The processes of informatization and globalization, development of information technologies, mass media and electronic communication are the major factors that caused socio-cultural transformations. Under these conditions, all social institutions, including libraries, are being transformed and modernized. The article discusses the problem of library “To be or not be in the era of Internet” and the place and role of library in the period of socio-cultural transformations. There are described publicistic and scientific works of library scientists devoted to the modern library. Their position is compared with the interpretation of library as a social institution in the abstracts of dissertation theses defended in the Russian Federation in the period of 2000—2013 in three branches of knowledge — “Philosophical Sciences”, “Cultural Science”, and “Sociological Sciences”. On the basis of their analysis, there are revealed four entities of library as a social institution: “Library as a cultural phenomenon”, “Library as a heart of significant social and cultural information”, “Library as a foundation for the development of science and advanced ideas”, and “Library as a stabilizing social factor”. The author substantiates the need for evidence-based library science as a special approach to library practice, where the management decisions at any level (government, regional, municipal) shall be made on the basis of available evidence, based on the interests of readers (users) and society as a whole, taking into account possible social risks and requirements of social safety. Philosophers, culturologists and sociologists give special attention to the characteristics of the advantages that libraries possess in comparison with the Internet. Library provides selection, systematization and cataloguing of significant social and cultural information; represents knowledge in a documentary and observable form; does not impose on the user the patterns of mass culture and behavioral templates, and encourages readers to spiritual growth by reading and addressing to valuable and relevant cultural information.

Publications devoted to the organizational structure of library and information services are analysed. It is shown how the organizational structure of services has historically changed; in what periods, in addition to the Reading room, there appeared Lending department, Extension library service, Reference and bibliographic division, Mass work department, Media library, Center for legal and social information, Remote library service, etc. There are proved the reasons caused the emergence of new structural divisions: changes in society and culture, growth of the number of users, increase in demand for separate types of documents, etc. There are presented characteristic features of structuring within library and information services: the category of users, the form of service provided and terms of receiving the service, the area or subject of documents, the type of documents, the language of the document text, the function performed by the employee. The analysis of structure of library and information services of 55 regional libraries of the Russian Federation is presented. There are compared the structures of these libraries in 1980 and now. It is shown that changes in the structure of library and information services are associated with the use of modern information and communication technologies, certain steps in humanization of society in relation to people with disabilities and other socially vulnerable groups of the population, with the aim to preserve the tradition of reading, regional culture, culture of small peoples, as well as the need to attract a significant number of people to the library as an information and cultural centre, and to make it attractive for the young people.

Balanced scorecard (BSC) is widely used to achieve strategic objectives, ensure the efficient operation and successful development of enterprises, institutions and organizations. Multiple information sources describe different approaches to BSC design and models created on the basis of these approaches. Introduction and subsequent functioning of the Quality management system in the Republican Medical Library-Information Center (RMLIC) in Kazan (Republic of Tatarstan) has led to the need for such BSC in the institution, which would have ensured the proper quality of its products and services. However, the analysis of publications revealed the absence of the models for bibliographic and information activities suitable for practical use at the moment.

It was decided to develop the conceptual model of BSC, basing on the international and own experience and considering specific features of RMLIC area. The article describes the advantages and disadvantages of a number of models and approaches to the construction of BSC, the basic provisions and main principles of designing conceptual model of such system for bibliographic and information activities. The opinion is expressed that synergetic approach allows to create a model, providing fine and well-tuned strategy, formation of key performance indicators that contributes to improve the activities of institution engaged in the provision of library-bibliographic and information services.

The author’s conceptual model of the balanced scorecard is presented graphically and described in detail. It meets the needs of RMLIC and logically fits into the control system of the institution operating in the conditions of continuous improvement of the Quality management system.

Announcement

Formation of the new communication environment considerably influenced the position of library as an institution that provides information resources management. Modern means of communication stimulate the process of scientific integration, expand opportunities for communication and collaboration in the Internet; a new infrastructure for knowledge exchange is being formed. Academic libraries need to make effective use of the new communication tools in their activities. This global challenge needs to be addressed. The development of document flow, the system of its representation, distribution, and technology of its implementation in various formats have a significant impact on policy and technology of stocks generation. Currently, the formation of documentary base becomes an issue for academic libraries. Academic libraries, being the major buyers of scientific publications, lose the ability to acquire scientific literature due to the destruction of academic book publishing. Another urgent task is acquisition and preservation of collections of scientific literature. At present, generation of stocks of the RAS libraries has been greatly influenced (in addition to the new trends in development of the scientific communications system) by the change in the management model of the RAS research institutes, i.e. subordination of libraries to the Federal Agency for Scientific Organizations. Under the influence of environmental factors, the structure and composition of the documentation base of RAS libraries have significantly changed over the last decade.

In the article, the complex of problems connected with the formation of modern resource potential of academic organizations is considered. The results of the analysis of the state of system of academic book publishing are presented; use of the generated stocks of academic libraries is analysed. The new trends in the policy and technology of the acquisition process are highlighted. In order to determine the prospects for the development of system of academic library collections, it is necessary to represent its current state with respect to all parameters, influencing its nature and content.

The article considers the stages of development of the national information system based on the State system of scientific and technical information created in the Soviet period. The multi-level structure of the State system included various institutions, among which the significant proportion was formed by State scientific universal libraries of federal and regional level. The role of the V.I. Lenin State Library of the USSR (nowadays the Russian State Library) in creation of the Specialized Center for Culture and Art is revealed. There is demonstrated the significance of information technologies for the State system of scientific and technical information — creation of the automated system of scientific and technical information. Attention is drawn to the fact that in 1991—2001, due to economic difficulties and lack of the government support, the destruction of the system integrity began; there was a threat of irreplaceable loss of the created resources. “Regulations on the State system of scientific and technical information”, approved by the Government of the Russian Federation in 1997, contributed to the preservation of the most of organizational structure of the system of scientific and technical information of Russia.

In modern conditions, support for the development of scientific and technical information system in Russia is needed at the legislative and executive levels, and should be based on government and commercial scientific and information structures. It is required to carry out a comprehensive analysis and research study of the current state of system of scientific and technical information, taking into account the indicators of the resource potential, human resources and determination of the further construction and principles of its work for scientific and information support of processes in society.

In the study were used the documents of the Archive of the Russian State Library and the official regulatory publications.

The first professional standing Seminar “Information Provision of Science: New Technologies” has been held regularly since 1985. It is the platform for the library personnel, information workers and programmers to discuss the questions of development of the modern computer technologies for solution of library-information problems. Collections of materials of all seminars are published in printed form and presented on the website of the Library for Natural Sciences of the Russian Academy of Sciences (BEN RAS).

The article considers the situation in the field of the development of computer technology, existed in the mid-1980-ies that caused the need to organize the Seminar. There are presented the results of the analysis of Seminar proceedings published in 1985—2017, allowing to trace the development of library automation in the country. There is estimated the frequency of usage in the headings of reports of different terms related to this problem, that characterizes the dynamics of changes of its main priorities. Thus, the term ECM was widely used in 1980-ies, since 1991 ceased to be used; the term “electronic library”, which appeared in the proceedings of Seminar in 1999, reached its peak use in the late 2000-s, and then became quite “usual”; now in the titles of reports it appears much less frequently.

The article is devoted to the reflection in the Schedules of Library Bibliographic Classification (LBC) of new trends and phenomena in the development of biological sciences. Specific features of separation of literature on living organisms between the sections of the LBC Middle Schedules are presented. There is provided the strengthened structure of the main divisions of biological sciences, based on the characteristic attribute — “Organisms”. The principles of scientificity and unity of the Schedules of Library Classification are maintained; the actual directions of research, the new disciplines and scientific phenomena are included. Sections on organisms are arranged on “Simple-to-complex” principle: Viruses — Microorganisms — Plants — Animals — Human. There is presented in detail the separation of biology sections with the allied disciplines. “Biological Sciences” section includes the literature on general laws of development of life, evolution and life-sustaining activity of organisms; and literature on the use of plants and animals in the economy, the methods of cultivation of cultivated plants, and cultivation and maintenance of farm animals are reflected in the sections on agriculture and forestry. The literature on healthy organisms is considered in biology, and the literature on diseases, pathology of organisms — in the corresponding sections of agriculture, forestry and medicine. The structure of separate branch sections of the key row, corresponding to the biological sciences studying separate large taxa of organisms is also as far as possible unified. There is expanded the taxonomy of all living organisms; the Russian names of the major taxa of living organisms are duplicated in Latin. Special attention is paid to the environmental issues and adaptation of living organisms to the effects of environmental factors and conditions.

Reflection of the events of the October Revolution of 1917 in the domestic publications for children in the 1920-ies — early 1930-ies is a very significant and interesting, but insufficiently studied topic. This theme had been mainly explored from the standpoint of literary analysis, without considering peculiarities of the crucial component of the books graphics. In the article there is made an attempt to analyse mainly from the bibliological and art critical point of view a number of editions, directly or indirectly related to the theme of Revolution, to consider stylistic features of their external design, to identify the most typical art techniques used by illustrators of those years. The considered period is interesting because there were no ready-made models to emulate for the writers and artists, there were no rigid canons of the “Revolutionary children book”; the most important topic from the point of view of Soviet ideology had been mastered by trial-and-error method. In the mid-1920-ies, writers and graphic artists preferred the allegorical, fairy-tale interpretations of the Revolution theme: in the illustrative cycles of such different masters, as M.V. Dobuzhinsky, B.V. Joganson, D.A. Bulanov, V.S. Tvardovsky, the victorious revolts were committed in a fantastic country, in the kingdom of toys or in the world of animals. Rather unsuccessful should be recognized the experience of graphical interpretation of revolutionary themes with the use of heavy-weight allegories; much more convincing, though not undisputed, was the method of describing the class battles from the point of view of a child. In publications of the early 1930-ies, all sorts of allegory give way to the direct access to the historical events of 1917; however, the graphical language of the books remains conditional. In the works of A.I. Poret, P.M. Kondratyev, B.I. Inozemtsev, N.V. Svinenko, the epic scale of the Revolution is emphasized with the use of unexpected lines of sight, bold spatial solutions; and primitive style is often synthesized with the techniques of avant-garde art. Using different strategies of mythologization and poetization of the Revolution, illustrators were successfully resolving the problem of not only political, but also aesthetic education of the younger generation.

The article describes the history of creation of Biobibliographic Index “Alexander Isayevich Solzhenitsyn. Materials for Biobibliography” dedicated to A.I. Solzhenitsyn – the outstanding Russian writer, Nobel Laureate and public figure – from the bibliographic chapter planned in the 1960-ies to the Index in two volumes, being prepared for publication in 2018.

The Index contains the list of all works by A.I. Solzhenitsyn from 1962 to 2017: released both as separate editions and published in the periodical press, as well as the literature about his life and creative activity. The first section includes the book editions and works by the writer published in journals, newspapers and non-author’s collections. They are grouped by genre principle — prose, drama, poetry. The bibliographic records are arranged in chronological order (by date of publication). The second section “Literature on A.I. Solzhenitsyn’s Life and Works” includes a variety of publications, devoted to the writer entirely or partially. The key to the disclosure of the substantive content of each entry is a classified index, where the heading titles reflect the landmarks of A.I. Solzhenitsyn’s life and creative heritage, identified in the process of the compilers’ acquaintance with the critical literature de visu. This index helps the user to navigate in the extensive corpus of literature devoted to the writer and in selection of materials on the subject of interest.

The author considers the problems encountered by the compilers, as well as the ways of their solution and defines this publication as the first experience in Russia in preparing a large-scale bibliographic collection dedicated to A.I. Solzhenitsyn.

The article continues a series of author’s publications in the “Bibliotekovedenie” [Library and Information Science] journal, devoted to the fruitful activity of the Society for Promotion of Rural Free Libraries-Reading Rooms in the Tomsk Province. There is illuminated the vital question of the sources of financing, on the solution of which depended opening, acquisition, activity of libraries, the rate of progress of library construction and scale of development of librarianship. The chosen theme is quite relevant, because the wide experience in searching for the sources of financing, accumulated in the pre-revolutionary period, could be useful nowadays.

Sources of financing for the rural libraries in the Tomsk province are identified. It was composed by: private capital and the interest on it (firstly, of P.I. Makushin — Chairman of the Society for promotion, specially established by him for the assistance and support of free libraries in Siberia), reached by 1912 the amount of 36 thousand roubles; the donations of F.F. Pavlenkov, well-known publisher, bequeathed the considerable amount to the opening of peoples libraries, 37 of which were founded jointly with the Society for promotion of rural free libraries-reading rooms in the Tomsk province; contributions to the advantage of the Society of assistance of metropolitan publishers and book sellers, estimated at around 10 thousand roubles; private donations, in particular, of the leaders of national education, local intelligentsia, and peasants of the province; the membership dues, making annually from several tens to several hundred roubles; fund allocations of the volost and village assemblies, provincial and district trusteeships on people’s sobriety, the Ministry of national education, etc.

The system of financing created by P.I. Makushin has allowed achieving serious success in library construction in the Tomsk province, implemented in the opening in its territory in less than two decades of nearly 600 free rural libraries.

Based on local normative acts regulating the rules of conduct in public libraries in the United States, the author analyses the most acute problems associated with non-observance of public order and violation of legal norms by people without definite occupation and permanent home visiting reading rooms. Personnel of the American libraries is concerned with the problem of relationship with the specified category of users representing a quite significant part of the total number of visitors. Of particular concern are the incidents of drug use. Libraries are very vulnerable, as open to everyone, and users can spend there as much time as they would wish. In order to solve the problems associated with stay in library of the unemployed and homeless visitors, libraries actively cooperate with the city’s social institutions and with local police departments. Libraries have always been the guardians of humanistic values; however, today they are vulnerable to the challenges of time; they are trying to find a compromise between their duty to serve all users (regardless of their social status) and the need to maintain public order. There is required serious and responsible work on the rules governing user behaviour for solving this challenging problem. Introduction of rules for readers is dictated primarily by the objective to provide the ability for libraries to fully fulfil their mission. Created to ensure the protection of rights, interests and safety of users and library staff, the rules should be based on the current legislation to avoid ambiguity and, at the same time, to be humane, “flexible” and focused on contemporary realities.

There is analysed the activities of digital libraries partnership Hathi Trust Digital Library (HTDL), arose in October 2008 in the United States as a collaborative repository of digital collections of library systems of 13 universities in the U.S. Middle West and digital collections of 11 universities in California (now numbering 124 libraries). In the United States — the leader of IT-technologies — has been accumulated the vast experience in the field of organization of electronic resources, carried out a large-scale reorganization of library industry, the results of which are not sufficiently covered in the domestic library science. For the first time, the Russian library community is invited to learn the specific experience of the formation and operation of the partnership of digital libraries HTDL, based on the principle of institutional cooperation and coordination of management solutions in the conservation and maintenance of electronic collections.

The main tasks of the distributed data warehouse belonging to the partnership group of large research libraries are: providing access to the digital collection first of all for collective users, libraries — co-founders; preservation of intellectual heritage through reliable and accessible electronic representation, improvement of open technological infrastructure. The HTML concept is based on the conscious preservation of the specificity of research libraries, when the user is offered a body of special catalogued literature, and the ranking of search results is not influenced by the commercial interests. It is noted that HTDL is built on the basis of an extensive network of interlibrary entities in the United States with extensive cooperation in the field of administration, cataloguing, and storage of printed materials.

There are considered the priority achievements of Hathi Trust Digital Library: development of the new models of interlibrary cooperation, efficient distributed management structure, transparent scheme of payment calculation of infrastructure maintenance. The dynamics of the development of this resource from the moment of formation to the present time is analysed.

The activity of methodical services is prerequisite for sustainable development of libraries and effective innovation. The article presents the results of the first survey over the last 30 years, conducted by the Center for study of problems of the development of libraries in the information society of the Russian state library in April — October 2017, aimed to analyse the organization of methodical services in the Central libraries of subjects of the Russian Federation, to assess their workforce capacity and to offer solutions to the revealed problems. The results of the data analysis (representativeness is 94%) demonstrates that in most of the Central libraries the methodical activity is the priority (core) trend, and methodical services continue to evolve. In their organization there is a great diversity, which manifests in setting the activity goals and objectives, in choosing the approaches to determining staffing levels, building a structure. The capacity of human resource in most of the libraries can be considered quite high: experts belong to the potentially productive age group, have sufficient experience, and regularly update their knowledge. Among the acute problems is lack of the approved methods for calculation of the normative standards for staffing levels of these units, as well as the requirements for professional growth training for methodologists. There is made the conclusion on the need to work out recommendations for the formation of staff size of methodological services, to identify and spread the best practices for the development of the government order for performance of works (services) on the methodological support of librarianship. For the organization of advanced professional training of methodologists, it is needed to combine the efforts of Federal libraries and actively introduce distance learning.

The role of libraries in the urban cultural landscape is determined. The authors consider the problem of city branding, analyse the main publications on the studied subject, describe the major factors influencing the formation of urban space, define the specific features of the urban culture, in formation of which the important role play the cultural institutions which are responsible for the leisure activities sphere.

Indicating the problem of no demand of the services provided by cultural institutions, there are characterized the normative documents that determine the directions and prospects for the development of public libraries. It is emphasized that in modern conditions there is a discrepancy between the needs of young citizens and the services offered in the information market. This leads to the outflow of readers from libraries and to the lack of interest to the events arranged by them.

Using the example of Ulan-Ude city, the capital of the Republic of Buryatia, there are analysed operating procedures of city libraries and considered the questions of space organization of the modern library.

There are presented the results of survey, where the main objective is studying the opinion of citizens about the place of libraries in modern society. There are summarized the results of the Round table devoted to the problems of organization of library space, the culture of reading of urban citizens and professional growth of library personnel, held by the Ulan-Ude Central City Library named after I.K. Kalashnikov and the East-Siberian State Institute of Culture.