Library centers of the Oleksandriv district of Katerynoslav province: network, activity, figures

Abstract

The article deals with the peculiarities of the formation and development of the library network of Oleksandrivskyi district in Katerynoslav region based on the analysis of historical materials and archival sources. The article analyses the activities of libraries of different subordination according to their book collections, readership and management. The purpose is to highlight the diverse activities of libraries of different subordination and their significant contribution to the development of the developed library network of the province. Scientific novelty. This study is related to historical memory and focuses on the history, development, and activities of libraries in the second half of the nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. The choice of the topic is due to the current situation in Ukraine, namely the Russian-Ukrainian war. During the period of Russian aggression, more than 700 libraries of various subordination were damaged and destroyed, some of them cannot be rebuilt. Each lost library had its own interesting history, carefully formed collections, active readers, and therefore deserves to be preserved in the historical memory of library science as objects and valuable examples of book heritage. chronological, comparative historical and systematic methods were used. A holistic picture of the formation and development of collections, categories of readers and library staff were recreated. Main results. The activities of different types of libraries are analysed and their contribution to development of the provincial library network is determined. The article highlights the diverse activities of cultural and educational centres in the process of acquisition of multidisciplinary collections with educational and scientific literature. The tendencies and peculiarities of the district library business in terms of serving different groups of readers and forming readers’ interests are revealed. The contribution of pedagogical figures of the district to the development of public libraries is considered. Conclusions. The state and development of librarianship depended on the political, socio-economic and cultural situation in the district. Despite the difficulties associated with certain historical events, library centres were active and performed the main functions and tasks required by educational institutions.