In his annual report to the Seventh World Professional Forum “SOCHI–2023”, the author analyzes the status and trends of main technological aspects of modern library services and functions. He characterizes the digital transformation components that dynamically influence technological and behavioral models of modern libraries, e. g. artificial intellect (AI), neural networks, copyright laws, information market transformation, and foreign software import substitution. He gives his opinion on the role of the above-mentioned components in the library information practice. The emphasis is made on the ethics of AI application, neural networks, and changes in the copyright legislation. The author details into the issues of import substitution in the library and information industries, in particular, its principles and methods, and alternative domestic digital solutions. He offers his recommendations to the libraries on the work in new realities. The top-9 library technologies and top-5 technological novelties are specified.

The author reviews the two editions (2021, 2023) of the multi-authored monograph “Scientific research in libraries: Subject scope, organization, presentation of findings” [in Russian]. The monograph is prepared by three national libraries – the Russian State Library, the National Library of Russia and the Presidential Library named after B. N. Yeltsin. The first edition has already won a high a ppraisal in the professional scientific media. The author of the review shares the assessment, moreover, he emphasizes that the monograph testifies to the ability of the national libraries to collaborate without duplication, each relying on its background and historical traditions. At the same time, scientific gaps have now become more visible. It is important to involve scientific research conducted by other federal libraries, regardless their departmental subordination, as well as by the higher educational institutions training library professionals. The author points out the absence of the unified scientific policy of research studies, equally important for the library science, bibliography and book science, and the entire branch of book and library science. In particular, it is vitally important to define the relations between the concepts of “library science” and “general library science”; to articulate the concepts of “private library science”, “special library science”, and “electronic library science”; to identify the place of library science, bibliography and book studies in the system of sciences and thus to contribute to the state recognition of the value of our scientific disciplines; to bring the national standards in the field of library activity in line with the Federal Law “On Librarianship”; to specify the actual purpose of library work, to elaborate the criteria for library document value; to develop the theory and methodology for identifying information needs, etc.

The publication of the monograph is an extraordinary event in our scientific community that expects such comprehensive publications for the future.

In the context of evolving digital environment, the authors point out the urgency of developing the library services classification, friendly to the users whose needs are satisfied primarily via the library websites.

The findings of the study conducted in 2021–2022 on positioning of the services of the central libraries of 77 subjects of the Russian Federation on their official websites are discussed. The evidence is provided that information about services is often scattered across different website headings and subheadings, and there are no hyperlinks between them. The biased nature of structuring classifications of services, that are not comparable one with another and often confusing, is also emphasized.

The barriers that prevent the prompt search for information about library services on official websites are specified: i. e. the absence of “Services” heading linking users to the entire range of library services, scattered information about services under different headings with no hyperlinks, lacking rubricated lists of services and price lists, irrelevant prices, etc.

The authors suggest that one of the most promising areas of theoretical research is the development of linguistic tools that enable structuring and ordering of information about services, in particular, building rubricators of charged and free services, designing “aspect grids” to allow formalization and uniformness of characteristics of the most important headings on the official websites; and building unified lists of normalized lexical units for wording of headings on the library websites.

The need for unified approaches to presenting the results of the activities of the central libraries of the subjects of the Russian Federation in providing services to users (in particular, remote ones) on official websites is substantiated.

The authors argue that it is the standardized diversification that will allow the services to be adequately positioned on the official websites of libraries. This will enable to provide full representation of multiaspect library activities, to increase library competitiveness and to ensure the growth in the number of physical visits and online users.

Efficiency of library classifications depends on their capacity to embrace current knowledge and social practices. Therefore, the verification (late Latin verificatio – evidence, confirmation, from the Latin verus – true and facio – to make) of upgrade solutions is an essential part of classification system operation and development. The problem of library classification verification is often out of researchers view. The verification mechanism (tools) for upgrade solutions has not been described yet. Therefore, the reliability and relevance of classification upgrade solutions is of scientific and practical value.

The purpose of the paper is to summarize the related experience of Research LBC Center of the Russian State Library. Based on s tructured system analysis and the long practice of LBC development and application, the authors examine the mechanism for monitoring publications and identifying innovations, including new terms, concepts, social phenomena, etc., and for assessing and processing data for continuing update of the classification system. Using the example of LBC modernization solutions, the authors discuss advantages and disadvantages of individual methods. They conclude that the classification upgrade verification – essential to the nature of the library classification systems – has to become the key element of the classifying culture. The researchers review and suggest the ways to improve the verification mechanism adopted at the RSL LBC Research Center. The integrated approach to LBC verification is of applied relevance both for the theory of classifications and librarianship.

The virtual reality (VR) development made it suggestible to test and endorse these technologies in educational processes of Kemerovo State Institute of Culture (KSIC). The VR visualizes the knowledge, clarifies information on complex processes and phenomena, demonstrates buildings interiors, musical instruments, architecture, and geographic locations, creates the illusion of exposure to imaginary space. The purpose of the study is to demonstrate the possibilities of applying VR in educational, learning, creative and professional activities of the higher educational institution. The scientific originality of theoretical value of the study resides in the fact that the VR technology is approbated at the Kemerovo State Institute of Culture.

The researchers applied the scientific methods of document flow analysis, content analysis of websites of RF Ministry of Culture academic institutions, content analysis of textual sources on designing and applying VR -technologies in education as well analysis of applying VR-technologies in KSICВ.

They discuss VR-projects designed for key specialities of KSIC, and characterize the program “VR-technologies” for the students in various fields of study. The examples of using VR-technologies in professional and extra-curricular activities of the higher educational institution are provided. Applying VR-technologies to the educational processes permits to preserve cultural heritage and to make it attractive to the users.

The program of “VR-technologies” supports building relevant skills of designing modern products with 3D-models. Further development of VR-projects for educational processes in Kemerovo State Institute of Culture is a promising area of studies.