Russian National Public Library for Science and Technology

In the context of developing the Russian Federation’s state scientific and technical information system and preserving and strengthening traditional Russian spiritual and moral values, this article presents an analysis of the implementation of the “Library for Our Own” project, which operates at the Russian National Public Library for Science and Technology (RNPLS&T). The project aims to develop a specialized collection and a union catalog of literature published by public associations and other non-governmental organizations, reflecting patriotic initiatives, scientific and technical education, and historical memory preservation practices. As a core institution of the state scientific and technical information system, the RNPLS&T collaborates with the Russian State Library on the legal deposit mechanism and the development of the national library and information space. Particular attention is paid to the project’s regulatory context, including state policy provisions on preserving and strengthening traditional Russian spiritual and moral values, legislation on legal deposit, and documents regulating the functioning of the state scientific and technical information system. “Library for Our Own” is an integrated information and analytical resource focused on documents that interpret traditional spiritual and moral values in the context of contemporary scientific, technical, educational, and professional practices. The project’s primary objectives are to identify and bibliographically register publications, to develop the collection with all types of scientific and technical information and literature on the topics covered, and to ensure access to the resource for various categories of users. The collection is acquired through: legal deposit copies; publications received under contracts with publishers and public associations; gifts and complimentary copies; targeted donations; exchange funds; and joint projects with scientific, educational, and cultural organizations. The “Library for Our Own” project is presented as an initiative that combines the professional objectives of library and information services with the goals of patriotic education and the preservation of historical memory. Its implementation promotes the integration of public initiatives into the national library and information space and expands the possibilities for using scientific and technical information in cultural, educational, and outreach activities.

The sci-tech libraries (STL) are the key element of the infrastructure that supports research and synthesizes knowledge essential for the country’s technological development. The STL human resources make the critical factor of meeting the challenges of digital transformation and the strategy of technological sovereignty. The purpose of the study is to identify the systemic problems of STL human resources, to analyze the system of professional education, retraining and advanced training, the challenges of employee retention and status of the profession, and to suggest solution vectors based on Russian and foreign experience. Based on the data provided by “Statistika” system of the RF Ministry of Culture, RNSPLS&T monitoring of STLs and STI centers, studies by Tomsk State University, All-Russian survey “Young employees in Russian libraries” by the Russian State Library for Young Adults, RF Labor Ministry (Rosstat, employment of graduates), All-Russian Employers Survey (“Jobs in Russia” Single Digital Platform), regional studies (Chelyabinsk, Perm, and Kemerovo regions, Republic of Sakha – Yakutia, Khabarovsk region), and analysis of international practices (IFLA) and CIS countries, the author concludes on the staffing crises in the libraries, on the whole, and STLs, in particular, i.e. prevailing senior-age employees, deficiency of specialized education, and low involvement in advanced professional training. The author reveals the need for specialists with traditional library competences combined with digital competences, knowledge of data analytics, project management, and soft skills. The key research and methodological centers of professional education are identified, i.e. Moscow State Institute of Culture, St. Petersburg State Institute of Culture, Kemerovo State Institute of Culture, developing the models of training STL staff, advanced training curricula, and prospective centers.

Under the influence of digitalization, the legal relationship between libraries, copyright holders and users is becoming more multifaceted and complex. With the transition to digital content, libraries often no longer hold electronic works, as was the case with printed publications. An increasing number of modern publications are born-digital, meaning that hard copies, with their well-defined legal status, remain the preserve of the shrinking library services sector. Despite the reform of copyright legislation, the legal regulation and practice of library operations in the ever-changing digital environment remains dynamic. This article focuses on the recently introduced definition of digital rights in Russian legislation, its comparison with other definitions, and the reframing of the concept of digital rights for library activities in the digital age. The concept of “digital rights”, enshrined in the Civil Code of the Russian Federation, creates a foundation for regulating the digital economy and paves the way for the development of other laws defining the relationships between digital objects. The differences between digital law and digital rights are highlighted, and controversial points of view are analyzed. The authors’ perspective on the digital rights of libraries in the current context is offered.

The author discusses in detail the findings of the first stagе of the study of library ecological movement prospects. The study was accomplished by Ecology and Sustainable Development Group of the Russian National Public Library for Science and Technology (RNPLS&T) in 2024. The author describes the survey structure and explores the feedback. The obtained information enabled to develop the profile of libraries engaged in ecological education, to identify the most popular approaches to environmental knowledge popularization, and to accumulate librarians’ views on ecological movement and its conceivable prospects. Respondents emphasized the need for complex theoretical and practical developments to engage child readers, importance of ecological local studies as the key activity, and the need for methodological support and partnership. The survey also reveals the contradiction between desirable and real situations in audience targeting in ecological education, and movement coverage in digital space. The author points to the differences in the green library conceptualization between Russian and foreign librarians and re searchers. Based on the first stage findings, she concludes that the terms have to be refined and unified, while the methodological aids have to be developed in the con text of Russian library practice. The second stage questionnaire will focus on the library contribution to the RF national development goals, green librarianship terminology, and possibilities for the libraries in the era of digital transformation.

The author reviews the Sixth Conference “The Green Libraries – Libraries of the Future” held within the framework of the Ninth World Professional Conference “The Book. Culture. Education. Innovations” (Gelendzhik-2025”) on June 12, 2025. The theme of the year was” “Information for sustainable development. New and old approaches in the Decade of Science and Technologies”. Two sessions took place: “Information for sustainable development” and “Library ecological movement: Visible prospects”. In total, 9 papers were presented. The Conference organizers see sustainable development principles and goals promotion as one of the libraries’ missions, and implementation of ecological targeting logics as a fundamental task for which the libraries have resources and capability. In this context, to identify the prospects for their sustainable development work, the Conference participants discussed motivation of the libraries, practical experience of implementing thoughtful approaches toward natural resources in libraries and users engagement, facilitation of SDG literature search, including navigation instruments combined with UDC SRSTI (GRNTI), and LBC rubricators. The participants confirmed that there was the background for sustainable development standard for the Russian libraries within the framework of “The Strategy for Librarianship Development in the Russian Federation up to the year 2030”. The standard would facilitate environmental targeting in the libraries; in particular, the author cites the findings of the study that specifies the characteristics of “green libraries” which, in its turn, would support development of relevant standard of Russian “green libraries”. The author emphasizes that while the library ecological movement in Russia is not at its highest point, it follows the global trends.