The article is devoted to self-service libraries and self-service elements in libraries. The aim of the work is to determine the place and role of self-service libraries in the complex system of libraries in the modern society. The author describes various aspects of the use of automated self-service systems and digital technologies in the activities of libraries. The paper analyses the reasons that encourage libraries to switch to self-servicing. The introduction of this form of service is considered as an opportunity to increase the efficiency of the staff work, to free up time for creative activity previously spent on routine processes. The author gives examples of the use of automated self-service systems in libraries. During self-service hours, library users independently receive and hand over books using automatic book distribution stations, library book vending machines. With the help of self-service systems, librarians keep statistics of library visits, identify the most popular books, create lists of readers delaying the return of books, etc. The author analyses the problems faced by librarians working under the system of full or partial self-service. Abroad, the massive introduction of self-service elements in libraries has caused an ambiguous reaction from library staff. Many of them took the innovation as a reason to reduce the number of library staff. Such fears are groundless, since the functions of library specialists are not limited to the issuance of books. The scope of their professional activity is much wider, and knowledge, skills and experience are indispensable when qualified intellectual assistance is required. In the age of digital technologies, self-service in libraries is becoming an integral element of creating a comfortable environment for readers. At the same time, readers still need the help of library staff. Automated self-service systems have a rich potential, if traditional library values are preserved.

The article considers theoretical issues of digitalization in libraries, characterizes modern forms and methods of providing library and information services, ways of communication between libraries and users. It reveals qualitatively new opportunities of library and information service due to spreading digital technologies and robotics in libraries. Cases of successful implementation of library and information services digitization projects demonstrate the library readiness to move to a new level of development. The author concludes that despite the fact that digitalization significantly increases services efficiency, effects positively on their quality and, consequently, attracts new users to libraries, library information services also include processes that are impossible without human participation with qualities such as the ability to anticipation, emotional experience, intuitive forecasting. Therefore, it is necessary to be aware of the boundaries and professional needs when using digital technologies in library and information services.

The article presents an overview of the Bank of ideas of the International Federation of Library Associations and Institutions (IFLA), created in the course of implementation of the “Global Vision” project (2017—2018). The Bank of ideas is designed to host innovative proposals in order to strengthen the influence of libraries around the world. With its help, librarians share their experience and best practices. Everyone can contribute to the formation of collective concept for the development of libraries of the future. Over two years of its existence, more than 30 thousand specialists from 190 countries of the world took part in its formation. The paper emphasizes the importance of this project for the implementation of the IFLA Strategy 2019—2024. The author highlights the priorities of innovative activity of librarians in the following areas: ensuring equal and free access to information and knowledge; supporting of reading and information literacy; meeting the information needs of society; applying digital innovations in libraries; protecting the interests of libraries at the national and regional levels; attracting to decision-making the young professionals who are dedicated to their work and striving for leadership. The author focuses primarily on ideas that may be of practical interest to domestic library specialists. The article marks the role of the Russian library community in the formation of ideas for the development of libraries and implementation of the IFLA “Global Vision” project. The ideas collected through the initiative of librarians around the world should take the form of actions to make the Global Vision a reality. The Bank of ideas is a source of inspiration for strategic and day-to-day librarians’ activities aimed at creating strong and unified library community.

The author discusses application of innovative digital technologies in library bibliographic services. The digitalization cannot be limited to collection digitization, development of digital collections and provision of digital access to these collections. Its essential task is to find integrated solutions in bibliographic activities based on innovative system comprised primarily of the big data technology, machine learning and artificial intellect. The author examines the potential of artificial intellect systems implemented in many foreign libraries. Their successful experience is very promising. The artificial intellect is used for retrieving relevant and reliable information, mining bibliographic metadata, creating standard bibliographic records and reference lists, designing chat-bots, automatic in formation distribution on user request, selecting key values from document array. With digital technology advances, the bibliographers will have to be directly in volved in designing systems, services, programs and apps to provide bibliographic and information products and services so that traditional bibliographical principles, values and ethics lay the foundation for and are preserved in innovative artificial intellect technologies.

The article is devoted to one of the most debatable topics of library science — the problem of social functions of library. Domestic researchers in the area of library science repeatedly addressed the question on the mission of library and considered its role in the society. The author notes that the term “social function” occupies an important place in the conceptual apparatus of library science; however, the generally accepted classification of social functions has not been developed to date. The author traces the history of formation of the ideas about the social functions of library. The article examines the main theoretical approaches and directions of research of social functions related to their classification, definition of functions of different types of libraries, search for the essential (generic) function, etc. The author emphasizes that, in the course of evolution of library science, the ideas of library scientists on the composition and content of social functions of library had been changing, and the choice of particular function as the dominant one depended on the specific historical conditions. The article notes that in the modern library science there is a tendency to expand the vision of social functions of library. The author believes that this trend will continue in the future, and this is a naturally determined process. To the traditional functions of library — information, cultural, educational — added the function of social protection. The most striking model of the modern public library, implementing this function, embodied in the concept of “third place”, according to which the library positions itself as part of the urban space, a comfortable area for self-development, informal communication and social adaptation. For people with special needs (disabled, unemployed, homeless) library often becomes a “lifeline”, giving the opportunity to find their place in society. The expansion of the range of activities of libraries through the development of additional social functions does not detract from the importance of library-information services as a leading area of work. How justified are the attempts of libraries to “fit” into the life of modern society, to attract attention, to become necessary, can be judged only in the course of time.