Libraries of the Cossack Elite in the 16th–18th Centuries: Reading Interests and Book Repertoire

Abstract

The purpose of the article is a comprehensive analysis of the libraries of the Cossack elite in the 16th–18th centuries as a phenomenon of early modern Ukrainian documentary culture through the study of their book collections, the reading interests of their owners, and the influence of European intellectual traditions on the formation of the national book space. Research methodology. The study employs a historical-cultural, bibliographic, and library-science approach. Comparative and contextual methods are applied to trace the impact of European intellectual traditions on the formation of book collections and the reading demands of the Cossack elite. The scientific novelty lies in the comprehensive study of the libraries of the Cossack elders of the 16th–18th centuries, determining the composition and thematic structure of their book collections, identifying the elders' reading practices and the influence of European intellectual traditions on the formation of the national book repertoire, which actualizes historical experience for modern library and information research. Conclusions. The research demonstrates that the libraries of the Cossack elite functioned not only as repositories of manuscripts and printed works but also as instruments of social status, education, and the formation of cultural identity. Dominant thematic areas included theology, history, law, and education, while the multilingual composition of the collections reflected the integration of the Ukrainian elite into the broader European cultural space. Private libraries contributed to the development of Ukrainian book culture, served as information hubs for administrative and educational activities, and laid the foundation for subsequent institutional collections. The results have practical significance for contemporary library and information studies, particularly in terms of collection development, information management, and reader modeling.