The article explains the objective reason for the emergence of documentology along with documentation and documentary studies, the relevance and practical significance for library science and bibliography. Attention is drawn to the outstanding role of Paul Otlet (Paul Marie Ghislain Otlet; 1868–1944) in the promotion and development of the theoretical foundations of the general theory of the document. The concept of three worlds, in particular, “the world of logical content of books, libraries, computer memory, and the like”, developed by Karl Popper (Karl Raimund Popper; 1902–1994) enabled to bring documentology to the level of a philosophical discipline. The stages of development of documentology are defined. The first stage embraces the late 19th – first half of the 20th centurys, the second covers the mid-20th century (1950–60s), when in the USSR it was known as “documentalistics”. Simultaneously, since the early 1960s, the document science has been developing with its specific methodology, individual acts and systems of documenting and creating documents, and on this foundation, their complexes and systems (the third stage). The documentation is contradictory: it claims to study both documents as proper objects, and those objects of workflow management, which have got the term “records” used in the Western countries. The fourth stage of development of the document general theory originates in the second half of the 1980s. In the early 1990s, Moscow State Institute of Culture proposed the term documentology to be used for the general theory of documents. The discipline core embraces the issues related to the conceptual apparatus, functional analysis of documents, study of their characteristics, parameters and properties, document classification, as well as study of the documents as a means of communication and an element of document collections.

The characteristics of academic users interested in altmetrical infor-mation are defined. The online survey of 302 academic respondents was conduc-ted to reveal the level of awareness and interest of scientific community. The analysis of the responses about altmetrics is supplemented with the data on the respondents' using traditional scientometric information. It was found that with a high degree of interest in traditional scientometric indicators (91.4% of respondents refer to them), altmetrics remained mostly out of the eye of scien-tists. Only 6.6% respondents use altmetrics, while the others are still unfamiliar with altmetrics or do not use them. However, over the half of respondents ex-pressed interest in altmetrics: 11.9% consider the method necessary, and 43% would like to learn more about it. The correlation between academic status and awareness of/or interest in altmetrics was found: applicants and candidates of science and applicants for this degree proved to be more interested in altmetrics information than doctors of science. The correlation between the aware-ness/interest and researcher’s area of studies appeared insignificant. The findings of the study may be used to improve the information support of scientists. The research model can be applied to other groups of library users.

The findings of the study of the development strategies of the CIS na-tional libraries with the reference to the national specifics of the innovative ac-tivities are presented. The goal of the study is to facilitate the cooperation of the libraries within the Commonwealth of Independent States. The analyzed vast em-pirical data is based on expert assessments, consultation papers, publications in periodicals, reports and the libraries’ websites. Sociological and statistical me-thods and comparative analysis were applied. The major problem the national libraries are facing is due to their different degree of digitalization. Based on the empirical data analysis, the major trends were revealed: the key projects are aimed at providing online access to the possibly most complete collections of the CIS national libraries. The current data provided in the paper are predominantly about technological innovations. The CIS national libraries are focused on the programs of e-libraries including national electronic libraries (NELs); projects of global academic Open Access, and structural transformations (designing virtual reading rooms, digital resources sections, book museums, etc.), and educational projects. Innovations have been the strategic priority of the CIS national libraries. Implementing modern information communication technologies facilitates buil-ding common library and information space of the CIS states, while innovative activities enables sharing plans and projects for the CIS national libraries.

The modernization stages of arts academic library as suggested by the authors are highlighted: preliminary analysis of regulatory documents and the resource base of the scientific library of the Kemerovo State Institute of Culture, planning for collections development with for books and information resources, upgrade of library services, planning for modernization and technological deve-lopment, and designing library zones. The authors offer their recommendations on improvement of library information services within the context of distance educa-tion and modernizing the material and technical support of the library based on foresight technology and a sociological survey of students and the faculty. The students’ and faculty’s demands for advanced services and digital services through social media were revealed. The findings of the study support the idea of optimi-zation and modernization of the range of library services. For the students, the library not only provides information support, but also offers its facilities for communication, individual and team work, and relaxation. Within this context, the procurement cost estimates were prepared. The contest of students’ design pro-jects of library space zoning was organized.

The goal of the study was to reveal distinction between the reading practices at different educational levels and to specify the libraries’ place in these practices. The reading practices are determined not only by the new technological (digital) environment but also by the institutional and organizational context and social relationship within the educational environment. The case study of educa-tional institutions of Novosibirsk Academic Center (namely Novosibirsk State Uni-versity and the University’s specialized Academic Research Center) was accom-plished. The data was acquired through structured interviews, questionnaire-based survey supplemented with the statistical data of RAS SB State Public Scien-tific and Technological Library. The majority of high-graders use the library for textbooks and/or if recommended by the teacher. The university library is less involved in the educational process; the students visit the library occasionally (e.g. searching for rare publications or lacking alternatives). The university is not their source of digital documents or full texts either; the students prefer not to scruti-nize the specificity of every database and access procedure and turn to searchable Internet-resources. The library, in student’s opinion, needs modernization for less formal and disciplinary regulations, for more comfort, and polyfunctional envi-ronment of reading rooms.

The need for studying and promoting web-archiving for longterm information preservation and accessibility in future is substantiated. The existing technologies of web-archiving are specified and the problems related to the web dynamic character, errors, content complexity, are revealed. Successful experience in the world libraries’ web-archiving is discussed (selection, search, description technologies, access terms, etc.). The study findings demonstrate that web-archives are selected to supplement the libraries’ digital collections on hot topics, like COVID-19, or to meet the demands of specific user groups. For the purpose of cultural heritage preservation, the national libraries often focus of acquiring web-sites by the domains in the corresponding country. The university libraries focus on acquiring web-archives that meet research and educational demands of their users; and public libraries prefer the resources of interest to their local community. The findings may be used by world libraries for developing their digital collections.

De-centralized storage and the closely-coupled related constancy of loaded data, immunity against hacker attacks, transaction history recording and complete transparency make the blockchain technology attractive not only for developing cryptocurrencies and economic transactions. The author reviews the world experience in applying the technology to various activities of social memory institutions and, in particular, individual programs based on the blockchain. The technology enables to provide control and insurance for pieces of art, to ensure copyright, to prevent illegal copying, to store digital copies and ori- ginal works created in the digital environment, to integrate resources using the key functionality of distributed databases. The possibilities and prospects for Russia are evaluated; the need for regulative foundation to define core functionality and legal liability of blockchain processes is emphasized. The possibility for using the technology for building the single knowledge space as the integrative model of digital museum, archival and library resources is analyzed.

The problem of transfer from one ALIS (automated library information system) to another is decomposed. The models of ALIS implementation depending of the library’s computerization status are defined; these are fresh implementa-tion; implementation with further data transfer and simultaneous use of the data-base by several ALIS. Various methods of database transport are discussed, i.e. backup recovery; server image porting; tabular data transport through SQL-calls; export-import of bibliographic data and accounts in MARC format. The experience of ALIS databases transport into MegaPro integrated library system on Dubna University Library’s server is examined. The questionnaire-survey for the affiliate University libraries and recommendations for software, backup copying and pro-cedures for data conversion period are presented. Recommendations are also given for choosing the moment of data conversion; the factors for transport model selection and that of in-conversion information losses are specified.

Transition of higher library education in Ukraine from the qualification to competence-based model is characterized. The three-level system, i.e. “Bachelor – Master – Doctor of Philosophy”, being implemented within the new integrated program of study “Information, Librarianship and Archivistics” is reviewed. The competence-based approach was applied in the processes of development and approval of higher education standards for the program “Information, Librari-anship and Archivistics” for the first (bachelor's), second (master's) and third (educational and scientific) levels. The authors emphasized that the systematic ap-proach to selecting essential competences for the program was applied. The experience of developing the program for Ph.D. candidates in this subject area with the focus on cooperation with the applicants and their future employers, individu-al capabilities, their scientific and educational potential, and self-motivation, is discussed. The need for the quality management system based on monitoring and continuing review of the content and structure of educational programs, is sub-stantiated. Among these criteria are: projecting and objectives of educational program, its structure and content; forms and methods of education, its availability; monitoring and assessing learning outcomes; quality of human resources; comfortable educational environment and its material and technical resources; domestic education quality assurance system; transparency and publicity of educational programs.

Review of the book: Eduard R. Sukiasyan. The Library. Book. Reader : selected articles of 2005–2020 / E. R. Sukiasyan. − St. Petersburg : Professija, 2020. − 480 p. [In Russian].

The reviewer considers the book to be the Album of Library Universe. i.e. of the world of book culture of modern Russia. Eduard R. Sukiasyan is a distinguished library scientist. In his book, he openly shares his sincere thoughts on cultural and philosophical problems and paradigms, his reminiscences, practical experience and social emotions. The articles are united by the principle of noospheric humanism characteristic to library humanistic, devoted and enlightened library consciousness. In conclusion, the reviewer analyzes the relationship between the Library Universe and Russia’s national goals.

Review of the collection of works prepared by Gottfried Kratz (Gottfried Kratz. Russische Biblioteken in Deutschland. – Berlin : Peter Lang, 2020. – 231 s. (Arbeiten und Bibliographen zum Buch – und Bibliothekswesen. 17).

The book in German comprises the papers by German and Russian researchers on public, academic, military and church libraries in the mid-19th century and up to present. The reviewer focuses on the works matching the profile of the “Scientific and Technical Libraries” journal. The presented works are based on vast archival materials and expand the knowledge of Russian-German library relationships within the mentioned historical period. The researchers of Russian diaspora abroad, book and library historians will make the readership of the book.