The Russian State Library (RSL) (Moscow) was founded in 1862 as a part of the Moscow Public Museum and Rumyantsev Museum. In Soviet times, it was named the V.I. Lenin State Library of the USSR. In 1992, it got its present name. It is the largest book depository of the Russian Federation, which keeps nearly 47 million printed publications and electronic documents. Since 2014, the RSL has been operating the National Digital Library (NDL) – http://ne`b.rf . It provides its services to all citizens from the age of 14.

The National Library of Russia (NLR) (Saint Petersburg) was founded in 1795. In Soviet times, it was named the M.E. Saltykov-Shchedrin State Public Library. In 1992, it got its present name. The NLR holds over 36 million items. The library has the most complete collection of Russian books in the world. It is a public library, which provides its services to all citizens from the age of 14.

The Boris Yeltsin Presidential Library (Saint Petersburg) was created at the initiative of the Russian Government in 2009. It is a multi-functional information center, which has the status of the national library of Russia. The digital collection of the Presidential Library possesses more than 500,000 documents, which relate to the national cultural heritage associated with the theory, history and practice of the Russian statehood and with the Russian language as the state language of the Russian Federation. 139 841 documents are available in open access on the Internet portal.

Russian Ministry of Culture serves as the federal executive authority for culture and art. The Ministry develops and executes policies and regulations in the following areas: culture, art, cultural heritage (including archaeological heritage), cinematography, copyright, and other related legislation. It is in charge of state cultural and cinematographic properties, providing cultural services, as well as protecting cultural heritage, copyright and related legislation, providing control and supervision in these areas.
Starting 1 January 2019, the Ministry has been managing the national project “Culture”, which include three federal projects: “Cultural environment”, “Creative people”, and “Digital culture”.

Presidential Grants Foundation serves as the operator of presidential grants for the development of civil society. It is involved in the following activities: providing support for projects of non-profit organizations in the fields of culture, art, science, and education; providing social services, support and citizen protection; preservation of historical heritage; providing support for youth projects; identifying and supporting new talents; developing civil society, etc. Libraries are one of the beneficiaries of those grants.

NEICON is an organization whose main goal is to provide access to Russian periodicals, universities, institutes to scientific periodic information in electronic form. National and central regional public libraries as well as academic and special libraries partner with the Consortium.

Federal law regulates the general principles of librarianship, the relationship between the state, citizens, enterprises, institutions, and other organizations in the field of librarianship in accordance with the principles and norms of international law.  It establishes the principles of library activities that guarantee the rights of individuals, non-governmental organisations, nations and ethnic groups to have free access to information, unrestricted personal development, the use of national and global cultural assets, as well as cultural, scientific and educational activities.

Federal law addresses the state policies in regards to legal deposit and its contribution to the Russian national collections and national bibliography. It provides for the preservation of legal deposit copies and their public use. It outlines the types of legal deposit, the categories of its producers and recipients, delivery deadlines and procedures, and penalties for violations.

Since January 1, 2008, the fourth part of the Civil Code of the Russian Federation has been in force, which regulates relations in the field of copyright and related rights in detail.
It is covered in:
Section VII. Rights to the results of intellectual activity and means of individualization (Articles 1225 – 1551)
Chapter 70. Copyright (Articles 1255-1302)
Article 1274. Free use of a work for informational, scientific, educational or cultural purposes.
Article 1275. Free use of a work by libraries, archives and educational organizations
Chapter 71. Rights adjacent to copyright (Articles 1303–1344)

One can obtain LIS degree from a specialized institution after completing a vocational school, or enter a certified undergraduate and graduate level program at institutes and universities offering studies in culture. There are more than 20 institutes and universities offering LIS education.

Official Edition of the Russian Library Association. Published since 1995. ISSN 1991—8062

Scientific-practical journal, 2 Issues per year. Published since 1994 as a newsletter “IFLA Russian Committee Newsletter”. In 2005 was transformed into a scientific-practical journal. Since 2007 published under the title “News from the International Federation of Library Associations and Institutions”.

Official Edition of Library Assembly of Eurasia. Published since 1992.

“Bibliotekovedenie” (Journal of Library and Information Science) is published by the Russian State Library. It focuses on the core and structure of LIS and libraries as important social institutions; it studies both theoretical and practical aspects of librarianship within the sociocultural framework and in view of its ties with humanities and information sciences amid global knowledge and technology development. The Journal is included in the WoS.

“Nauchnye i tekhnicheskiye biblioteki” (Journal of Scientific and Technical Libraries) is published by the State Public Scientific and Technological Library of Russia. The Journal covers the activities of libraries, scientific and technical information organizations, art and culture universities, publishing houses, booksellers, and other related entities. It includes articles about various LIS topics such as information technology, theory and methodology, terminology, library history, life-long education and professional development, book science, as well as reports and reviews of professional literature. The Journal is included in the WoS.

“Biblioteka” (Library Journal) is the oldest professional publication that remains one of the most popular and reliable sources of information for library professionals. It also serves as an open and accessible space where expression of ideas, views, and opinions is encouraged. Among its contributors are federal, regional and rural librarians, government officials, employees of various cultural institutions, and LIS educators.

“Bibliografiya” (Bibliography Journal) covers methods, theoretical aspects and practices of bibliography, book science, librarianship, publishing statistics, and publication design. The Journal reports on the new and upcoming changes in standards, norms and rules for bibliographic description and terminology, ISBN, ISNN, and ISMN.

“Bibliotechnoye delo” (Librarianship Journal) is a professional publication reporting on the latest technology, traditions, and experiences.

“Sovremennaya biblioteka” (Modern Library Magazine) provides its wide audiences with most recent and relevant information regarding the development of modern libraries.

The National Library Day is a professional holiday for Russian librarians celebrated on 27 May. The holiday started with the Order of the President of the Russian Federation B.N. Yeltsin N 539 “On the Creation of the All-Russian Library Day” (27 May 1995). On this day, there are various events aimed at enhancing the role of books in the socio-political, historical and cultural life of Russian citizens, as well as at highlighting pressing library issues.

The Library Night is an all-Russian socio-cultural event promoting reading and libraries. The Russian Association of Cultural Managers and the library community came up with idea in 2012. It is an annual nation-wide event sponsored by the Ministry of Culture and regional and municipal authorities. On this night (usually, in April), participating institutions, such as libraries, bookstores, literary museums and art galleries, extend their working hours and organize special activities.

The All-Russian Library Congress: The annual Conference of the Russian Library Association takes place every year in May. It provides space for discussing pressing issues that Russian libraries, information institutions, specialized universities, and other related organizations and associations want to address.

The annual meeting of the heads of Russian federal and central regional libraries is hosted by two national libraries (the Russian State Library and the National Library of Russia) on behalf of the Ministry of Culture and takes place in either Moscow or St. Petersburg in October. The main purpose of the meeting is to facilitate discussion between the industry leaders and the executives of leading federal and regional libraries. Heads of central regional libraries are in charge of implementing the state library policy. Each year, about 300 regional executives attend the meeting.

International professional forum “Book. Culture. Education. Innovation”, Sudak, Republic of Crimea. It is the largest professional conference in all the post-Soviet states and one of the most popular international professional gatherings. Every year, it brings together library executives and leading specialists, data providers, educators, publishers, booksellers, scientist, artists, etc. It covers a wide range of information services issues from libraries and universities to publishing houses and bookstores. One of key topics is the use of modern technologies in order to improve information services, national programs in the field of information policy, as well as information support of science and education.

The Forum has been deservedly recognized as a global cultural event that attracts thousands of experts in the sphere of culture all across the world every year: stars of theatre, opera and ballet, renowned directors and musicians, prominent librarians and museum workers, public figures, government officials and business people, members of the academia. Forum Organizers: The Government of the Russian Federation, the Ministry of Culture of the Russian Federation and the Government of Saint Petersburg.