The authors applied the approach based on the dynamics of key terms in library and information studies. The authors analyzed the Russian segment of publications in the area to identify the fastest growing themes applying the terminology approach and revealing specific use of key terms in Scopus database based on SciVal. They selected 2000–2020 Scopus array of Russian publications in library and information sciences. The methods comprised: using WoS CC to select publications in the advanced search mode, classifying publications by author and author ranking; further, search by identified WoS CC authors was accomplished; their ratio and ranking in SciVal themes was derived. The themes with the most used terms were selected. The hypothesis was suggested: the more keywords with the dynamics > 0% are used in the theme, the higher the probability is that this theme is a promising and growing one, and the more key terms with the negative dynamics, the more probable is that the research interest toward the topic is decreasing. Three most prospective themes for Russian studies in library and information disciplines were identified, namely: “Intellectual Structure; Co-citation Analysis; Scientometrics”, “Hirsch Index; Self-Citation; Journal Impact Factor”, “Co-Authorship; Scientific Collaboration; Scientometrics”.

Syria is one of the countries that was in the process of development at all levels, including education, but the war that began in 2011 led to the decline in the level of education and academic libraries activities. The features of Syrian higher education institutions and their libraries are described, with the focus on the four largest state universities (Damascus, Aleppo, Tishrin and Al-Ba'ath). The main characteristics including library collections of 8 public and 22 private higher education institutions are given. The organization of the libraries of Syrian educational institutions differs: a universitywide library plus the faculty (college) libraries, while the private universities have only one library. Modified and Arabicized Dewey decimal classification used in all libraries for indexing, catalogs are maintained on paper cards, modern information technologies are not implemented, there are still unsuccessful attempts to introduce ALIS Koha and Horizon. The authors show the prerequisites for designing conceptual, information and functional models of networked information system of university libraries to upgrade library and information processes to the modern level.

This review summarizes papers which analyze the impact of self-citation on research evaluation. We introduce a generalized definition of self-citation and its variants: author, institutional, country, journal, discipline, and publisher selfcitation. Formulae of the basic self-citation measures are given, namely self-citing and self-cited rates. World literature on author, institutional, country, and journal self-citation is studied in more detail. Current views on the role and impact of self-citation are compiled and analyzed. It is found that there is a general consensus on some points: a) excessive self-citation and its total absence are both seen as pathological; b) self-citation has low impact on large research entities but may be critical for the analysis of individual researchers; c) share of self-citations is generally higher for entities with poor bibliometric performance, while top scientists, institutions, journals receive the majority of their citations from outside. This review also considers how bibliometric tools and databases respond to the challenge of possible manipulation by self-citations and how some bibliometric indicators are adjusted by them. The first part of the review presented here deals with the fundamental terms and definitions, and the most discussed and studied type of the self-citation, author self-citation.

This second and final part of the review considers institutional, country and journal self-citation. It also examines new bibliometric indicators which adjust for self-citation.

The need to define the role of libraries in developing open science information ecosystem is substantiated by the growing number of open access (OA) publications and transformation of researchers’ digital literacy. The key library vectors of activities depend upon the open science concept (pragmatic, infrastructural, civil, democratic, or validating) and supporting collaborative scientific activities, access to data and information, advocating open science initiatives, OA resources management, including institutional repositories, library catalogs, new analytical products, content-based learning, etc. The examples of introducing and promoting OA paradigm in library services are given. The key librarian competences of OA resources acquisition, dissemination, exchange and promotion of related services are defined. The competences comprise knowledge of open science regulations, principles and technologies of OA resource organization, their types and metadata types. With this knowledge the librarians are fit for research process, rendering research findings to meet the OA standards, and teaching OA skills. Based on their findings, the author argues that the libraries are able to build their value on the market of information resources, and to support institutional studies and open science schools.

For the first time, based on archival and prerevolutionary publications, the survey of military research libraries before the First All-Russian Library Congress held on June 1–7, 1911, is presented. The questionnaires filled-in by military librarians enable to reconstruct the state-of-the-art, local regulations and orders, collections quantitative indicators and arrangement, physical space, fire protection, staffing. Work hours. The study significantly expands the knowledge of the status of military research libraries by 1911, of their facilities, librarians’ expertise, and library services.

The findings will be useful for librarians in user services, responsible for collection arrangement, and for library historians investigating in prerevolutionary librarianship; for library surveyors; curators of library events, e. g. congresses, forums, webinars, etc.

The author investigates into the history of the library of the Workers’ and Peasants’ Red Army (WPRA), introduces some documents of Russian State Military Archive into scientific discourse, and analyzes them. The years 1920–1929 became the first decade after the library’s partial transfer from Petrograd (now St. Petersburg) to Moscow. The period from establishing WPRA United Library till transferring Moscow Branch collections to Lenin’s Library (The USSR State Library) is characterized. Despite difficulties (e. g. interruptions of free copies acquisition, decreasing staffing, collections left behind in Petrograd), the military library was meeting the challenges and accomplishing the tasks put forward by WPRA Command. The librarians’ routine operations collection development, in particular, acquisition of the collection of A. N. Kuropatkin, a military minister in the Russian Empire, are discussed.