Will the laser cutting machines save Russian libraries?

Abstract

The author analyzes the new concept of “truly modern libraries” being developed by Vadim Stepanov who suggests to review the library functions and to re-orient the libraries toward providing socio-cultural and leisure services. The author analyzes these methodological and practical recommendations within the concept while demonstrating the practical “misery” of the concept itself and the recommendations which, to one degree or another, have been being developed in the national library studies. Thus, the open access to library collections is a common place since 1930s; every large library has got special room for public events, etc. The author discusses the experience of Helsinki city library (“Oodi”) that has switched to sociocultural and leisure services. Today, “Oodi” – is a cultural and entertaining center, comprising the library oriented toward leisure activities; in fact, it franchises the title of a library. The author demonstrates that accommodating libraries within cultural, leisure and entertaining complexes has been the common practice since the Soviet period. He emphasizes that changes in the national librarianship are of the multifactor character, while automation and computerization of library processes and online access lead to decreasing the library staff number and the volume of library collections. Thus, these changes may not be regarded as the manifestation of a crisis. The author suggests the projects must be being developed more responsibly.