Library Outreach Activities of Trusteeship of People’s Sobriety in the Orel Province in late XIX - early XX century

There is considered the experience of trusteeship of people’s sobriety in organizing free public libraries and reading rooms, in conducting educational activities in Orel province in late XIX - early XX century. Since late nineteenth century the Russian State and the Russian Orthodox Church, realizing that the main cause of alcoholism is the low level of spiritual and moral life of the nation, have joined their forces to address this problem. Together they built an integrated system of education and upbringing of people in the spirit of sobriety and piety by creating trusteeships of national sobriety. Analysis of data on the number of libraries organized by the trusteeships of people’s sobriety on the territory of the Russian Empire in 1902-1910, allows to conclude that the greatest number of the trusteeship libraries functioned in the years 1905-1906. In 1906-1909, their number decreased. Among 3915 trusteeship libraries in 1910, 70% were affiliated at different institutions, 11% were placed in specially hired premises and 19% at guardianship institutions, mainly in teahouses. In total, there are identified 128 libraries, opened by trusteeships in the Orel province. Library and educational activity of trusteeships of people’s sobriety in the Russian Empire in late XIX - early XX century gives the possibility of using the historical experience for interaction of the local governments, social movements, and libraries for the purpose of maintenance of temperance in modern conditions.