Scientific and technical heritage of Russia in collections and projects of Presidential Library

Yuri Nosov, the Director General of the Presidential Library, presented a video at the plenary session of the Second International Scientific and Practical Conference State and Prospects for the Development of the International State System of Scientific and Technical Information, which was held in Minsk from 13 to 15 August 2024.

The event was aimed at uniting the efforts of libraries and other organizations from various departments in Russia, Belarus, and other CIS countries to effectively use and exchange scientific and technical information in a mutually beneficial way, as well as to develop new approaches to working with this information in the context of rapidly evolving digital technologies.

In his speech, Yuri Nosov detailed the collections of documents and projects at the Presidential Library related to key figures and important events in Russian scientific and technological history. He emphasized that, in line with its acquisition goals, the Presidential Library gathers a variety of materials, including official documents, research papers, and archival records that document the history of scientific and technological development and the role of government in this process.

Significant sources of information about the life and work of Russian scientists include materials from the Federal Institute of Industrial Property and the Russian State Historical Archive. Collaboration with regional libraries is also important for expanding collections of scientific materials, such as the Arkhangelsk Regional Science Library, the National Library of Karelia, the Komi National Library, the Omsk Regional Science Library, the Sverdlovsk Children's and Youth Library, and government-sponsored organizations like the Russian Geographical Society.

One of the main goals of a modern library is not only to gather materials on a specific topic, but also to ensure that they are accessible and relevant, - Yuri Nosov highlighted. The Presidential Library's project Great Russia plays a crucial role in promoting the history of science, innovation, and culture. Currently, it consists of two main sections: Outstanding Scientists and Inventors and Prominent Cultural Figures. Additionally, it is planned to create a third section dedicated to explorers and adventurers.

The Presidential Library's On this day section on the portal is one of its earliest projects, providing users with a way to explore significant events that took place on a particular date. The portal also honors the birthdays of notable Russian scientists and innovators.

In addition, the Presidential Library collects and preserves thematic and personal collections. One of the most significant collections is Russian Inventions: Pages of History, which covers a wide range of aspects of inventive activities in Russia. This collection includes legislative documents on inventive activity from different historical periods, essays on prominent Russian inventors, patent research, and videos on scientific developments in the Soviet Union.

The official documents in this collection demonstrate the importance of the state's role in protecting inventions and regulating inventive activities. The collection also includes numerous cases of awards for inventions and projects, as well as telegrams that showcase the development of industrial and scientific technologies, which have been contributed to by both professionals and enthusiasts.

The most interesting part of the collection Russian Inventions: Pages of History is the block of archival materials that tells about individual inventions from the 19th and early 20th centuries.

Another important collection of the project, reflecting the rich scientific and technical potential of Russian science, is the collection called Outer Space. It is dedicated to the first human space flight and the development of cosmonautics. One of the most valuable parts of this collection is a newsreel compiled by specialists from the Presidential Library and turned into a film called Astronautics in the USSR.

The library's collection also contains an electronic collection of books by Yuri Gagarin, including The Road to Space, I See the Earth, and Psychology and Space. The latest edition of these books describes in detail the feelings and experiences of an astronaut during a spaceflight.

No less important is the collection dedicated to the Arctic. It includes scientific research, essays, memoirs, archival documents, official records, newsreels, photographs, and other visual materials that tell the story of Arctic travels and expeditions, the Arctic Ocean, surrounding territories, and the lives of its inhabitants, as well as the development of polar lands from antiquity to the present day. A separate section focuses on the Northern Sea Route, which has played a significant role in Arctic development, as well as materials from art exhibitions devoted to the North.

Talking about the scientific and educational events at the Presidential Library, Yuri Nosov emphasized that they often focus on prominent Russian scientists. For example, within the context of the Knowledge of Russia video lecture, events were held about the life and work of Lomonosov, Mendeleev, and Tsiolkovsky.

In February 2024, the Presidential Library hosted an international scientific conference titled 190 Years since the Birth of Mendeleev: Preserving Scientific Heritage. A webinar-based conference dedicated to Cosmonautics Day was held annually in April.

Thus, the Presidential Library's collection and resources on its portal contain extensive information about the remarkable achievements of Russian researchers and inventors. Through the materials of the Presidential Library and its projects and events, people can learn more about the circumstances surrounding significant discoveries, and the lives of brilliant Russian scientists who were ahead of their time and contributed significantly to the development of both domestic and global science and culture.

The main organizers of the Second International Scientific and Practical Conference State and Prospects for the Development of the International State System of Scientific and Technical Information are the State Public Scientific and Technical Library of Russia, the National Library Association "Libraries for the Future" (NAB), and the Republican Scientific and Technological Library (Republic of Belarus), with the support of the State Committee on Science and Technology of the Republic of Belarus.