The problems of national bibliography and publishing statistics are inextricably linked to the legislative support of acquiring and processing mandatory copies (MC) of Russian publications by the coordinating national center. Over a century, the Russian Book Chamber has been such center (in USSR, later in the Russian Federation). It acted as an independent organization until 2014. From 2014 till September 2022, it was affiliated with ITAR-TASS news agency. Today, the Russian Book Chamber is part of the Russian State Library while keeping its traditional functions in bibliographic and statistical control of national publishing products. The authors examine the key problems of these activities caused by retarding federal legislation on mandatory copies against the real-life publishing situation and information needs of our society and government. The number of publishers, though not professional, but some sort of “amateur” ones, is trending upwards, while the circulation of Russian book publications is decreasing year on year. The authors propose to optimize legislation support of publishing through control of publications by academic book publications and periodicals, as well as by those “printed on demand”; through decrease and differentiation of the federal MC sets, re-distribution of these sets for the sake of out-of-the capital library depositories, and timely editing of terminology and obsolescent articles in the law on mandatory copies.

   The author describes in detail the first years of the main scientific library in Smolensk Guberniya in the early 20-th century, namely Smolensk State University Library. The author was motivated by the absence of the complete picture of academic librarianship in the region; the issue is also insufficiently covered in the literature. The author applies the methods of comparative analysis and synthesis. The research is based on published and unpublished materials: documents in the State Archive of Smolensk Region; Rare Collection of Smolensk University Library; and scholarly papers. The author writes about the librarians who worked for the Library in 1918–1922, and its first director, privat-dozent I. E. Egorov. She also analyzes the history of the book collection development during the campaign of 1918–1921 in Smolensk Guberniya when the landed property and many manorial libraries were nationalized. She describes nationalized private collections in the Rare Collection of Smolensk University Library, and individual books from academic, public, scientific, estate, commercial, departmental, military and confessional libraries of prerevolutionary Smolensk. The role of Smolensk University Library as the richest book depository of the region and the value of its rare collections are emphasized. The vectors of the academic library activities of the above are explored. The research findings will contribute to the discipline “Library history” studied in the library higher schools and will be useful for modern academic libraries.

   The main directions of modernization of library business and development of innovative activity of libraries under the influence of this process in the 90s and the decades following them are considered. The relationship of these basic vectors of development of the industry has not actually been the subject of special consideration. The article is an experience of system analysis of innovative practices of Russian libraries in the context of modernization as a global process of transformation of social development. The concept of "modernization of librarianship" is defined as a complex process that includes not only the computerization of the industry, but also its socio-cultural, institutional, managerial, functional and organizational transformations. The features of the initial stage of transition of domestic libraries to the path of modernization are characterized. It is noted that in accordance with the General trends of modernization, the domestic library business at the turn of the Millennium moved from linear progress, i. e. extensive development path to intensive, providing for qualitative transformations of the industry. The article presents external and internal modernization factors that influenced the innovative changes in the industry. The main trends in the development of library innovations are highlighted, which have enriched the implementation of the basic social functions of libraries in terms of content and technology: information, memorial, educational, cultural and educational, social and communicative. The article highlights the main trends in the development of innovations that affected the basic social functions of libraries: information, memorial, educational, cultural and educational, social and communicative. The article analyzes the socio-targets, tools and content of functional transformations of libraries. It is concluded that modernization, as the general vector of the development of the industry, is the main stimulus for library innovations, which, in turn, are its practical implementation in the processes of functioning of libraries.

   The author analyzes the dynamics of scientometrical indicators (publication activity, citation and impact) of Russian research in storytelling in 2012–2021. Storytelling is seen as the marketing technology used to deliver information to the audience through stories. In recent years, storytelling has been intensively used in advertising, social media, corporate blogging, and in education. The lines of research of the greatest impact are identified, among them: storytelling as an efficient communication technology, digital storytelling in students’ projects, and storytelling method in corporate management. In accordance with the Hirsch index, the Russian scholars’ research activity in the field exceeds significantly the world minimum value of 16. The dynamics of the above indicators is revealed, including the rare occurrence of continuous growth in the number of publications by the end of the existent period; the organization which storytelling studies are extensively used by country’s other institutions, are identified, among them Nizhny Novgorod Kozma Minin Pedagogical University, Ural State Pedagogical University, RF Ministry for Civil Defense Academy of State Fire-fighting Service. The analysis was accomplished based on Russian Science Citation Index (RISC) database. The illustrations are included to visualize the research findings.

   The National Library Association “Libraries of the Future” (NALF) supported through the RF Presidential Grant for Civil Society Development approved by the Presidential Grants Foundation, has been implementing the All-Russian Scientific and Educational Project “The Kids Nobel”.

   The Project main goals are to promote scientific knowledge and to engage 7–8 grade students in urban and rural settlements in research. At this stage, four pilot RF subjects are selected, namely Arkhangelsk, Kaluga, Ryazan and Saratov regions.
   Russian National Public Library for Science and Technology, today the country’s largest sci-tech library, and a NALF founder, is the main partner of “The Kids Nobel”. The All-Russian Scientific Educational Project “The Kids Nobel” is accomplished in two vectors: educational webinars for children in the main fields of the Nobel Prize, i. e. physics, chemistry, physiology, medicine, literature, politics (Nobel Peace Prize). Outstanding scientists, pedagogues, public officials, librarians deliver the lectures. The lecture course is followed by preparing and presenting students’ research works. The regional project curators, i. e. children’s school, universal, etc., libraries inform students on the events or use the course and workshop materials to organize their own events. The second vector is the contest of kids’ research projects in the fields of Nobel Prize. Under supervision of library curators, contest participants are to present their research work and findings through the Project website before July 1, 2023, one research work for a field, though several fields can be selected.

   By the third decade of the 21st century, digital technologies have been integrated in every sphere of our lives. During the recent years, the modern trends in society, economics, technologies have become related to digital transformation. However, the definition for this concept is lacking. The author insists that implementing information technologies into institutional business process is the most essential note of digital transformation. He includes scientometrical indicators of the terms “digitalization” and “digital transformation” in the Russian Science Citation Index, reviews in brief the positive and negative aspects of these processes, and specifies the stages of digital evolution in the academic library. The experience of Moscow Automobile and Road Construction State Technical University (MADI) in computerization, digitalization and digital transformation of information library processes, is examined, i.e. implementation of e-catalog and computerized lending through bar-coding technology, free open access fulltext electronic library, development of information system in bibliographic history and works by university scientists and researchers, employees’ personal accounts, and adaptive system of library–chair book supply system. The systems enable to engage the faculty authors in updating the library’s e-catalog and to get information on the curriculum book supply. The author introduces his innovative business processes of preparing learning materials and research papers. These processes have been partially introduced in MADI to increase the faculty’s publication activity, to improve the university’s scientometrical indicators, and finally, to comply with the requirements of the Ministry of Science and Higher Education.

   The article is written on the occasion of Irina S. Pilko’s jubilee. The authors review the stages of her professional career, and characterize her scientific interests. They acknowledge her contribution to the national librarianship and training staff for the library and information field. The technological approach in the applied library studies is characterized. Irina S. Pilko’s scientific interests are: information communication technologies in the library and information education, technological approach in library and information production, information services for library users, information and bibliographic products and services. Pilko’s technological approach to professional training is manifested in the curriculum structure and contents. She regards educational technologies as the foundation for quality education and projecting of learning information environment in the system of distance education in universities. The ideas of I. S. Pilko have become widely used in the library and information field and continuing library education.