Ms Varvara Silienka was born in 1921 in the village of Novy Ropsk, Klimov District, Bryansk Region, into a farmer's family.
Right after finishing school, Varvara graduated from the Novozybkov Workers' Faculty (now the Novozybkov branch of the Academician I.G. Petrovsky Bryansk State Pedagogical University). She had already qualified as a bibliographer at the age of 20, having graduated from Moscow State Library Institute named after V. M. Molotov (now the Moscow State Institute of Culture). After completing her studies, she was sent to work in the Khabarovsk Regional Library as head of the loan department.
However, Varvara' career in this status barely began, as soon Nazi Germany launched military operations against the USSR and she became involved in the nation-wide struggle against the invaders. From 1942 to 1945, she fought bravely in the ranks of the Soviet army, performing the duties of a radio operator. For her diligent service in the days of the Great Patriotic War she was awarded a Certificate of Merit by the Military Council of the Air Defence Forces.
After demobilization, Ms Silienka returned to the library field and worked in Bryansk regional scientific library (today Bryansk regional scientific universal library named after F.I. Tyutchev), in the library of Kokin Agricultural College (today Bryansk State Agrarian University), in Vladimir regional library (today - Vladimir Regional Universal Scientific Library named after M. Gorky) for the following five years.
In 1950, Ms Silienka got married and moved to Minsk in August 1952.
She began her career in the State Library of the BSSR named after V.I. Lenin (now the National Library of Belarus) in August 1952. She worked her way up from bibliographer to head of the Scientific Bibliography Department.
Ms Silienka annotated Belarusian socio-political, natural and medical literature; maintained the subject catalogue; took part in compiling the reference lists of literature; and promptly and efficiently carried out oral and written inquiries.
Having proved herself as a knowledgeable, responsible, creative and proactive worker, Ms Varvara Silienka was appointed Head of the Scientific Bibliography Department in 1971.
She had extensive experience in bibliographic work: she was the author and compiler of more than 25 published works – quality reference indexes and reference lists, which always had a wide response from library specialists. These included: recommendatory bibliographies "Minsk – 900th Year", "Across Belarus"; methodological recommendations for mass libraries "Recommending Bibliography to Guide the Reading of Working Youth", "Recommending Bibliography to Support the Professional Reading of Rural Workers"; advice on using the information-bibliographic journal "New Books" and the bibliographic bulletin "New Books of BSSR" in the work of libraries.
Ms Silienka was Chair of the Bibliographical Commission of the National Interdepartmental Library Council, and carried out thorough work on the study and use of reference bibliography in the libraries of the country.
Having reached retirement age, Ms Silienka retired in January 1977, after thirty-six years of library service, twenty-five of which were spent working at the State Library of the BSSR named after V.I. Lenin.
Her contribution to the development of librarianship in the country and her work on the preservation of cultural and historical heritage was highly appreciated by the state. This is evidenced by the awards she has received: the Medal for Valorous Labour. In commemoration of the 100th anniversary of Lenin"; Diploma of BSSR Supreme Soviet for the active work in the field of bibliography; Badge of Ministry of Culture of USSR "For the excellent work"; Certificate of Merit of Ministry of Culture of the BSSR and the Belarusian Republican Committee of Trade Union of Culture Workers (awarded three times: in 1962, 1971, 1977).
By order of the State Library of the BSSR named after V.I. Lenin for high performance in implementation of production plans, high culture of servicing readers, great work on the development of librarianship in the country, long and active work in the library the name of Ms Varvara Silienka was inscribed in the Book of National Glory of the National Library of Belarus.
Unfortunately, over time contact with Ms Silienka has been lost and her fate is not known. We continue our search work and we will be grateful for any information from people who knew Ms Silienka.
Bibliology Research Department
