors of investigation, as well as conditions, affecting cluster creation and functioning in regions; the author shows the stages of works on projecting the clusters of regional libraries, which stimulate their development.

The author presents the comparative analytical review of bibliometric studies of the domestic dissertations, defended in disciplines 05.25.03 - library and information science, bibliography and bibliology. There are revealed discrepancies in quantitative data and some contradictions in the findings of different authors on the periods of scientific activities. For the purpose of refining and updating information there was studied collection of dissertations on these disciplines for the period of 1986-2013, using such criteria of bibliometric analysis as a year of defending the thesis, academic degree for which dissertation was defended, content of dissertation (by the field of science specified in the passport of scientific discipline). There are determined periods of scientific activity in the formation of the collection of dissertations. On the basis of methods of mathematical statistics there is studied the uniformity of depositing thesis collection by annual flows.

Implementation of the project on semantic integration of bibliographic records has allowed to solve urgent problems: there is developed domain ontology and created modules of interaction with a variety of automated library information systems; bibliographic records converted from different formats into RDF, enriched using the information obtained from different sources, and released in accordance with the principles of Linked Open Data. Hand-ling one of the world’s largest arrays of bibliographic records required utilization of highly specialized protocols of access to information, high-performance processing algorithms and scalable storage solutions.

The Russian State Library in Figures: Abstract of Statistics

M. Voloshin’s library, a literary monument of the Russian culture and spirituality, in spite of the tumultuous events of XX century, has survived virtually unchanged in the House-Museum of the poet in Koktebel. Currently, according to the inventory, there are 9254 items of printed publications, including 3981 items in the foreign languages. The article provides an overview of the most significant handwritten notes of M. Voloshin in the foreign books from his library on branches of knowledge (literature and criticism, history, philosophy, art), revealed in the process of work on the Catalog “Memorial Library of M. Voloshin in Koktebel: Books and Materials in the Foreign Languages”

The article discusses the reader demand and readers’ reviews on the novel “Tsushima” by A. Novikov-Priboy, submitted to the State Publishing House of Fiction Literature in the 1930-ies. These letters are a unique historical source, allowing to reconstruct the composition of the readership of the Soviet historical novel in the prewar decade, to analyze reader activity of the different groups of population. On the basis of feedback it becomes possible to assess the impact of historical novel, in particular “Tsushima”, on the consciousness of people, what is of great importance for revealing the mechanism of Patriotic education campaign in the 1930-ies.

In 2015 there will be celebrated the 220th birth anniversary of the prominent humanist, writer and diplomat Alexander Griboyedov, who lived and worked in a fateful period in the history of Russia, “the Golden age of the Russian literature”, when had been formed the generation of the Russian intellectuals, determined the trend of development of the Russian science, culture, and enlightenment. There are profiled relations of the active participants in these processes, reformers of the history - A. Griboedov and V. Odoevsky, their joint literary and musical studies, as well as history and role of “Mnemosyne” Almanac in the literary process of 1820-ies. In the historical context of the events taken place in the period named Pushkin epoch, there are traced the tragic fate of the friends of V. Odoevsky and A. Griboyedov - Decembrists A. Odoevsky and V. Kuchelbecker. There is appraised the significance of book and manuscript collection of V. Odoevsky, became the part of the Library of the Moscow Public and Rumyantsev Museum - the new centre of book culture of Russia.

In January 2015, an exhibition titled “Musician and Poet Needs Listeners, Readers” dedicated to the 220th anniversary of Alexander Sergeyevich Griboyedov (1795-1829) took place in the reading hall of the Manuscript Department of the Russian State Library. A lot of original documents from the collections of manuscripts relating to the life and work of a brilliant playwright, diplomat, poet and composer were displayed in this small exhibition. In addition to autographs and other documents from the archive of the writer (Fond 451) the numerous copies of his famous “The Woes of Wit” are of great interest as well. The exhibition is designed not only to show the most valuable materials, but also to convey as far as possible the atmosphere where Griboyedov lived and worked, to emphasize the charm of this outstanding personality in the history of the Russian literature.

The article is devoted to the 80th anniversary of the famous researcher in the area of librarianship, sociology of book and reading Valeria Stelmach. The author analyzes the main stages of her activities and achievements.

The article describes emergence of the idea of creation the “IFLA Journal” and the history of its implementation.

The paper examines the experience and role of the German public libraries in the process of assisting migrants to raise the level of language and information competence. The relevance of the problem is connected with a growing crisis in the German multicultural concept and seeks to provide means of achievement via intercultural library activities. The main tasks of the public library assistance to the National Education Plan are considered. The terms “multicultural services”, “multicultural library activities” and “multicultural user” are analyzed. The attention is paid to the possibilities of mass cultural work with migrants to improve language competence as well as analyzing four main groups of reader interests which have the impact on information competence building. Such forms of intercultural library activities as library tours, formal teaching, film lectures and training in the computer classes which are used in the process of information competence of migrants are considered.

There is considered the experience of trusteeship of people’s sobriety in organizing free public libraries and reading rooms, in conducting educational activities in Orel province in late XIX - early XX century. Since late nineteenth century the Russian State and the Russian Orthodox Church, realizing that the main cause of alcoholism is the low level of spiritual and moral life of the nation, have joined their forces to address this problem. Together they built an integrated system of education and upbringing of people in the spirit of sobriety and piety by creating trusteeships of national sobriety. Analysis of data on the number of libraries organized by the trusteeships of people’s sobriety on the territory of the Russian Empire in 1902-1910, allows to conclude that the greatest number of the trusteeship libraries functioned in the years 1905-1906. In 1906-1909, their number decreased. Among 3915 trusteeship libraries in 1910, 70% were affiliated at different institutions, 11% were placed in specially hired premises and 19% at guardianship institutions, mainly in teahouses. In total, there are identified 128 libraries, opened by trusteeships in the Orel province. Library and educational activity of trusteeships of people’s sobriety in the Russian Empire in late XIX - early XX century gives the possibility of using the historical experience for interaction of the local governments, social movements, and libraries for the purpose of maintenance of temperance in modern conditions.

Formation of the Independent States of the former Soviet Union and formation of their own history requires clarification of a number of aspects of the Bolshevists activities in the national cultural policies. “Purges” of library holdings which were held throughout the Soviet Union, in different republics had their own peculiarities. Therefore, the article using the example of Soviet Ukraine, traced causal relationship between the work with book collections and political environment, cultural and national policies of state party-political machinery of the USSR. On the basis of archival sources there was revealed the process of organizing the library “purges” of “harmful” literature, identified the structures, given the orders and participated in this work, there was reconstructed the mechanism of their activities in the Soviet Ukraine. An important aspect of this study is analysis of motives of withdrawal from the library of works of Ukrainian authors. Particular attention is paid to the various instructions, lists of literature and authors, which were used by the bodies of political censorship at work with book collections.

The article focuses on the libraries and the publishing and book trading organizations established by Moscow students in the early twentieth century. These organizations were founded to make the textbooks more available, cheaper and less deficient than they were at the moment. As the resource of the textbooks, libraries of compatriots’ associations were widespread. At the Moscow University students publishing commissions (parts of benefit societies) printed lecture notes and examination programs. Library, publishing, and trading activities were tightly bound in these societies. In the Moscow Technical School and the Moscow Women High Courses the libraries and publishing houses functioned independently of each other and of economical organizations of students. The students Library of textbooks at the Moscow Agricultural Institute was really unique, as it combined library service with book publishing for a while. Book trade was usually managed by publishers. Besides students organizations within educational institutes, there functioned a cooperative bookstore and a publishing house at the same time, common for all Moscow students. A dream, that never came true, was a Students House and united library collections of textbooks in it. In spite of many complications, the cooperation was successful, and due to it, access to the textbooks was facilitated for many students.

Among the novelties of the professional literature devoted to the library topics there are two works of particular interest by Irina Balkova, having rich experience in the library area, including leadership positions and teaching activities. The first book is devoted to the history of librarianship, however her new book “Reference Book of Librarian” is devoted to topical issues facing the modern libraries. We decided to talk to the author and put some questions regarding books, future of libraries, future plans and some other topics.

The Russian State Library hosted the Third International Youth Conference “Common Slavic Booklore: Unity and Diversity”, dedicated to the Day of Orthodox Book and to the 1000th anniversary of repose of Prince Vladimir, which was attended by Metropolitan Kliment of Kaluga and Borovsk. On March 12, at the Cathedral of Christ the Savior there was held a meeting of Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia with young participants of the conference, students of military boarding schools of Moscow and many fans of the book. The Primate of the Russian Orthodox Church corresponded to the congregation the Pastoral discourse, stressing that the Day of Orthodox Book, being governmentally celebrated each year, has acquired a deep historical understanding: “Books... convey to us information from the past, they are the carriers of some kind of heredity. ... In the best books this code is depicted, and one of such books is „Apostle“”. The conference was the first international youth event of the jubilee year, which, in accordance with the Order of the President of the Russian Federation “On the Events Dedicated to the Memory of the Holy Equal-to-the-Apostles Great Prince Vladimir - Christianizer of Russia”, will be held under the sign of the Holy Prince Vladimir.

The article focuses on the results of the regular annual conference of the Editorial Board and the Editorial Council of the Bibliotekovedenie Journal. The main statement topics and major issues discussed at the conference are pointed out. The article presents the opinions of the members of the Editorial Board and the Editorial Council on the journal demand issues and its scientific constituent. The problems of interaction between the journal and the Higher Attestation Commission (State Commission for Academic Degrees and Titles) are discussed. There are identified the tasks for the near future: affiliation with the SCOPUS and Web of Science databases, electronic journal distribution promotion, more focusing on the scientific, controversial, problemcontaining releases. Specific outlook on the journal development in 2015 is settled. The substatial issue of the interstate cooperation in the library field is highlighted. The synergistic effect of the efficient cooperation of all the members in the Bibliotekovedenie journal publishing process is noted.