The author discusses several aspects of analyzing publishing activities of young researchers. The study goal is to organize consistent engagement of young professionals into organizational research and development projects. She emphasizes that engagement of young scientists, support of their R&D and innovative projects are among the most significant priorities in the national strategy. The study subject is the data on publications authored or coauthored by young researchers analyzed by the organizational research vectors (reference groups). Both statistical methods and multicriterial analysis are applied; a method to accomplish positional assessment of publication activity is suggested. This methodology embraces the criteria and scales oriented toward automated data mining within existing database tables. The information bases of research organizations and exterior information resources comprising digital eLIBRARY, RISC’s bibliographic science citation databaseб and The White List information complex will support the program modules to be developed. The test case of suggested algorithms and solutions is discussed.

The author analyzes the results of the All-Russian educational campaign “The Library Dictation” for 2019–2024. The study is based on the campaign organized by Novosibirsk Regional Youth Library. It applies qualitative, quantitative and comparative analysis methods. The findings evidence on the tenfold increase in the number of participants (6,000 in 2024), with the coverage of 76 Russian regions. The author emphasizes that the contest has transformed from the youth into the intergenerational one. He specifies the most challenging tasks and provides the examples. The most difficult questions deal with the foreign library experiences and modern practices. The author offers recommendations for the project development: to adapt the content for different age groups, to exclude local speciality questions for the geographically extended audience, and to focus on the young professionals while keeping the project attractive for older age groups. Within the conceptual framework, the author recommends to generate the thesaurus of key competences for test programming, to implement the system of question cross-validation by extended expert team, and to introduce multilevel assessment system and test tasks for different proficiency levels.

The content of Digital Transformation (DT) as a factor of research library sustainability is revealed. In Part 1 of the study, the current status of transformation of modern society into the one based on information and knowledge, is discussed. The definitions of DT and its major attributes in respect of library development are provided. The definition of Sustainable Development (SD) is cited, along with 17 global Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) to be achieved by 2030 approved by the UN General Assembly in 2015. In particular, the SDGs to be realized through introduction of modern digital technologies, are specified. Research libraries are expected to play an active part in this process. The activities of the IFLA Environment, Sustainability and Libraries (ENSULIB) Section are discussed. The ENSULIB special project – designing and maintaining the special page dealing with green and sustainable libraries on the IFLA website – The Green Library Website – is analyzed. The website is an example of organization of thematic e-space comprising various aspects of green and sustainable librarianship. The authors conclude on the two major related trends in librarianship. Trend One – orientation towards SD, creating green and sustainable libraries. Trend Two – successful digitalization and DT of libraries to facilitate the libraries enrollment into the green movement.

The author examines the transformation of the role of scientific and technical libraries in the context of digital economy and their integration into the ecosystem of youth research creativity. She analyzes several challenging issues, such as the fragmentation of scientific platforms and the lack of unified coordination system for young researchers, with the focus on the need for adapting library services to the characteristics of Generation Z. The study employs correlation analysis and systems approach, revealing significant relationships between library activity indicators and scientific achievements: the correlation coefficient between library visits and the choice of a scientific career is 0.781, while the correlation between collection size and patent activity is 0.894. The influence of key megatrends on library system development is also examined. The main findings include the evidence of the long-term impact of libraries on youth scientific engagement, development of ecosystem model for libraries as multifunctional research hubs, and specific proposals for modernizing library services. The scientific novelty of the study lies in its unique comprehensive analysis of the role of libraries in the context of youth research creativity, the development of original ecosystem model, and identification of new patterns in the influence of library activity on scientific achievements. The practical significance of the study lies in its potential application for improving government science and technology policies, designing digital transformation programs for libraries, and creating integrated platforms to support young researchers.

The authors discuss digitalization of the Central Sci-Tech Library (CSTL) of the Institute of Scientific and Technical Information in Donetsk People’s Republic. They analyze the current trends in Russian library sphere digitalization, including regulative documents and regional strategies. They emphasize that digitalization is vital for ensuring access to information, client orientation and building the single space of scientific knowledge. They examine the approaches toward library modernization; specify the essential digitalization elements, e.g. library collection digitization, acquisition of databases and digital collections. They also discuss the problems of e-library acquisition and the experience of building integrated digital systems. The need to digitize the Central Sci-tech Library as Donbass’ oldest multidiscipline specialized library is substantiated. Based on the analysis of current trends, six approaches to the library digitalization are specified. The genesis of the traditional library transformation into the electronic one is discussed. The CSTL digitalization process is detailed, i.e. implementation of IRBIS64 ALIS that enables to start library collection inventory and e-cataloguing; acquisition of the database “Guide to the Library’s Depository” based on PostgreSQL DBMS that structures information on the collection, including rare and valuable publications, proceedings and serials on Donbass coal industry. The authors emphasize that SCTL modernization including collection digitalization is the key measure to preserve regional research and cultural legacy and to integrate it into the All-Russia library space.

This paper presents the outcomes of the second scientific and practical conference organized by INION RAS, dedicated to artificial intelligence (AI) in library activities. The essence of the presentations is summarized, covering both theoretical and practical aspects of using neural network applications in library practice in Russia and neighbor countries. Notably, whereas a year ago the tone of the presentations was set by information business, this year the majority of speakers were library professionals, clearly indicating AI expansion and deepening implementation into the library field.
It is evident that library processes today are adapting to the realities of a new level of digital environment. Librarians are constantly addressing emerging technical, methodological, and organizational challenges. Significant progress has been made in cataloging, subject indexing, and high-quality recognition of documentary collections, which has enabled the introduction of substantial information resources into cultural circulation. Despite the high cost of implementing neural network solutions, they demonstrate their effectiveness and economic feasibility. By automating routine tasks, these technologies allow library specialists to focus on more complex and creative objectives.
At the same time, the participants observed that the niche for libraries as information intermediaries was steadily shrinking due to the launch of intelligent systems that interact with users at the level of guiding researcherы or expert consultantы. This compels serious reflection on the role and functions of libraries in the near future.
The conference participants expressed their strong belief that intensive AI use had to become the integral part of library profession. Its informed and knowledgable application can help the libraries to regain the role of active agents in the information sphere, providing services up to the latest standards.

The paper comprises the findings of the integrated study of using large language models (LLMs) artificial intelligence (AI) technologies in the national library information practice. The comparative analysis is accomplished for Russian (GigaChat, YaGPT) and foreign (ChatGPT, Claude, LLaMA, Mistral, DeepSeek) LLM applications for three key library tasks, i. e. semantic deconstruction of user queries, recognition of handwritten catalog cards, and automated correction of text errors.
The system testing on representative query selection, handwritten cards and fulltext document images via APIs was accomplished. The critical limitations of existing solutions are revealed: instability and degradation of models, excessive censorship with high percentage of false triggering, inexistent data generation (hallucinations), and unpredictability of structured inference, or cultural and linguistic barriers.
Based on the study findings, the specialized IRBIS AI system based on the Mixture of Experts architecture was designed to ensure prompt and stable processing of bibliographic data. The authors discuss the practical implementation in J-IRBIS 2.0 module with three modes of AI-support: reference services, query semantic processing, and intellectual literature selection. The prospects for building the library portal with AI-controlled interface, cataloguing automation through multimodal models, integrated processing of unstructured data, and image catalogs transformation, are outlined.

The article summarizes the practical experience of the Scientific Library of the Belarusian National Technical University (BNTU) in building a full-featured digital collection within the institutional repository with generative artificial intelligence (AI). The relevance of the study is determined by the need to master new technologies and to expand the range of library services and acquiring the unique digital content. The authors analyze and detail into the proven technique of building the digital illustrated collection «105 – ∞», applied in the BNTU Repository. The presented methodology covers all stages of the project: from concept development and selection of AI tools (ChatGPT, DALL-E 3) to generation of textual and visual content, document formation and allocation in the repository. The focus is made on the practical aspects of prompt engineering, metadata management, as well as ethical and copyright issues in the context of placing AIgenerated materials. The result of the study is not only the acquired collection, but also the scalable methodology, demonstrating the key advantages (automation, creation of innovative content) and limitations (the need for verification, adherence to ethical standards) of using AI. The accomplished case study is of practical significance, as other libraries and repositories can use its findings.