Research output: Contribution to Journal/Magazine › Journal article › peer-review
Research output: Contribution to Journal/Magazine › Journal article › peer-review
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TY - JOUR
T1 - Perestroika and Soviet libraries
AU - BRINE, J
PY - 1992
Y1 - 1992
N2 - Perestroika and glasnost' have affected all aspects of Soviet libraries. Library censorship has been largely abolished. Greater democracy has allowed the formation of library associations and influential staff councils in libraries. There are new approaches to many issues - library education, reader services, ethnic minorities, classification, library history, comparative librarianship. Libraries independent of the state have been set up. But the introduction of market economics, galloping inflation and the breakdown of old administrative structures are causing great uncertainty, especially over funding. Some libraries are being closed down, and many libraries are introducing paid services. Acquisitions, interlibrary loans, exchanges, and national bibliography have been affected by new commercial priorities. Librarians' salaries are low, and not keeping pace with inflation. Policy documents have been issued by the Lenin Library in Moscow, the Saltykov-Shchedrin Library in St. Petersburg and by non-governmental organisations, but all have been overtaken by the pace of change in the USSR. The future of Soviet libraries is uncertain.
AB - Perestroika and glasnost' have affected all aspects of Soviet libraries. Library censorship has been largely abolished. Greater democracy has allowed the formation of library associations and influential staff councils in libraries. There are new approaches to many issues - library education, reader services, ethnic minorities, classification, library history, comparative librarianship. Libraries independent of the state have been set up. But the introduction of market economics, galloping inflation and the breakdown of old administrative structures are causing great uncertainty, especially over funding. Some libraries are being closed down, and many libraries are introducing paid services. Acquisitions, interlibrary loans, exchanges, and national bibliography have been affected by new commercial priorities. Librarians' salaries are low, and not keeping pace with inflation. Policy documents have been issued by the Lenin Library in Moscow, the Saltykov-Shchedrin Library in St. Petersburg and by non-governmental organisations, but all have been overtaken by the pace of change in the USSR. The future of Soviet libraries is uncertain.
U2 - 10.1515/libr.1992.42.2.144
DO - 10.1515/libr.1992.42.2.144
M3 - Journal article
VL - 42
SP - 144
EP - 166
JO - Libri
JF - Libri
SN - 0024-2667
IS - 2
ER -