Presents overview of state of Soviet Union library service comprising 350,000 libraries, including national, governmental department, and public group (trade unions, professional associations) libraries. Training of Soviet librarians, library cooperation, national planning and funding, cultural exchange and cooperation, supporting international…

Discusses changes taking place in the library systems of Hungary, the Czech Republic, and Slovakia. Topics reviewed include the influence of Soviet Russian library theory and practices; decentralization of library administration; library finances; library education; library employment; library technology; and censorship and collection policies.…

Discusses training of specialized personnel for libraries in USSR, highlighting principles of librarianship, unified curricula approved by USSR Ministry of Culture and USSR Ministry of Higher and Secondary Special Education, training librarians for work at public libraries serving rural populations, continuous education of library workers, and…

Despite obvious and fundamental differences, contemporary library issues strikingly familiar to those of the west also beset the Soviet library world--issues that so far have been bridged in only technical apolitical areas. Governmental insistence on the centrality of ideology to library service remains an international stumbling block.…

Compares the philosophy of librarianship in the Soviet Union, where libraries are subordinate to the goals of the Communist party, and Scandinavia, where libraries maintain political neutrality. A brief history of library education in both countries is given and the current state of library education and research is described. (CLB)

Examines reading habits of Estonians with studies dating back to the 1960s and discusses the impact of the printed word on culture. Focuses on changes since the Estonian's transition to the market economy: (1) reading has become casual and less frequent; (2) literary preferences have shifted; and (3) smaller home libraries have increased the need…

Analyzes sociological research conducted by Kazakhstan libraries between 1991 and 1994. Highlights include discussions on the sociology of reading, research results, and library facilities. It was found that reading is characterized by frequent changes in demands of readers caused by dramatic shifts in ideology, politics, and economics in the…

This instructional unit combines a study of the Soviet leader V. I. Lenin with a study of libraries. Lenin was selected as the focus because of his support of books and libraries and because he oversaw a revolution that altered the political and social structure of Russia and the balance of power throughout the world. Included are lesson plan…

Reviews literature that explains the status of Soviet information science education at the beginning of the 1990s. Topics addressed include ideological foundations of Soviet science policy; early Soviet documentation activities; centralized institutions for information science instruction; and the spread of information science instruction to…