Tobolsk District Library activity in 1923-1930

Abstract

The article first considers the historical experience of Tobolsk District Library formation and development in 1923-1930. It characterizes the forms and methods of library practice, the specifics of working with other regional libraries, especially the personnel policy. The regional libraries management was carried on under difficult natural geographical conditions: the district area was more than 1,3 million square kilometers, a significant distance from administrative centers and settlements of the district, instability of socio-political processes, low level of socio-economic development, etc. Operating from 1923 to 1930, the district library was assigned the following tasks: combining libraries, coordination of their activities, assistance in work organization, books provision, creating teaching materials, and others. During the studied period, libraries experienced difficulties related to low funding, poor working conditions, lack of electricity, insufficient supply with literature. New forms of library work required additional funding, training and retraining. These problems have not been resolved. Methodological assistance was provided in various forms: meetings, group classes, by correspondence. In October 30, 1929 the CPSU (b) adopted a resolution «On the library activity improvement», which gave a negative assessment of the library business state in the USSR. In 1930 the work of the District Library was recognized as unsatisfactory. These shortcomings in the work fully coincided with the all-Union ones. Nevertheless, a small team carried on work to preserve the existing libraries and create new ones. Much attention was paid to the rural reading rooms, mobile libraries, and bibliography activity.