V. I.

Lenin

639

To:   THE NARROW COUNCIL OF PEOPLE’S COMMISSARS

I refused to sign because it is too sweeping and vague.

I propose that it be redrafted more exactly (what, in concrete terms, does “to take into the network ” mean?) and
submitted a second time together with the instructions. [1]

Lenin

15/VII.

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Notes:
[1]
This note was written on the draft of a decree for centralising
libraries in the Republic, adopted by the Narrow Council of
People’s Commissars on June 22, 1920. To eliminate duplication
of work and ensure effective use and proper distribution of all
existing book-collections, the draft stipulated that “the libraries
of all public organisations and institutions are to be merged in
the general library network of the Educational Departments”. =

All libraries newly opened by public organisations were to be
included “in the general network of public libraries”.

The draft decree also bears a note from Krupskaya to the
People’s Commissariat for Education: “If you will send me my
article on the centralisation of libraries and return this draft,
I will try to make a new draft and write an instruction. But
perhaps it has already been done? In that case, send it as well.”