Tambov public library as an element of provincial cultural environment

The relevance of the study is due to the need to fill the historiographical gap in the study of public libraries activities of pre-revolutionary Russia as an element of the provincial cultural environment. We consider formation and activities history of Tambov public library (opened in the city of Tambov in 1833). Novelty of the work is the introduction of previously unused historical sources in the characteristic of public libraries. The subject of the study are staffing table features, use pattern of the fund, ways of functioning of the stock company in public library, specifics of shares issue and disposition, social composition of readers. An important element of the study is the research of Tambov public library decline problems in post-reform time, reasons for the lack of material resources and attempts to transfer institution to the balance of the Tambov city budget. We note the role of private initiative in the arrangement of library at different stages of its development. We assess the books catalogues published at the institution which are one of the first printed bibliographies of public libraries in Russia. In the framework of literary preferences of library users study, we consider the assessments of the gymnasium director and Tambov Seminary rector, whose tasks included supervision of students’ reading and librarians’ implementation of circulars and decrees of public education minister. Theoretical and concrete historical analysis of Tambov public library allowed to draw conclusions about the significant impact of the library institution on the local cultural environment. We emphasize that the formation of library brought together the structure of provincial society, contributed to the qualitative social and cultural transformations of local population.

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