Review of the book by Leonov V. P. Meditating on the library / V. P. Leonov ; Russian Academy of Sciences Library. St. Petersburg : RASL, 2026. 112 p. ISBN 978-5-336-00361-1

The reviewer analizes the collection of essays by Valery P. Leonov under the title “Meditating on the library” [In Russian; “Vdumyvayas v biblioteku”]. The reviewer considers the publication to becomes a significant event for the library world which is determined by Leonov’s outstanding personality and the depth of his insight. This publication is a comprehensive panorama of the library phenomenon with its societal and cultural value. In the era of information chaos and digital overloading, Valery Leonov suggests the concept of the library as a consistent system introducing order into the boundless book universe and effectively resisting knowledge entropy. The book is a kind of intellectual challenge of reconsidering traditional ideas of the library in the modern society. V. Leonov examines fundamental problems of cultural heritage preservation, information access and building nation’s intellectual potential. Its insights, originality and relevance will make it an essential companion for the librarians, researchers, faculty and everyone who is connected with books and librarianship in the 21^st century.

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