$100 Million to 1000 libraries

Abstract

There are more than 42 000 public libraries in Russia. Most of them have not been upgraded for decades. The national project "Culture" launched in 2019, and it aims to modernize 1000 libraries in 83 regions of Russia by 2024.

In order to achieve this goal, the Ministry of Culture of the Russian Federation and the Russian State Library operate together as the main project office, creating a nationwide ecosystem with the government, local authorities, regional project offices, society, business and other partners. The federal funding alone amounts to more than $100 million.

Libraries use the funding to create intellectual and educational centres that combine interior design, modern spaces, new technologies & electronics, accessibility and new books. The project has an impact on many social, cultural and educational aspects, such as sustainable development, quality of life improvement, digitalization, ICT, creative industries, edutainment, inclusivity and others.

The Russian State Library provides methodological and educational support for the participants and monitors every step of the project. By the end of 2020, 306 next generation libraries have been created for 37 million people in 73 regions of Russia. Furthermore, in order to improve the quality of services and enhance professional skills, The Russian State Library organized educational courses for library staff and trained 1433 specialists in 2019-2020.

The success of the project is evident by the numbers. Library visits in modernized libraries grew 19% in the first half of 2021 compared to the year before modernization. People of all groups started going to the new libraries to receive high-quality services. This in turn helps improve people's standards of living, especially in small towns and villages. Libraries are becoming more open to collaborating with other institutions, individuals and each other.