Table of contents.................................................................................................... 2

The organisation of public libraries.......................................................... 3

policies and strategic activities.................................................................... 3

statistics on public libraries........................................................................... 3

Information and communication
technology in public libraries....................................................................... 3

outlook......................................................................................................................... 3

Key standards and guidelines........................................................................... 4

Innovative projects in UKRAINIAN public libraries.............................. 4

Best practice, innovations and projects................................................................................. 4

Joint activities between libraries, museums and archives........................................................ 4

PULMAN COUNTRY Report

information on public libraries

The organisation of public libraries

The Republic of Croatia covers an area of 56,538 km2 plus 31,000 km2 of territorial sea. It has a population of 4.381.352 by the 2001 census. Administratively it consists of 20 counties and the City of Zagreb, the capital of Croatia, with population of 719 269. Other important cities with population over 100,000 are Split 192,794; Rijeka 149,484; Osijek 121,063. There are 123 towns and 422 municipalities.

In Croatia, public libraries relate to the Ministry of Culture, school libraries relate to the Ministry of Education and Sports and university and scientific libraries relate to the Ministry of Science and Technology. According to the Library Law the Council for Libraries at the Ministry of Culture is responsible for the superstructure of public libraries.

Croatian Public libraries are municipal libraries. The municipalities hold full responsibility for establishing and running public libraries according to the Library Law. The framework for this task is laid down in the Library Law. The administration is in the hands of the Ministry of Culture that establishes the Council for Libraries as an advisory body for public libraries area.

The basic level in the superstructure is the system of county libraries. They are actually the greatest municipal libraries that additionally serve as county libraries. In every county library there is a regional advisory service (supported by the state) for all public (and school) libraries in the area.

In Croatia there are 18 county libraries (for 20 counties + capital city of Zagreb). It is commonly situated in the county centre (where the county administration is situated as well). The existing structure of county libraries will remain for one more year, and then it will be a subject of revision according to new Regulations for county libraries.

The principal tasks of the county libraries are to secure the stock superstructure for the county’s municipal libraries and to provide consultation service for them. Also to take care of competence development, to supervise the work of other libraries in the county and to take care (to some extent) of the development of new library services. County libraries play a significant role in development of public libraries in the counties, and the most developed county libraries are occasionally involved in national level development projects.

The National and University Library in Zagreb acts as a professional library advisory and development force at national level and occupies the central position in Croatian library system.

The following types of material are represented in Croatian public libraries: books, periodicals, recorded music, videos, CD-ROMs, posters, toys and other non-book materials. Not all the materials may be lent out, because the law regulations have not yet been defined. Books may be lent out in all libraries, periodicals, CDs, CD-ROMs and other materials may be lent but only in few libraries. All the materials may be lent out free of charge (the users pay only the membership-fee).

Books and periodicals are obligatory but other materials are only recommended according to standards for public libraries. According to statistics from the year 2001, in Croatian public libraries 97 per cent of all the materials are books. Periodicals account for 2 per cent and other materials for 1 per cent.

The development of public libraries rests on a long tradition of the library service co-operating at national, regional and local levels. Co-operation takes place at the level of Croatian Library Association Sections and Committees on the voluntary basis. There is also an active interlibrary loan especially between National and University library and public libraries that is not Law-regulated. Different types of libraries co-operate in the CROLIST – co-operative cataloguing project. This pilot project is run by the National and University Library in co-operation with 24 other libraries.

The roots of public libraries reach the 19th century – the time of reading rooms (reading places) from which today’s public libraries are developed. Today’s public libraries are local information-cultural centres with number of cultural programs of local, regional and often of national importance. For example: Croatian Book Month is the cultural program at national level, supported by the Ministry of Culture. It consists of number of events in public libraries connected with authors, publishers and booksellers.

Funding

The Ministry of Culture finances the superstructure function of county libraries by providing the amount of money for one person in each county library. That person is a professional librarian who co-ordinates all the tasks of county library function. The Ministry of Culture also supports the role of libraries in the local community by providing financial support for library automation, equipment, acquisitions, investments and renovating projects. It provides money on the principle of “matching funds”, according to which the state gives 50% and the municipality 50%. The principle works in cases of establishing and renovating libraries. There is also a ”buying books” model of financing acquisition for public libraries by the Ministry of Culture.

Public libraries` own earnings consist mostly of member fees and fines related to loans returned too late. There is no free-of-charge principle in the Library Law. There is a membership fee in all libraries, for all types of materials. The membership fee does not include access to the Internet in all of the libraries.

Professional development

There are three groups of personnel employed in the public libraries sector: librarians, assistant-librarians and administration staff.

The Faculty of Philosophy – Department of Information Science is in charge of the basic training of librarians. A bachelor degree is obtained after 4 years of regular study of librarianship or 2 years of additional study (after finishing another relevant four-year study). It is possible to apply for 2-year postgraduate study and a PhD. There are courses and specialised exams organised for librarian-assistants. Library directors are almost exclusively well trained librarians. According to the Library Law they should have at least 5 years of experience in librarianship. Both librarians and library directors are occasionally offered in-service training opportunities.

The Centre for Lifelong Learning was established recently at the National and University Library. It is run by National and University Library, Croatian Library Association, City of Zagreb Libraries and Faculty of Philosophy in Zagreb. The Centre started its activities on January 2002. It has given incentives for the development of library staff competencies and it is intended to do so in the future.

Some courses have been organised occasionally, sponsored by the Open Society Institute, USA Infocenter, Bibliothek Institut Berlin etc. The role of a librarian develops in line with technological development and several new roles come into existence. Concurrently with the traditional role, librarians undertake the part of instructors with regard to information retrieval on the Internet and acquire educational skills through the in-service training.

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policies and strategic activities

The national strategy for public libraries in the information society has not yet been formulated.

Cultural Development Strategy in Croatia was published in the spring 2001. by the Ministry of Culture, stating some objectives related to public libraries and the new technology. The strategy is:

· to provide systematic and continuous library automation, including hardware facilities

· to introduce a national digitisation plan

· to develop new library services in consistence with new technological possibilities and cyberspace

· to organise lifelong learning for librarians in Croatia (including establishment of the Centre for lifelong learning at National and University Library)

· to provide permanent education possibilities for library users (in the field of information education and using new media and new technology).

The Cultural Development Strategy in Croatia was passed by Croatian Parliament 2002 and published by Ministry of Culture.

Here is the Summary Declaration:

Croatia’s declaration of independence in the early 1990s was followed by a war in which those active in the cultural sector used all the power at their disposal as part of the war effort to mobilise people in defence of the country and their heritage, and to strengthen national self-confidence. It was followed by a period of political self-isolation and a wave of cultural neo-conservatism and nationalism.

At the beginning of 2000 a new climate developed, one of democracy and opening up to the world. The official cultural-policy makers rejected neo-conservatism and nationalism and proclaimed new priority goals: culture as one of the development forces of society, democracy and pluralism in culture, increased youth initiative, better management and creation of links between culture and the economy. Even so, many problems must still be faced: excessive and inefficient legislation, low level of extra-budget funding, uncoordinated administration at different levels, the low general level of art education, the uncertain effects of privatisation, neglected technological infrastructure and culture industry, lack of funding for restoration and conservation, a lack of interest in culture among other sectors, etc.

This strategic document sets out the goals for cultural development in the Republic of Croatia in the twenty first century:

1. Overall goal – culturally sustainable development: developing knowledge and skills that increase interest in quality products of the elite, alternative and traditional or folk cultures and at the same time decrease antagonism and increase friendliness among people.

2. In cultural policy: increasing the cultural capital (knowledge) for sustainable development.

3. In art and cultural industries: developing culture as a goal in itself and as a means for the development of other sectors with the aim of raising the popular interest in quality products.

4. In cultural heritage: ensuring that tradition continues to line in the new forms of modern life and sustainable development.

5. In cultural relations: pluralism, openness, varied and innovative cultural co-operation.

6. Co-operation with other sectors, working to make culture the developmental force of Croatia.

It seems important to emphasise that Croatia is a country with developed legislation on librarianship. The first Library Law was passed in 1960. Since 1997 the new Library Law has been in effect.

The Library Law sets minimum obligations for establishing a public library: library collections, professional staff, space, facilities and resources.

It claims: “municipalities and cities have obligation to establish a public library as a public institution.” According to the Library Law the standards for public libraries are proposed by Croatian Library Council, and then signed by the Minister of Culture.

General provisions of the Library Law include:

· types of libraries, establishment and termination of libraries

· provisions regarding National and University Library

· library structure and management

· resources

· library system

· Croatian Library Council

· library staff

· legal deposit

· stocks protection

supervision over the library work

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statistics on public libraries

The National and University Library is in charge of drawing up general statistics on public libraries. It is attempted to follow international standards.

In the table below, there are statistics of public libraries in the year 2000 and 2001 on expenditure, users, number of libraries, staff, holdings, PC, Internet terminals etc.

In 2001, 80 % of collections were on open access and 50% of catalogue records were automated. There were 1011 workstations all together and 675 computers for staff.

The total population served was estimated to 4.38 million and the number of users in 2001 was 451.344 (11 %). There were 7 million visits to public libraries and 9.7 million transactions.

LIBRARIES:	2000	2001
Total Administrative Units	131	140
Service Points	304	305

COLLECTIONS:
Books & Bound Periodicals	6.198.469	6.511.887
Current Periodicals - Titles	6.005	5.845
Other collections	36.430	47.630
Audio-visual Materials	32.748	39.395
CD-ROMs	6.118	7.133

ADDITIONS:	2000	2001
Books & Bound Periodicals	375.782	451.344
Audio-visual Materials	13.994	10.434

FACILITIES & SERVICES:	2000	2001
Percentage Stock on Open Access	80	80
Percentage Catalogue Records Autom.	50	52
Number of PCs	785	1.011
Number of PCs for staff		675
Number connected to the internet	230	513

USE AND USERS:	2000	2001
Registered Users	515.946	520.392
Loan Transactions	9.197.348	9.787.224
Number of Visits	6.905.347	7.004.658
Potential Total Population Served	4.381.352	4.381.352

LIBRARY STAFF (Full-time equivalent):	2000	2001
Trained Librarians	1.003	1.012
Other Library Staff	305	299
Total Staff	1.308	1.311

RECURRENT EXPENDITURE (HRK):	2000	2001
Acquisition of Stock	43.746.771,00	47.616.659,00

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Information and communication technology in public libraries

33% of public libraries have access to the Internet. All of them (of 33%) have access for staff and almost all of them (of 33%) for users. Users are charged for access to the Internet, but only for communication expenses in majority of the libraries, but in some the Internet access is free of charge. There are 186 local library systems in Croatia (304 access units), 17 of which have their own homepages (most of them are county libraries). Out of these only 8 have access to local library catalogues. Most of libraries provide information about library work and programs on their homepages. Other services are not available on homepages. No such services have been developed so far. There are some plans and programs for producing such services. Some libraries provide educational services for citizens in general. Most of them are free of charge. Public libraries do not provide e-learning services.

There is a portal to existing Croatian library homepages made voluntarily by a research library and a few similar portals made for no special target groups.

Several computer application programs are being used in public libraries (Medved in 40 libraries, Crolist (PC) in 19 and Crolist (Unix) in 14 libraries, Metel in 13 libraries, OSA in 12, Zaki in 26 (City of Zagreb Libraries) +9 libraries. Thirteen public libraries offer their own web pages. Introducing Internet in public libraries in Croatia is often initiated and financed by libraries themselves. In 9 counties 60 % of the libraries have OPAC, and 2 of them have 100 % rate, with catalogue records automated from 30,6 to 96,3 %.

NISKA (National Information System of Croatian Libraries) is a joint project of the Ministry of Culture, the Ministry of Education and Sport and the Ministry of Science and Technology, initiated by the Croatian Parliament. Objective of the NISKA project is to envisage and build a system that would enable collections of Croatian libraries to be available and accessible in electronic and multimedia format in Croatia and world-wide. Strategic aim of the project is to build the national information system of libraries in Republic of Croatia. The system includes communication, computer, information, organisational and human network that should provide:

· improving service quality and accessibility of all data in libraries

n improving librarians` quality and efficiency

n inter-connection and transparency of library materials

n envisage and build the system that would enable library collections to be effectively available in electronic and multimedia formats

NISKA is an implementation program now entering its second phase.

Digitisation

There is no national policy concerning digitisation so far. It should be defined by the termination of the NISKA project.

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outlook

Covering Croatia with functional net of (public) libraries, where each library is an access point to knowledge and information in Croatia and the world, is the main aim that includes following objectives:

To pass a new legislative regulations for libraries. To introduce necessary changes and additions to existing Library Law (…) and other legislation that concerns libraries (schools, high schools, faculties, universities, scientific research work).
Since libraries are centres of information revolution, amount of support should be increased in budget of all of the founders of the libraries and excess part of own finances in budgets of libraries. In stage of planning the budget, more concern should be given to libraries’ needs for purchasing the technology and sources of information (whose development in the world is in both cases extraordinary dynamic).
To significantly increase acquisition of all information sources, including electronic publications of all kinds and through the consortia.
To convert old (card) catalogues and make collective ones To link library systems and nets (local, university, scientific) in Croatia and world and make adequate portals according to kinds and needs and establish collaboration with other sectors to ensure interoperability of data bases.
To enable not only access to Croatian libraries collections and other world libraries, but also to digital i.e. virtual collections.
To ensure systematic and continued automation of libraries, including its adequate new technology facilities.
To establish a national plan of digitisation of library materials and co-ordinate it with the digitisation of analogue cultural heritage (especially museum and archive materials).
To make and publish current national bibliographies promptly and regularly and finalise planning Croatian retrospective bibliography.
To develop new library objectives in harmony with possibilities of new information technologies and cyberspace.
To provide good quality and overall protection of library collections, including protection of new electronic media.

11. To ensure continual education of librarians in Croatia in the frame of lifelong learning, which includes establishing the Centre for lifelong learning at National and University Library in Zagreb.

12. Provide library users with constant information literacy/education for use of new media and modern technology.

Systematically overview and estimate situation; encourage development and dynamically plan, and authorise National and University Library to do that as part of Croatian Librarianship Institutional practice.

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