The relevance of the cognitive approach to the libraries and bibliography in the period of the society transformation from the information to the cognitive one is substantiated. Several trends in Russian and foreign studies of cognitive aspects of academic libraries activities are identified. The structure of library cognitive activities, their subjects and objects, processes, instruments and results are described. For the first time, based on the concept of cognitive activities, the author introduces the concept of the scientific library cognitive environment that is defined as an anthropogenic component of the library’s information space where cognitive objects and subjects are interacting and self-organizing being supported by cognitive infrastructure and related to information retrieval and processing, knowledge storage and preservation. The structure of the scientific library cognitive environment is defined based on the system of knowledge processes transformation; the environment components are intended for nonverbal transmission of implicit knowledge; conversion of implicit knowledge into explicit knowledge; distribution of bibliographic products; translation of explicit knowledge into the implicit form. The content and instrumental components of the cognitive environment are specified on account of cognitive objects. Specific features of the components are described. The author argues that there is the demand for developing librarian’s cognitive communications within the evolving scientific library cognitive environment and integration of librarians, being cognitive objects themselves, into the information technological Internet space. The article is sponsored by the RF Government (Order № 211 of March 16, 2013), Agreement № 02.А03.21.0011).

The problem of libraries classification is examined; classification is characterized; the term “type” as the aggregate diverse forms of an object is analyzed. Classification process is to support the selection of every form of the objects being classified and to reveal the essence of the type as a stable system of essential features of the subject being classified. Yu. Stolyarov’s idealized construct of a library is interpreted as a library theoretical type which enables to divide the study subject in the library science from other “libraries”. The library theoretical type corresponds with the singular concept (concept-type) of the library. The characteristic elements of the idealized construct of “Stolyarov’s library” correspond with generic concepts. Various groupings of the four elements of this mental construction determine the existence of several real library forms as the system objects of different structure. Two main library forms (two subtypes) are specified that differ in their structure: i. e. public and private libraries. Library typology is defined as a result of real library form selection in accordance with their theoretical type - the ideal construct made of 4 elements, i. e. Stolyarov’s library.

Based on the author’s detailed analysis of the archive of completed references, the specific classification of lexicographic references is introduced. The virtual lexicographical references are the result of joint efforts of bibliographers and lexicographers. This type of reference holds a specific place in bibliographic reference user service. Polyfunctionality and specific diversity make information specific features of this type of references. The focus is made on the subtypes of the lexicographic references; the examples are provided. Potential lexicographical and bibliographic services are suggested for the libraries’ virtual environment to support user self-education and self-service and intensive use of lexicographic information. The article is complemented by the table to present the classification of lexicographic virtual references.

The challenges of the information society and changes in the library world are discussed. Not to be a spare wheel in the Internet era, the libraries should upgrade the digital content they offer their users. The authors review the results of their study of information on indigenous peoples on the websites of the RF central regional libraries. Special attention is given to the digital guides of the Internet-resources that can potentially become not only the guides to library collections but also to the whole world of the Internet. The multifacet classification of digital resources generated by the libraries is suggested. Typical drawbacks of library digital guides are revealed, i. e. incomplete information on the content, lacking Internet-resource services assessment and recommendations for their specific use. The authors suggest to apply the integrated technology of building digital resources as the basis for digital guides generation and to supplement it with bibliographic (information and analytical) technologies. The authors conclude on the necessity for special methods of Internet-resource abstracting relevant to remote users information demands.

The study is completed within the framework of the state order of the Minstryof Education and Science of the Russian Federation “Monitoring and analysis of publication and patent activities in Russian and global science to support the national policy in science and technology” (Project No. 28.12616.2018/12.1). The authors aim at building relevant instruments for assessing and forecasting the total amount of Russian science publication based on the data of two global science citation systems, i. e. Web of Science and Scopus, with de-duplicating by digital object identifier used in both systems. The related tasks are defined: selection of the method to forecast the number of Web of Science indexed articles within the “back forecast” method; development of integral index to calculate the number of publication based on Web of Science and Scopus data; calculation and forecast of the number of articles and publications by G7 and BRICS states up to the year 2021 with scientometric methods based on Web of Science and Scopus data. The authors suggest a conceptually new method to calculate the integral index of publications based on Web of Science and Scopus data to exclude duplication. The total number of academic articles and publications (based on Web of Science and Scopus data) is calculated for the period 2007-2016, and the forecast is provided up to the year 2021.

The authors review the annual scientific and methodological conference “Continuous library and information education” held by the Library and Information Department of St. Petersburg State Institute of Culture, on March 22-23. The Institute faculty, students, librarians and professionals in library and information education from near and far abroad of Russia participated in the Conference. In 2018, St. Petersburg State Institute of Culture celebrates its 100^th anniversary, therefore the Conference focused on the history of schools of pedagogical sciences of the department. The presenters were examining the term “school of pedagogical science” and characterizing the phenomenon. The schools of sciences of the core chairs of the Institute’s Library Department were represented. The paper by Irina Pilko highlighted the development of Kemerovo library scientific school. Foreign colleagues spoke on the current trends in the library and information education. The IFLA 2017 study intermediate results were presented.