Digitalization as a trend in library development

Abstract

The purpose of this article is to introduce into the scientific circulation the results of the research work started in 2019 by the Russian State Library (RSL) with the aim to identify, analyze and characterize processes of digitalization of public libraries of the Russian Federation as well as to make the forecast of their further development. In the course of the research, there was done the analysis of normative documents, publications in the professional press and on the sites of Russian and foreign journals, other net actors, accumulating and testing scientific information about digitalization of librarianship; examination of libraries’ sites as points of access to distant library services.The summarization of the significant empirical base made it possible to identify and characterize the main trends in the process of digitalization of public libraries, as well as to conduct a comparative analysis of international and domestic experience in the introduction of digital technologies into library practice.During the first two stages of this scientific project, there was defined the concept of “library digitalization”, studied the content of the process of library digitalization, identified the main avenues and analyzed forms and areas of application of new information technologies in library practice.The results of the research have indicated that digitalization affects the development of all the main areas of library activities. The introduction of digital technologies leads to significant changes in the forms and methods of library work and library communications.There have been identified several main vectors of library digitalization development: digitization of library collections and creation of digital resources; development of the remote user services via the Internet, robotization of library processes and implementation of mobile communication technologies, augmented reality and radio frequency identification. The objectives of the introduction of digital technologies into library practice have been formulated as follows: liberation of library specialists from routine library work for to perform processes that require intellectual and creative abilities. The results of this research have important theoretical and practical significance.