ISSN 0235-0351 (printed edition) 6/1999

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EDITORIAL

Good people,

I am convinced that though the coming date seems more attractive than several gone by, the world will see no great changes the next year. No matter how important men and women toy with our feelings and expectations – a man remains the same. And men of letters cover all the pages in the world with admiring and wondering messages – A New Century – What A Change! But nothing twists human mind. It may be that technology fails at the moment of change in figures, but we will proceed by the help of God.

I view century only as a lesson of history. We, too, inherited our knowledge and education from the past, and the future generations will evaluate us as we evaluate our anciestors and great men who have taken care of human matters here on earth for a century. Hopefully, we are a hundred years wizer, but probably a hundred years more cruel, too. This is not my business to discuss number of losses, but it surely is something worth to be pondered on. And I am not going to list victories, also, as wizer heads are listing them anyhow, and even too much. Taking with me my time and my story, treasures of the mind I have gathered as well as books preserved, my freedom as well as my restrictions and the biddings I obey, my love and companions, – I am just proceeding until the last year comes.

Take care,

Maire Liivamets

FIRST COLUMN
Estonian Culture in 1999 - - - - - - - Toomas Liiv - 4
A traditional reflection on Estonian culture trends at the ending year, published in the last number of the journal.

TECHNICAL UNIVERSITY LIBRARY – 80
Technical University Library in the Changing Time - - Jüri Järs - 5
In his article Jüri Järs, director of the Tallinn Technical University Library introduces the Library that was founded in 1919 as the Library of Tallinn Technical School. The milestones of the Library's history and development during 80 years are shortly described. Since 1992 the Library has served as:
• the university centre of library services and electronic information
• the central technical library of Estonia that is open for public use
• the national resource library for technology
The total size of the collections is about 1 million volumes. At present the quantative growth of the collections has been stopped and much attention has been given to the collections analysis, assessment and evaluation. The population served is over 16,000, annualy there are about 250,000 visits and 340,000 loans. Regular user training has been delivered since the academic year 1961/1962. The total library staff is 81.
Many activities are focused on developing and strengthening computer and data communication based resources and services. During 11 years (1977–1988) the data about the use of collections and their users were processed and analyzed with the help of mainframe computers. The first PC-based database was created in 1987, the systematic generation of databases has been started in 1991 using Micro-CDS/ISIS (UNESCO) software. Internet access and CD-ROM databases were introduced to users in 1994, first library WWW homepage was created in 1996, CD-ROM server with campuswide access was implemented in 1997.
During last years the networking environment has been rebuilt and optimized, the equipment and servers have been relieved, speed and security have been increased. WWW infoserver (http://www.lib.ttu.ee/) has been completely modified – search engine, SQL support, links to INNOPAC database, automatic statistical feedback, etc. have been implemented. As a result of the co-operative IT-project of the Consortium of ELNET (Estonian Libraries NETwork), the integrated library system INNOPAC (Innovative Interfaces Inc.) was implemented and data entry was started in February this year. The pilot projects of digital library and virtual library are in the phase of preparation and testing.
 

Some Facts about the History of the Tallinn Technical University Library - 9
A list of the library's heads, important events and the present statistics.
 

Funding Principles of the Acquisition of Research Libraries - Konrad Kikas - 11
By his decrees, the Minister of Culture and Education of the Republic of Estonia provided Estonian central research libraries and their objectives in 1994 and 1995. Financial basis for Estonian central research libraries' acquisition has not yet been considered thoroughly. The article draws examples of such work from adroad and proposes some ways how to organise Estonian central research libraries' activities.
 

User Survey in Tallinn Technical University Library in 1999 - Viivi Kuuspere, Aiki Tibar - 16
In their article "User Survey in Tallinn Technical University Library in 1999" Viivi Kuuspere and Aiki Tibar came to the conclusion that general user satisfaction survey revealed mean ratings (on a scale from 1 to 5) of following questions: 4.0 for users´ selfreports of success during this library visit on each of several library activities; 4.4 for ease of use of the library; 4.2 for overall satisfaction with today´s library visit. A total of 815 questionnaires was distri-buted, a response rate was 84.8%. Users´ comments on holdings, services and working environment provide valuable information for the library.

Distance Learning Programme DEDICATE Ine Leinuste, Küllike Märtmaa, Maie Pihlakas, Maie Võrk - 18
In May 1998, a 18-month Project DEDICATE (Distance EDucation Information Courses with Access Though nEtworks) was launched within the framework of the European Union Telematics for Libraries Programme. DEDICATE aims to provide libary workers with necessary knowledge for information retrieval in networked environment and to train them to train information end-users – students, researchers and specialists.

INTERVIEW
A Book Maintains the Best Achive-ments of the Mankind – an Interview with Hando Runnel - Maire Liivamets - 20
In the interview "A Book Maintains the Best Achievements of the Mankind" Hando Runnel, vice-chairman of the General Board of the Estonian Book Year, a writer and a publisher, concentrates on the very important cultural head-word of the next year – A BOOK. Next year there will be the 475th anniversary of the first book published in the Estonian language. Also the modern Estonian society, the Estonian language, the relations between people, the divergance of the modern literature from its reader, the results and present situation of the series "Estonian History of Ideas", published by "Ilmamaa", were discussed. Runnel´s view of the problems is sometimes unexpected and problematic, but it is fascinating and holding one´s attention.

RECENT LITERATURE ON LIBRARIANSHIP - - 23
 

ESTONIAN HISTORY OF IDEAS
Philosopher of Spirit and Wisdom – Hermann von Keyserling - Rein Ruutsoo - 27
Rein Ruutsoo´s contribution is devoted to Hermann von Keyserling (1880–1941), a well-known Estonian born Baltic-German philosopher and globetrotter. After the WW I he grounded in Darmstadt (Germany) "the School of Wisdom". Keyserling was one of very few of the Baltic nobility who sympathised to Estonian national self-determination after collapse of Russian Empire. He defined himself first of all as "the Baltic citizen", as a representative of local Baltic-German mentality and culture. His philosophical writings are closer to essays than academic studies. On his trips Keyserling made a lot of interesting observations on cultures and civilisations. According to his vision, the Baltic corner was a very specific and promising in terms of culture. Germans, Scandinavians, Russians had largely contributed to the local civilisation and mentality. He perceived the Baltic nations belonging to the Western cultural hemisphere. He displayed dignity and self-determination of the Estonians as the main quality of the people which he perceived as his compatriots. His writings made a quite visible impact on the Estonian intellectuals between two World Wars. In the years of Soviet occupation his production shared the fate of the other Western oriented and liberal intellectuals. Baltic-German cultural contribution to Estonian history was banned by the Soviet censors.

PUBLIC RELATIONS
Marketing Relations - Triin Soone - 30
An annual column providing librarians PR knowhow. The sixth article suggests how to communicate with present and potential library users.

ESTONIAN BOOK YEAR - Krista Talvi - 31

ESTONIAN LIBRARIANS ASSOCIATION - 32
This year's Library Days Libraries and Librarians in Rapidly Changing Time are over. This is a brief overview of the events that took place.

CONFERENCES AND SEMINARS
Professional Ethics of a Librarian and Information Specialist - Evi Rannap, Krista Talvi - 36
An overview of a workshop on October 28-29 organised by the Committee on Education at the Estonian Librarians Association and Concordia International University Estonia.

Public Relations – an Overview of the Seminar - Urve Tõnnov - 38
The workshop took place at the Tartu University Library on October 22. Marju Lauristin, a media and communications professor at the University of Tartu, and Aira Lepik, the Chair of Librarianship at Tallinn Pedagogical University, presented a more popular aspect; the representatives of libraries introduced their PR activities.

LANGUAGE CARE - Hans Jürman - 40

NEWS - 41

Memoirs - Vaime Kabur - 42
The author describres the work at the present National Library of Estonia in 1940ies and 1950ies, book destruction activities at that time, ponders upon Estonian literature, etc.

In Memoriam
- Magda Rannu
- Aino Ellandi - 44

SUMMARY - 45