Discretion in Russian Librarianship: Pre-Soviet, Soviet, Post-Soviet
Total Page：16
File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb
Discretion in Russian Librarianship: Pre-Soviet, Soviet, Post-Soviet Thesis Presented in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree Master of Arts in the Graduate School of The Ohio State University By Andréa N. Atkins, B.A. Graduate Program in Slavic and East European Studies The Ohio State University 2012 Thesis Committee: Jennifer Suchland, Advisor Jessie Labov Copyright by Andréa N. Atkins 2012 Abstract For most of the twentieth century, public libraries and librarians in Russia were tools for Soviet propaganda. While democratic concerns for literacy and societal development were ideals that revolutionaries tried to uphold during the revolutionary period and early years of the USSR, ultimately the Soviet government executed policies that forced libraries and librarians to serve the goals of the state. The Soviet government appropriated the socio-cultural institution of the public library and made all of its activities subservient to the single principle of partiinost’. Thus, professional librarians in Russia had little ability to exercise their specialized knowledge to promote the public good, which is often viewed as a paramount goal of librarians. In this thesis I analyze both the historical process of the Soviet state’s claiming of the public library for propagating Soviet ideals and the reaction to this in the Post-Soviet era. I argue that the ability to exercise discretion is a primary characteristic of the profession of public librarianship, but that the ability to exercise discretion was denied to Russian public librarians. I also explain the Soviet’s concept of the public library by introducing readers’ guidance generally and evaluating the Soviet-style of readers’ guidance particularly. I chronicle the reclamation of the library profession, which began during glasnost’ and perestroika. Finally, I attempt to describe the current state of librarianship in Russia by highlighting some its more important developments in the post-Soviet period. ii Dedication I dedicate this thesis to Verdell, who was always supportive. iii Vita 2002…………………………………..….....B.A. Philosophy, University of Georgia 2002…………………………............……...B.A. Political Science, University of Georgia 2012…………………………............……...M.A., Public Policy and Management, The Ohio State University 2009-2012.....................................................Graduate Student, Slavic and East European Studies, The Ohio State University Fields of Study Major Field: Slavic and East European Studies iv Table of Contents Abstract................................................................................................................................ii Dedication...........................................................................................................................iii Vita......................................................................................................................................iv Introduction..........................................................................................................................1 Chapter 1: History and Character of Russian Public Librarianship.....................................4 Chapter 2: The Soviet Conception Of The Library And Readers’ Guidance.....................12 Chapter 3: Library Policies of the Soviet Period and Their Effects...................................21 Chapter 4: Librarian-Led Changes During Glasnost’ and Perestroika..............................29 Chapter 5: Public Libraries In Post-Soviet Russia.............................................................38 Conclusion.........................................................................................................................46 References..........................................................................................................................49 v Introduction For most of the twentieth century, public libraries and librarians in Russia were tools for Soviet propaganda. While democratic concerns for literacy and societal development were ideals that revolutionaries tried to uphold during the revolutionary period and early years of the USSR, ultimately the Soviet government executed policies that forced libraries and librarians to serve the goals of the state. The Soviet government appropriated the socio-cultural institution of the public library and made all of its activities subservient to the single principle of partiinost’. Thus, professional librarians in Russia had little ability to exercise their specialized knowledge to promote the public good, which is often viewed as a paramount goal of librarians. In this thesis I analyze both the historical process of the Soviet state’s claiming of the public library for propagating Soviet ideals and the reaction to this in the Post-Soviet era.1 Russian librarians spent much of the Soviet period carrying out propaganda work as mandated by the Soviet government. In particular, I focus on the role of guided self- education or readers’ guidance (rukovodstvo chteniem) and the notion of discretion. Readers’ guidance was used to direct education programs for readers and also to monitor their progress through the programs. Readers’ guidance is a consultation between a 1 This paper deals with public libraries in the Russian Soviet Federative Socialist Republic (RSFSR), as opposed to the other Socialist Republics of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (USSR). The RSFSR accounted for one half of the population of the USSR and its center city, Moscow, served as the center of administration for public libraries. Moreover, this paper is specifically about public libraries, which were the only type of library whose patrons participated in readers’ guidance. The term mass library encompasses many types of libraries including children’s libraries, trade union libraries and public libraries. 1 library patron and a librarian wherein the librarian suggests reading materials to the patron with respect to the patron’s individual interests and ability. To do this, librarians monitored and kept records of the books a patron read and the topics covered. The practice of Soviet-style readers’ guidance was the defining characteristic of public librarianship during Soviet times. An analysis of Soviet readers’ guidance will shed light on the complexities of and changes in the relationships among patrons, librarians, and the Soviet government. It was not until the glasnost’ and perestroika period in the 1980s that Russian librarians began to reform their profession. Library practices that served the interests of the government and bureaucracy during most of the Soviet period were transformed into practices that actually served patrons. The changes were not just at the level of librarians as individuals. As a group, librarians were developing a new professional consciousness, becoming advocates for democracy, and re-exploring the potential of librarianship unfettered from Soviet ideology. In the post-Soviet era, Russian librarianship has continued to evolve. Librarians held a great deal of hope in the early 1990s that libraries would thrive after communism fell. Conditioned by seventy years of Soviet culture, librarians and patrons alike have not fully shed the view that the library is an extension of the government. However, despite the impoverished state of libraries in the post-Soviet era, the perception of the library as a cultural institution for the Russian people is taking hold. 2 This thesis is divided into five chapters. Chapter One provides a background of the history of public librarianship focusing especially on the last one and a half centuries. This entails a brief discussion of the beginnings of the library profession in Imperial Russia and the transition to Soviet librarianship. In that chapter, I also introduce the notion of discretion and describe its importance to professional librarianship. Chapter Two describes the Soviet conception of the public library. The Soviets appropriated Russian librarianship and transformed readers’ guidance. In Chapter Three I provide a broader look at the policy environment of the Soviet public library that restricted access to and censored information for the citizens of Soviet Russia. In Chapter Four I document how librarians began to reclaim their profession during the glasnost’ and perestroika period. During that period, librarians hoped that a more democratic phase in Russian history was on its way and began to reconsider the purpose and mission of librarianship. Chapter Five assesses the state of librarianship in post-Soviet Russia. Library workers re- established Library Professional Associations. In 1999, a code of ethics guiding Russian librarianship was formulated and published. A revised code of ethics, adopted in 2011, reflects recent changes in Russian librarianship. I conclude by summarizing some of the more salient points of this thesis and suggesting questions for further research. 3 Chapter 1: History and Character of Russian Public Librarianship In order to understand the significance of the Soviet period’s effect on Russian libraries and librarians, it is important to understand the history and character of librarianship in Russia. Moreover, such an understanding will shed light on some of the critiques of the Soviet library system as well as the changes to librarianship in the glasnost’ and perestroika and post-Soviet eras. In this chapter, I briefly outline the historical development of the public library in the West. This overview will provide the basis for a brief discussion