Administering the library sector during the Great Patriotic War

The author examines the issues of administering the library sector on the territory of the Russian Federation during the Great Patriotic War (1941–1945) with the focus on the role of the People’s Education Commissariat (Narkompros) in reorganizing the sector of librarianship. The author analyzes the status of libraries during the early war years: the system of library services and library staffing were deteriorating, the libraries were unreasonably closing. The problems of library collections evacuation are accentuated. Narkompros’ leading role in reorganizing librarianship during the war, stabilizing the library network, solving the tasks of war, defense and economy, is emphasized. Narkompros supported the library services in hospitals and contributed to stabilizing the national system of librarianship administration, and leaded the revival of the libraries destroyed by the nazis. The author concludes that the libraries’ war experience of the libraries can be used today.