Library and educational activity of zemstvo in the Olonets province (1908-1917)

The article examines the Olonets province territorial institutions (zemstvo) activities in creating a network of rural libraries and reading libraries. The whole complex of library and educational work is analysed as the most important zemstvo institutions component of extracurricular education. The author addresses the problem of zemstvo people's libraries structure, their financial support, and examines their features and characteristic features. The zemstvo library network system, types and forms of territorial institutions libraries are considered. The Olonets province territorial institutions activity with confidence can be considered as the first experience in accessible library creating on Russian North. The zemstvo laid the foundations of subsequent librarianship in Russia.