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The organization and development of the library education system in the USSR is described by K. I. Abramov of the Moscow State Institute of Culture and is summarized in a comment paper by Charles D. Churchwell, Washington University. Abramov begins by stating the philosophical basis for the existence of libraries and librarians in the USSR, and describes the indispensable roles they are expected to play in the development of a socialist society. A description of the library education system notes persons who have played prominent roles in the development of the theory and practice of librarianship in Russia, but focuses on the specific parts of the library education network. Programs and courses, and their organization, are detailed. Changes taking place in library education in Russia are reviewed and a statement of plans for continued growth and improvement of both libraries and library education is provided. Churchwell makes some comparisons between library education in the United States and the USSR. He also amplifies Abramov's presentation, raises questions regarding the system of library education, and notes possible improvements for the future. (CWM)

A balanced state system of education and qualification improvement of library personnel within all the republics of the USSR has been created, which consists of education of qualified librarians at university level from four to five years, with advanced study at leading libraries, and the training of medium level personnel in 12- to 18-month curriculums at the postsecondary level. Twenty-eight schools for librarians and 130 for library technicians use a combination of day, night, and correspondence courses to produce graduates to meet the cultural and technological demands of the Russian nation. Postgraduate and doctoral programs of three to four years duration are offered in programs of library science, information science, special bibliography, general bibliography, and others requiring research work and the authorship of theses and dissertations. The culmination of the doctoral programs is the granting of the degrees of Doctor of Pedagogical Science in the field of bibliography and library science and Doctor of Philological Sciences in bibliography. (RAA)