The authors discuss the methodology of global digital platforms development in the context of Russia’s transfer to the information society. The authors apply the theory of generations, statistical data provided by ROSSTAT and the Ministry of Science and Higher Education, to identify the most promising class of global digital platforms – that is the classes that comprise personality-oriented adaptive educational systems and library information systems providing data to build the curriculum. The essential criteria for transforming information library systems into smart libraries are suggested. Based on the criteria, the literature selection algorithm is developed. It is based on the cluster analysis of R. Cattell’s personality multifactor testing, form C. The selected literature is studied with the subsequent formation of average typical user profiles within lumped program tracks. The search sample is reduced through the modified method of science citation index assessment applied to conference proceedings and academic journals, which is the new approach to monographs and textbooks selection, and typical user psychological and emotional profiles. The authors provide recommendations on implementing their findings in the CIS and RF-friendly countries.

The author accomplished the marketing analysis of academic library services as the case study of Cherepovets State University Library, a flagship university of Vologda Region. She characterizes the status of library services, strengths and weaknesses, opportunities and threats, challenges and expectations of modern library users. The novelty of the article lies in the use of marketing analysis tools and the results obtained. The practical value of library services for users is revealed. With four criteria, namely demographic, geographic, psychographic and behavioral, the target user of university library services is characterized in detail. The author applies the research methods of analysis, comparison, observation, Google survey, in-depth interview, and empathy mapping. Four levels of university library services aree analyzed based on the “service pyramid”. The quantitative findings of marketing research are provided. The author demonstrates that despite most students prefer electronic communications, they do not ignore the hybrid, online and offline, mode of interaction with the library. She also shows that modern academic library users are emotionally neutral towards the library services. Recommendations are offered for the further development of academic library services.

The authors discuss the challenges and ways of grant support of librarianship, and review the most popular Russian sponsor foundations. The grants make the commonly available way to get investment support that enables noncommercial organizations to accomplish their socially and profes- sionally valuable projects. To win a grant, the applicant has to identify the “right” sponsor among different categories, their specialization and recommendations on application and documents to be submitted for the contest. The authors characterize Russian charity foundations and classify them by the founder type, e. g. governmental, private, corporate, and agencies. The foundations provide grants along the lines corresponding to projects and programs of non-profit organizations within the information and library sphere. The authors describe the key thematic vectors for grants awarding; indicate the websites, and provide brief recommendations on how to prepare grant applications.

The author focuses on the book charity drives to support the libraries in Donetsk and Lugansk republics, Kherson and Zaporozhye regions, and examines the contribution of state and non-government organizations. The experience of the Great Patriotic War (WWII) in restoration of the libraries in cleared areas and the possibilities to use this experience today, is explored. The need for coordination center for developing collections in the new territories is substantiated. The challenges of these libraries’ entering the RF digital space are discussed. The author analyzes the role of federal libraries in professional retraining of the librarians in the new regions, and the content of the programs offered by leading library and information centers for the librarians in Donetsk and Lugansk republics, Kherson and Zaporozhye regions. The author argues that the substantive side of the libraries in the new RF areas has to be reformatted in recognition of the hostile Ukrainian policy that the above libraries had to communicate for several decades.

Based on the review of professional literature and selected monitoring of Russian and foreign library websites, the author introduces readers to the Artificial Intelligence (AI) technologies for bibliographic services. She focuses on artificial neural networks as one of the most popular AI instruments. In particular, she discusses practical experiences of using AI in bibliographic services and supporting library and information areas, including information indexing. The author provides examples to demonstrate the AI potential for higher quality and performance in bibliographic and user services, e. g. interaction with users through chat bots, advanced bibliographic search, references, personalized information awareness services, etc. The AI instruments including neural networks are also used for metadata extraction and bibliographic records generation. Today, library chat bots and text intellectual analysis systems are the most developed services. The findings of the study demonstrate that AI technologies enable to accomplish user bibliographic services, though not all AI benefits and drawbacks have been revealed yet. The author suggests that expanding AI sphere would enable to improve quality and efficiency of bibliographic services, competences of bibliographers, and to introduce new types and forms of bibliographic services. The article is prepared within the framework of R&D “The model of reference and bibliographic services for the national libraries” (reg. No. 122021800339-7) of the Russian State Library.

The author analyzes and evaluates the current situation with training library and information personnel at the Center for Libraries and Digital Knowledge of Vietnam National University (Hanoi) in the context of the digital transformation of the library industry in Vietnam. The following issues are highlighted: the role of library and information personnel in the digital transformation of the library industry; application of the ASK model (attitude, skills, knowledge) to analyze the current situation with information and library human resources at the Center for Libraries and Digital Knowledge of the Vietnam National University, Hanoi. The statistically reliable data evidence on the imbalance of three main components of the planned program: the level of professional library training for the implementation of the goals is generally sufficient; the qualifications of employees in the field of new information technologies look weaker. Third, the librarians’ practical knowledge of foreign languages is of particular concern, which is essential for real digital transformation of libraries. The author offers assessments and recommendations to improve the training of library personnel capable and to meet the requirements of the digital transformation of the library industry in Vietnam.

The missionary activities within the cultural life of Kazan region was related to book production, distribution and use. The authors focus on the book missions and, in particular, on the contribution of St. Gurias Brotherhood Translator Commission to publishing translated missionary books in Russia’s native languages. They analyze the repertoire of missionary books published by St. Gurias Brotherhood in 1867–1915 categorized by target regions and related strategy of translations of religious, secular, popular and educational literature into the languages of the Russian Empire. The authors attempt to evaluate the significance of the Translator Commission endeavors in the missionary and secular educational fields. The Translator Commission activities, aimed at the spread of Christianity, facilitated the development of alphabets of previously “oral” nations in the eastern Russian regions, and of book publishing in the native languages. The missionary publications of St. Gurias Brotherhood Translator Commission had a significant impact on development of the book culture of the nations of Kazan region.

The author knows Andrey I. Zemskov for over 30 years and is captured by his communication style, and his interest toward current issues of library science and documentology. A. Zemskov keeps abreast of Russian literature and regularly reviews foreign publications. His article “The document science – the past, present and the future” (2006) is of particular significance. The author analyzes in detail the interpretation of e-document suggested by A. Zmeskov in cooperation with Y. Shrayberg. A. Zemskov explores in depth the fundamental characteristics of e-documents, their specific types, life cycle and even the cost. Against the interna- tional interpretation of the “document” notion, that enables to expand or to narrow down its content arbitrary, the term “information resources” seems redundant. Moreover, Andrey Zemskov has reduced the notion of “e-library” to two subsystems instead of four. Despite some cleavage in regard to Zemskov’s views, the author recognizes his contribution to documentology and library collection studies. Beside these disciplines, in his papers, A. Zemskov places high emphasis on the key chal- lenges of modern librarianship, in particular on bibliometrics and open access is- sues. Andrey I. Zemskov is a prominent analyst and his views have to be considered. The very discussion on the key theoretical issues evidences on the significance of his reasoning.