Table Of ContentThe Lenin State Library of the USSR
LENIN AND LIBRARY ORGANISATION
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Progress Publishers
Moscow
Translated from the Russian
Designed by Alexei Ostromentsky
Compiled by K. I. Abramov
Editorial Board:
N.S. Kartashov (editor-in-chief), K. I. Abramov, B. P. Kanevsky,
I. P. Osipova, V. V. Serov, N.I. Tyulina
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© Wsnatenpcrso «Kuura», 1977
English translation of the abridged Russian text
‘© Progress Publishers 1983
Printed in the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics
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Contents
Page
ay eface oo. eee ee ee 9
Party Organisation and ‘Party Literature. . Coe eee 15
LENIN ON LIBRARIES IN RUSSIA
AND OTHER COUNTRIES BEFORE THE GREAT OCTOBER
SOCIALIST REVOLUTION
* from Notes to the Russian Translation of History of Trade
Unionism, by Sidney and Beatrice Webb. Translated from the
English by Vladimir Ilyin, Vol. I, St. Petersburg, 1900; Vol. II,
St. Petersburg, 1901 . . 21
‘To Volume I [March, not earlier than 8 (20)- -August 16 (28), 1898] 21
To Volume II [Beginning of September 1899-January 19 (31),
1900]. 22
On Behalf of the Central Committee of the Russian Social-
Democratic Labour Party . . 23
Statement by the Group of Founders of the RSD. LP. _ Library
at Geneva. . . 23
From a Letter To Maria Andreyeva Co ee ee 24
Yo V. A. Karpinsky . . 24
The Character and Organisational Forms of. Party Work. From
Resolutions of the Sixthh (Prague) All-Russia Conference of the
R.S.D.LP. . . Loe Lo 25
To Maxim Gorky . foe 26
From Organisation of the Masses by the German Catholics... 27
from Cheap Meat for the “People”... 28
* Excerpt from the Bulletin of the New “York Public. Library,
1912, No. 2. [Bibliographical, Statistical and Other Excerpts
and Notes on Various Questions] . . . 28
What Can Be Done for Public Education. 29
{nsertion for N. K. Krupskaya’s Article “On the Question «o f the
Policy of the Ministry of Public Education”. . . 31
From a Letter To 8. G. Shahumyan . . 32
Book Review. N. A. Rubakin, Among Books, “Vol. I, Nauka
Publishers, Moscow, 1913. Price 4 rubles. Second Edition. . . 33
* Translated by Richard Dixon.
LENIN ON LIBRARY ORGANISATION
IN SOCIALIST SOCIETY
The Tasks of the Public Library in Petrograd. . . . +
* Instruction on the Transfer of the Reference Library to the Smolny
Library Organisation. Draft Decision for the C.P.C. . .
* To the Library of the Rumyantsev Museum... . --
* Telegram to the Petrograd Library Department of the People’s
Commissariat for Education. . . - sos + os toe ee
To the Library Section of the Commissariat for Education .
To A.N. Prokofiev. ©.) ee tt tt
Telegram to A. P. Kudryavtsev Co
Speech at the Second Conference of Heads of Adult Education
Divisjons. of Gubernia Education Departments, January 24,
1919. 6
The State of Library Service. Draft Decision for the C.P.C. .
To the People’s Commissariat of Education. . . - - = -
From Draft Programme of the R.C.P.(B.) .
Protection Certificate for V.1. Taneyev. . - - - + + sas
Speech of Greeting, May 6. First All-Russia Congress on Adult
Education, May 6-19, 1919... . - ee ee ne
* Amoenn dSmceiennttsif ic anLdi brAadrdiietsi.o ns . to 6t.he Dr- aft eeeR esoleuot ion tto f the Ct.Pt.tC.
* From Remarks on the Draft Decree on Requisitions and Confisca-
tions.
To M.N. Pokrovsky . . - ) 5 + eo te to tt
* Draft Resolution of the Council of People’s Commissars on
Handing Over Whiteguard Literature to the People’s Commis-
sariat for Education for Safekeeping and Public Use in State
Libraries with an Amendment and a Mark by V. I. Lenin .
Telegram to G. Y. Zinoviev. re
To the Library of the Rumyantsev Museum... - - 7
* Additions and Amendments to the Draft Decree of the C.P.C.
on Centralisation of Library Organisation Written by Nadezhda
Konstantinovna Krupskaya. ©.) - eee poe ts
From Theses on Production Propaganda (Rough Draft) .
To D. B. Ryazanov . Co
From a Letter To D.B. Ryazanov. . . - - ee ee ge
* Marks on the Article by F. Dobler “The Modern Library Sys-
tem” in the Newspaper Pravda, No. 24, February 4, 1921.
From Instructions of the Central Committee to Communists Work-
ing in the People’s Commissariat for Education . .
From The Work of the People’s Commissariat for Education .
To A.M. Lezhava. 2). 6 ee ee
To A. V. Lunacharsky, M. N. Pokrovsky and Y. A. Litkens .
* To the State Publishing House. . . - - - + + +: >
To ¥.A. Litkens. 2 6. 2 ee
Draft Decision for the C.L.D. on Local Economic Conferences,
on Reporting and on Complying with the Instructions of the
From instructions of the Council of Labour and Defence to Local
Soviet Bodies. Draft . Coe Loe
“To N.L. Meshcheryakov . . - . eee toe te tt
From Speech on Local Economic Bodies Delivered at a Sitting of
the All-Russia Central Executive Committee, May 30, 1921
* To N. P. Gorbunov (Note on a Letter from the Hlinois Univer-
sity Library, U.S.A...
Letter to G. Y. Zinoviev and Instructions to the Secretary .
A Note to E. Varga and Theses on the Organisation of an
Information Institute on Questions of the International Labour
Movement . rrr re
To A.V. Lunacharsky . .
Draft Decision for the Politbureau of the C.C. RCP. (B.) oc n the
Free Sale of Books from Moscow Warehouse Stocks .
* Note on a Letter of D. B. Ryazanov . .
To the Foreign Literature Committee .
* To People’s Commissariat for Foreign Affairs, Records Bureau,
All-Russia Extraordinary Commission, People’s Commissariat
for Military Affairs, Comintern, C.C. R.C.P.(B.) .
Fyrom The New Economic Policy ‘and the Tasks of the Political
Education Departments. Report to the Second All-Russia
Congress of Political Education Departments, October 17,
1921.0. « foe
Desirable Literature (Publications from Germany) .
* Assignment to N. P. Gorbunov . foes
To the Foreign Literature Committee. . .
* To A. V. Lunacharsky, M. N. Pokrovsky, YA. Litkens .
* To V.M. Molotov, A.S. Yenukidze, M. 1. Kalinin .
Preface to 1. 1. Stepanov’ s The Electrification of the R.S.F.S.R. and
the Transitional Phase of World Economy .
To the Presidium of the Socialist Academy .
from Decree on the Functions of the Deputy Chairmen of
the Council of People’s Commissars and of the Council of
Labour and Defence . .
Letter to A. V. Lunacharsky and Assignment to V. A. Smolyaninov
From Pages from a Diary . Coe ee
From On Co-operation .
LENIN’S RESEARCH WORK
IN SOVIET AND FOREIGN LIBRARIES
* fo the Director of the British Museum .
From a Letter To His Sister Maria. . .
* To the President of the Société de Lecture, Geneva .
* To The Manager of the Bibliotheque N2 ationale, Paris .
From a Letter To M. V. Kobetsky .
To L. B. Kamenev . :
From a Letter To Isaac A. “Hourwich :
From a Letter To His Sister Maria .
From a Letter To Inessa Armand. .
From a Letter To V. A. Karpinsky .
From a Letter To His Sister Maria .
From a Letter To G. Y. Zinoviev .
From a Letter To M. M. Kharitonov .
from a Letter To His Mother . |
from a Letter To G. Y. Zinoviev .
* To the State Library in Berne. .
From a Letter To V. A. Karpinsky .
* From a Letter To Inessa Armand .
From a Letter To Inessa Armand. . . . -.- +e eee 119
* List of Books and Request for Information on the Rules of
Public Library. - - 6 ee ee et 120
* Certificate for V. V. Adoratsky. .. -. - 121
* Telegram to the Kazan University Library . 121
* Note to the Secretary. . . Loe es 122
To V. D. Bonch-Bruyevich . 122
122
* To the Socialist Academy .
* To N.N. Krestinskky. 2... eee ee te 123
* Note to the Librarian and Marks on the Register of Books
and Pamphlets Received from Abroad. . . - - - +: 124
* To the Rumyantsev Museum. . - - +. - + : 125
Froa mLett er To N.P. Gorbunov. . . . - + + ee etl: 125
From a Letter To the Heads of All Central Establishments and
Organisations Cn 126
127
To Lydia Fotieva .
127
To His Sister Anna .
DECREES AND RESOLUTIONS OF THE SOVIET
GOVERNMENT ON LIBRARY ORGANISATION AND
BIBLIOGRAPHY
* From Resolution of the Council of People’s Commissars on
Organising a Central Board of Archives and Libraries, and
Also on Creating Archives and a Library of the History of
the Revolutionary Movement in Russia . Soke ee 131
* Decree of the Council of People’s Commissars on Uniting
Instructional and Educational Institutions and Establishments
of All Departments in the Department of the People’s
Commissariat for Education . . . . - .- + ee + es 132
* Telegram Summoning to Moscow Representatives of Petrograd
Libraries for a Conference on Centralisation of Library Orga- 133
nisation . 2. ee ee
* Decree of the Council of People’s Commissars on Safekeeping 133
of Libraries and Book Depositories of the RS.F.S.R.. .
* Resolution of the Council of People’s Commissars on the Draft 134
Decree on the Library Information Bureau. . . . ... -
* Decree of the Council of People’s Commissars on the Pro-
cedure for Requisitioning Libraries, Book Depots and Books
* Resionl uGteinoenr alo.f the 2. Co2.u nc6 il eeo f Peeopelee’ s Commissars on the Release 135
of Funds for the General Library of the Supreme Economic
Council. 2 2. 0. 6 eee 136
* From Minutes No. 241 of the C.P.C. Sitting of January 2,
1919 Signed by V.I. Lenin. ©. - - © eee ee 136
* Fro1m9 19 MiSniugtneesd Nboy. V2.4I5. oLf enthie n.C..P..C . -S itteieng oef e Janutarey s1 4, 137
* Resolution of the Council of People’s Commissars_ on Publica-
tion by the Library Department of the Peo le’s Commissariat
for Education of Data on Fulfilment of the Resolutions of
the Council of People’s Commissars on Library Reorganisa-
137
tion
* Resolution of the Council of People’s Commissars on the Ap-
6
pointment of a Commission to Work Out Measures for More
Energetic Implementation of the Decrees of the Council of
People’s Commissars on Library Organisation. . 138
* C.P.C. Resolution on the Granting of Funds to Expand ‘the
Library Staff of the Rumyantsev Museum . 139
* Resolution of the Council of People’s Commissars on Scien-
tific Libraries . 139
Resolution of the Council of People’ s Commissars on the Release
of Funds to the Theatre Department of the People’s Commis-
sariat for Education for Archive, Library and Museum Work 141
Resolution of the Council of People’s Commissars on Handing
Over Whiteguard Literature to the People’s Commissariat for
Education for Safekeeping and Public Use in State Libraries 141
Telegram to the Public Education Departments of the Gubernia
Executive Committees. . 142
* Resolution of the Council of People’ s Commissars on the
Distribution of Literature . 143
Decree of the Council of People’ s Commissars on the Nationali-
sation of Stocks of Books and Other Printed Matter . 144
Decrée of the Council of People’s Commissars on the Transfer
of the Organisation of Bibliography in the R.S.F.S.R. to the
People’s Commissariat for Education . . 145
“ Certificate for V. I. Sreznevsky . . 146
Decree of the Council of People’s Commissars on Centralisation
of Library Organisation in the R.S.F.S.R. . 148
* Decree of the Council of People’s Commissars on the Proce-
dure for Acquiring and Distributing Foreign Literature . 149
Decision of the Council of People’s Commissars on Provision
of the Rumyantsev Museum with All Published Printed Works
and Other Material . 151
Decree of the Council of People’ s Commissars on the Procedure
for Acquiring Foreign Literature by State Institutions. 152
Decree of the Council of People’s Commissars on the Carriage-
free Sending of Freight and Parcels Containing Printed Matter
from Printshops to the Central Book Chamber and from the
Chamber to Book Depositories. . 153
REMINISCENCES OF VLADIMIR ILYICH LENIN
Krupskaya N. K. Lenin’s Work in Libraries. .
Karzhansky N.S. Lenin at the Fifth Congress of the R.S.D.LP.
Bonch-Bruyevich V. D. The R.S.D.L.P. (Library and Archives in
Geneva . .
Karpinsky V. A. Reminiscences .
Bonch-Bruyevich V. D. Lenin and the ‘Library ‘of. the Academy
of Sciences . .
Lunacharsky A. V. Books to All Parts of Russia . .
(From a Speech Made at a Jubilee Sitting to Mark the Sth
Anniversary of the Foundation of the State Publishing House)
Lunacharsky A. V. Reminiscences of the October Revolution .
Pokrovsky M. N. Opening Speech at the First Library Congress
of the R.S.F.S.R., July 1, 1924 .
Bonch-Bruyevich V. D. On the History of ‘the Organisation of
the Russian Central Book Chamber in Moscow .
Modestov V. A. A Memorable Conversation . 196
Appendixes
Letters to V. I. Lenin and Documents on Library Organisation
Written on His Instructions. . . 2. 2...) ee ees 194
Questions of Library Organisation and Bibliography Considered
at the Sittings of the Council of People’s Commissars under
the Chairmanship of V. I. Lenin . Loe ee 205
Subject Index . 212
PREFACE
Vladimir Ilyich Lenin, founder of the Communist Party of
the Soviet Union and leader of the first Soviet socialist state
in the world, devoted great attention from the very first days
of the Soviet power to the education of the people, to
organising the work of cultural and educational institutions,
libraries and reading-rooms. He considered libraries as the
most massive and accessible centres of political education of
the workers, propagation of knowledge and raising of the
people’s cultural and technical level.
Lenin’s works, reports and speeches, notes and draft reso-
lutions of Party and state organisations contain'a detailed
programme for constructing the Soviet socialist system of
library services for the people. In Lenin’s opinion the most
important condition for creating this system was the princi-
ple of party and state guidance in cultural and library con-
struction, the leading and directing role of the Communist
Party and the Soviet Government in creating an extensive
network of libraries and the requisite material and financial
basis for organising public use of the library book stocks. As
was pointed out in the draft Party Programme drawn up by
Lenin, fot the purpose of rendering all-round state assistance
in self-education and enlightenment of the workers and peas-
ants, educational and enlightenment institutions, libraries
and reading-rooms were opened (see pp. 47-48). Direct lea-
dership in developing a system of mass and scientific
libraries was exercised by the People’s Commissariat for
Education, within which were created managing bodies of
library organisation: the Scientific Libraries Department,
the Library Section of the Extra-Mural Department, and
others (see pp. 39-43, 45).
Lenin’s teaching on the leading and guiding role of the
Communist Party and the Soviet State in socialist construc-
9
tion and library organisation, his statements on the class
character of library work, on the subordination of library
work to the building of the new, socialist society determined
in principle the social role and significance of libraries and
shaped their new social functions. Already during the
pre-revolutionary period in Russia, V. I. Lenin put forward
and grounded the principle of partisanship of libraries, of
their active participation in carrying out socialist transforma-
tions (see pp. 15, 25-26), criticised the bourgeois assertions
on the non-political, non-Party character of library
work in a class society (see pp. 27, 33). After the victory of
the October Revolution Lenin repeatedly stressed the indis-
soluble link of library organisation with the policy of the
Party and the government and with the tasks of building
socialism and communism (see pp. 44, 47 ef al.).
Lenin drew attention to the importance of libraries’ contri-
bution to drawing the people into fulfilling state plans for
socialist transformation, stressed their obligation to promote
scientific and technological progress, the spreading of scienti-
fic and technical information, the propaganda, of advanced
production experience among the working masses (see
pp. 60-61, 90 et al.). After the foreign military intervention and
the civil war. during the period of rehabilitation of the
national economy, Lenin worked systematically to improve
the stocking of libraries, their provision with pamphlets on
production, accounts and reports of economic and manage-
ment institutions, scientific and technical publications (see
pp. 72-73, 75-76, 79-80, 89, 91, 92 et al.). Noting the impor-
tance of spreading through libraries scientific and technical
literature, publications on production and accounts of econo-
mic institutions and conferences, Lenin wrote on April 11,
1922: “‘...unless an increasing number of the population grow
accustomed to reading these reports in the libraries, it is use-
less talking about transforming this semi-barbarous country
into a cultural and socialist one” (see pp. 96-97).
Lenin’s statements on the social character of libraries
determined the qualitatively new content of their activity di-
rected at accustoming the broad masses to reading, at creat-
ing the necessary conveniences in libraries, at making
libraries accessible to the general public and democratising
the forms and methods of library service. Lenin’s demands
for promotion of reading among the working masses,
“encouragement of new readers, women, children, non-Rus-
sians, etc.” (see p. 46), “training the population sufficiently
10
