The New York Public Library and Modern Technologies: Part 1: Introduction to a Russian Perspective

Citation

Spain, V. (2001), "The New York Public Library and Modern Technologies: Part 1: Introduction to a Russian Perspective", Library Hi Tech News, Vol. 18 No. 1. https://doi.org/10.1108/lhtn.2001.23918aab.003

The New York Public Library and Modern Technologies: Part 1: Introduction to a Russian Perspective

Victoria Spain and Les Pourciau, Column Editors

The New York Public Library and Modern Technologies:Part 1: Introduction to a Russian Perspective

Victoria Spain

Background

Russia's look at America has a long history that begins probably in the mid-1700s, and was especially strong in the 1945-1991 period, signifying the central feature of Russia-American foreign policy ("Russia and the Soviet Union", 1997, p. 36). Over the centuries diplomats, historians, Slavophiles, politicians, journalists, and others have portrayed varying perspectives through the published literature regarding Russia's view of America. In fact, one noteworthy book indicates that Russia's pre-1917 knowledge of America far outweighed America's knowledge of Russia, with respect to numbers of works published (Allen, 1988, pp. 277-8). Although Russia and America have shared a "mutual fascination and distrust", efforts to understand each other have not always been made in equal measure (Richards, 1998).

One expression of this dual fascination is a pattern of well-developed, if uneven, and sometimes broken relations between American and Russian libraries and librarians. The flurry of exchanges that have occurred between these two countries since the breakup of the USSR are well known. But often overlooked are the early years of publication exchanges and intellectual/professional relations that started in the 1920s between Russian and American libraries and individual librarians. These unpublicized and groundbreaking exchanges "left specific heritages in the two countries ... the groundwork was laid for the foundation of important collections ... [even though] the philosophical legacies of the exchange are more divergent..." (Richards, 1998, p. 403).

International Agreement

Two American libraries that excelled in an early recognition of the value of exchange partners in the USSR were the Library of Congress and the New York Public Library. Harry M. Lydenberg, chief of the New York Public Library's reference department, made a trip to Russia in 1923-24 (Karlowich, 1986-87; Davis, 1993)[1,2]. Following his return to America, he encouraged "American scholarly societies to set up exchange relations with Russian partners" and publicized the high standards of Russian librarianship and scholarship (Richards, 1998, p. 39). It is important to recognize these and numerous other early efforts to avoid the simplistic view fostered by the acceleration of technology that developing countries must first of all learn from, then adopt the ways of more technologically advanced countries.

Olga Kulish's working visit to American libraries resulted from an important step on the part of one American and one Russian library to continue broadening their perspectives with each other and their counties. Kulish, Deputy Director for Librarianship at the National Library of Russia (NLR), is among a number of senior staff members at the library who have taken advantage of an international agreement made in 1996 between the New York Public Library (NYPL) and the National Library of Russia (NLR). Although the association between these two leading research libraries dates back to the late 1800s, in recent years the administrations of Vladimir N. Zaitsev, director of the National Library of Russia, Paul LeClerc, President of the New York Public Library, and Edward Kasinec, Chief of the Slavic and Baltic Division, have renewed and formalized these longstanding ties. The agreement emerged from the first Summit of World Library Leaders, held at the NYPL in the spring of 1996. At that time, Kasinec stated that "this agreement is an important signpost along the road of strengthening ties with research libraries in the vast arena of post-communist eastern Europe and Eurasia" ("New York Public Library", 1997)[3]. The agreement makes possible exchanges and internships, collaboration on joint publishing ventures and exhibit projects, exploring joint preservation initiatives, exchanging electronic data ­ including bibliographic information, sharing planning strategies for the future, and joining forces in projects of a long-term nature.

Olga Kulish

Olga Kulish (see Figure 1) brings to us the freshness of an outsider's perspective on aspects within American libraries that we often take for granted. Her aim is to share her impressions from the point of view of a specialist who visited American libraries for the first time. In her position as Deputy Director of Librarianship for the NLR (since 2000), Kulish is responsible for organizing and coordinating activities in the fields of document processing and user services, implementing the modern PC-based Internet connectivity, bringing to fruition issues connected with the NLR's "New building" completed in 1998, and organizing services to be based on modern technology. Kulish received a degree in Russian language and literature from Leningrad State University and completed post-graduate classes in library science, earning a PhD in Librarianship. Kulish has held positions of progressive responsibility with the NLR since 1973, which include Librarian in the Department of Processing and Catalogues (1973-1977), Researcher in the Department of Processing and Catalogues (1980-1985), Head of the Cataloging Section (1985-1989), and Head of the Library Technology Department (1992-1999).

Figure 1.Olga Kulish, Deputy Director of Librarianship for the National Library of Russia

The National Library of Russia

The National Library of Russia, established in 1795 as the Imperial Public Library by decree of Empress Catherine II, was built over a period of 20 years (1795-1814) and situated at the junction of Nevsky Prospekt and Sadovaya Street in the center of the capital city of St Petersburg. It was the first state library in Russia. Cabinet architect Yegor Sokolov planned the interiors of the original building which were decorated in the classical style. The façade is enriched with Ionic columns and statues of Greek philosophers. The NLR occupies several buildings in the historic center of St Petersburg which were added over a period of time and designed by various architects. The library's first name was the Imperial Public Library. The NLR has undergone several name changes over the centuries ­ the Imperial Public Library (1795-1931), the Saltykov-Shchedrin State Public Library (1932-1991), and the National Library of Russia (1992-present) (Zaitsev, 1993; 1996a). The NLR is the second largest library in Russia after Moscow's V.I. Lenin Public Library of the USSR (now named the Russian State Library). Count Alexander Stroganov was appointed as the first Chief Director of the Imperial Libraries in January 1800. Alexei Olenin, who succeeded him as director, breathed life into the libraries, opening them to readers, beginning in 1814. Beginning in 1810 under Olenin's directorship, the library began receiving two free statutory copies of everything produced on Russian printing presses. After the break-up of the USSR in December 1991, the library was renamed (in March 1992) the National Library of Russia by decree from President Yeltsin, and given the status of a national library entrusted to act as international representative on the behalf of Russian interests. Useful information is provided in the NLR's 1998/1999 Annual Report (Zaitsev, 1998/1999). The National Library of Russia: 1795-1995 is the most comprehensive monograph published in the English language on the history, development, and collections of the NLR (Zaitsev et al., 1995)[4].

Considered to be one of the world's greatest research libraries, the NLR is also a national treasure, comparable to the Bibliothèque Nationale de France (Volodin, 1995)[5]. The NLR holds over 32 million items. Almost six million are in foreign languages. This fact alone suggests to the international library community the challenges the NLR faces in developing its first electronic catalog. A second consideration is the diversity and age of the NLR's holdings. Its unique, rare, and special book collections are substantial. The NLR's special collections include the following:

1. 1.

   20,000 Eastern manuscripts dating back to the thirteenth century;

2. 2.

   6,000 incunabules ­ the largest collection in Russia;

3. 3.

   20,000 foreign printed books dating from the 1500s onwards;

4. 4.

   the Rossica collection (foreign publications on the subject of Russia) dating back to the 1600s;

5. 5.

   extensive holdings in the Oriental and Asian languages;

6. 6.

   one of the largest collections of materials pertaining to Jews and Diaspora in the world, consisting of 45,000 books and 900 different periodicals;

7. 7.

   unique collections of early Cyrillic printed books dating back to the mid-l400s;

8. 8.

   unique and unusual bindings such as velvet, silk, wood, and calico;

9. 9.

   handmade Russian books of the early 1900s;

10. 10.

    autographed documents from the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries, letters written by royalty, government documents, and charters issued by the Tsars of Muscovy;

11. 11.

    autographed photographs;

12. 12.

    6,000 titles of newspapers and thousands of periodical titles;

13. 13.

    Russian journalism covering three centuries;

14. 14.

    publications of learned societies, institutions, and organizations;

15. 15.

    publications for children, including 242 titles of children's magazines;

16. 16.

    publications written by Russians living abroad;

17. 17.

    10,000 items in its cartographic department ­ one of the largest in Russia;

18. 18.

    prints, posters, and photographs representing all European schools and techniques;

19. 19.

    Russian prints including the world's largest collection of Russian seventeenth- and eighteenth-century engravings;

20. 20.

    12,000 popular prints ("lubki");

21. 21.

    photographs from exhibitions dating back to the late 1800s;

22. 22.

    a collection of ex libris bookplates;

23. 23.

    Russian posters ­ one of the largest collections in Russia;

24. 24.

    original manuscripts of composers and printed music;

25. 25.

    the Alexander Pushkin collection, including editions printed in the poet's lifetime;

26. 26.

    banned and illegal publications produced in Russia and abroad between 1853 and 1917; and

27. 27.

    10,000 books bearing the autographs of major writers, state figures, and scholars (Zaitsev et al., 1995)[6].

The diversity of the NLR's collection poses challenges in this library's plans to automate its various card catalogs and other bibliographic files and link them together.

Today, the NLR is a leading center for librarianship and bibliographical studies. It functions as the interlibrary loan center for all of Russia, and is a copyright library, and a mandatory deposit library. The NLR employs approximately 1,687 individuals. The library's original building is organized into reading rooms that consist of research, general, and specialist rooms, with a room devoted to resources for children and teenagers. The number of its reading rooms and areas for work and research presently total 1,390. The NLR has numerous card catalogs, each located in the various reading rooms. The Automation Department was established in 1970. Computerization of the NLR began in 1987. The RUSMARC bibliographic format, which was worked out in 1998, which has been approved as the National Standard for all libraries in Russia. Creation of the Russian book electronic catalogue began in 1998 and did work on retroconversion. Internet service has been available in the main departments for staff and library users since 1998. Approximately 1.5 million people visit the NLR annually. More than half of these visitors are scholars or specialists in particular fields who request 70 percent of the approximately 11 million volumes provided to users each year. The NLR's interlibrary loan system unites more than 4,000 institutions in 44 countries around the world, who in turn have access to the stocks of the NLR. In a separate department, the NLR handles its external requests for microforms and photocopies of items from its collections. Bibliographies are regularly prepared in the Bibliography and Local Studies Department. Restoration is an important and highly emphasized aspect in the NLR that is undertaken in the Document Conservation Department. In 1998, more than 43,000 items were rebound. Approximately 20 restorers are employed to utilize methods for long-term preservation of paper, parchment, and other materials. New acquisitions exhibits in the NLR display a total of 25,000 Russian and foreign language books acquired yearly (Zaitsev et al., 1995).

Scholarly conferences are held at the NLR, with an annual conference devoted to presenting the results of NLR's research activities. Every two years a conference is held at the NLR on the history of books and book publishing in Russia. Scholarly conferences are also held to mark the anniversaries of notable events in Russian and cultural history. In 1985, construction initiated for the new building to be located on Moskovsky Prospekt was completed in January 1998, and transfer of the stocks began. On May 27, 1999, services were starting to be provided to users in several rooms of the New Building (Zaitsev, 1998/1999; 1996b)[7].

Illustrations from a number of treasures in the NLR's collections can be seen on its homepage at http://www.nlr.ru/eng/nlr/index.html This comprehensive Web site, available in both Russian and English, introduces the reader to the departments and divisions of the NLR through operational links. Included are NLR's catalogs, databases, and collections, their publications, cooperation and partnerships activities, statistics on the collections and their services, and an introduction to the city of St Petersburg. The extensive information provided at this Web site is augmented by distinctive photographs and illustrations.

The New York Public Library Slavic and Baltic Division

The New York Public Library, by American and world standards, is one of our great research libraries.

A detailed description of NYPL's libraries and departments will not be given here, but its collections, activities, and programs are in many ways comparable to the NLR. Information can be found on the NYPL homepage at http://www.nypl.org Among NYPL's many divisions and departments is the Slavic and Baltic Division, where Olga Kulish's working visit began and ended.

The Slavic and Baltic Division is a specialized administrative unit within NYPL's Central Research Library. Originally named the Russian Department, and later the Slavonic Division, its founding Chief was Herman Rosenthal. The Slavic and Baltic Division grew in size (stated in the first "Annual Report of the Slavonic Department" in 1898) from approximately 1,300 volumes to become one of the largest and most comprehensive collections of resources in the vernacular Slavic, Baltic, and East European languages ­ more than 450,000 volumes, 1,200 current serials, and 21,646 microform titles. Languages represented include all of the Slavic languages: Russian, Polish, Czech, Slovak, Ukrainian, Serbian, Croatian, Bulgarian, Belarusian, Slovenian, Macedonian, Sorbian, Church Slavic, Romanian imprints in Cyrillic script, and two Baltic Languages ­ Latvian and Lithuanian. By purchase, gift, and exchange, the collection increases each year by approximately 6,000 to 10,000 items. In addition, more than 300,000 volumes of Slavic and Baltic resources in Western and other languages are held in other divisions of the NYPL. The NYPL also contains one of North America's greatest rare Rossica collections (works about Russia by foreigners).

The most comprehensive history of the division, from which the above information was taken, is Slavic and Baltic Resources of The New York Public Library, by Robert H. Davis, Jr (Davis, 1994)[8]. While studying this division's history, one becomes engrossed in how library institutions in Russia and Eastern Europe established connections with their Western counterparts through institutional exchanges over many decades. The division was the first to have its librarians travel to Eastern Europe on a book-buying trip. We also learn how foreign collections of this kind developed in America. Original photographs, early manuscripts and printed books, and holdings from the personal libraries of the Russian Imperial family are only a few of the many special resources worth mentioning.

The interior setting of the Slavic and Baltic Division emulates the reading rooms of the great libraries of Eastern Europe ­ on a smaller scale. The researcher feels comfortable among its intimate arrangements of books, photographs, and displayed artifacts. While studying at one of its long wooden tables, one notices the number of émigrés visiting daily. They feel at home in the warm, familiar surroundings, while conducting research, or just reading the news in their native languages. Many staff members are natives of the countries represented, creating an atmosphere of welcome. Situated as it is in the heart of East European immigration, this division provides a great service, including collections representing the early emigration movement. Additionally, many famous people have used these resources for a multitude of purposes, and many writers have based their research and writing on the extensive collections maintained here.

The Slavic and Baltic Division of NYPL's homepage at http://www.nypl.org/research/chss/slv/slav.balt.html is a comprehensive introduction to these collections ­ their breadth and depth, methods of acquisition, and current projects. The "History and Collections" link makes clear the wide-ranging scope, the linguistic and subject depth of this collection developed over a century. Students and researchers new to Slavic Area Studies can benefit from a visit to this Web site. Further useful links provided at this Web site are the "Slavic, East European, Baltic, and Eurasian Resources Available in Other Units of NYPL", "A Brief Guide to Selected Slavic, Baltic, East European, and Eurasian Internet Sites", "Bibliography" of selected publications based on the division's collections, and "Current Activities", in addition to other links provided as starting points for research. Illustrations and photographs adorning this Web site are visually appealing.

The NLR and the NYPL have in common a quiet dignity, a reverence for the past, enormous collections of an internationally-distinguished nature, but also an enthusiastic and ambitious adoption of the new and formidable technologies.

Conclusion

Books, knowledge and information bring cultures together[9]. Regardless of nationality, Olga Kulish reminds us that to be a newcomer to a country and benefit from its accomplishments is a tremendous experience which can be directly applied to one's daily work responsibilities. Her impressions make clear her deep appreciation for her opportunity ­ impressions that will last forever. And through foreign perceptions, we better understand our own culture. Most of all, Kulish's experiences celebrate an important international agreement between two libraries whose collaborative activities will benefit many in years to come. In this case, to have a close association with NYPL and NLR, as she has, is to have the unique experience of standing before two of the world's great reservoirs of permanent memory.

Notes

1. 1.

   Lydenberg personally accompanied Avrahm Yarmolinsky on a book-buying expedition to Latvia, Russia, and eastern Ukraine in the winter of 1923-24, bringing back some 9,000 volumes of retrospective and contemporary books and periodicals.

2. 2.

   The letters of poet Babette Deutsch, who accompanied her husband Avrahm Yarmolinsky to Russia during this same book-buying trip, contain her generally very positive observations on Russian society and culture.

3. 3.

   See also: http://www.nypl.org/research/chss/slv/slvact.html and http://www.nlr.ru/eng/partner/index.html.

4. 4.

   "Liki Rossii" means "Faces of Russia". Numerous full-color illustrations portray the NLR's fabulous interiors, exquisite hallways and alcoves, and elaborate artifacts, including its unmatchable brilliant collections. Prepared for the bicentenary of the founding of the NLR, celebrated on May 27, 1995. Monograph available from Liki Rossii, Entrance 8, Smolny Street 1/3, St Petersburg, Russia, 1293060, tel: (812-278-1947 or 1259) fax: (812- 278-1279). 244 pp. ISBN: 5-87417-015-4.

5. 5.

   See Volodin, 1995 for an excellent overview of the NLR including a history of its development , its years after perestroika, its new stage of development in the mid-1980s after Vladimir N. Zaitsev was appointed director, its project to create a RUSMARC format based on the UNIMARC authority file, collection preservation successes and problems, NLR's involvement in IFLA since 1992 when its membership was granted, its full membership in LIBER (European league of research libraries), its agreements and collaboration with partners abroad, and remarks about the "new building".

6. 6.

   This beautiful monograph provided the basis for this author's description of the NLR.

7. 7.

   Zaitsev (1996b) includes a design of the new building.

8. 8.

   A comprehensive and detailed resource, essential to those with a serious interest in the history of this unique division, which was the first one of its kind in America. Copious footnotes are highly informational and demonstrate thorough research. The appendix includes examples of the impressive number of books and articles written about this division, the classmarks outlining the areas of its collection, the numerous seminars, conferences, receptions, and exhibitions which have been held in the division. This monograph was prepared to mark a century of service (1895-1995) that NYPL has provided New York City and the nation. 173pp. Index provided. Illustrations and photographs. Attractive cover. ISBN: 0-87104-4438-2.

9. 9.

   See, for instance, Kostaki, T. (2000), Russian Library Treasures: An Index of National and Academic Libraries, edited by C.J. Barnes (Toronto, Ontario: Russian Cultural Information Publications). Pages 3-7 provide a detailed listing of the collections of the NLR. Includes the descriptions of over 250 libraries in the Russian Federation--all the main, federal, republican, territorial and regional libraries. First of a four-part series on "Russian Cultural Briefings", issued by the Russian Cultural Information Publications. Special attention is given to rare and valuable library holdings. Includes administrative divisions of the Russian federation, geographical divisions, and an index. Indispensable resource for the researcher needing a compilation of Russian libraries. Available from Russian Cultural Information Publications, 11 Dayton Ave., Toronto, ON M8Z 3L8; e-mail questl@interlog.com and fax (416-251-1817). 175pp. Handy format. ISBN 0-9684103-0-8.

References and Further Reading

Allen, R.V. (1988), Russia Looks at America: the View to 1917, Library of Congress, Washington, DC, pp. 277-8.

Davis, R.H. Jr (Ed.) (1993), "'Something truly revolutionary': the correspondence of Babette Deutsch and Avrahm Yarmolinsky from Russia, November 1923-March 1924", Biblion: The Bulletin of The New York Public Library, Fall, Vol. 2 No. 1, pp. 140-76.

Davis, R.H., Jr (1994), Slavic and Baltic Library Resources at The New York Public Library: A First History and Practical Guide, with a Preface by the Honorable George Frost Kennan, The New York Public Library and Charles Schlacks Jr, Publisher, New York, NY and Los Angeles, CA.

Karlowich, R. A. (1986-87), "Stranger in a far land: report of a bookbuying trip by Harry Miller Lydenberg in Eastern Europe and Russia in 1923-24", Bulletin of Research in the Humanities, Vol. 87 No. 2/3, pp. 182-224.

Kostaki, T. (2000), Russian Library Treasures: An Index of National and Academic Libraries, Barnes, C.J. (Ed.), Russian Cultural Information Publications, Toronto, Ontario.

"New York public library and national library of Russia sign historic agreement of international cooperation" (1997), Library Hi Tech News, No. 142, May, p. 31.

Richards, P.S. (1998), "Soviet-American library relations in the 1920s and 1930s: a study in mutual fascination and distrust", Library Quarterly, Vol. 68 No. 4, October, pp. 390-405.

"Russia and the Soviet Union" (1997), Encyclopedia of US Foreign Relations, Vol. 4, Oxford University Press, New York, NY and Oxford, p. 36.

Volodin, B. (1995), "The National Library of Russia entering the third century of its existence", European Libraries Cooperation: The LIBER Quarterly, Vol. 5, pp. 440-9.

Zaitsev, V.N. (1993), "La Bibliothèque Nationale de Russie a la Veille de son Bicentenaire", [The National Library of Russia on the Eve of Its Bicentenary] Documentation et Bibliothèques, April-June, Vol. 39 No. 2, pp. 69-74.

Zaitsev, V.N. (1996b), "La Bibliothèque Nationale de Russie: Le Noveau Batiment", [The National Library of Russia: The New Building], Bulletin des Bibliothèques de France, Vol. 41 No. 5, pp. 92-6.

Zaitsev, V.N. (1996a), "Rossiiskaya natsional'naya biblioteka ­ proshloe, nastoyashchee, budushchee", [The Russian National Library: Its Past, Present and Future] Nauchnye i Tekhnicheskie Biblioteki, Vol. 4, pp. 16-24.

Zaitsev, V.N. (1998/1999), The National Library of Russia Annual Report for the CENL: 1998/1999, http://portico.bl.uk/gabriel/en/reports/rnl-98-99.html .

Zaitsev, V.N. et al. (1995), The National Library of Russia: 1795-1995, (St. Petersburg: Liki Rossii).

Victoria Spain is the author of this article as well as "International Librarianship" co-editor, Library Hi Tech News, and Bibliographic Services Librarian, Northeastern University, Boston, Massachusetts. v.spain@nunet.neu.edu

Les Pourciau is "International Librarianship" co-editor, Library Hi Tech News, the Director of Libraries (Retired), University of Memphis, Memphis, Tennessee, and the Vice President of ILIAC, the International Library, Information, and Analytical Center, Washington, DC. pourciau@memphis.edu