Library Digitalisation as a Mainstream of Scientific Discourse

Abstract

Since 2017, the Russian State Library (RSL) has held annually scientific and practical seminars of the cycle “The Role of science in the development of libraries: theoretical and practical aspects”, addressed to library specialists and scientists in the field of library science, bibliography science and book studies. The main targets of the events of the cycle are to activate research work in the field of library science, bibliography science and book studies; to discuss current problems of scientific activity of federal and regional library centres; to acquaint library specialists with the results of scientific research. One of the thematic blocks of the cycle consists of seminars devoted to the problems of digitalisation of librarianship. The latest scientific and practical seminar of this block devoted to the topic “Digital transformation of libraries as a subject of scientific research” was held on February 10, 2022. The speakers of the seminar were the leading scientists of the Centre for Study of Library Development Problems in the Information Society of the RSL. The seminar program included two questions. M.Y. Neshcheret presented the results of studying the remote reference and bibliographic services offered on the websites of national libraries around the world. Y.N. Stolyarov analysed the content of publications on the study of digitalisation problems in Russian professional journals. The seminar noted the significant role of practical librarians in the implementation of digital technologies in the work of libraries, as well as demonstrated achievements, proving the need for social library institute. The speakers called on contemporary researchers to intensify scientific research aimed at theoretical understanding of the ongoing processes of digitalisation. The seminar aroused considerable interest of library specialists.