The information infrastructure components are described. Foreign information resources and systems supporting innovative activities are examined. Integration of national information systems in the EU states into the single sci-tech and innovative space is considered a sustainable trend. The most significant Russian information systems supporting innovative activities are also reviewed. The authors argue that the communication function of the information systems of the research foundations and federal target programs is underdeveloped.

Transformation vectors for libraries as a social institution in the community based on digital information communications are examined. The necessity for changes is substantiated; library functions for the future are defined; ways of reforming are proposed.

The role of non-material assets in increasing library’s competitiveness and relevance is examined. The specific character of modern concepts of staff management making the basis for the philosophy of organizational non-material assets management is emphasized. The examples of associative coupling of librarian’s professional individualization with his/her personal brand as one of the library’s non-material assets are given. Tools for libraries’ self-assessment and evaluation of their non-material assets for systematic development (both of individual libraries and the country’s libraries on the whole) are proposed.

Library professional standards for the digital era are examined. Historical background for multifunctionality of libraries as a sociocultural institution is analyzed. The author argues that the existing library professional education system should be preserved and practicing librarians should be involved into training specialists for modern libraries.

Building the system for training professional staff for Siberian library information organizations at Kemerovo State Institute of Culture is characterized, and education challenges are discussed. Professional training vectors are defined from the perspective of the community demands.

New vectors of RNPLS&T’s education activities and their prospects are discussed. The authors describe several projects accomplished by RNPLS&T departments independently and in collaboration with interested organizations to support professional development in the area of education, science and culture, including those intended for librarians and students of secondary schools, secondary vocational schools and universities.

Based on the analysis of the publications by Boris S. Elepov, former Director of SPSL SB RAS, Dr. Sc. (Engineering), main directions of his scientific and practical activity are outlined. As a result of his activities, SPLS&T SB RAS established as a research institute, Center of scientific and technical information SB RAS, modern public library, the book Museum, a scientific and methodological centre for information and library systems of SB RAS, Siberian regional library center of continuing education, the Siberian regional center of documents conservation, regional multi-functional center providing patent information services in the field of protection of intellectual property.

The program of the 23-rd “Crimea” Conference that is now the part of the World Professional Forum “The Book. Culture. Education. Innovations” (June 4-12, 2016, Sudak, Autonomous Republic of Crimea, RF) is reviewed. The author focuses on her participation results and offers her acknowledgement to organizers.

The author examines the issues of distant learning and, in particular, the online learning course “E-libraries: Information Communication Environment”. She substantiates the relevance of this format by the need to train massively librarians and information specialists to manage big arrays of digital information as acquired by libraries. Development technique and technology for the online course of “E-libraries: Information Communication Environment” are described. Learning results based on testing statistics are presented; strong points and drawbacks of the course based on the feedback monitoring are identified; students’ reviews are considered.

Goals and ways for building the web-site of a RAS Library for Natural Sciences department are reviewed from the viewpoint of end users and librarians. Proved and efficient approaches are offered, the choice of WordBress content management system is justified, related specific problems of the research libraries working within the RAS Library for natural Sciences system are examined. As a case study of the Main Botanical Gardens Library, the contents, structure and functionality of the www-site model are examined in detail.

The authors review the projects of RNPLS&T’s Ecological Information Research & Consultation Department targeted at students ecological education and learning and support of school librarians and teachers. In particular, the research and practical workshop and lesson on climate changes based on modern and old-time publications is described. The conclusions on holding education events are offered.

The author discusses the findings of his long-time research aimed at revealing the work of the State Literature Foundation for Revival of Libraries Destroyed During the Great Patriotic War. He points to the difficulty he faced searching the national archives; reports on the meetings and talks with former GOSFOND (the national archive) officers. As a result of his research, the author compiled information on the life and work of D. B. Marchukov, full of mysteries. The article is based on the lecture delivered at the Second World Professional Forum “Crimea-2016”.

The author reviews how the authorities for managing out-of-school education and public libraries, as well as professional training in the central cities and other regions, were established. The Library Section of NARKOMPROS Out-of-school Department was among the early Soviet institutions in charge of library professional training. The section was headed by O. I. Chachina. The priority problems to be solved by the Library section (soon transformed into the Library Subdepartment) are listed.

The objective factors of decreasing interest towards reading books as a cultural phenomenon are examined. The role and impact of books on personal development are defined, the relevancy of reading as a significant factor for preserving national cultural potential is substanitated. The author concludes that attitude towards books and reading is correlated with objective factors, such as book market commercialization, decreasing number of libraries and degrading general culture of the nation. She also emphasizes that due to changing human environment and introduction of digital technologies into the communication space, the forms of book functioning have been changing, too (e.g. digital books, audiobooks). The author insists on unbreakable educational value of the books.

The results of the interregional research and practical conference “Traditional and Electronic Libraries: The essence and values” (October 4-6, 2016, Novosibirsk) are discussed, its participants are introduced. The Conference agenda is characterized. Several events are discussed, including the round table in memory of Boris Elepov.

The special section held within the 1-st International research and practical conference “Informatization of Education and e-Learning” is reviewed (September 27-30, 2016, Krasnoyarsk) is reviewed: papers, presentations, the round table “Library Information activities in electronic environment”, the exhibition “Libraries, the 21-st century: New technologies and systems”, and other events of the Section. The author says that similar exhibitions are planned for the future, including within the sessions of the RLS Academic Libraries Section (May, 2017, Krasnoyarsk).