This article examines the development and specific characteristics of library services in Northern Tajikistan during the 1970s and 1980s. Drawing on materials from the Sughd region archives, the study demonstrates that this period marked a crucial stage in the centralization of the library system, with library supply centers playing a pivotal role in centralized collection development and the tailoring of holdings to the operational needs of agricultural districts. The "Cultural Revolution" process is analyzed within the context of ideological control and standard funding arrangements. Mobile library services—including the organization of temporary book distribution points at field camps—are assessed as an effective method for encouraging reading among the population during agricultural campaigns. Key challenges facing the sector are identified: a shortage of qualified professionals, inadequate material and technical infrastructure, and a decline in the number of readers. An analysis of library statistics (collection size, number of readers, circulation figures, and the subject-matter breakdown of loans) for the years 1972–1973 made it possible to identify development trends and the factors contributing to a decline in reader engagement. The study is scientifically significant for offering a fresh assessment of library operations as an integral part of the educational and cultural system of Tajik society during the Soviet era, while the findings offer practical value for the refinement of cultural policy.
library; Northern Tajikistan; library collector; centralization; cultural revolution; mobile services; library statistics
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