The historical process of separating bibliographic science from a single bibliography as a science is briefly examined. The role of domestic libraries and their employees in the development of bibliographic thought in the Soviet period and at present is revealed. It is noted that in the context of a reduction in the teaching of bibliographic disciplines in universities and the corresponding liquidation of special bibliographic departments, the center for conducting bibliographic research and specialized scientific events (conferences, seminars, methodological meetings etc.) is moving to libraries.

The article is devoted to the study of the biographical direction of publications in the journal “Library” (“Red Librarian”, “Librarian”). The result of de visu browsing was the formation of a bibliographic list (863 entries — information about 800 persons related to library and bibliographic activities). Four periods in the development of the journal, which coincide with the changes in its name, were identified: “Librarian” (1910—1916); “Red Librarian” (1923—1941); “Librarian” (1946—1990); “Library” (1991 — present). On the basis of this periodization the analysis of the content of the researched subject is built (the article covers the first two periods). It is shown that the traditions of the biographical genre were laid from the very beginning of the journal’s publication, supported and developed throughout its history. A wide range of publications covering the life and activities of different representatives of librarianship — from doctors of science to ordinary rural librarians — is noted. The most popular heroes of publications and the most active authors are highlighted. The relevance of biographical research at present is emphasized.

One of the most difficult tasks in the study of bindings of old printed books is to determine the time of their manufacture in the absence of a date affixed by the bookbinder or the customer and other documented information. The study attempts to identify the characteristic features of Russian bindings of the last two decades of the 18th century, based on a group of bindings united by one material — decorative flyleaf paper with block-printed pattern. The article tells about the history of the manufacture of such decorative papers in Europe and Russia in the 18th century, about the types of printed drawings of Russian papers and the peculiarities of their use in bookbinding. Endpapers made of block-printed paper became one of the characteristic features of Russian bindings of the 1780s—1790s. The research is based on books printed in Moscow printing houses from the collection of publications of the civil press of the 18th century in the Department of Rare Books of the Russian State Library (Book Museum). There were 1080 books in-octavo format of the 1780s—1790s were selected in solid-leather bindings only with block-printed endpapers, their design and decorative features were identified and described. The analysis showed that such endpaper was almost always combined in the binding with marbled calfskin of a special pattern as a cover material, which can be considered as a sign of a special genre of binding. His other features: the method of fastening the endpapers, the absence of a headband and ribbon or cord bookmarks, characteristic stamping stamps — are non-specific, but also quite regular, so they can be used for more accurate dating and other domestic bindings of the late 18th century.

The article is devoted to the hectographed Old Believer publications stored in Scientific Research Department of Rare Books (the Book Museum) in Russian State Library. A brief description of the composition of the collection is presented, as well as the specifics of its formation (in the absolute majority such publications were received after the revolutionary events of 1917). The main sources of their receipt were the book collections of the most famous Old Believer community in Moscow (at the Rogozhsky cemetery), as well as the nationalized library of the Brotherhood of St. Peter the Metropolitan. For historians of the book, the thematic composition of the collection of Old Believer authors and writings is of interest.

The Great Patriotic War left a deep mark not only in official history, but also in the individual memory of many generations, and also influenced the formation of national mentality and historical self-perception. Diaries and memoirs of direct participants in those events are a valuable sources of historical information. The article provides a similar review of a number of fundamental scientific and auxiliary annotated indexes of memoir literature (relating to the period 1941—1945), prepared with the participation of bibliographers of the Russian State Library.

The article traces the main milestones of the life of the outstanding cultural critic, documentologist and librarian A.V. Sokolov (1934—2023). He was a Candidate of Technical Sciences (1967) and Doctor of Pedagogical Sciences (1979), professor at the Leningrad (then St. Petersburg) State Institute of Culture (1980), founded the first Department of Computer Science in the system of national library education, headed the Department of Branch Bibliography at the same institute. He was a member of the editorial boards of leading professional publications, including the journal Bibliotekovedenie [Russian Journal of Library Science]. A.V. Sokolov published 35 monographs and textbooks, about 800 scientific papers. He has trained one doctor and 42 candidates of pedagogical, philological sciences, as well as cultural studies. He consistently defended the point of view that the library is the humanistic stronghold of the nation, and digitalization (informatization, automation) is only an auxiliary tool for strengthening book culture as the basic value of human culture.

The article covers the main directions of the activities of a major Soviet and Russian scientist Eduard Rubenovich Sukiasyan (22.06.1937—27.02.2021): cataloguing and cataloguing, systems of library and bibliographic classifications, training of librarians in Russia and abroad. A new book from the series “The Great Librarian” dedicated to E.R. Sukiasyan is presented. It describes his contribution to the training of teachers at universities of culture and to the development of the academic discipline “Library Catalogues”, the use of his advice in the development of lectures by the author of the article, E.R. Sukiasyan’s participation in discussions and reviewing books and articles on library catalogues, library processing, training and retraining of future cataloguers.

Digitalization is changing the environment in which libraries operate. The processes of production, storage, dissemination and use of information are undergoing significant changes. Reference and bibliographic service in the operational mode “request — response” is the most sensitive to the ongoing transformations. The problem of developing an optimal functional and organisational model of reference and bibliographic service is of particular relevance. The article is devoted to the review and analysis of the organisation of reference and bibliographic services in ten national libraries of the world on the basis of monitoring of official sites. The author defines the main forms of reference and bibliographic services, communication channels and ways of interaction of reference and bibliographic services with users. Special attention is paid to the currently dominant multilevel service model and its modifications. The problem of the crisis of reference bureau — stationary point of reference and bibliographic service is considered as a private one. The main tendencies of modernization of reference and bibliographic service in the digital age are revealed. The key drivers of change, in the author’s opinion, are the desire to link the library more closely to institutional strategy and to provide enhanced research support to those who need it.

A review is given of the monograph by O.N. Ilyina, dedicated to personal libraries in Russia in the 18th—20th centuries. Nowadays the task of creating a personal libraries history is topical both in the sphere of interdisciplinary humanitarian research, in the field of book studies, and within the framework of reading psychology. This monograph is the first experience of a special generalizing work on the stated topic. The structure of the work, its chronological framework, novelty and significance for domestic library science, book science and cultural studies are considered. It is concluded that the reviewed work, both in terms of the amount of material analyzed and the terminological issues raised, seems to be a landmark event in the study of the history of Russian libraries.

A review is given of the biographical collection “The Great Librarian: Eduard Rubenovich Sukiasyan”, published in 2023 in the publishing house “Pashkov House”. This edition is dedicated to one of the most famous and authoritative theorists and practitioners of librarianship in our country, a truly large-scale Russian librarian, author of over a thousand scientifi c publications, Honoured Worker of Culture of the Russian Federation. The book contains unknown details of the biography of Eduard Rubenovich Sukiasyan (1937-2021) related to his youth and student years, other interesting episodes of his creative path, fragments of diary entries. The edition also includes reminiscences of E.R. Sukiasyan’s friends and colleagues and an impressive list of the scientist’s published works since 1960.

The article deals with the book by Moscow historian G.A. Kosmolinskaya about the album with views of Paris by F.V. Karzhavin (1745—1812). The newest edition dedicated to the original fi gure of the Russian culture reveals his personality and heritage, which enjoy the close attention of book scientists and historians. The libraries collected by F.V. Karzhavin in Europe, Russia and America in the second half of the XVIII century occupy a notable place in the book culture. Almost every book he held in his hands contains his notes or records – the living responses of an emotional and thoughtful reader. G.A. Kosmolinskaya’s monographic publication brings the Karzhavinsky album about the capital of the Age of Enlightenment to the highest level of book studies, opening up prospects for new special studies.

The review of the All-Russian scientifi c conference “23rd Pavlenkov Readings. Book business in Russia in the 19th — early 20th century”, held in the Russian National Library on 17—19 October 2023, presents the reports delivered at the plenary session and four sections: “Ivan Sergeevich Aksakov (1823—1886) — publisher, publicist, poet: to the 200th anniversary of his birth”, “History of publishing”, “History of book collections” and “History of censorship”. The participants of the readings were researchers from St Petersburg, Moscow, Moscow region, Nizhny Novgorod, Orel, Samara, Khabarovsk. The speakers represented various scientifi c institutions: libraries, universities, museums. Among them there were both experienced book historians and novice researchers who touched upon various aspects of the history of the book in their reports.

The article describes the interregional scientifi c and practical conference “Tula traditions of library and book personal collecting: history and modernity” (Tula, 18— 19 October 2023), organized by the Tula Regional Scientifi c Library, part of the Regional Library and Information Complex. Special attention was paid to the reports devoted to the study of personal book collections, the history of the formation of library collections and work with rare copies, including the Register of Book Monuments of the Russian Federation.

The article provides an overview of the work of the international scientific conference “Textbook of the 15—19 Centuries in Library, Museum and Archival Collections: Rarities and Valuable Collections”, held in Moscow, at the Russian State Library, November 1-2, 2023. Within the framework of the conference, four sessions were held: “Problems of studying early educational publications”, “Textbooks of the 17—18 centuries”, “Visual culture and an educational book” and “Educational publications of the 19 century in personal and library collections”. The authors express the hope that the conference will become an important stage in the study of educational old printed books and will give a new impetus to historical and book studies, bibliographic, source and philological research.

On 28 November 2023, within the framework of the All–Russian meeting of heads of federal and central regional libraries of Russia, the winners of the next All– Russian competition of scientifi c papers on library science, bibliography and book studies were solemnly awarded. On behalf of the Ministry of Culture of the Russian Federation, the competition was organized by the Russian National Library and co-organized by the Russian State Library with the support of the Russian Library Association. The competition is one of the main tools for assessing the effectiveness of scientifi c activity in the fi eld of librarianship. The competition contributes to the support and development of science in librarianship within the framework of the “Strategy for the development of librarianship in the Russian Federation for the period up to 2030” and meets the objectives set by the President of the Russian Federation in the “Fundamentals of State Cultural Policy” in the fi eld of development of research of social and humanitarian nature.

The article discusses the issues of standartisation and methodical provision of the domestic book business following an example of long-term activities of G.P. Kalinina who celebrated seventieth anniversary on the 9th December 2023. The main achievements of jubilee woman for almost 50 years of working at the Russian Book Chamber until its incorporation into the structure of the Russian State Library are described. The list of the 40 main publications of G.P. Kalinina is given for 2013—2023. Besides it the list of the all 25 SIBID national standards is given in developing of which G.P. Kalinina took part as the responsible executive or the working group member.