Publishers:
	2004
		Issued 6 numbers a year

2004 nr. 2

EDITORIAL

CONTENTS

ARCHIVE

Good people, During the last month we have been discussing very important things, because I am of the opinion that one’s mother tongue, the fate of national literature (to narrow the object, Estonian belles-lettres) and professional calling are among the most essential things besides birth and death, freedom and family. Pondering upon those things should indeed shape our everyday worldview and convictions; they might be a precondition for shaping a perfect librarian. The listed keywords also characterise our identity, give meaning to our existence and deeds and, believing in history, have helped us (as probably other nations, too) to go through difficult times. And if the above-said seems to be too solemn to some readers, then they should remind of language spell cast at Tallinn Town Hall by the end of 1980s, of censors who raised their warning fingers over our national literature, and of the struggle over the status of our national library that indeed directly affected librarians. However calling means, first and foremost, loyalty to one’s job and post for me, calling could mean more in an ideal sense. By all means, it should not rigorously be passion and love of books and librarianship that sometimes may even hide inaptitude. One is sure, our profession will have no essential sense without Estonian language and national literature. Who would we serve then? Who would need us? The participants of the Mother Tongue Day for librarians were satisfied with the event. Let us hope now that our librarians Estonian language skills will improve (for instance, Kõrveküla Library at Tartu county have already showed deeper interest in creative writing), our vocabulary will be enriched (especially when writing), and we will stop using empty words. Then we could add a plus to our vocational skills. But Estonian libraries’ biggest current problem is related to Estonian literature. Let us be honest – if we have been blamed from outside for several times, then we have to search for shortcomings on our part. It is indeed uncomfortable and insulting, but what else can be done? In this context is not proper to start with complaining about the lack of money; in my mind, we should perhaps begin with thorough reading of Estonian literature, followed by possible understanding that collecting national literature should become the central idea of every public library, especially when thinking of the future. Fortunately, there are signs that the time of translated yellow literature is over… and the desire to get to know our own authors is getting stronger. No matter how critical we are towards Estonian literature, we have to admit that this is our literature, because there is no other kind of literature for us today. And the people who write to us, be they young or old, are Estonian authors and at this point I dear to ask that we should respect them at least to that extent that their works can be read in every Estonian library. Maire Liivamets

CONTENTS

E-Library Is Our Great Future: an Interview with Andres Kollist - Sirje Lauring Vaska An interview with Andres Kollist, Director of the Academic Library of Tallinn Pedagogical University since 1 January 2004, about the library’s development plan. The recently appointed director considers the development of e-library and research and development activities the key issues. The interview also touches upon the library’s acquisition activities and cooperation of Estonian libraries. E-LIBRARY “E-” Is a Criterion for Success - Taimi Nurmiste The e-library of Tallinn Technical University Library was opened to the public in September 2003. The e-library (at the Web address: http://www.lib.ttu.ee/erk/) consists of six blocks: catalogues, databases, the Internet, e-services, training courses in the Web environment and help information. The article characterises some headings in each block that might be of interest to other libraries, too. Subject Portal – a Gateway to the Collections of Scholarly Information - Mari Vernik The first attempt to intermediate quality information among the information published on the Web pages to the information users was made in the course of an international cooperation project DESIRE (Development of a European Service for Information on Research and Education) that ran from 1998 to 2000. The article examines two major subject gateways of Estonian libraries: a part of the content of the Web site of the National Library of Estonia and subject gateways of Tallinn Technical University Library. Scientific Articles on the Internet - Erika Reier An overview of an international seminar Vapaa pääsy tieteelliseen tietoon (Open Access to Scientific Information) held in Helsinki in January 2004 (http://www.lib.helsinki.fi/finnoa/seminaari_2004.htm). Open access publication is defined as a scientific article that can be accessed via the Internet. Today about 4% of the abstracts of scientific articles and about 1% of scientific articles of the world have been published on the Web. DEA: Digitised Estonian Newspapers on the Internet - Krista Kiisa The National Library of Estonia has stopped lending old newspapers on paper carriers to ordinary readers with an aim to preserve the originals. Newspapers have been microfilmed, but the microfilms are quickly worn out in the hands of the users; digitisation of the microfilms has been seen as the way out. Preparations for digitising newspapers were started within the framework the Estonian Libraries Network Consortium’s project MIDAS already in 2001. In 2003 the annual sets of Perno Postimees from 1857–1885 and Postimees from 1886–1920 were digitised. As on 1 January of the current year, the DEA Web page (http://dea.nlib.ee) included 58,000 digital pages. Digital annual sets of the newspapers Päevaleht, Sakala and Tallinna Teataja will be added to the database in 2004. Electronic Age in Public Libraries - Meeli Veskus The Ministry of Culture of the Republic of Estonia began with the internetisation of public libraries in 2000, and already by the end of the year 2002 all public libraries should have had direct Internet connection. The plan has not yet been realised because of the emerged problems with a consortium, made up of three firms, from whom the government procured the internatisation; however, the work is almost finished or will be finished in the nearest months in the major part of counties. RESEARCH LIBRARIES The Archival Library of the Estonian Literary Museum – 95 - Merike Kiipus The Archival Library was founded together with the Estonian National Museum 95 years ago. Over the decades the most comprehensive collections of Estonian national printed heritage have been formed here. In the recent years the Archival Library’s activities have been focused on the compilation of electronic catalogue and national bibliography as well as on publications. DEVELOPMENT ACTIVITIES Knowledge-based Information Society and Libraries - Anu Nuut Several library models can be distinguished in the information society – traditional library as a memory institution, library as a learning and research centre, library as a cultural and communication centre, e-library and virtual library. To succeed, libraries should pay more attention to the development trends of information society. It is vital to see the connection between libraries and the social model and development politics of the society. RECENT LITERATURE ON LIBRARIANSHIP FOREIGN LIBRARIES New Library Buildings and Stack Room Solutions in Germany. II - Eckhard Blume, Klaus Kempf The second part of an article to be published in two journal issues gives an overview of the current situation of the archival libraries’ network and the preservation system of national printed heritage in Germany. The article also describes the new buildings and work organisation of Bavarian archival libraries. LET’S GET ACQUAINTED! The Hungarian Institute in Tallinn and Its Reading Room - Ellen Arnover On 30 January 2004 the Hungarian Institute’s new premises on Toompea were opened to the public. The institute is involved in mediating and introducing Hungarian culture and organising events. The needs of users who do not speak Hungarian are also taken into consideration in collection acquisition. There is a plan to digitise the collection. THE ANSWER PLACE Olga Einasto, Head of the Library Services Department of Tartu University Library, Kersti Tiik, Head of the Exhibitions Department of the National Library of Estonia, Toomas Schvak, a leading specialist at the Centre of Information Services for MPs of the National Library of Estonia, and Andrus Allikvee, a public relations specialist of Tartu University Library, ponder upon the question whether men and women have equal opportunities in librarianship. BOOK HISTORY The Charm and Pain of Being Oneself in the Context of Estonian Youth Literature - Hille Ojala An overview of Estonian juvenile books in the context of youth literature of different decades, predominantly treating emancipation that comes along with searching for oneself. Udo Ivask, a Book Researcher, a Designer and Researcher of Bookplates - Malle Ermel A thorough overview of the life of Udo Ivask (20 January 1878 – 15 May 1922), a book researcher, a designer and researcher of bookplates. Udo Ivask spent his most productive years in Moscow. His works on Russian bookplates and private collections are invaluable in researching Russian book culture. Udo Ivask also has an important position in the Estonian culture of bookplates – he paved the way for the emergence of designing bookplates as a separate small form of graphic art in Estonia. ESTONIAN HISTORY OF IDEAS The Wide World of Ivar Ivask - Livia Viitol A critical review of a collection Tähtede tähendust tunda (To Look Behind the Letters) by Ivar Ivask, published in the series Eesti mõttelugu (Estonian History of Ideas). Ivar Ivask (1927–1992) was a scholar of literature, a poet and an artist, a long-standing editor-in-chief of a literary journal World Literature Today, published in the USA. The present collection includes a selection of essays by Ivar Ivask, published abroad in 1951–1987, a major part of which is being published in Estonian for the first time. The first part of the book treats Estonian authors, the second part reviews literature in the German- and Russian-language cultural space. ESTONIAN LIBRARIANS’ ASSOCIATION The Time of Books – Friedrich Puksoo Day at Tartu University Library - Ene Riet An overview of the celebration of Friedrich Puksoo’s 114th anniversary at Tartu University Library on 23 January 2004. At the Speech Meeting The Time of Books the processes and people who have shaped our time were talked about. The Puksoo Prize went to Anne Valmas (Academic Library of Tallinn Pedagogical University) for her monograph Eestlaste kirjastustegevus välismaal 1944–2000. I–II (Publishing Activities of Estonians Outside Estonia During 1944–2000. I–II) Bibliography Still Interests People - Maire Liivamets An overview of the 3rd Bibliography Day. At the closure of the speech meeting, the Academic Library of Tallinn Pedagogical University’s and ELA’s Bibliography Prize was handed over. It was shared by two bibliographic lists: Eesti noodid 1918–1944 (Estonian Sheet Music 1918–1944; compiled by Ülle Tamm and Valve Jürisson from the National Library of Estonia) and Eesti rahvaluule bibliograafia (1993–2000) (The Bibliography of Estonian folklore (1993–2000); compiled by Karin Ribens from the Estonian Literary Museum.) The ELA Annual Meeting - Reet Olevsoo The ELA’s general meeting, held on the 27th of February, approved the management report and financial and audit committee’s report of the year 2003 as well as the action plan for the year 2004. Janne Andresoo, a staff member of the National Library of Estonia, was elected the President of the ELA and Katrin Gottlob, Vaike Mändmaa, Ille Riisk, Anneli Sepp and Krista Talvi were elected the Board members. Ljudmila Dubjeva, Hele Ellermaa and Katrin Kaugver, who were elected the Board members at the previous annual meeting, carry on their duties. At the general meeting, the prizewinners of the ELA awards of the year 2003 were announced. Anu Vahter, Director of Saare County Central Library, was awarded the ELA Annual Prize and Õie Tammissaar, Head of Library Services Department of Tartu Public Library, was awarded the ELA Prize for Merits. At the ELA Speech Meeting on the 27th of February on the theme A Profession or a Vocation, a discussion was held whether the profession presupposes calling; do the graduates from higher educational establishments are sufficiently prepared for their future professional career; what is the future of the profession and the calling, etc. NEWS A Longed-for Event - Silvi Metsar An overview of the winter seminar for research libraries at Kääriku on 1–2 March, where the databases generated by our libraries were discussed. Congratulations: Linda Masing – 95 – a long-standing bibliographer of Tallinn Central Library and the State Book Chamber. The Order of the White Star was Awarded to Four Librarians On the occasion of the 86th anniversary of the Republic of Estonia, four librarians – Hans Jürman (a librarian and a bibliographer), Ivi Tingre (a librarian and a bibliographer), Salme Tuulik (a bibliographer and promotor of local cultural life), and Toomas Liivamägi (developer of Tartu University Library) were awarded the 5th Class Order of the White Star, an Estonian State decoration.

ARCHIVE

2004 - 1 2003 - 6, 5, 4, 3, 2, 1 2002 - 6, 5, 4, 3, 2, 1

2001 - 6, 5, 4, 3, 2, 1 2000 - 6, 5, 4, 3, 2, 1 1999 - 6, 5, 4, 3, 2