Publishers:
	2004
		Issued 6 numbers a year

2004 nr. 4

EDITORIAL

CONTENTS

ARCHIVE

Dear colleagues, When summer warmth disperses the hurry times of spring and the worries of autumn are still far ahead, it is easy to distance oneself from everything ordinary and to take a fresh look at one’s tasks and duties. It is the best time for discussing general professional problems with colleagues and for getting to know each other’s work experiences. The editorial staff of Raamatukogu undertook a tour to Lithuanian libraries. Comparing what we saw in Lithuania with what is taking place in Estonian libraries, and adding to that what we heard at the IFLA General Conference in Buenos Aires and impressions on Argentine libraries, I can say that, besides electronic library and electronic services, there are two extremely topical themes in the whole world: developing public libraries into information centres and the training and continuous education of librarians. To avoid the emergence of information rich and information poor, the shaping of modern information environment usually starts from public libraries, where publicly accessible Internet connection is established using the financial support of national projects. In poor countries free Internet does not only help to reduce information poverty, but also illiteracy. That is the case, for instance, in Argentina, where 74% of public libraries had Internet connection by the end of 2003. More than a half of the Argentines live below the poverty level and have, for this reason, attended school only for a year or a two. It is hard for adults to return to school and they eagerly make use of the opportunity to acquire literacy skills in local libraries by using Internet and e-mail. The training and continuous education of library staff without specialised professional training is the most important among the problems related to the training of librarians. That is especially the case in public libraries, where, for one reason or another, professionally trained librarians have not been employed. In Argentina, for instance, where public libraries are supported by library societies and all the work is done without pay, books are frequently lent not by the most educated person in the village, but by the one, who has a lot of spear time. Development trends and priorities in library field are quite the same on both sides of the equator. Only the time needed to reach the goal and the ways and speed of doing it differ. And though we here, in Estonia, see a lot of shortcomings in the organisation of our librarianship, it seems to be quite well-fixed, when looking from outside. Wishing everybody many successes in their everyday work, Ene Riet Editor

CONTENTS

FIRST COLUMN Impressions on Research Libraries - Marju Rist The author’s impressions on three Estonian major research libraries are distressing: except for their possession of computers, the libraries could be the same taken back to Soviet era – library buildings have not been renovated for a long time; the staff is of the opinion that nothing depends on their requests; there is no substantial cooperation between the libraries. In spite of distinct positive sides, the author holds that something must be urgently done in research libraries to avoid the weakening of users’ interest. E-LIBRARY Ethical Aspects of Information Society - Mailis Trei Up to the beginning of the 20th century, two aspects characterised information ethics: the freedom of speech and free access to publications. In the era of electronic information, free access to information has been added to the two above-mentioned ones. The expansion of electronic information has widened the range of ethical conflicts, because that kind of information is easier to change. Communication via the Internet poses problems concerning self-determination (a person can change his/her identity) and confidentiality (avoiding unpremeditated use of data). Once Again about the Information Policy in Knowledge-based Society - Silvi Metsar An overview of the second Information Policy Forum, National Information Policy – A Myth or a Reality?, held on 26 February 2004 at the National Library of Estonia. It keywords were national information policy, the generation, acquisition, mediation and log-term preservation of national digital information resource, and national digital information resource in the light of the competitiveness of the state and the activities of public, private and third sector. DEVELOPMENT ACTIVITIES Dublin Core – a Standard that Digital Libraries Need - Janne Andresoo An overview of an international standard, ISO 15836:2003 “Information and documentation – The Dublin Core metadata element set”, recently published as an Estonian standard (EVS-ISO 15836:2004 Informatsioon ja Dokumentatsioon. Dublin Core’i metaandmeelemendid). The document lists and defines the Dublin Core metadata elements; it does not provide detailed instructions for implementing, using and extending data elements. The EVS standard’s Application Guide that is currently being drawn up will provide such instructions. The Estonian Centre for Standardisation disseminates the EVS standard; interested persons can explore the standard at the Information Sciences Reading Room of the National Library of Estonia. RESEARCH LIBRARIES A Journey from the Soviet Union to the European Union: The Estonian Standards Library is 35 Years Old - Kristel Schvede The Estonian standards library has disseminated standards and technical specifications as a research library under different names and within different structural units for 35 years already. The bygone times are recalled by the library’s long-standing head Juta Laasma, who is currently employed as the Chief Bibliographer at the Library of the Estonian Centre for Standardisation, and a long-time user of the library’s services Heiki Aasmann, who has been involved in standardisation activities for about thirty years. LIBRARY MARKET PENETRATION About Public Relations Survey - Ele Koitmaa The aim of Estonian public libraries’ public relations survey was to establish whether rural public libraries are involved in PR activities, and what does library staff think of PR and its use in daily work. It appeared that PR activities are random and the importance of systematic communication is not perceived. The majority of librarians are of the opinion that libraries need PR activities and that PR is an indispensable management tool, which should, first and foremost, support relations with local authorities. FOREIGN LIBRARIES Lithuanian Libraries Today Numerical Data and Facts A brief overview of the current state and development trends in Lithuanian librarianship. The basic statistics for the year 2003 are also provided. Step by Step, However, Steadily: an Interview with Alvyda Skuodyte - Ene Riet Alvyda Skuodyte is the Deputy Director of Adam Mickiewicz Vilnius County Public Library. The interview touches upon current issues of Lithuanian librarianship: acquisition, librarians’ continuing education, implementation of professional standard and issues related to paying author’s fees. The activities of Vilnius County public Library are also briefly treated. Varena is the First Renovated Library Building in Lithuania - Ellen Arnover An overview of Varena library, the first newly erected library building in Lithuania, and its present work organisation. Tarp knigu Has Been Living in the World of Books for Fifty-Five Years - Ellen Arnover An interview with the editorial staff of a professional library journal, published by Martynas Mazvydas National Library of Lithuania, which reveals the joys and pains of publishing a journal and casts light on the work organisation of the editorial office. RECENT LITERATURE ON LIBRARIANSHIP STATISTICS Estonian Public, Special and Research Libraries in 2003: Tables - Heli Priimets INTERVIEW Not Everyone Has to Read: an interview with Toomas Paul - Maire Liivamets A conversation with Toomas Paul, a professor of theology, about the reading culture and reading habits of Estonians. The scholar is of the opinion that people, who read eagerly, have their own taste for literature and even librarians, who have sense of mission, cannot change that with their recommendations. When literacy has already been acquired, no limits can be set what is read. Literature alone cannot save society from intellectual degeneration. BOOK HISTORY Romance of Chivalry and Forbidden Verse - Sirje Lusmägi Rear Book Collection of the National Library of Estonia includes about ten publications that bear the ownership mark of Roderich Freitag von Loringhoven (1893–1936), a Baltic-German lawyer, whose hobby was history research. On the basis of its content, it could be called a “chivalric library” – all the works treat the history of chivalric orders or the high time of their activities from the 12th century up to the 14th century. ESTONIAN LIBRARIANS’ ASSOCIATION Meeting in Türi – the Spring Capital of Estonia - Merle Rang An overview of a seminar for rural libraries, held on 8–10 June in Türi. The participants discussed the progress of the internetisation project of public libraries, the development trends and changes in Estonian libraries during ten recent years, the work schedule of the Library Research and Development Centre, opened at the National Library in autumn, instructions for public library work organisation that will be soon completed, etc. They visited the Central Library of Järva County and the libraries of Türi, Väätsa, Albu and Roosna-Alliku. How We Are Visible on the Internet? - Tiina Arike Last year the Rural Libraries Section of the ELA mapped the tasks of rural libraries. Their too big work load has inhibited the generation of electronic catalogues and library Web sites. However, these two enable a library to make itself visible on the Internet. An Impressive Workshop on the Development and Decay of Manors - Kadri Tammur An overview of a workshop “The Sources for Researching the History of Manors”, organised by the ELA’s Old Book Committee jointly with the Chair of Book Studies of Tallinn Pedagogical University and the National Library of Estonia on 7–8 May at the National Library of Estonia. A tour to manor houses in Harju and Järva counties was made. NEWS Summer Seminar for Research Libraries - Silvi Metsar An overview of a seminar camp for research libraries “Electronic Library – Access to Information”, held on 16–17 August at Pedase. Seminar for Public Libraries - Krista Talvi An overview of a seminar camp for public libraries, held on 10–12 August in Rõuge commune in Võru county. The issues related to the implementation of librarians’ professional standard were paid special attention. Summer Seminars for the Librarians in Tartu County - Hele Ellermaa A brief overview of six seminar camps Bibliopolis, This Time in Estonia - Sirje Lauring Vaska On 14–17 June a joint seminar of Estonian, Latvian and Lithuanian academic libraries was held, organised by the Academic Library of Tallinn Pedagogical University. It concentrated on the following themes: libraries as cultural and research institutions; electronic library; financing of libraries. Treasury of the Archival Library - Merike Kiipus On 30th of April the Archival Library of Estonian Literary Museum celebrated its 95th anniversary. On the occasion of this event, the library issued the first publication in its new series Arhiivraamatukogu varamu (Treasury of the Archival Library) that introduces rear publications of cultural history value. “Libraries: Tools for Education and Development”: the 70th IFLA General Conference - Ene Riet A brief overview of the IFLA Annual Conference, held on 22–27 August in Buenos Aires, Argentina. Congratulations: Mare Lott – 70 – a long-standing professor at the Chair of Book Studies of Tallinn Pedagogical University

ARCHIVE

2004 - 3, 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