Publishers:
	2004
		Issued 6 numbers a year

2004 nr. 3

EDITORIAL

CONTENTS

ARCHIVE

Dear librarians – dear readers, Every field of activities has its duties; so do libraries. One of our duties is to constantly talk about books and literature, to discuss the comprehensibility and position of culture around and inside us. The question is how to do it without getting bored; how to do it in a way that words used would not turn out to be only a façade or a reiteration. I read from the Minister of Culture’s texts again and again: “In spite of all, Estonian cultural picture is alive and diverse. Nevertheless, the attitude towards the role of culture in Estonia has to change above all; this is not only entertainment.” (E.g. Postimees, 27 March) But these repeated, nevertheless, correct statements do not enliven, do not inspire. I know that. I need a more stimulating discussion, a stronger push to stand up from my chair and listen further. At the same time it is not suitable to complain – there are a number of powerful markers of culture, but they frequently lack the shine and purifying force of novelty. Perhaps the saturation of culture has emerged? Why else there so often occur turning up one’s nose at cultural phenomena – ah, you know the level of this performance; this film does not give you much; I will close this book already on the tenth page, it is not thrilling. After a more thorough (self-)examination it can be, however, affirmed that boredom and dinginess – a surprising conclusion – regrettably characterise the masterpieces of mass culture, because our national culture has already produced several strong hits this year. And although real cultural hits are seldomly perceived, it is obviously wiser to give up fighting with and pondering upon entertaining culture and literature, and to concentrate on searching and introducing valuable. Everyone has to define the concept of valuable by oneself, even though our duty, that is, the duty of people of culture is to help each other, and also the rest of people on the quest. They say that almost all Icelanders write books and they are also busy with making films. In Estonia the occupation of writer also seems to belong amongst the most desirable trades, comparable even to bank occupations. I think, of course, in the terms of reputation, not in the terms of income. Sometimes it really appears that there is nothing less easier than becoming a writer. Describe one way or other this life or that, shape it as book, add your name on the cover, and the National Library is already waiting for its legal deposit copy… Estonian writer Tõnu Õnnepalu is perhaps right about modern youth planning to write books more often than to read them. Of course, the older generation of authors publishes books, too, but it takes more time from them, they are not in a hurry to become famous and get into the media. Now today’s basic question: who reads all these books? From this springs all the trouble and misery of being a writer. As the situation becomes now and again anxious, the explanation is requested from librarians. Welcome to read! Maire Liivamets

CONTENTS

FIRST COLUMN Some Thoughts About the Financing and Possible Cooperation of Research Libraries - Peep Sürje In 2003 new rules were applied to the financing of research libraries – from that time on, the acquisition of scientific information has been financed from the state budget. However, sums allocated for acquiring scientific information must annually increase even only to maintain stability. Limited resources can be efficiently used, if the libraries will agree on the division of labour and make the coordination of collection acquisition more effective. TARTU PUBLIC LIBRARY A User-friendly Intellectual Centre - Ene Riet An overview of a speech meeting, treating the present day and the future of Tartu Public Library, held on April 3 at the library. At the meeting library users, representing various interest groups, and the library’s representatives took the floor. The common desire was that the library would get new and larger premises, where there would be open access collection and every reader would find what he/she needs. The Following Ten Years - Asko Tamme Tartu Public Library’s Director’s vision of the next ten years of the library. In his mind, the most important changes to be made are ensuring the existence of integrated library network, changes in the library’s physical environment (a new building), and the implementation of new services that would make the library attractive to the people, aged between 30 and 40 years, who currently do not use the library services much. Tartu Public Library in the Press - Anu Mõistlik The article analyses the texts about Tartu Public Library, published in an Estonian daily newspaper Postimees in 2002–1003, from three different aspects: 1) what was the libraries main role in the piece, 2) who had initiated the piece’s publication, i.e. raised the issue, and 3) what was general tonality of the piece. Four main roles of the library distinguished: 1) a promoter of cultural life, 2) a public institution of the town of Tartu, 3) a place where books are lent, and 4) a provider of other services – a lender of VHSis, public Internet access point, etc. About the Joint Actions of Tartu and Tampere Public Libraries - Pirjo Hakuni The towns of Tartu (Estonia) and Tampere (Finland) signed a friendship agreement in 1992. Cooperation means both the interchanges of officials as well as library materials and other publications and exhibitions. The articles gives examples of joint activities that have not only helped to resolve work problems, but have also given wider knowledge about the neighbouring state, its history and culture. Tammelinn Branch Library Got New Premises - Linda Jahilo The collection of Tartu Public Library’s Tammelinn Branch is placed in full on open access shelves in the Branch’s new premises. On its ground floor, there operates a Public Internet Access Point and newspapers and journals are provided. Children and the young have their own reading room. E-LIBRARY What Makes ‘e-’ Special? - Mai Põldaas E-library is an integrated system of electronic collections and services. Electronic collections consist of various databases that include primary and secondary information; digital objects are generated and acquired on the basis of collection development principles. Electronic services are library services in the electronic environment; access to digital objects is provided cohesively, which means that there exist all services necessary for information search. About a Database with a Beautiful Name - Marju Rist An overview of the compilation of Estonian legal bibliography and a bibliographic database BIE (Bibliotheca Iuridica Estonica – http://bie.nlib.ee), generated on the basis of the printed version of the bibliography. The BIE includes law books and articles, and also Estonica – works by Estonian jurists and about Estonian legal system, published abroad. The database is provided with a name index, an alphabetic subject index and source index. It covers the period from 1991 up to 2004; there is a plan to add the period from 1918 up to 1940 in 2005. New articles are entered into the BIE every week; book entries are added quarterly. DEVELOPMENT ACTIVITIES Knowledge-based Information Society and Libraries II - Anu Nuut About performance management, measurement and evaluation in a modern library. The quick development of electronic environment and its impact on collection development are also revealed in the change of library performance measurement and evaluation methods. Quantitative and qualitative analysis should be regarded as a part of library management and development activities – a part of working out library’s strategy and development plan. RECENT LITERATURE ON LIBRARIANSHIP LIBRARIAN’S PROFESSION Professionalism and Vocation in User Services - Merike Poljakov In 2003 major change took place at Tartu University Library. As a result of that, special reading rooms were reorganised and lending from open access collections increased. The work of a special reading room staff member is professionally more demanding, presuming wider knowledge and high culture of service. Acquiring Knowledge in Cologne - Triin Rajalo A student of Viljandi Academy of Culture studied librarianship as an exchange student at the University of Applied Sciences Cologne. The piece briefly describes the teaching and curricula of librarianship in German universities of applied sciences, too. INTERVIEW Until We Meet Again, Estonian literature! - Maire Liivamets An interview with Valle-Sten Maiste, the editor of essays, and Jürgen Rooste, a poet and the editor of literature of Estonian cultural weekly, Sirp, about the acquisition of public libraries’ collections. The interview was motivated by several opinions, expressed in Estonian cultural press, that public libraries, aiming to meet the bad literary taste of their readers, purchase too much low-quality translated literature and too little original Estonian literature. THE ANSWER PLACE Anu Vahtre, Director of Saare County Central Library, Asta Leiten, Head of Laiuse Library, and Toivo Ärtis, Head of Külitse Library, ponder upon the relationship between elite culture and entertainment in Estonia. BOOK HISTORY Discovering Children’s Culture with Nukits - Jaanika Palm Nukits is the Estonian Children’s Literature Information Centre’s almanac, discussing children’s literature and children’s culture issues, that has been published annually since 1995. The publication is orientated to adults, who are directly active in the field of children’s culture. The almanac’s development trend is towards in-depth analysis. Every number also includes articles on children’s libraries. ESTONIAN LIBRARIANS’ ASSOCIATION For Better Cooperation - Vaike Kurel An overview of the ELA School Libraries Section’s information day about the cooperation of publishers and schools on 1 April 2004. Prior to that, a questionnaire was drawn up to get an objective picture of the cooperation. It turned out that compared to the situation five years ago teachers are now more active in ordering textbooks. Their content is the most important criterion of choice. Teachers are the less satisfied with publishers’ price policies. Children’s Books worth Several Millions of Kroons - Krista Talvi A non-profit organisation Biblionef from Holland donated children’s books in English to Estonian libraries, schools and kindergartens. Priit Pallum, Ambassador of the Republic of Estonia in the Netherlands, handed over the donation. CONFERENCES & SEMINARS Conference about the Library Services for Visually Impaired - Priit Kasepalu An overview of an international conference “Digital Books – a Tool for Integrating Visually Impaired into the Knowledge Society”, treating library services for visually impaired. It was organised by the Lithuanian Library for the Blind on 18–19 March. NEWS 7th Contest for the Nukits Prize On 3rd of April the winners of the 7th contest for the Nukits Prize were awarded. The prize went to a writer Janno Põldma and an artist Heiki Ernits for their book Lepatriinude jõulud (Ladybird’s Christmas. Tallinn : Sild, 2002). The second prize was awarded to a writer Andrus Kivirähk and an artist Regina Lukk-Toompere for their book Lotte reis lõunamaale (Lotte’s Trip to South); the third – to a writer Aino Pervik for her book series Paula elu (The Life of Paula) and to an artist Edgard Valter for an author’s book Natuke naljakad pildid (A Bit Funny Pictures). 5th Round Table of Children’s Literature An overview of a round table of literary critics, lectors of children’s literature, journalists and workers of the Estonian Children’s Literature Information Centre, “The Position of Children’s Literature on the Literary Scenery”, held at the Centre on 6th of April. The round table focused on the research of children’s literature in Estonia, and on the teaching of children’s literature at the University of Tartu and Tallinn Pedagogical University. The Central Library of Järva County – 145 - Malle Kull On 30 January 2004 the Central Library of Järva County celebrated its 145th anniversary. For the last three years the library has had new premises. However, the lack of space is already felt – a reason why user services have been partly reorganised. The generation of library’s electronic catalogue is an ongoing process. The most popular corner in the library is its Public Internet Access Point. Keila Library – 85 - Rutt Enok Keila Adult Education Society’s library, established in 1918, is considered to be the predecessor of Harju County Library. The article provides an overview of the Library’s development from its start up to the present day through the activities of its leaders Eduard Lahesalu, Evald Isok, Priidu Kohava, Magda Kohava, Anne Sakko, Anne-Liis Pitkänen and Rutt Enok. The biggest problem of today are the premises that do not correspond to the Library’s needs and hinder effective activities. Dr. Arthur Puksov Foundation’s Award to Tiiu Reimo Dr. Arthur Puksov Foundation, established at the Estonian Students’ Society in 1975, has been awarding a prize for best history research (from ancient times up to 1920) since 1976. This year the jury of the Foundation decided to give the first prize to Prof. Tiiu Reimo, a long-standing Head of the Baltica Department of Tallinn Pedagogical University, Head of the Chair of Book Studies of the Department of Information Studies of Tallinn Pedagogical University, for her publication Raamatukultuur Tallinnas 18. sajandi teisel poolel (Book Culture in Tallinn on the Second Half of the 18th Century. Tallinn, 2001). Jüri Järs Resumes as the Director of Tallinn Technical University Library On 23 April 2004 Jüri Järs was re-elected the Director of Tallinn Technical University Library. Congratulations: Ester Lepik – 70: a long-standing Director of the Central Library of Lääne County Ilmar Kopso – 60: Head of the Estonian Pedagogical Archival Museum; National Library of Estonia’s staff member in 1974–1987 (at various positions, including Head of the Research Department) In Memoriam: Vladas Bulavas (1936–2004) – a long-standing Director of the National Library of Lithuania Kirsti Ora (1939–2004) – a long-standing employee of the National Library of Estonia (Library Research Department)

ARCHIVE

2004 - 2, 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