The author investigates why the term “scientific library” may not be accepted as a separate class within the classification of libraries based on structural systematization. She also reviews the idea of the scientific library as seen by the national science in the 1930s when this phenomenon was first conceptualized. The concept by Dmitry D. Ivanov is examined; he made distinction between the two library processes: generation of library documents and their delivery to users. The author emphasizes the closeness of D. Ivanov’v ideas to her own interpretation of “the public library” concept. She concludes that the libraries of any structure (public or private individual) may support science though we may not identify a separate class of the scientific libraries within the general library classification based on structural systematization. However, the author does not rule out building an isolated classification where the concept of “the scientific library” will be divided into two types in accordance with the concept structure, namely “the public scientific library” and “private use library”. Further division would be similar to that of the general classification. The author considers the concept of “the research library” to be optional for the national library science.

The author examines the innovative user services at academic university libraries. The experience of Vitebsk P. M. Masherov State University Scientific Library is discussed. The author names and characterizes the priority vectors of innovative services, e. g. building the institutional open access repository, promotion of the university researchers’ publications in information and analytical systems, using modern methods of book popularization to promote reading among the young adults, etc. The University repository won the third place among Belarus university repositories. The author points to different impact factors influencing the libraries during different historical periods. In the early 21st century, computer technologies act as an accelerator factor. The Library holds training workshops for the University employees on generating authors’ accounts within the Google Scholar system, and, as a result all the University’s scholars and researchers have got their personal accounts. The database of the personal www-pages of the professors and faculty of Vitebsk P. M. Masherov State University is generated; other innovative activities are described, e. g. working via the social media, reading promotion, virtual book displays, new acquisitions reviews, etc.

An article about the system of catalogs – the concept, composition, functions of different catalogs in the system, about the standards and regulatory documents on the basis of which the system of catalogs was built in libraries. The system of catalogs was created and improved in libraries for a long time. Thirty years ago, an ideal system of catalogs developed in the country, effectively providing information retrieval. Terminological problems were solved. Standard documents are approved. Libraries were preparing for the introduction of OPACs. But development has gone the wrong way. Professional library specialists were not involved in the work, world experience was not studied. The author shows that the technological revolution and library automation has destroyed the principles of upbuilding a system of catalogs. The communications are lost where an OPACs has come to replace it, there are no references, there are no dialogue with readers. These shortcomings are associated with unsuccessful programs that were developed without taking into account the opinions of professional librarians. There was no complete replacement of card catalogs with an OPACs. However, this did not prevent the closure of card catalogs in a number of libraries in the country.

The social media have become part and parcel of the modern society, as they are a social communication channel. Using social networks for connecting to potential users have been increasingly important for the libraries. The libraries have been setting up groups and accounts in the social media to connect to their users, to draw attention to their work and to widen its scope. The university libraries, like many other libraries of educational institutions, participate in the process. The author analyzes the experience of Perm State Humanitarian Pedagogical University with VKontakte network subscribers group in 2013-2018. The general statistical data characterize group evolution during the selected period; dynamics of views, and the viral coverage and subscribers group coverage are provided. The author examines the administration mistakes that result in the loss of subscribers; she reviews the experience of attracting users, and rules for content presentation. She concludes that group success is determined by interesting and quality content relevant to the group aims and tasks; that the librarian in charge must be familiar with the principles of social group administering and content generation in accordance with the library’s goals and tasks.

The university libraries are to support traditional and digital access to the learning, academic, research and information resources and to maintain modern information and library space. According to the Federal State Educational Standard (FGOS), and due to the growth of distance learning forms, the students must have access to the wide range of digital resources. Thus, along with subscribing to external digital library systems and databases, Novosibirsk State Pedagogical University Library maintains the University’s digital library system. The author discusses new approaches and solutions for designing repositories and organization of information resources, methods and instruments for users to access them. As the case study of Novosibirsk State Pedagogical University, acquisition of the University’s Digital Library System collection is discussed as well as the Interuniveristy E-library which is the integrated union database of universities’ digital documents providing general access to the digital resources of the member universities. The membership in the Interuniveristy E-library enables universities to support educational programs with electronic resources; enables students, post-graduates and the faculty to keep track of digital publications by the member universities; provides the platform for the faculty to place on and to promote their works.

The national document flow in the area of information safety is analyzed based on the Russian Science Citation Index database for 1993–2017. Its volume makes over 18,000 entries including up to 59% articles and conference proceeding (28%). The flow dynamics demonstrates its annual growth – it is ahead of other science information flows in the number of documents. The dispersion of publications in periodicals in 2016 is characterized; the dependence of the information flow completeness from the number of sources is considered. The findings of microflow study have proved the provision of S. Bradford’s law of the periodicals division into three zones. The “core” comprises 52 journals, primarily in the related sectors rather than those specializing in the mentioned area which evidences on the vibrant interdisciplinary character of the problem. The authors characterize information significance of the most productive journals using such indicators as the 2-year impact-factor and the number of article loads. It was found that the impact-factor as a criteria of journal influence was in the range 0.040–1.435, while the number of loads was from 252 to 56,041. The accessibility of the “core” journals in the RSCI as related to the availability of full texts and the open access and their coverage by RSCI, WoS and Scopus databases are discussed.

The purpose of this publication is to show the continuity and development of the basic ideas of bibliometrics over the past 15 years. Continuity is essential not only in preserving the subject matter, but also in personalities: Dr. Ball, the organizer of the 2003 conference, is actively pursuing research in this area and his assessments of the prospects for bibliometrics are quite reasonable and clear. Equally significant is the role of the successor of support, training and promotion work, the company Clarivate Analytics in maintaining interest in the practical results of bibliometric research. It is very important that in 2003 there were outlined the essential limitations in the possibility of using bibliometric methods for assessing the quality of research of individual scientists. These warnings are still valid today. At the same time, many of the criticisms made at that time related to the monopolistic nature of the of Thomson Reuters, which is no longer so significant, since several competing systems have appeared. In general, we can assume that bibliometrics (scientometrics) have excellent prospects. Therefore, the establishment of practical work of libraries of all types, but primarily university and scientific-technical ones, on servicing with the bibliometric data can be an interesting and useful addition to the traditional reference and information services of libraries. Original English text is at http://library.gpntb.ru/publications/scientometrics.pdf.

On the occasion of the 100th anniversary of the National Library of Russia, the reminiscences by Gertruda Vasilyevna Gedrimovich, the oldest and prominent Russian bibliographer, of her first mentors in the profession. The portraits of Elena Vladimirovna Iуenish (1926–2008), Victor Isidorovich Gransky (1903–1970), and Lyudmila Veniaminovna Zilbermintz (1909–1972) – outstanding staff members of Saltykov-Shchedrin State Public Library (today – National Library of Russia), are given. Some interesting facts in their biographies are cited; their contribution to the library science and leadership are appraised. The author emphasizes their spacious intellect, principles of work and mentorship. Their work made the essence and way of their living. All of them were talented persons with their individual characteristic features. Special attention is given to their ability to achieve high goals and professional results. The author also focuses on the timeless value of the profession of bibliographer and expresses her hope that it will last and develop: today, professional and experienced bibliographers of the National Library of Russia, its general catalogs, group processing department, periodicals reading rooms, Central Reference Library, Library Studies Office, and E-library efficiently execute queries and orders.

The history of the first in the country dissertation defense board, established at the N. K. Krupskaya Communist Institute of Political Education (today – St.Petersburg State Institute of Culture) is examined. The Board was established to review the theses in librarianship and bibliography. The analysis is based on the bibliography of dissertations defended during 80 years: the bibliography comprises 592 works. The main historical stages of the board are characterized; data on the number of doctor and candidate defenses during various periods is given. Several doctorate theses that made serious impact in the library and information sector are characterized; the geography of degree applicants (USSR republics, Asian, African, Latin American states) is analyzed; the subject scope of their investigations is discussed. The main research vectors and the most efficient supervisors are named. The author reveals the links between the defended dissertations and the Institute’s area of studies and scholar schools in the library and information sciences. The reasons for decreasing number of theses and changing subject scope are discussed.