Anatoly Nikolaevich Vaneev is an outstanding figure in the library science, who made significant contribution to the study of various aspects of the discipline. He is a theorist, methodologist, and founder of the history of library science. His works cover a wide range of topics, including the nature of the library science and its place in the system of sciences, methodological issues, library’s social functions, library management, readers typologys, reading guidance, and the methodological support of library and information science. A. N. Vaneev contributed to the theory of reading guidance, which he viewed as the system comprising the most complete and high-quality satisfaction of readers' requests, as well as shaping new interests and needs. He proved that reading guidance was the libraries’ inherent function. During different historical periods, the reading guidance has manifested itself in various ways, however its essence has always been to assist readers in choosing books and searching for optimum ways to acquire knowledge. Initially, it implied “guidance in reading”, and later it redefined itself as a targeted impact upon readers along every vector of library work. As an essential principle, reading guidance has developed into one of the most effective tools within the librarian-reader interaction. The interrelation of reading guidance with the practice of slow reading, which is increasingly introduced into library activities, is shown. The theory of reading guidance developed by A. N. Vaneev is still popular which is evidenced by emerging concepts and studies.