Our profession - 140 years

Abstract

How did the profession of the librarian become recognized by the society? The author emphasizes the role of Melvil Dewey (1851-1931) in the organization of the first library journal (The Library Journal, 1876, USA), creation of the first library society (American Library Association, 1876), declaration of the library profession as an independent one, entry of professionally trained women into libraries. He addresses the problems of interdependence between the library profession and the civil society organizations in contemporary Russia. He also scrutinizes on what factors the prestige of a profession depend.