The ideological function of G.N. Shvetsov-Vodka is attributed to the manifestations of the administrative function [14, p. 270].
If the witnessing function is widely understood, it becomes obvious that it is inherent in the book. Any book, as well as a document, is first of all the evidence, a confirmation of the existence of activity aimed at its creation. Thus, for a writer, the publication of his book will be a confirmation of his creative activity. Moreover, the book "testifies" not only to the activities of its authors, but also to those of all the persons and institutions involved in its publication.
The book also has a legal dimension. The author, editor, editorial board and publishing institution named in the book are responsible for the content of the book, its compliance with the legal norms of society (absence of plagiarism, insinuations, availability of scientifically reliable data, etc.). On the other hand, the Copyright Convention provides legal guarantees to the author of the book by the society for the use of his intellectual property.
- Thus, in general, all the functions of the document (in its broad meaning) are inherent to the book; this is a confirmation that the book is a document. But the book and the document differ from each other as a type and generic concept, which is related to the special place of the book in the social communication and information process. A book is a document that is created as a result of the activity of a communication intermediary-1 (publishing or editorial-publishing business) and comes to the recipient of information as a result of the activity of communication intermediary-2 (book distribution system).
It is also necessary to take into account the limitations of the concept of a "book" in terms of the nature of the signs by which the record is recorded, the information and the material form of the medium. From the point of view of S.P. Omilyanchuk, it is noted that "a handwritten book is considered as a historically concrete syncretic unity of the context and text of the book, the context and text of the publication and a specific (single) form of their expression" [citation: 14, p. 281], i.e. as a special form of publication. This confirms the special functioning of the book in the social communication and information process.
It follows from this that the Book acquires specific functions in comparison with Document IV.
- First, it is a function of dissemination of information, or of wide dissemination, as opposed to specifically addressing the transmission of information to a predetermined addressee. The process of preparing a document for publication is designed to ensure that the recipient of information is not a single (certain) person, but an audience representing certain socio-demographic or professional groups. Circulation, i.e. the number of copies of the published document, is of no fundamental importance. The main thing is the possibility to get access to the published document to any consumer of information provided by the book.
- Secondly, it is a function of transformation of public consciousness, connected with the active role of the book in the formation of public consciousness: ideology, science, art, morals, public opinion, etc. This function of the book is related to the fact that its content can only be a work of literature (or a work of public consciousness), science, art, etc. in all its forms. As a rule, the contents of a book are the works specially prepared for this purpose. But also any other work can be included in the content of the book, if it is caused by public need.
G.N. Shvetsov-Vodka, considering the issue of the role of works in the book, says that the book as a whole is a work in itself, because it is a product of work, creativity not only of its authors, but also of persons who were engaged in the preparation of copyright works for publication, their printing reproduction, etc. The book as a work is of public interest, otherwise it simply would not have been created [14, p. 287].
The function of transformation of the public consciousness allows the book to perform cognitive, cultural and administrative functions peculiar to any document more effectively. If a document (in its narrow meaning) is regarded as a "primary source" of knowledge, an "inexhaustible source of new data", then the book is a "guide" of knowledge, the main purpose of which is its distribution among as many people as possible.
To be continue...