The article deals with the formation of digital resources on military topics by various institutions and organizations, including libraries of various departmental subordination. The results of the research work (RW) “Representation of military history in the modern information environment” of the Information Historical and Scientific Center — the Military Historical Library of the General Staff of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation (Military Historical Library), conducted in the first half of 2023, are presented. The article presents an overview of modern military-historical resources in the network space. The general characteristics of thematic digital collections are specified, and the peculiarities of military-historical digital collections are identified and the principles of their creation are formulated. The authors emphasize that it is necessary to take into account the pedagogical component, which should be an integral part of Russian educational projects of patriotic nature. Also, an important feature of the newly created resources should be the pedagogical orientation, providing opportunities to support educational projects of a patriotic nature.

The article presents reference publications about the regions of modern Russia, addressed to children and youth audience. This topic becomes especially relevant in a complex geopolitical situation, when it is necessary to involve the younger generation in studying the history of not only the country as a whole, but also of their small homeland. That is why the article reveals some peculiarities of preparing and publishing such literature. For the first time the term “local history reference books for children and youth” (regional encyclopedias, reference books, guides for children) is proposed, the dynamics of publication by years and regions is traced. The value of such editions in both informational and patriotic aspects is revealed. The problem of low activity of book publishing in this area is raised. The bibliographic list of local history reference books for children and youth, published in the Russian Federation in 1992—2023, identified at the moment of writing, is presented for the first time.

The authors present the main statistical indicators of domestic book publishing for the first half of 2023. 13 tables with comments give a clear picture of the number of book titles and brochures, their circulation, themes, types and types of publications, the main publishers, printers and the most popular authors in the field of fiction for adults and children. Particular attention is paid to the problem of electronic copies of printed legal deposits of publications. The decline of two main statistical figures of the first half of 2023 in comparison with the same period of 2022 came to 11,37% for the total number of titles of books and pamphlets and 17,48% for their total print runs.

The article analyzes the scientific and practical strategy, aims, criteria and indicators for evaluating the participants of the All-Russian contest “The Most Reading Region” among the subjects of the Federation for the title “Literary Flagship of Russia” (2015— 2022). The winners, laureates, holders of the status of “Territory of Book and Reading” are described; the participation in the competition of the regions of Siberia and the Far East is investigated. Effective solutions and best practices of involving the population in the literary and book environment, implemented within the framework of the contest in the regions that have become literary flagships of Russia: in the Irkutsk region (2018), the Republic of Sakha (Yakutia) (2020), the Novosibirsk region (2022) are analyzed. The subjects of the Siberian Federal District (SFD) and the Far Eastern Federal District (FEFD), which were not among the winners of the competition, are noted. The general trends of activities to promote books and reading in the regions are revealed. The significance of the All-Russian project for the organisers and participants, its impact on the cultural life in the regions is described.

Nowadays the problem of competent use of service mark in library publishing activity is becoming relevant. This marketing tool has not yet received proper coverage in the publications of specialists from the fi eld of book studies, library science and bibliography. For the successful realization of their own intellectual (including publishing) products of libraries is very important its active promotion to the consumer, so it is necessary to develop an individual brand. One of the ways to solve this problem is the purposeful use of a service mark, created, approved and duly officially registered (according to the norms of the current legislation of the Russian Federation). The article also touches upon some issues related to the legal aspects of individualization of library publishing products.

A critical review of the next bibliographic index “Bibliology: Index of Literature for 2009” published in 2023 by “Pashkov House” is presented. This book was prepared by the employee of the Russian State Library, authoritative bibliographer L.I. Fursenko. This issue covers the publications on bibliology and book culture (from the general problems to the bibliophily and book art) that published in the Russian Federation during 2009. The reviewer underlines the need to continue one of the most important bibliographic project in the sphere of the contemporary book science and culture. The traditional merits of this voluminous index and its enduring relevance not only for specialists of book business but another ones representing wider spheres of science, culture and education are specially noted.

On the occasion of the 30th anniversary of the Department of Library Science of the International Academy of Informatisation, the article presents an overview of its activities, its place in the academic environment, and its reflection in the professional press. The statutory tasks, main directions of work, principles of membership, participation in conferences of national and international level in 2022 are given. Information is presented about the publication activity of the Branch members, their assistance in the preparation of draft professional and educational standards, in the work of the expert commission for the analysis of educational programmes of professional development and professional training, in the studies “Monitoring of the staff composition of public libraries under the jurisdiction of regional/municipal cultural authorities of the subjects of the Russian Federation”, “Workshop of the staff partnership: library aspect”, etc. Various theoretical, applied and methodological issues requiring scientific understanding and practical solutions are constantly in the field of vision of the Division’s specialists. The author emphasizes the significant role of the Branch members in organizing and conducting national industry competitions. The anniversary year of 2023 marked a new stage of the Branch’s activities and prospects, taking into account the realities and global challenges.

The article presents information about recent organizational solutions and events in the sphere of preservation and development of Russian Culture information security for children, copyright protection, development and integration of libraries into united national system, including new regions of the Russian Federation; international relations and cooperation of the main libraries of Russia, Belarus and China.

The traditional all-Russian contest “Best Books of the Year”, which has been organized by the Association of Book Publishers of Russia (ASKI) since 1991 and in which at least 140—150 publishing houses from different regions participate on average, annually determines the most interesting books in 12 nominations. The competition has a serious informational and professional potential, as the results of 2022 have shown. It was stressed that the main significance of the competition is the public presentation of the best book novelties of the most successful publishing houses, including in the regional centers of the Russian Federation. Currently, many publishing projects important for the national culture have small print runs, but participation in the contest and being among its nominees give them an opportunity to gain public recognition and ensure promotion in the book market. Based on the results of the contest, the top-50 best regional publications are compiled.