New technologies and communication models question the value of libraries and librarians in the digital epoch. The libraries of all types and departmental subordination are challenged. National and foreign studies are to enable to comprehend the new role of the libraries and librarians. The author examines conceptualizing the role of special libraries and their professionals. She analyzes studies, reports and publications made by several professional associations of special libraries that have been intensively investigating into solutions for the libraries to preserve their value for the future. Thus, the Special Libraries Association (USA) and American Association of Law Libraries have accomplished their rebranding.

The foreign librarians argue that professional competences make efficient instrument that would enable the librarians to develop their career and to demonstrate the value of the libraries. The author examines the competence models for special libraries professionals as suggested by the mentioned professional associations. Management competences, leadership and communication skills are particularly important for small libraries’ librarians.

The study is accomplished to develop the strategy to reveal publication and patent activity leaders in the Russian Federation based on the data provided by Scopus, Web of Science and Derwent. The study task is to analyze various approaches to selecting these leaders on the basis of primary machine-readable data in XML format generated by Scopus, Web of Science and Derwent. The authors have examined the ratings of Leiden (fractional estimate method), QS World University Rankings and Academic Ranking of World Universities (weighed indicator per one researcher, selecting a quality rating method). They conclude that these methods do not comprise any integrated index for comparable Scopus and Web of Science bibliometrical parameters, and leave the number of patents granted out of account. The authors examine the necessity for comparing institutional leaders of publication activity and patent activity leaders.

The study is accomplished within the state order of the RF Ministry of Science and Higher Education “Developing the system of strategic and content monitoring of science, research, technological and innovative activities as related to the target and supplementary indicators of programmatic documents (Strategy of the scientific and technological development of the Russian Federation, Science National Project, National Program “Scientific and Technological Development of the Russian Federation”) (730000F.99.1.BV16AA02001); (730000F.99.1.BV16AA02001).

The article is devoted to the role of scientific libraries in the process of transition from the traditional model of Russian science to the Western. The traditional model unites all scientific potential in academic research institutes, the western – in universities. The article notes that the interaction of research libraries of the university and research institutions is not counted.
A parallel development of libraries without taking into account the accumulated bilateral experience in information and bibliographic service is proposed. The experience of libraries in the period of automation of library processes shows that a foundation has been created for the further development of information and bibliographic service during the period of digitalization – this is integration and corporate. Integration – the establishment of relationships between any objects that were previously separate from each other. Integrated links between academic and university libraries is a way to create a unified scientific and educational space. The new of the presented material consists in systematization of various forms of online services for creating, storing and transmitting the necessary information to the user. The possibilities of providing information on a digital basis when creating personal offices in libraries of research and educational institutions are shown. When the digital platform for full integration is ready, scientific libraries can choose or exclude resources for organizing successful work in information and bibliographic service for research.

Challenges of the digital information environment web 2.0 transform the ways of bibliographic activities. Among the features of digital information environment are unstructured and heterogeneous data that consist digital information sources; erasing differences between publish and unpublish information that complicates the universal bibliographic control and selection of the information sources for libraries’ collections; also the role of the user in the semantic web is changing from passive use of information to active involving in information creation, development and management, or human information interaction. The main trends of bibliographic activities in the digital information environment are the development of bibliographic metadata formats in the context of the universal bibliographic control of the digital sources web 2.0; design of the information architecture web 2.0 and information systems using the bibliographic principles of document identification, description, classification and labeling for digital documents and data and taking into account the usability and human factors requirements; management of folksonomies and web-services for user’s personal bibliographic activities; usage of cloud computing to develop digital libraries and bibliographic services; integration libraries online catalogs with the interfaces of internet search engines in discovery systems; using new infometrics like altmetrics for bibliographic researches.

The virtual tours make the new type of library information products borrowed from the tourist and museum practice. The author examines theoretical aspects of designing a virtual tour: Its essential components, tour types, technologies to be used. Qualitative features which allow to expect their rapid growth and implementation in many spheres, in particular, in libraries, are revealed. Library virtual tours are specified and characterized based on the study of different types of libraries. For this purpose, the www-sites of 236 libraries were reviewed. Significant divergence in interpreting the term of “virtual tour” in the museum and library spheres is revealed. The most popular technologies of designing such tours are described. The key objects of the library virtual tours are discussed, i. e. library’s history and current situation, individual divisions, or the most valuable units (old manuscripts, rare collections, etc.).

Knowledge, information and commercial ideas along with other resources make the factors of the added value of products and services. The region’s competitiveness depends on intellectual activity and the status of patent information resources. Designers and inventors have to study the global experience in designing technological objects and to know the trends in their area of specialization. This task can be accomplished, in particular, through the patent research using information resources. When designing new products and upgrading the old ones, a person demonstrates his or her creativity and solves many inventive problems. Recommendation to include clauses on legal protection of intellectual products into the state contracts is substantiated.
The conclusion is made that efficient implementation of modern information technologies ensures efficient building, dissemination and use of patent knowledge.

The digital library system of universities is examined by the example of the learning course “The basic knowledge for summer camp leaders”. The theory of generations, socio-psycological characteristics of learning styles, and corresponding pedagogical methods and technologies in education and library and information services provided to the generation Z users, are discussed. The generation’s characteristics are: hypermobility, creativity and mental quickness, realistic attitude, rapid moving into adulthood, and the fact that they are not enthusiastic about hand writing. At the same time, the young adults are characterized by clip way of thinking, lack of motivation, laziness, no love for reading, communication through mems and emojies, low tolerance and responsibility. Within the digital information environment, the generation Z processes clip information in no time and, hence, they are not able to act thoughtfully, to concentrate and to analyze facts. These characteristics are admitted by psychologists, physiologists, sociologists, and pedagogues. New teaching methods and technologies have to be designed, learning and recreational information content based on digital convergent approach to be generated. The significance of cooperation and interaction between professionals in the education, information and library spheres is emphasized. The study is accomplished within teaching the optional course “The basic knowledge for summer camp leaders”.

Review of the book by V. P. Leonov. The bibliographical thinking. On the way to the unified book world [In Russian]. – St. Petersburg: Library of the Academy of Sciences, 2018. –
118 p. – ISBN 978-5-336-00241-6.

The new book by the V. P. Leonov, science advisor of the Russian Academy of Sciences Library, examines relevant theoretical problems: The role and place of psychology in studying bibliographical processes, specific features of bibliographical thinking, logics and intuition in text bibliographical analysis and search for information. The reviewer emphasizes the complexity of the topic due to its multifacet character and multiple factors that impact thinking, and unavailability of thinking components for direct observation. The reviewer also demonstrates the fundamental approach toward the phenomenon of bibliographical thinking: In his study, V. Leonov builds on the fundamental classical works by leading psychologists and physiologists.
The reviewer shares the author’s attitude toward the balance of the bibliographical and creative thinking. She also emphasizes that V. Leonov analyzes various aspects of bibliographical thinking: from the structure to its development factors. The philosophical and culturological review of the world bibliographical heritage in the book’s second part is of great value, too. The reviewer suggests that Leonov’s ideas will put impetus on further studies to make bibliographical thinking a scientific term rather than a metaphorical one.