Black pages in the Soviet book studies (based on the correspondence between Nikolas Rubakin and Nikolai Somov). Part 2

The year 2017 was marked by several memorial dates: One hudred years of the Soviet library science, bibliography and book studies; the 155-th anniversary of the prominent encyclopedist, educator and the founder of bibliopsychology Nikolai (Nikolas) Alexandrovich Rubakin (1862-1946); and the 150-th anniversary of his associate and fellow-thinker, now half-forgotten bibliologist and bibliographer Nikolai Mikhailovich Somov (1867-1951). Based on the confidential correspondence between Nikolas Rubakin and Nikolai Somov (N. Rubakin’s Archive in the Manuscript Collections of the Russian State Library), the author describes unfavorable political and academic environment in the USSR in 1920s-1930s which took a heavy toll on the national book studies, library science and bibliography and result in terminating several promising trends and straining science priorities. The scientists’ attitude to the colleagues then leading in the Soviet book studies is revealed. The author concludes that the professional landscape was rather sad, but we need to acknowledge all aspects of the professional history.