Virtual user geography of library websites

The author generalizes the results of library user survey. The survey was held within the framework of the study “Webometric monitoring of libraries”. The study goal was to assess the virtual geography of library website users and to specify target audience. The user audience of 11 library websites was assessed by following criteria: geographical data (user location, probable user residence area); user demographic data (sex, age); loyalty indicators (bounce rate, visit depth, visit duration); website user desired actions (estimation of desired action conversion). Based on the findings, the author concludes that: library offline services impact website user geography; there is a close interdependence between library location and website traffic; users resident in the library region make the most loyal website users; women prevail in the library user audience. The target website user audience is identified; recommendations are offered for the further strategic development in the web-space. The study conclusions and recommendations would facilitate generated demanded content and efficient promotion of library information resources and services in the web-space.

Monitoring library and information services at Central Scientific Agricultural Library

The findings of monitoring of repertoire of and demand for library and information services (document, reference, bibliographic awareness, cultural and educational services) are discussed. The mentioned services are available through the CSAL website. The types and forms of services are analyzed, their place and demand for them are discussed. The focus is made on the online services providing access of in-house information resources, e. g. e-libraries, e-catalogs, virtual exhibitions, etc. The terminological analysis of services titles as compared to the new national standard of library information services was executed. It was revealed that the services titles meet the standardized terms and definitions. The degrees of demand for difference services are estimated as active, fluctuating and decreasing. To improve library and bibliographic services and information support of science for agro-industrial complex, the authors recommend: to study products and services of unstable and decreasing demand, to load explicit list of services in the Information Services section, to design scientist personal accounts, to make it possible for the users to take part in selecting documents for digitization and to receive e-newsletter on new library acquisitions, etc. The authors conclude that CSAL provide the wide range of library information services which is essential to increase accessibility and friendliness of Library-generated information products, to improve information support of research in agricultural industries. The findings will be used in planning user library and information services. It is imperative that user services are monitored and user demands are analyzed.

The patent landscape for developing scientometric library services (as exemplified by the discipline of Microbiology)

The author discusses the modern research tools in various domains of science and industry based on integrated assessment of scientometric indicators and patent analysis. Excerpts of microbiological research papers published in Russia and worldwide are included. The data on researchers’ inventive work and publication activities are cited. The possibility for using patent landscapes in assessing research and industrial domains is examined. The author argues that building patent landscapes is a quality tool to identify the most promising vectors of development. He demonstrates that the most research and development activities are concentrated in the countries with the largest numbers of patent applications. In Russia, the government-funded organizations make the key driving force in the scientific studies and technologies in the national microbiology. In analyzing vast data volumes, patent landscapes enable to improve the quality of analysis visualization and get reliable data on the subject of research owing to multidimensional analytical representations. The author insists that building patent landscape services might become one of science libraries’ key functions.

Information sites for professional scientometrics community: The overview of the Third Scientific Conference “Scientometrics, bibliometrics, open data and publications in science”

The authors review the papers delivered at the Third Scientific Conference “Scientometrics, bibliometrics, open data and publications in science” held within the framework of the Sixth World Professional Forum “The Book. Culture. Education. Innovations” (“Crimea–2021”) (June 5–13, 2021, Republic of Crimea, Russian Federation). The Conference key topics discussed at its three sessions were: trends in sci-tech development, scientometric studies of scientific periodicals, as well as case studies and regional research through scientometric tools. The hot topics in Russian scientometrics are specified, including applied studies of bibliometric analysis for assessment of researchers, organizations, countries and journals, as well as of science migration streams, and theoretical development of new indicators of or search for scientometric frontiers. Within the practical part of the conference, The Basics of Bibliometrics crash course was offered to the participants. It comprised essential knowledge, competences and skills of work with science citation databases. The need for the more intensive exchange of knowledge within the Russian emerging scientometrics community to expand competences, to strengthen communication between those assessing and being assessed is substantiated. These would contribute not only scientometrics but the Russian science on the whole.

The Sixth World Professional Forum “The Book. Culture. Education. Innovations” – “Crimea–2021”. The review

The work of the Sixth World Professional Forum “The Book. Culture. Education. Innovations” (June 5–13, 2021, Sudak, Republic of Crimea, Russian Federation) is reviewed; its themes and topics are discussed: library mission in the digitization era; pandemic impact on libraries; prospects for library and information community; national information systems; libraries collaboration with research and educational organizations; modern competences of library specialists; partnerships of national libraries, etc. The focus is made on the following events: The Twenty Seventh International Conference «Libraries and information resources in the modern world of science, culture, education and business», The Third Scientific and Educational Symposium “Building and developing the modern digital environment for education and science”; The Fifth Industry Conference “Book publishing and libraries: Vectors of cooperation”. The authors also give overview of discussions and presentations at the open press conference, the work and conclusions of the central discussion site, Day of Crimean Libraries, Day of Rospatent, The Third Scientific Conference “Scientometrics, bibliometrics, open data and publications in science”, The Third International Conference on the global ecological problems, the research and practice events held within the framework of the Forum, as well as the opening and closing ceremonies, and Forum plenary session.

The challenges of integrating publishers’, book trade and library information organizations in the Republic of Uzbekistan

The libraries being the state organizations are funded by the government and are limited in their resources. Therefore, despite the fact that the book market today is crowded with document resources, the libraries and information organization cannot afford purchasing all the publications they need. Their activities are regulated through norms and laws that provide both for competitive and single-source procurement. Mandatory copies alone are insufficient for collection development, and the library and information organizations have to find additional collection development sources through integration with publishers and bookselling organizations. Price lists, publishers’ and bookstores’ websites make the main source of information. Information technologies and computer systems enable to analyze whether the purchased publications are demanded by the users. The libraries have to provide for communicate between user services, acquisition department and the users. The team effort to draw acquisition lists enables to get the quality collection. The author examines the problems of integration of library and information organizations with publishers and booksellers as the case study of A. Navoi National Library of the Republic of Uzbekistan and State Scientific Medical library of the Republic of Uzbekistan.

Evidentiary function of systematic reviews of scientific literature: Epistemological foundations and methodological derivatives

The author analyzes implicit epistemological assumptions of the modern systematic reviews of scientific literatures that usually are left unconsidered or problematized. The foundations for building the image of scientific communication as representative, clearly cut and easily analyzed reflection of efficient search for and spread of truth which approaching is characterized by increased explorers’ consent. Generalization of this communication brings the evidential effect to advance argument in scientific discussions. However, a series of conditions for adequate conversion and «migration» of published conclusions into the conclusions of systematic review has to be provided to preserve evidential effect in summarizing analysis. The essential components of systematic reviewing methodology comprise: setting the task of obtaining quantified results; selection criteria for unambiguous correspondence between the model of process under scientific investigation and totality of publications; representative observation of relevant publications and making conclusions based on comparative evidential effect of research and consent level achieved. The systematic reviews compliant with the above requirements make them a powerful instrument of evidence in the social sciences, biology and medicine.

"Reading. The encyclopedic dictionary"

The reading encyclopedia has been published for the first time in Russia. It generalizes the accumulated knowledge of the reading phenomenon in various science domains (philosophy, psychology, pedagogy, philology, bibliology, library studies, physiology, etc.) and represent it in its true scale – as the foundation, along with writing, of the civilization and a component of political, economical, humanitarian development of any state, as a keystone of full-fledged personal development. The dictionary comprises 371 definitions revealing various aspects of reading as a concept. The dictionary is intended for scientists and researchers, lecturers, teachers, librarians, under- and post-graduate students, for everyone who regards reading as “invaluable treasure” for a person and the humankind on the whole.

International science and education classification: The place of library science

Through the Order of the RF Ministry of Science and Higher Education of February 24, 2021, on the Nomenclature of Scientific Professions to be awarded academic degrees, the speciality 05.25.03 «Library science, bibliography, and bibliology» was excluded from this nomenclature. The concerns arouse that this speciality might be excluded from the educational programs. The post-graduate programs is to become the third level of higher education. One more attempt should be made to stand for our profession by referring to global precedents, i. e. to the International Standard Classification of Education (ISCE), adopted by the UNESCOGeneral Assembly in 2011, and to FOS (Revised field of science and technology, classification in the Frascati manual). The latter is the international classification of science and technology adopted and approved by 75% world countries to represent scientific disciplines and to unify world statistical data. In both classifications, library science is specified as an independent discipline within the social sciences unit.