The 400 year history of the Vilnius university has found reflection in many publications. The first attempts to bibliography the University history were made in the XVII century publications which, besides the material on the University activities, gave the information about the University professors and their scientific works. With the rise of bibliographic activity there appeared some prominent publications, recording the material about Vilnius University. Those were the works by A. Jocher, J. Bielinski, L. Finkel, L. Janowski and some others. The most important Lithuanian works about the old Vilnius university were published by S. Baltramaitis and V. Biržiška. The history of the Vilnius university, reopened in 1919, is shown in the publications of Stephen Bathory university and the bibliographical index compiled by M. Ambros, presenting the material about the University, given in the chronologically-subject order. The Lithuanian University which existed at the same time in Kaunas, published its own bibliographical indices; the University professors' publication index was published by P. Dilys in Chicago. Material about the University activities was also published in the journal „Bibliographical news" („Bibliografijos žinios").The Soviet Lithuanian bibliographers have collected much material about the history of education and science in Lithuania, which is published in independent publications. The most important of this kind are: „The Soviet Lithuanian Higher Schools", „Vilnius University. Bibliography. 1940–1977", which register the material giving the present-day evaluation of the University's 400 year history. Special bibliographies as well as bibliographical data, collected in monographies and articles on the history of science by Lithuanian scientists, can also be regarded as bibliographical sources about the Vilnius University.
The history of Soviet Lithuania's libraries during the Great Patriotic War is a part of the Soviet Union's library history. It investigates the library service to the evacuees from Lithuania, the dissemination of the Communist press in the territory occupied by the Hitler army, the damages inflicted to the libraries by the invaders and the restoration of the libraries after the liberation of the country. Studying this period one meets difficulties as the archival documents are very sparse and the memoiristic materials are still not collected and analyzed.
Posibilities of securing scientific research with information are being viewed in the article as w ell as juridical status of information worth. Creative work of the author and information process are mentioned in accordance with union republic legislature (with standarts of copyright).
The investigation of information needs in the Institute of Chemistry and Chemical Technology of Academy of Sciences Lit. SSR allowed to draw conclusions about sources of information necessary for researchers, forms of information supply for electrochemists and time needed for reading of scientific literature. Profile interests turned out too, they were brought together into "Rubricator of profile interests of the Institute". (List of headings).During the first stage we found out, that use of sources of information (except manuals, industrial catalogues, standards and translations) straightly depends on scientific qualification of specialist, on his duties.The higher are those indexes the more sources of information are used by specialists. The use of sources of information is influenced by the kind of the field in which scientist works.The use of sources of information dealing with literature (except the express information services, bibliographical catalog and encyclopedias) depends thoroughly on the scientific qualification of specialists, on their duties. The kind of the field in which the scientist works influences use of those sources.Forms of informational supply depend on scientific qualification of specialist: Doctors value analytical and abstract surveys (45,5). Scientists of this kind are interested in the guidance of librarians. Doctors need less help from scientific and technical information services and librarians in order to obtain factographical data.Great part of young scientists recognizes that serious part of informational supply is „guidance by librarians in the selection of information dealing with a special theme." 23,1 % specialists without scientific degree recognize this kind of assistance to be necessary. Analyses of results of questionnaires enables to draw a conclusion, that time, which is needed for selection and editing the collected literature depends on the duties and qualification. It was defined that researchers with high qualification spend more time for looking over and reading scientific literature in comparison with specialists without scientific degree.During the second stage of the investigation turned out profile interests of Institute scientists. Profile interests were brought together into „Rubricator". Its analysis enabled to define inner and outer relations between electrochemistry, galvanotechnics and other branches of science.According to the analysis of card file interests, the greatest part of electrochemists (72,3%) value part of "electrochemistry", second place occupies "electrochemical methods of protection", on the third – "technologies of organical material" (37,4).
In the analysis of the complex problem of the spread of the Soviet Lithuanian press abroad the attention is focused on the periodicals and other publications of our Republic which come out in Lithuanian, Russian, and foreign languages. Foreign readers know our books, booklets, brochures, advertising booklets, magazines, newspapers, and scientific and academic publications. These publications differ in character: some of them are meant for the population of the Republic, others for foreign guests, i. e., tourists, while a definite number of academic and scientific publications are disseminated among foreign scholars and scientists; a number of books and newspapers are intended for foreign readers mostly of Lithuanian origin. Most of the Soviet Lithuanian publications and periodicals are available to foreign readers. The analysis of the problem also reveals the state of book publishing in the Republic.
Practical and scientific needs of bibliography require a deeper investigation of methodological problems. The article deals with the methodological relation and proportion of bibliography with the philosophical methodological level. It comprises the methodological function of cognizant forms and means, i. e. methods, principles, categories and laws, in the cognition of bibliographical objects and phenomena. Modern stage of bibliography development requires a more extensive and conscientious use of all the possibilities provided by philosophical and methodological level, as well as the development of the philosophical culture among the bibliography scientific workers.
In the recent development of book editing and librarianship of the world we observe many striking paradoxical disproportions. On the one hand we are speaking about explosion of information and book production, on the other About book hunger characteristic not only for developing countries but sometimes for developed ones too where we still may discover regions of "cultural wastelands". To a great extent national book production and national library services are interdependent. But this correlation between the growth of book production and the growth of library holdings may remain only a mere postulate if not supported by appropriate coordinated actions of the government. The best example of a discoordination of both processes is the state of affairs which we find in this field in the United States – one of the biggest book producers of the world – with striking disproportions in the distribution of library book resources throughout the country. On the ground of statistical materials (UNESCO yearbook and others) the author of this paper proves that a correlation between the book production and the library holdings is practically feasible only in socialist countries with their planned economy. The main objective in determining an optimal ratio between these processes is to find the best solution in satisfying the cultural needs of the population.
Under present conditions further development of science depends on the level of scientific information activities, thus it is very important to improve information service for scientists.It is believed that at the formation of a new informatic paradigm all the structures and character of scientific communication will change essentially.Great attention, at present, is paid to meet constantly growing needs of scientists for information. But the character of qualitative changes arising due to changes in scientific paradigm is ignored. The article suggests to add new data of such scientific communication methods to the now existing system that provide information to scientists which could improve and make simpler the process of obtaining information from the point of view of the scientist.
The article explores the reading habits of Slovenian university students in teacher education and library science programs, comparing data from two cohorts (2017/18 versus 2024/25). Despite being future educators, around 16% of these students reported not having read a single book in the past year. While a slight increase in reading frequency and English-language reading was observed over the seven-year period, the shift toward less demanding genre fiction raises concerns. Students now predominantly read lighter, popular titles, with significantly fewer individuals engaging in complex literary texts. This shift has cognitive implications: studies indicate that the reading of complex literature enhances abstract thinking and attributional complexity, which are traits of high importance for educators. The rise in English-language reading – though intellectually beneficial – may also reduce exposure to syntactically complex Slovenian texts, potentially weakening native language competence. The findings suggest a troubling disconnection between the reading behaviours expected of educators and their actual practices. As reading complexity strongly correlates with critical thinking, the lack of engagement with demanding texts may hinder the cognitive development of students and their future pedagogical effectiveness. The article concludes by emphasizing the need for higher academic standards and stronger encouragement of deep reading within teacher education programs.
Jonas Mykolas Tananevičius was one of the most prominent publishers and businesspeople of the old Lithuanian diaspora at the beginning of the 20th century. Having acquired the newspaper Katalikas and financial services businesses from Father M. Kriaučiūnas in 1901, J. M. Tananevičius further developed them for several years, while also founding a private bank. During that time, he became one of the largest diaspora businesspeople well beyond the scope of the City of Chicago. Only A. Olšauskas, the publisher of the newspaper Lietuva, who also controlled a bank and developed several businesses related to financial intermediation, could perhaps be comparable with him. Publishing constituted an important part of the business run by J. M. Tananevičius; his newspaper Katalikas was the first in the diaspora to become a daily, and, among the approximately 90 books he published, many were not only commercially successful but also culturally significant. J. M. Tananevičius was also active in the public life of the expatriate community. However, the bankruptcy of the Katalikas bank in 1916, followed by a trial of J. M. Tananevičius in 1917, revealed another side of his business. It became clear that, for many years, his business had been managed dishonestly; J. M. Tananevičius and his relatives had embezzled the depositors’ money and thus enhanced their own quality of life. Despite such an ending, J. M. Tananevičius remains a striking figure of the old diaspora, worthy of attention from researchers of diaspora and publishing history.
DE FREMERY, WAYNE. CATS, CARPENTERS, AND ACCOUNTANTS: BIBLIOGRAPHICAL FOUNDATIONS OF INFORMATION SCIENCE. CAMBRIDGE, MASS.: MIT PRESS, 2024.
This article contains an overview of the censorship of Ukrainian children’s literature of the 20th – 21st centuries, which is largely related to socio-political processes and the dominant ideology. Another factor of prohibitions is contradictions with the accepted social, religious or sexual norms, as well as the traditional stereotypes about the upbringing of young people. The outline of the scope of ideological censorship, under the pressure of which Ukrainian children’s literature found itself during the totalitarian Soviet regime from 1922 to 1990, is presented. It is noted that censorship bodies were set up in the USSR to ban certain works in order to prevent the spread of national ideas and/or information that contradicted the communist ideology and the Soviet propaganda. For decades, special instructions were issued for recommended reading for children and for removing ‘harmful literature’ from reading rooms, bookstores, and the market in general. Simultaneously, bans and manifestations of censorship in children’s literature since the restoration of Ukraine’s independence (from the 1990s to today) are analyzed. It is asserted that the situation changed with the beginning of the post-totalitarian period in the history of Ukraine. Ideological involvement disappeared, whereas topics of national history, culture and traditions developed. Gradually, there was a conditional removal of taboos on ‘difficult’ topics for children (death, illness, sexual experience, psychological problems, etc.). New and non-stereotypical patterns of child behavior emerged in literature. Various genres of children’s literature actively developed, and writers learned to talk to young readers about everything while using ‘their’ language. The ratio of utilitarian and artistic in texts for children has been changing in favor of the latter.
The article begins with a personal reflection on the author’s relationship with the bibliographer Vladas Žukas. It then analyzes the memoirs of Vladas Žukas published after 1990. In discussing these publications, the article reconstructs details of the early life of Vladas Žukas by placing particular emphasis on his later daily interactions and his stories about people who were close to him – such as Juozas Balčikonis, Antanas Venclova, Eugenijus Meškauskas, Jonas Dumčius, and others. The article aims to characterize the nature of the ego-documents published by Vladas Žukas, while also assessing them from a source-critical perspective. It argues that his memoirs are a reliable historical testimony revealing the Soviet Lithuanian era in a multilayered way. At the same time, they can be interpreted as a specific case of reflection, illustrating how, at the turn of the 20th and 21st centuries, a personal witness undertook an attempt to remember and interpret the cultural environment of Soviet Lithuania.
Vladas Žukas (1925–2014), a Professor of Vilnius University, was one of the most significant researchers and participants in Lithuanian culture during a complicated part of the 20th century, specifically, the Soviet period. He was a highly recognised researcher of the humanities and social sciences in the Baltic region. High erudition, professional application of theoretical and methodological research tools, critical evaluation of research resources, along with well-grounded interpretation of historical sources were his distinguishing academic characteristics. He conducted productive studies of old writings, books and bibliography, while also expressing himself as a historian of culture. The results of these studies were embodied in academic courses of Lithuanian bibliography and theses; in total, Vladas Žukas wrote an impressive 28 books and monographs. The most important monographic works by V. Žukas form a continuous cycle of research publications. This cycle could be named “Lithuanian Book Culture and its Creators: Between Tradition and Innovation”. The dominant themes in these studies were: struggle for the public use of mother tongue, protection of the rights of the books in Lithuanian script during the times of oppression under the Russian Empire, issues pertaining to the advancement of press publishing and publishers in the independent Republic of Lithuania, the effect of book culture on the modernisation of society. V. Žukas supplemented his academic research by practicing his personal hobby of creating a unique collection of Lithuanian painters’ works. His guiding principle in tutoring students was to educate academically responsible and efficiently working specialists denoted by high professional competence. He was moderate, tactful and empathetic, while sometimes critical when assessing whether the knowledge acquired by the students in the course or the group is of the required level. Also, he was seen as a professionally insightful academician when evaluating the individual potential of his students. If the young people were struggling with personal issues, he was always the first to help overcome the problems by working more than formally required since he always was the one to walk the extra mile for the welfare of others.
