The article presents the brief description of the problematic situation in the field of digital transformation (DT) of libraries in Russia. The author considers the DT policy and the strategy. The DT goals and methods are beyond the scope of this article. The paper shows various definitions of DT. The author proposes conceptual model of DT of libraries and defines the main components of this multifaceted process. The article identifies socio-cultural consequences of democratization and informatization of society as environmental factors.

The author formulates the management principles of digital transformation of libraries. The paper notes the aspects of DT management of libraries: socio-economic, socio-cultural, technical, legal, socio-psychological. The article allocates the objects of DT of libraries: resources (material, financial, personnel), integrated into the infrastructure of library activities; functional processes and technologies used; products and services provided; communication ties (both with the external environment and within the system) and specialists competencies.

The priority directions of DT of libraries are: increasing the availability of library services for citizens and organizations; bringing the legislative and regulatory framework in line with the goals of DT of libraries and the needs of development of the system of government and public management of library activities; expanding the range of digital information services; searching for new principles of differentiated evaluation of the end results of library activities, the formation of competitive library model, the development of classification of quality indicators; gradual transition to sectoral management based on data mining. The author presents the scheme of DT conceptual model of libraries in the Russian Federation.

Project activity is a tool for diversifying the management of modern library in the conditions of high complexity and uncertainty; it is a way to complete and strengthen the power vertical by horizontal ties of self-organizing peer groups. Participation in project activities allows building a space of trust between the administration and the library staff, forming shared goals and values, and contributes to strengthening consensus.

Project activities contribute to the effective solution of complex tasks facing the modern library: embedding libraries in the knowledge economy, working in the format of social hub, implementing the agenda of creative industries. By helping to build partnerships with representatives of different communities, the project activities contribute to the development of material and technical resources of library, as well as the creation of new services, products and services. In addition, project activity is an important tool for developing the creative and organizational potential of library specialists.

The article discusses the experience of the Irkutsk Regional Universal Scientific Library named after I.I. Molchanov-Sibirskiy on the systematic implementation of project activities in the central regional library and the network of libraries of the Angara region. The author analyses the main tools of project activity: the Regulations on project activity of the Irkutsk Regional Universal Scientific Library, the Project Council, strategic sessions and innovative project “descents”. The paper describes the concept of the regional network socially oriented project “Library for government, society, individual”. The author gives statistics of the implemented projects, as well as determines the areas of effective application of process and project management in the library.

The article presents the review of speeches at the V International Book Forum “Reading Region: Dialogue with book”, held on September 16—17, 2022 in Novosibirsk as part of the International Festival “Book Siberia”. Using the method of thematic analysis, the authors identified three trends on promotion of reading by all actors of the book industry: writers, book publishers, libraries and the state. The first trend is characterized by participation in socio-cultural projects of state structures and the Russian Book Union. The second is related to the understanding of modern authors of their role, their participation in the literary process and regional book publishing. The book space in the speakers' speeches was considered as an intellectual partner of the state in the socio-cultural development of the regions. The third trend is formed under the influence of libraries, which, responding to the challenges of the present time, offer the traditional forms of work (book exhibitions, festivals, fairs, book presentations, meetings with writers, club associations, creative competitions) and innovative forms (online initiatives, reading aloud campaigns, local history electronic resources, large-scale projects with partnership interaction of various organizations) for user involvement. The paper presents the domestic and foreign experience of national, regional, as well as scientific and technical libraries. The authors formulate the problems of modern book infrastructure and make suggestion on how to overcome them. The authors believe that in order to effectively develop the entire infrastructure related to the promotion of reading, there should be conducted support to writers, publishers, bookselling networks and libraries. It is necessary to strengthen the partnership between the state, society and business in all areas of the book industry. The review can be useful for both practitioners of book industry and librarianship and for theorists of humanitarian knowledge.

The All-Russian scientific and practical conference with international participation “Gribanov Readings — 2022” was held on December 14—16, 2022 at the National Library of the Republic of Sakha (Yakutia). The article discusses the problems of the book culture of the regions of Russia; this theme was in the focus of attention of conference participants and was the subject of scientific discussion at the plenary session and in the course of the sections: “National and local history bibliography: history, status and new horizons”, “Reading infrastructure: research, exchange of experience”, “Historical and cultural studies to preserve the cultural heritage of the indigenous peoples of the Russian North, Siberia and the Far East” and “Digital transformation of libraries”. Within the framework of the conference, there were organized the round table “Modern Library Education: exchange of opinions of practitioners and theorists, managers and performers, teachers and students, readers and librarians” and the First Regional Festival of Scientific Research Cinema “Science Cinema”. The conference aroused great interest in the professional and scientific community. More than 130 specialists took part in it — theorists and practitioners of library and information activities, experts in the book industry, philosophers, historians, ethnographers, cultural scientists, art historians, employees of archives and museums from 30 regions of Russia, as well as from Belarus, Kazakhstan and Mongolia. The conference was aimed at identifying the main vectors of the history and current trends in the development of book culture in the regions of Russia, assessing the role of books and reading, bibliography, modern book publishing, discussing the key issues of the domestic book market, finding ways to digitally transform libraries and preserve the best traditions of the development of the book industry.

Libraries have a direct influence on digital humanities (DH) research projects that utilize digitized newspapers from their collections. However, a library’s level of participation in a project will vary and may range from resource provider to active collaborator. Libraries must manage the different expectations of each project; thus, a variety of services are needed.

The National Library of Finland continuously aims to improve its services and provide researchers with broader access to digitized collections. The library’s DH research team has extensive experience in research projects, and they actively support the work of DH researchers. In this paper, I present an overview of the experiences of the DH research team. I focus on projects that have used digitized historical newspapers and journals, and I outline a range of potential problems and suggest possible solutions.

One of the disturbing trends of our time is the decline in interest in reading all over the world, despite its obvious importance and irreplaceability. The reasons for this negative trend have not yet been fully investigated.

The presented review gives a high assessment of V.P. Chudinova’s book “Development of ‘Nations of Readersʼ in Different Countries of the World: Studies, Strategies, Projects, Practices” (2022). The publication contains the analysis of the situation with the support of childrenʼs reading in different countries of the world, as well as characterizes international programs of this profile. V.P. Chudinovaʼs work is based on the reliable materials of large-scale studies, including comparative ones that greatly increases the objectivity of the book. Much attention is paid to the support of childrenʼs and family reading by major international organizations: UNESCO, IFLA and the International Literacy Association. In separate chapters, the author considers promotion of reader literacy in the advanced countries of the world — Japan, Singapore, China and Great Britain. Along with the previously published textbook “Library and Information Services for Children and Youth Abroad” (2012), the new book by V.P. Chudinova has made a big step in highlighting the problem of supporting childrenʼs reading at the level of international organizations and the most successful countries in this regard. The considered subject may be linked to the “Sustainable Development Goals” adopted in 2015 by the UN General Assembly as a plan for achieving a better and more sustainable future for all.

The article presents the main results of the qualitative study of the opinions of information consumption subjects on the nature of the image crisis of the contemporary domestic public library. The survey, conducted in December 2022, involved 181 respondents aged from 14 to 76 years. The authors analyze the views of the user audience on the prerequisites and reasons for the decline in popularity of library and information institutions associated with the possible transformation of their social role in the context of stable growth of digital information consumption and mass access of the population to the Internet.

The paper establishes the main motives for accessing library services and products in connection with the indicators of frequency of contacts with the institution and recognition of its competitive advantages. The article presents an overview of the respondentsʼ points of view on the relationship between the crisis of reading quality and the weakening of the libraryʼs market position.

The authors reveal some characteristics of the subjective image of the library profession in the user environment as an image component of the activities of library and information institutions. The paper considers the attitude of the respondents to the possible employment of their growing or future children and grandchildren in the library field. The authors analyze respondentsʼ perceptions of key areas of reputational risks for a modern public library, as well as user assessments of the efficiency of its marketing efforts to promote all range of products and services.

The paper outlines immediate prospects for the development of the research, in particular, related to the further study of the phenomenon of socio-psychological influence on the evolution of the model of consumer behaviour in the information market, marketing factors of the formation and fixation of consumer preferences of the library audience.

The 10th All-Russian Forum of Public Libraries “Model Libraries and Modernization Quality Standard” was held on November 18—19, 2022 at the National Library of Russia (St. Petersburg). More than 600 participants registered to attend the forum in 2022 (in offline and online format). More than 230 people attended the forum in-person. The forum considered the results of implementation of the National project “Culture” in the field of creating model municipal libraries, as well as problems that have arisen in connection with the modernization in the library sector. The author reveals in detail the content of the main events of the forum — the plenary session and three Round tables (“Modernization quality standard of public municipal library”, “Collections of model libraries: formation, study, promotion”, “Municipal libraries of new generation: exchange of experience and ideas”).

The article reports on summarizing at the forum of the results of implementation of the project “The Genius of the Place” 2022 and on awarding the libraries-participants that declared themselves as a “point of talents concentration”. The speakers noted that libraries achieved particular success in working with the audience in the field of creative industries. A total 21 libraries got awards. The article lists the most interesting projects (“Send the Skill”, “ProRobot”, “Master — magic touch”, etc.).

The author presents the results of the All-Russian competition “Libraries. PROmotion”. 750 applications from 80 subjects of the Russian Federation participated in the competition. The winners of the competition in 2022 are Berezovsk Centralized Library System of the Sverdlovsk region, Astrakhan Library for Youth named after B. Shakhovsky, Gubkinsky Centralized Library System of Yamalo-Nenets Autonomous Okrug, National Library of the Republic of Sakha (Yakutia) and Moshinsk Library of the Nyandom Central District Library of the Arkhangelsk Region.

Within the framework of the event, the exhibition of publishing products, new information technologies, goods and services “Library Context — 2022” took place.

The Forum, held since 2007, over the years of its existence has become the platform of All-Russian level, where the public discussion of the results and prospects of modernization of the library sector in Russia takes place. The author marks the significance of the All-Russian Forum of Public Libraries as the largest event in the cultural life of Russia.

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