Science knowledge, libraries and the Internet. The interaction at the current stage

Abstract

The authors address the issue of impact of the Internet on academic libraries providing information support of science research and studies. Based on the 20+–year experience of the RAS Library for Natural Sciences, they demonstrate how the Library interacts with the Internet and what impact it has got. The key Library functions are specified for the current period. The authors argue that academic libraries preserve their functions in science information support though modifying them in some way. The libraries are to accomplish the same tasks though on the basis of their extended collection comprising the virtual segment accessible online. The library collections now comprise traditional sources (printed and digital) and new ones (primarily, various databases). Still the libraries train their users (formerly interpreted as readers) to use arrays of science information now comprising digital formats. Besides, the academic libraries have been gaining new functions related to bibliometrical analyses of research and science studies of individual users and organizations being served. For certain degree, this makes the academic libraries a player in scientific communication.