ISSN 0235-0351 (printed edition)
3/2000
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ISSN 0235-0351 (printed edition)
3/2000 |
|
Editorial board:
AIRA LEPIK REET OLEVSOO KALJU TAMMARU URVE TÕNNOV TIIU VALM ANNE VALMAS MEELI VESKUS |
Editor ENE RIET
Second Editor MAIRE LIIVAMETS Text Editor ELLEN ARNOVER Copy Preparator TIIU TALI Designed by KERSTI TORMIS |
| EDITORIAL |
Dear colleague,
The undertakings of the Estonian Book Year are in full swing. The polemics on the necessity of celebrating the anniversary of Estonian book has ended, though at the beginning of the celebrations the event was also called the book nostalgia of middle-aged men and women of culture, especially by students. An example of the younger generation’s attitude towards book was given by Raiko Uri, a pupil, in his speech on the festive opening meeting of the Estonian Book Year at Vanemuine Concert Hall. He stated that pupils do not need printed books, but information – using a computer and the Internet there is a space for a whole library on a desk. Jaak Allik, the deputy mayor of the town of Viljandi, is also convinced that electronic book will replace its print version as he revealed in his opening speech of the Day of The Book and The Rose on 29 April.
You can’t take a computer to bed with you! – is an argument of the defenders of books. But it does not sound very convincing considering the development of information technology. Every day we hear about better, smaller and more convenient computers which provide not only reading possiblities but also read out loud, sing and perform, and resemble more a teddy-bear.
Most people are convinced in the future of a printed book – the symbol of the persistence of human thought. And perhaps everyboby agrees with Vallo Raun, a bibliophile, who is of the oppinion that besides information and content, also the format, paper, design, and even the smell of a book are important to a reader. And a new possibility to acquire a book which is really yours is coming – if published electronically, there is no need to print all the copies of a book at a time, but only examples of it. In the USA, you can order a necessary publication from a book-store even today, and it will be printed in few weeks. This practice quarantees that anyone can acquire personally interesting, enchanting, emotionally evoking and stimulating book.
I wish you all enjoyable reading time
Ene Riet
| CONTENTS |
FIRST COLUMN
This Small Great Literature Rein Veidemann - 4
Rein Veidemann’s Column replaces our traditional First Column this year.
This time he states that the way literature is seen and interpreted determines the development of the role and the meaning of it. The literature of every nation is as big as it is considered.
AUTOMATION
Virtual Library Mai Põldaas - 5
The article explains the concept of virtual library, and introduces the most important Internet search possiblities as well as less known search tools for specialists (the Finnish virtual library, the UK social sciences information gateway SOSIG and BUBL for the circles of higher education, and the DESIRE project financed by the EU).
Integrated Library System INNOPAC Riin Olonen - 9
In her article "An Integrated Library System INNOPAC" Riin Olonen, library system manager at the National Library of Estonia reviews the introduction of the integrated library system INNOPAC in Estonia.
Specially for libraries’ needs designed large systems are too complex and expensive that it was not and it is not possible to implement such system just in one library in Estonia. Due to the financial situation in Estonian research libraries there has always been a need for co-operation between the libraries. The idea of establishing one common information system for all libraries in Estonia is not very new. Already in 1992 there was a working group at the Estonian Librarians Association, which dealt with the problems of library automation. In 1996 a nonprofit organisation – the ELNET (Estonian Libraries Network) Consortium was established.
For the present the automated library system INNOPAC has been successfully implemented and is used (since 22 October 1998, after almost 1.5 years of testing and training period) in nine research libraries, members of the ELNET Consortium. These libraries are: National Library of Estonia, Estonian Academic Library, Tallinn Technical University Library, Tallinn Pedagogical University Library, Estonian Academy of Arts Library, Estonian Academy of Music Library, Tartu University Library, Archives Library of the Estonian Literary Museum and Estonian Agricultural University Library.
Implementing INNOPAC in Reader Service
at Tartu University Library Mare-Velli Ilus - 11
The piece describes the implementation process of INNOPAC at Tartu University Library, the relevant staff training, as well as the electronic user services provided at the library’s service points and at the special libraries of the university.
RESEARCH LIBRARIES
50 Years Protecting Cultural Heritage Elve-Viiu Klement - 13
Elve-Viiu Klement in her article "50 Years Protecting Cultural Heritage" discusses the activities of the department of Book Hygene and Restoration at Tartu University Library. This department was founded in 1970. For many years the objective of the Department has been to find out the damages of unique documents and their preservation/restoration, as well as to protect Estonian rare books. While the Library was often moving, the workers of the Department had to take part in it, cleaning and disinfecting the books. The problem have also been the protecting the books from external damages (e.g. dust, etc.). The Department has been taking part in native and international projects. Klement speaks about her early work with great affection, she estimates highly the dignified work of conservators and gives a detailed survey of their activities throughout many years. For the present moment the Department of Book Hygene and Restoration at Tartu University Library has been reorganized.
Benchmarking for Success Phillip Ramsdale - 16
In his article "Benchmarking for Success" Phillip Ramsdale, Coordinator of the EU project LibEcon, Executive Director of the IPF, UK describes the approach of the concepts of benchmarks and benchmarking. In the March 2000, the National Library of Estonia hosted a seminar on the topic of benchmarking. The purpose of the seminar was to examine how this technique for improving management practices and operational performance could be applied in research libraries of Estonia.The benchmarking is an integral part of defining service standards and an overall scheme of performance measurement, the main elements of which comprise: effectiveness, including accessibility to the library service and the impact the service makes, as well as management and operational efficiency.
The National Library maintains a central database of library statistics which can be better exploited by managers of individual libraries. If the National Library were to provide statistical reports to individual libraries, the process of undertaking simple comparisons would provide a firm basis for appropriate and constructive benchmarking activities.
STATISTICS
Survey of the Public Library Information System in 1999 Mall Saul - 20
A thorough statistical analysis of the Estonian public libraries’ information system, illustrated with tabels and graphics.
RECENT LITERATURE ON LIBRARIANSHIP - 23
STATISTICS
Estonian Public Libraries in 1999 - 29
* * *
Tallinn Pedagogical University Graduates of Information Science in 1999 - 29
CONFERENCES & SEMINARS
What We Take with Us into the New Millennium Malle Ermel - 30
An overview of the report meeting held at Tartu University Library on 21 January. At the annual report meeting held to honor Friedrich Puksoo, a former director of Tartu University Library and a founder of the Estonian Librarians Association, the author of the best Estonian work of the year published in the field of book history, book research, librarianship or bibliography is also awarded. This year, the award was given to Endel Valk-Falk for Preserving the stilistical features of the period at conservation. The art of binding in the Gothic, the reneissance and the baroque style. Methodics. I. Tallinn, 1999.
Model Library – What Is It? Ene Riet - 32
An overview of the 4th conference of the international project of model libraries UNET on 9-12 December 1999 at Vinni and Rakvere, Viru county.
ESTONIAN BOOK YEAR - 34
Liivi Aarma gives a survey of the undertakings organized to mark the Estonian Book Year. Although the EBY was officially proclaimed on the 23rd of April, the opening conference "The Role of a Book in the Development of Estonia" took place in Tartu on April 6–7. The aim of this conference was to inform the Estonian public on the history of a book in the Estonian language and published in Estonia. The papers of the conference have been completed and published as a collection of abstracts. The papers were devided into four thems:
Nation, state and book
The role of a book in 1940–1991 after losing Estonian’s independence
The role of a book in educating and englightening people
Book history researchers pro domo sua
The Estonian Book Year was enagurated on the 23rd of April in the History Museum of the University of Tartu with the opening of a grand exhibition "Estonian Book in 1525–1944". The exhibition was opened by the Ministry of Culture Signe Kivi, the consecration was performed in St. Peter’s Church in Tartu. The opening ceremony and reception took place in Tartu Vanemuine Concert Hall where young performers recited poems and sang songs.
ESTONIAN LIBRARIANS ASSOCIATION - 38
CRITICAL REVIEW
About Two Bibliographies Tiina Ritson - 41
On personal bibliographies of Estonian writers Gustav Suits (compiled by Külli Tamkivi, Tiina Koiva, and Krista Pisuke; edited by Anne Klaassen. Tartu: Estonian Literary Museum, 1998) and Juhan Liiv (compiled by Osvald Kivi, Andres Loorand, Ave Pill, and Vaike Tosso; edited by Anne Klaassen. Tallinn: Estonian Academy Publishers, 1999).
NEWS 42
Congratulations
Helene Kulpa – 90 - 46
Kaljo Veskimägi – 70 - 46
Signe Väljataga – 70 - 46
SUMMARY - 47