The authors examine the problems of strategic transformation of scitech libraries (STL) in the context of the national sci-tech policy (NSTP). Based on the register comprising 1,955 organizations, and the study of relevant trends, the authors introduce the unified integrated STI model – The Integrated Research Cycle Hub. The model incorporates four variable profiles (research analytical, technological innovative, educational, and service infrastructural) to be adapted to the specific nature of a university. They substantiate the need for changing the library role from passive information preservation to intensive support of the complete knowledge lifecycle (from idea generation to commercialization of findings). The focus is also made on the model SWOT-analysis and its implementation stages. The authors argue that their approach would empower system modernization of STLs and increase their contribution to the national scientific and innovative infrastructure.

This article presents the findings of the study and comparative analysis of the leading trends in the development of academic libraries. The study is based on the content analysis of generalizing research publications of the recent eighteen months (2024–2025). The array of 28 works was selected from open scientific literature databases: Dimensions, Open Alex, GoogleScholar, and eLIBRARY.RU. The four-element library model developed by renowned Russian librarian Yu. N. Stolyarov served as the methodological basis for identifying categories in the content analysis. The library model elements served as the starting point for the analysis; the total of 32 semantic units were identified through categorization. The results of the content analysis are visualized in the tables, where each semantic unit is illustrated with corresponding citations from the selected publications. The comparison of categories and semantic units revealed eight relevant areas for the development of academic libraries today. The word cloud (Wordcloud.online) is used to visualize the results of content analysis. The findings evidence on the potential of Yu. N. Stolyarov's four-element model for the studies of academic libraries at the current stage of their evolution.

In the recent period, several strategic federal and regional documents were adopted in the library field. On March 13, 2021, the RF Government adopted “The strategy for librarianship development in the Russian Federation for the period up to the year 2030”; subsequently, the experts of Sakhalin Regional Universal Library developed “The strategy for librarianship in Sakhalin Region up to the year 2030”.with the further approval by the regional Ministry of Culture and Archival Services. Both documents provide a special status to research and methodological support of libraries. The methodological support of municipal libraries is increasingly demanded today with searching for and implementing innovative forms of support and their continuous upgrade. Based on the findings of the study of methodological support of Sakhalin region’s public libraries, and their further analysis, the author offers her recommendations to meet the local needs and demand.

Anatoly Nikolaevich Vaneev is an outstanding figure in the library science, who made significant contribution to the study of various aspects of the discipline. He is a theorist, methodologist, and founder of the history of library science. His works cover a wide range of topics, including the nature of the library science and its place in the system of sciences, methodological issues, library’s social functions, library management, readers typologys, reading guidance, and the methodological support of library and information science. A. N. Vaneev contributed to the theory of reading guidance, which he viewed as the system comprising the most complete and high-quality satisfaction of readers' requests, as well as shaping new interests and needs. He proved that reading guidance was the libraries’ inherent function. During different historical periods, the reading guidance has manifested itself in various ways, however its essence has always been to assist readers in choosing books and searching for optimum ways to acquire knowledge. Initially, it implied “guidance in reading”, and later it redefined itself as a targeted impact upon readers along every vector of library work. As an essential principle, reading guidance has developed into one of the most effective tools within the librarian-reader interaction. The interrelation of reading guidance with the practice of slow reading, which is increasingly introduced into library activities, is shown. The theory of reading guidance developed by A. N. Vaneev is still popular which is evidenced by emerging concepts and studies.

The author analyzes the approaches of RAE pedagogue researchers toward the phenomenon of reading: from reading as a primary school discipline to its social, cultural, psychological, socializing and other functions, as recognized, to a certain degree, through the efforts of the RAE Reading Research Council. The Council contains experts in many disciplines (sociologists, pedagogues, psychologists, neuropsychologists, bibliologists, library scientists, etc.) to study various aspects of reading. The author reviews the contributions by RAE Reading Research Council for 15 years (2010–2025).

The authors discuss the results of the development of the new master version of the State Rubricator of Sci-tech Information (SRSTI, GRNTI) in part of updating and upgrading polyhierarchical links between the ubject headings and developing the rubricator’s reference apparatus. New links between subject headings are established in SRSTI classification schedule to reflect the types of subject belonging to different thematic classes and subclasses in various structural locations; reference notes are updated to reveal and specify their subject contents; information on subject heading data maintenance is provided. In total, 1,211 changes are made to the current SRSTI version reference apparatus, including 921 new polyhierarchical links and 43 notes; 133 links and 4 notes removed, information on 99 links and 11 notes updated. Significantly, the link “see also” is the main type of new polyhierarchical links between the subject headings with the 65% share. This evidences on the increasing interdisciplinary component within the SRTSTI structure. The developed reference apparatus of SRTSTI 2025 master version supports the deeper structuring of polyhierarchical links between subject headings and the more clear delineation of their thematic aspects which increases the quality of indexing information resources with relevant subject headings.

The content of Digital Transformation (DT) as a factor of research library sustainability is discussed. In Part 2, the authors argue that the most significant vectors of digital transformation (DT) in this country are: exponential growth of remote users (readers); development of e-libraries; digital resources and specialized computerized systems; digital user services provided online; personification of library services in the digital environment; library collections digitalization, etc. Eventually, the digital space for collection development, storage and information retrieval emerges. The authors analyze the library digital space, its interior and exterior components. Building open digital information spaces on the basis of libraries induces sustainable development (SD) of residential settlements, attracts users to the libraries, provides specialists with the instrument for advocating and promoting sustainable development goals (SDGs). The authors describe the thematic collections in ecology and nature management acquired by Russian libraries, including RNPLST. They analyze the findings of the ecological movement survey of Russian regional libraries and discuss challenges and concerns related to the libraries digital transformation (LDT). The authors introduce the term (green ICT). They conclude that against the challenges of SDGs and conspicuous doubts of non-achieving these goals, the digital transformation may become a powerful instrument for achieving them. This is also important in the library and information sector. The authors insist that the digital transformations in the libraries support the SD principles.

The author discusses the experience of Moscow State Institute of Culture (MSIC) in implementing the practice-oriented approach to the leaning activities within the course unit “Personal information culture” (PIC). The peculiarity is that the students reinforce the knowledge they obtain during lectures with practice. Since September 2023, the course “Personal information culture” has been taught to majority of the MSIC students, including the students of the Library and Information Department. The importance of this academic discipline in training specialists in the library and information sphere is emphasized. The focus is also made on the challenges of the practice-oriented approach to teaching PIC. The problems include, in particular, academic fraud, adapting the course for the students with special educational needs (in particular, visually impaired students), as well as psychological characteristics of the young generation. Possible solutions are examined. The author remarks that, in general, the library and information students demonstrate the highest PIC performance.