Maria was born in Padlessie village of the Liakhavichy district in the Brest region. After graduating from high school in 1957, she entered Minsk State Pedagogical Institute named after Maxim Gorky (now the Belarusian State Pedagogical University).
Vysokaje City Library of the Kamianets district in the Brest region became the first place of work of young Maria. Excellent professional knowledge and responsible approach to work allowed her to soon lead this library.
In 1963, Maria moved to Minsk for permanent residence. Before fate brought Ms Sokol to the BSSR State Library named after V.I. Lenin (now the National Library of Belarus), she worked as Head of Public Library No. 12, Bibliographer at the Republican Scientific and Educational Library, Senior Bibliographer at the Minsk Central City Library named after Ya. Kupala.
In April 1976, Maria was admitted to the BSSR State Library named after V.I. Lenin as Senior Editor of the Scientific and Methodical Department.
From the very beginning, Ms Sokol proved herself a specialist who knew all the details of the library service.
The topic of reading management of different groups of readers was very relevant in the 1970s and 1980s. Great practical experience and excellent theoretical knowledge allowed Ms Sokol to become one of the leaders in this field of methodical activity. "Library and a Five-Year Plan," "To the 150th Anniversary of L. Tolstoy," "Propaganda of the Belarusian Literature in State Libraries" were a part of the publications of Ms Sokol. They were original and highly appreciated by colleagues: "Her manuals are very interesting, she didn't write them by a template..."
The merits and achievements of Ms Sokol were quite well reflected in the characterization compiled by Head of the Research Department, A. Melamed in 1978: Comrade Sokol has a good style and knows how to interest a reader... enjoys great authority among the city librarians; employees of Minsk libraries often ask her advice. Her serious approach to the task, a sense of responsibility earned her respect among the employees of the department..."
Maria Vladimirovna's professionalism did not go unnoticed and from January 1979 she was transferred to the position of Chief Librarian, from October 1979 to March 1981 she headed the Acquisition Sector and Reading Management of the Scientific and Methodological Department.
Ms Sokol enjoyed well-deserved authority and respect among her colleagues. In 1980, the directorate, the party bureau and the local committee of the library trade union recommended her to travel to Yugoslavia as part of the tourist group of the Ministry of Culture of the BSSR.
In the 1980s and 1990s, Ms Sokol supervised the organization and development of a network of libraries, and therefore systematically gave presentations and consultations at the national, regional and city seminars of library workers; she also went on business trips to provide methodical assistance to librarians on the instructions of the Ministry of Culture of BSSR.
Rich practical experience, excellent knowledge of the theoretical issues of library service, professional approach to solving current problems helped Ms Sokol cope with the difficult and responsible work on the preparation of methodical manuals, analytical publications, in which she summarized innovative developments and gave practical recommendations for their implementation.
“Ways of Attracting the Population to State Libraries”, “Library in the Structure of Leisure Time of the Population”, “Social-Psychological Aspects of Library Work” – these and other publications by Ms Sokol received a great response from the country's librarians.
She also wrote various analytical materials on the activities of the national public libraries: "City libraries of Belarus: analysis of the state of work and methodological recommendations", "State mass libraries of the BSSR: analysis of the work of centralized library systems and methodological recommendations", etc.
For professional achievements, Ms Sokol was awarded the Certificate of Honor of the Ministry of Culture of the USSR and the Central Committee of the Trade Union of Cultural Workers, the sign "Winner of the Socialist Competition for 1975", the badge "Active propagandist of the book".
Ms Sokol worked at the National Library until 2005.
The staff of the National Library of Belarus wholeheartedly congratulates Ms Sokol on her anniversary and wishes her good health, prosperity, inexhaustible energy, positive emotions and vivid impressions!
Bibliology Research Department
Read about the veterans and employees of the National Library of Belarus in the news section “Our History: a Portrait Gallery.”
