The Great Patriotic War and Libraries: Results of the Latest Scientific Research

On May 14—15, the Russian State Library (RSL) hosted the All-Russian Scientific and Practical Conference with International Participation “Preserving the Historical Memory of the Great Patriotic War: The Role of Libraries”, organized with the support of the Russian Library Association. The forum brought together more than 500 specialists from 63 regions of the Russian Federation, as well as from Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan and South Ossetia. Colleagues presented research work on studying the history of libraries during the war years and modern activities to preserve the historical truth about the events of 1941—1945. The event was held in the format of a plenary session and three sections: “Library and Information Resources About the Great Patriotic War”, “Activities of Libraries to Preserve Historical Memory and Patriotic Education of the Population”, “Libraries and Librarians in the War Years: Pages of History”. Within the framework of the conference a round table “Historical Memory of the Great Patriotic War in the Activities of Libraries of New Subjects of Russia” was held, where historical and cultural projects of libraries of the Lugansk People’s Republic, Donetsk People’s Republic and Kherson region were presented. The conference held in the Russian State Library showed that research and historical-educational activities of libraries to preserve the historical memory and heritage of the war years is a systematic work that confirms its demand by the interest of readers. The publishing house of the Russian State Library “Pashkov Dom” published a collection of conference materials. It presents articles on successful practices of libraries in the field of historical education, which can be used as methodological models and implemented in libraries of all types.