Book on the Pages of A. A. Pokrovsky’s Notebooks from the Collection of N. A. Nekrasov Central Universal Scientific Library

Abstract

   The purpose of this article is to present the notebooks of the librarian, theorist, and practitioner A. A. Pokrovsky to readers, and to reveal their unique characteristics.

   The focus is on three notebooks created between 1918 and 1920, which are preserved in the N. A. Nekrasov Central Universal Scientific Library. Research began in 2023 and continued later in connection with the 145th anniversary of A. A. Pokrovsky. During the study, several unique features of these notebooks were identified. They contain numerous drawings resulting from the owner’s habit of redrawing his favorite illustrations while reading. Due to Pokrovsky's profession as a librarian, the notebooks also include bibliographic entries, reflecting his attention to detail. Additionally, many clippings are found in these notebooks, and it is evident that book as a physical object plays a central role on their pages. The study of A. A. Pokrovsky’s notebooks has demonstrated that they are a valuable source for the history of librarianship and book culture. It is difficult to analyze these documents without considering the biography of their owner.