The article presents the results of a study conducted at the Russian State Library in 2024, the purpose of which is to study the current state of the popular recommendation bibliography, which currently exists mainly in the digital environment. The object of the study was the publications of domestic specialists devoted to this type of bibliography in professional publications covering the period since 2010. Both practical and theoretical works were studied (in total, more than 60 publications were reviewed). It is shown that they analyze bibliographic activity from the standpoint of its conceptual and methodological affiliation, based on the scientific developments of the classics of the recommendation bibliography of its heyday.

The article provides a general description of research in the library sphere that touches on reading issues, including encyclopedic publications, dissertations, monographs and thematic articles, as well as publications of the results of sociological surveys. At the same time, a number of poorly studied issues and problems are highlighted: determining the prospects for the development of reading science; the specifics of publications in the library press by representatives of other specialties; weak use of the works of literary scholars; reading competence of librarians; ignoring the phenomenon of the popularity of individual books and their authors; insufficient study of reading practices on the Internet. It is concluded that a full-scale study of the phenomenon of reading is hampered by several factors, including a small number of specialists, passivity of the library community, as well as an increasingly noticeable shortage of works devoted to reading and reading communities on the Internet.

The authors present the main statistical indicators of domestic book publishing in 2024. 13 tables with comments give a clear picture of the number of titles of books and brochures, their circulation, themes, types and kinds of publications, main publishers, printing houses and the most popular authors in the field of fiction for adults and children. Special attention is paid to the problem of legislative support of the domestic book industry and its main subjects — authors and publishers. The increase in the two main statistical indicators of 2024 compared to 2023 was 7,2 per cent in the number of titles of books and brochures and 11,02 per cent in their total circulation.

The article highlights the professional relations of two well-known bibliographers, Augusta Vladimirovna Mezier (1862 or 1869—1935) and Nikolai Nikolaevich Orlov (1898— 1965). In 1924—1932, N.N. Orlovʼs views went from an enthusiastic appreciation of the “Dictionary Index on Bibliology” (the main work of A.V. Mezier) before his harsh criticism. On the basis of newly introduced epistolary sources from the collections of the Manuscript Department of the Russian State Library (including personal letters exchanged between Orlov and Mezier), an analysis of the conflict between bibliographers was carried out. Assumptions about the reasons that caused a sharp evolution of N.N. Orlovʼs positionin relation to the creative activity of A.V. Mezier are presented. The reaction of A.V. Mezier to the harsh criticism of her bibliographic work is highlighted.

The article is devoted to the outstanding geographer Alexander Alexandrovich Borzov (1874—1939), who founded the Information Bureau at the Rumyantsev Museum Library, which performed the reference and bibliographic functions and became the prototype of the reference and bibliographic service of the Russian State Library. The main stages of A.A. Borzovʼs life and work are presented, and the successes and challenges of the Information Bureau in the early years of its existence, when it was headed by Alexander Alexandrovich (1918—1926), are reflected. Despite that difficult period, information service was growing, which reflected in an increase in the number of references performed and the replenishment of the collection of bibliographic and reference publications. Thanks to A.A. Borzov and the staff of the Information Bureau, a functional and organizational model of reference and bibliographic service was formed, which later spread to the countryʼs libraries and became common. The traditions laid down by the first professional bibliographers are still carefully preserved by the staff of the libraryʼs reference and bibliographic service sector.

The article is devoted to the creative heritage of the bibliographer of the Samara Regional Universal Scientific Library Vyacheslav Mikhailovich Biryukov (1953—2005) — scientific and auxiliary bibliographic indexes, toponymic studies and research. The indexes on the folk decorative and applied arts of the Kuibyshev region of the 19—20 centuries and the ethnography of the Samara Region of the 18—20 centuries, bibliographic research on the etymology of Samara toponyms are presented.

A review of N.S. Redkina’s monograph “Library in the Information Infrastructure of Open Science”, published in 2022, is presented. It is shown that the author has done a lot of work to systematize existing developments in the framework of this topic and offers innovative recommendations to strengthen the role of scientific libraries in the development of information infrastructure. The review briefly describes the structure, content and specifics of the material presented in the monograph, and focuses on the conclusions obtained by the author as a result of his research.

The review of the book of the young researcher from the Russian State Library A.S. Sokolov published under the title “The Romanovs: Genealogical List (1728— 2023)” is presented. Nearly 800-pages folio contains information from 15 archives and 100 archival funds as well as 400 published sources. The total number of references and explanatory notes is nearly 1,5 thousand entries. The author of this weighty tome gives an extended historiographical and source study reviews of materials used by him — many of which are putting into science circulation for the first time. The book is destined for the specialists of genealogy and history, but it also will be useful and interesting for a wide range of readers (including reference and bibliographic, and information activities of libraries).

A review of the bio-bibliographic index of the historian, journalist, writer, and Moscow scholar N.N. Mitrofanov, prepared by himself, is presented. The main stages of his life and creative path are described, as well as a bibliographic list of his works over more than 60 years of creative activity. The activities of the Moscow Encyclopedia are covered in more detail (N.N. Mitrofanov was not only a member of the editorial board, but also deputy editor-in-chief, and also played an important role in the practical preparation of this unique reference publication).

The article provides information about the All-Russian Meeting on the application and modification of the Medium tables of Library and Bibliographic Classification, held on October 8—9, 2024 at the Russian State Library (RSL). It was attended by representatives of the countryʼs libraries using the LBC Medium tables in their work. Various aspects of the use of LBC, trends in the development of practical cataloging, features of application of modernized LBC tables in library practice, etc. were discussed. Special attention was paid to working with the digital format of tables — the electronic standard of the LBC, located in the official website of the RSL. The general outlines of the concept of the second edition of the LBC Medium tables were presented. The need for close cooperation of all participants in the process of creating, implementing and using tables — developers, numerous users (systematizers and catalogers, teachers and students, scientists, publishing house employees), as well as specialists in the field of information and communication technologies was emphasized. The meeting participants unanimously adopted the recommendations prepared by the organizing committee.

The Russian National Library hosted the All-Russian Scientific and Practical Conference “Libraries and Readers, Books and Texts in the Digital Age” on December 4—5, 2024. The organizers were the Reading Center of the Scientific and Methodological Department of the Russian National Library and the Reading Section of the Russian Library Association. The conference was attended by more than 200 book and education specialists from 40 regions of the Russian Federation. A wide range of reading support issues was considered. The discussion centered on the topics of state reading support programs, the study of reading in the context of interdisciplinary knowledge, reading in the electronic environment and the possibilities of library services, and the activities of libraries in the Year of the Family in Russia.

The article is devoted to the scientific and practical seminar with international participation “Museum—Library — Archive Collaborations and Information Support for Historical Science in Society”, held on December 9, 2024 at the Institute of Scientific Information on Social Sciences of the Russian Academy of Sciences. It summarizes the history of the Museums — Libraries — Archives project in the information support of Historical Science, highlights the forms of its support by the scientific, museum, library and archival communities, and outlines the prospects for its further development.

The article gives a brief overview of the work and creative path of the famous bibliographer and “chronicler” of the Russian book business Leonid Ivanovich Fursenko, who celebrated his 85th birthday on December 13, 2024. A list of his main publications for 2020—2024 is also provided.