ISSN 0235-0351 (printed edition) 4/2000

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EDITORIAL

Nice to meet You in the autumn!

To speak, or not to speak – this is the question, too. To write, or not to write…

As a matter of fact, nobody of us spells out something extraordinary or new, instead, newly clothed old standpoints form a part of our lives. We cannot complain about the lack of things to notice because a thought often springs from another. In this spring I read the following opinion of a young Estonian banker from the newspaper Eesti Päevaleht: "If the situation of the Estonian econimical and political élite is characterized by the fact that it includes people who have not read a single book in ten years, there is no hope to find people who have visions, but still only copyists here." On my opinion, this is a weighty thought. Let’s ask ourselves how is the situation in culture, – what about us?

Everybody knows that reading books is not trendy – it does not matter what has been said during the Year of the Estonian Book. But it is tendy to meet on the Internet, and with the empire of educaters who secure their positions better and better. It is only natural to educate oneself every day and, of course, we have to use the computers daily – but what is our purpose for this? I am not the first and the only one who rises this question in the media. There is a developing trend or phenomenon of collecting various certificates. Our society is, for the panics of being left behind of others, valuing papers again – but the bitter truth is that we often are not able to use them. If these papers are applicable in the practical work as there are all kinds of educaters. Maybe our mistake is that we take everything offered literally and for a pure gold. Some gather this way their future baggage, the others unselectevely citate and repeate the thoughts they have heard or read as the only possible and necessary ones. In a more extreme way it can be even said that in some cases the phrase okey in English has replaced davai in Russian, even in the talkes of those people who serve culture. Sometimes people use, maybe unsuspectedly, but certainly earnestly, figures of speech and thoughts pilfered from foreign languages, praising these in a funny way or even in the wrong context. Of course, we want to be Europeans, to be modern, – but when comes the time we want to be ourselves? When are we determined to integrate our own opinions and knowledge into our profession? The basic truths are still the same and using them in an expert way usually saves people in trouble and guides them in the right direction. Any culture and work requires something personal and independent from people. So we should carefully select trainers and also books among the many on libraries’ shelves, and we should not let us lured by the other people’s opinions and the fear that if we do not participate in this or that training or recommentatory session we will be immideately unemployed. Of my opinion, our own work and results are still the most important. I am anxious to hear from anybody who disagrees.

Maire Liivamets

 

FIRST COLUMN

Printed Estonia Rein Veidemann - 4

Rein Veidemann’s Column replaces our traditional First Column this year.

Veidemann expresses his thought that producing Estonian printed matter in the terms of both Estonian publications and printed Estonia (maps, pictures and publications about Estonia) is at the same time circulating Estonia. The more there is Estonian printed matter, the more Estonia has an opportunity to spread and last.

RESEARCH LIBRARIES

Service Quality in Performance Measurement Aira Lepik - 5

The professor at the Department of Information Studies of Tallinn Pedagogical University defines defines the term service quality and introduces the indicators for measuring it. The author suggests that the three most important aspects in analysing and evaluating a library service are resources, organisation and library staff as determined by Hernon and Altman. A methodics for measuring quality of library services SERQUAL is treated in greater detail.

Organisational Analysis in Libraries Merike Poljakov - 8

Only the organisation who changes alongside with its environment can be a

successful organisation. The essence of library work has remarkably altered, and a thoroughly considered planning of library activities has gained importance. But planning is always based on analysis. The article provides guidance for preliminary analysis and SWOT analysis in a library and the basic principles for formulating the mission of an organisation.

Information Needs of Industry Specialists Aiki Tibar - 11

Aiki Tibar from Tallinn Technical University Library carried out a study about information needs in industry.

Critical success factors approach was used to determine information needs of managers and specialists in different industries on different organisational levels. The interviews have been conducted with 27 managers and specialists from 16 successful enterprises. The article summarizes critical success factors and related information needs of managers and specialists. Critical success factors were classified into eleven categories: marketing, quality management, product development, technological innovations, efficiency, pollution free technology and environment management, job management, finance, personnel, information systems development, access to information. The main areas about which information was needed were: 1) competitors, customers, suppliers and other market information 2) technology 3) resources (finance, labour, raw materials) 4) regulations (legislation, standards, patents) 5) economic and political trends.

Libraries in the Informational Society Olga Kudrova - 13

The author carried out a questionaire in three Latvian university libraries (the Latvian University, Daugavpils Pedagogical University and Elgava Agricultural University) to determine the readers’ demands and the level of cooperation of university libraries in meeting these demands. The survey results provided answers to the following questions: for what purpose do the users place their orders, what types of materials are used and from which source do the users get information about certain publications. The answers to the question whether the library can satisfy the needs of its users indicate that a single library alone cannot satify the ever-growing information needs of its readers, fulfilling them needs joint efforts of many libraries (e.g. ILL). But often the potential library users satisfy their needs for a new publications or a specific theme through informal contacts (friends, media etc.)

AUTOMATION

The Project of the Recataloguing of the Books in the Estonian

Language: 1918–1944 Anne Ainz - 16

The bibliography of Estonian books published in 1918-1944 is a part of the Estonian Retrospective National Bibliography programm. Some 26,000-30,000 books are estimated to have been published during the period under discussion. The project was launched in Februsry 1999 at the National Library. First, books in the National Library collection are entered into the database. Starting chronologically with the publications of 1918, in July 2000 the recataloguing had reached the year 1930.

The Recataloguing of the Estonian Periodicals Luule Joost - 17

The goal of the project is to recatalogue the journals/magazines, continuations and local newspapers published in Estonia in all languages and create an electronic catalogue of periodicals in USMARC format which will integrate the bibliographic records of books, continuations and periodicals into the INNOPAC catalogue. Several departments of the National Library of Estonia, the Estonian Academic Library and Tartu University Library are involved in the project.

RECENT LITERATURE ON LIBRARIANSHIP - 19

ESTONIAN HISTORY OF IDEAS

About Estonian Literature Maire Liivamets - 28

In her survey "About Estonian Literature" the literary researcher Maire Liivamets introduces the well-known Estonian poet and founder of Estonian literary history Gustav Suits’s (1883–1956) collection of articles "The History of Estonian Literature" written being an emigrant (Lund, 1953), and published in the series "Estonian History of Ideas". Maire Liivamets also introduces his literary articles published earlier and now republished in the new collection "History of Estonian Literature". Gustav Suits, professor of literature at the University of Tartu, was also one of the founders and a mental leader of the Young Estonia movement. The movements’s principle was: let’s become Europeans but still remain Estonians. Gustav Suits’s treatment of the history of Estonian literature must be observed in its age. As a professor Gustav Suits was a little bit pedantic, but always intellectual and stylish. For the younger generation it’s worth to evaluate and even to take over this great knowledge that Gustav Suits has treasured up, and also to appreciate the style of approaching to the persons under investigation.

BOOK HISTORY

Variegated Choise in German Bookshops Aimar Ventsel - 30

An overview of the German literary trends by introducing scandalous German authors. The author writes more about Wir kennen die Fremde nicht (We Do not Know Strangers) by Inka Bach, Trug (The Fraud) by Klaus Schlesinger and the novels of Gaby Hauptmann.

ESTONIAN BOOK YEAR

About Estonian Reference Literature Kadri Tammur - 31

An overview of a book exhibition Estonian Reference Literature in the Book Museum of the Tartu University Library, 19 April – 28 July, sponsored by the Central Committee of the Estonian Book Year.

ESTONIAN LIBRARIANS ASSOCIATION - 33

• about the summer seminar of Estonian school librarians in Viljandi county – School Library as a Part of the Learning Process;
• about the school librarians’ visit to Rapla county;
• about the information days of Section of School Libraries of the ELA at Nabala;
• about the summer seminar of rural libraries.

CONFERENCES & SEMINARS

Conference "Estonian Printed Matter III" Anne Veinberg - 37

On 16 May the third conference on Estonian printed matter was held at the Estonian Academic Library together with the Estonian Librarians Association. Not only librarians, but also literature researchers, publishers, booksellers a.o. participated in the conference. The conference papers dealt with the development tendencies of Estonian literature, publishing today and in the past, the present situation on the book market, how do the libraries get the legal deposit copies pursuant to the legal deposit act, precataloguing and circulation of Estonian printed matter, etc.

Libraries in the Defence of Estonian Riches of Culture Kersti Jalas - 39

An exhibition of Estonian reference literature took place in the Book Museum of Tartu University Library (from April 19 to July 28). Special reference literature of high level was created during the last century. In 1900, the first attempt to compile an encyclopedia in the Estonian language was made. The lecturers at the University of Tartu have played an important part in the compiling of different encyclopedias. There are many documental materials in the Manuscript and Rare Books Department of Tartu University Library where the personal archives of professors are preserved. These materials show how the complicated and minute investigation of the compiling of reference books (inclusive encyclopedias) has been made.

Cathecismus by Wanradt and Koell and its Founder

Hellmuth Weiss Hans Jürman - 42

On 23 October, a hundred years passed from the birth of Hellmuth Weiss, the founder of the fragments of the cathecism by Wanradt and Koell.

NEWS

In Memoriam: Linda Reimann - 42

SUMMARY