SOCIOCULTURAL FUNCTION OF THE LIBRARY IN RURAL AREAS (THE CASE OF THE SLAVSK MUNICIPALITY OF THE KALININGRAD REGION)

Being in close proximity to the local community and its needs, a modern rural library in the Russian space is designed to be not only a center for users to access information, but also a place of education, cultural and intellectual activities, adaptation of residents to rapidly changing political, socio-economic, and psychological conditions. The rural library should act as an institution of socialization through developing a system of traditional values and pre­serving local culture, positioning itself as an open platform and involving residents in an active social and business life. In the article, the author considers the socio-economic develop­ment of the Slavsk municipal district based on the array of statistical and analytical data of the Slavsk library network, which is a valuable information resource. It is concluded that the library in rural areas is actively developing the principles of communication, education, me­morialization, and information that are familiar to us, as well as newer ones — consolidation, education, adaptation, and the acquisition of integrity by the community.