Publishers:
	2004
		Issued 6 numbers a year

2004 nr. 5

EDITORIAL

CONTENTS

ARCHIVE

Dear colleagues, Now and then we hear from the news of Estonia’s good position among the states of the world in terms of its economic growth, business environment, stability or other indexes. There is no index concerning the development of librarianship among them and so we have to estimate our place in the big picture of library world otherwise. But why should we do it? We shouldn’t, if on international events there would not arise an issue, besides notes of envy, why Estonia, whose libraries outrun the majority of the libraries of other countries, does not support (help) colleagues in distress. Of course, it is pleasant to recognise that our libraries are good, that we have professional librarians and that Estonians are fair readers. An we cannot deny that, in fact, it is proud to find out that, for instance, our southern neighbours are still struggling with several problems we have already forgotten. Let it be the new premises of public libraries or the reorganisation of university libraries’ work. The libraries of the world have extremely different cultural background and understandings, and different material possibilities. What should we do then? It has become a general opinion that donating books or used computers is not sufficient for helping the libraries of underdeveloped countries, except for presenting a right book for the new library of Alexandria or replacing the means of work of Iraqi libraries that have been destroyed in the course of war. Initiating and leading international development programmes is more important and this is the field of work where we still have a lot to do. It is only necessary to locate and support those who are capable of this kind of activities. But before we will get involved in such important undertakings, I have a proposal. Our close neighbours, Latvians, have difficulties in erecting the new building of their national library – the Castle of Light. They have formed a foundation and receive donations to buy from its present owner the plot of land under the castle to be. We, librarians of the neighbouring country might support them just a little. What do you think? Ene Riet Editor

CONTENTS

FIRST COLUMN Research Libraries from the Point of View of a Small University - Margus Pärtlas There are six universities governed by public law, but officially only four research libraries in Estonia. The fact that the Ministry of Education and Science has refused to give the libraries of smaller universities – the Estonian Academy of Music and the Estonian Academy of Art – the name of research libraries has placed these libraries on a poor position. It does not only concern naming the libraries, but acquisition budget concurrent to the status. In fact, the Library of the Estonian Academy of Music is fulfilling the functions of a research library in the fields of music and theatre and, taking into account the lack of resources, it has managed doing it quite well. Its status (and financing concurrent to it) should be brought together with the real situation. E-LIBRARY Information Policy: What Is It? - Ene Loddes An overview of the discussion over the function of information policy and the relationship of the public and private sectors in developing and realising it, and which issues should be coordinated by the state. In short-term, Estonian relevant future activities are based on a policy document "The General Principles of Estonian Information Policy for the Years 2004–2006". While analysing the document, relevant legal acts and initiated specific research programmes, it can be concluded that in general the Estonian national information policy is carried out following the goals of the European Union’s eEurope Action Plan; information ownership issues are regulated on the level accepted in the EU; talking about the information society, only electronic information is taken into account; state agencies and local authorities are involved in the development plans of information society. Professional Ethics of Information Specialists - Krista Lepik Several codes of ethics have been published for information specialists all over the world. The professionality and supportiveness, impartiality and honouring the author’s rights and in general the professional attitude towards work and taking into account the goals of the organisation is underlined. PUBLIC LIBRARIES Celebrating Anniversary in a New Building - Vaike Oro The library at Põltsamaa (Jõgeva County Central Library) celebrates its 90th anniversary in 2004. By the time of its jubilee, its new building with twice as much of floor space will be completed. The lending services and reading rooms for adults, children’s services and Public Internet Access Point are separated. There is a new reading room with fifty reader’s seats where public book events and further education activities for librarians can be held. A Late Talk about the Jubilee at Põltsamaa - Rutt Rimmel An overview of the activities of the Children’s Department of Jõgeva County Central Library from its establishment in 1953 up to now. The library staff considers the date 20 March 2002, when the Children’s Department switched to electronic lending, to be its big day. At present, the library’s Children’s Department, located in the library’s new premises, has enough floor space and is children’s friendly. I Love Järvselja and Local People - Ene Runtel The impressions and memoirs of a local librarian at Järvselja, who has worked there for forty years, and her overview of the small library’s current activities. An Opinion: Put Libraries’ Information on the Web - Margit Jõgi It is difficult to find information about Estonian public libraries from the Internet. Though our rural municipalities have beautiful and informative homepages, the information presented about local libraries is, however, too general or there is no information given at all. Overcoming Inner Resistance Guarantees Progress - Ellen Arnover An interview with Taie Saar, a librarian at Kiili Library, about the routine work of the library. As Taie Saar is also a board member of the Estonian Librarians’ Association’s Rural Libraries’ Section, the interview touches upon the situation of Estonian rural libraries in a broader sense. THE ANSWER PLACE The Chief Librarian of Võru County Central Library Ere Raag, the Head of Kose-Uuemõisa Library Sirje Bärg and the Chief Librarian of the Central Library of Lääne County Lea Pett ponder upon the current level of continuing education of our profession. FOREIGN LIBRARIES Impressions of Argentine libraries - Ene Riet An overview of the Argentine libraries visited at the time of the IFLA General Conference this year – the National Library of Argentina, Teachers’ National Library and public libraries. RECENT LITERATURE ON LIBRARIANSHIP The Diploma Thesis of the Graduates from the Information Studies Department of Tallinn Pedagogical University in spring 2004: a Bibliographic List LIBRARIES – MEMORY OF THE SOCIETY Time in Estonian Libraries - Piret Lotman Libraries aggregate the memory of society. Not only the books included in libraries’ collections, but also the ways how these are organised, preserved and disseminated characterise both the values and inner structure of the society as well as its cultural context. The article treats the history of Estonian libraries and its connections with the western European culture. BOOK HISTORY The Texts of Primers as Educating Means of Future Readers - Malle Reidolv The principles of compiling primers have been under discussion in newly independent Estonia – whether methodical approach to teaching to read or the social values of primers’ texts is a decisive factor. Relying on her years-long observations of newcomers to school, the author of the present piece claims that less than a fifth of first class pupils need primer as a teaching aid to learn to read. Four-fifth of first class pupils need it for arising and maintaining their interest in reading. ESTONIAN HISTORY OF IDEAS Food for Thought to Everyone - Rein Ruutsoo An overview of Harri Moora’s memoirs, articles and letters collection Meie rahvuskultuuri küsimusi (The Issues of Our National Culture), compiled by Hando Runnel and Ann Marksoo and published in the series Eesti mõttelugu (Estonian History of Ideas). Harri Moora played an important role in bringing Estonian archeology to the international level, turning it into a national science in a narrow sense as well as a part of the so-called intellectual history. CRITICAL REVIEW In Eight Ways about Children’s Literature - Jaak Urmet The piece treats the Estonian Children’s Literature Information Centre’s Transactions No. I that that contains eight articles written by researchers of children’s literature. Though the approaches of some researchers raise questions in the mind of the critical reviewer, his final assessment to the publication is positive and he is of the opinion that the publishing of the Transactions should be continued. ESTONIAN LIBRARIANS’ ASSOCIATION Professional Standard Helps Both Employers as well as Employees - Reet Lubi An overview of the 7th summer seminar for school librarians "Professional standard for librarians – a challenge for developing personal qualifications and general and basic skills of school librarians" held on 11–13 August in Tartu. During the event, the libraries of Tartu Miina Härma Gymnasium and the Tartu Branch of Mainor High School were visited. Pleasant and Funny Stories - Inga Kuljus An opinion of a book of funny stories See juhtus raamatukogus (This Took Place in a Library), compiled and published by the ELA in 2004. NEWS Baltic Libraries in the European Union - Ene Riet An overview of the 7th congress of Baltic librarians "Diversity in Unity: Baltic Libraries in the European Union" held on 30 September up to 2 October 2004 in Latvia, Jumurda. The congress discussed new strategic developments, the role of libraries in electronic society, hybrid library today and in the future, digitation of library collections, library management, public libraries as cultural and information centres, traditional services and new technologies employed in small libraries, training and continuing education of librarians, cooperation possibilities of Baltic libraries, etc. A Valuable Gift from Karl Heinz Borck - Sirje Lauring Vaska Library Days Were Opened at Narva - Ellen Arnover Contest of Knowing Literature - Linda Kask Alma Pulst – 100 - Hans Jürman On 16 November a hundred years passes from the birth of a librarian, the first Head of Tallinn Central Library’s Youth Library (Youth Department). In the years 1947–1954 Alma Pulst held the post of the Head of the Library of the Academy of Sciences of the Estonian SSR. Congratulations: Ludmilla Rass 85 – a long-standing Director of Estonian Children’s Library Helju Kaev 75 – a long-standing Librarian of the National Library of Estonia Rein Aru 70 – a long-standing Collection Development Officer of the National Library of Estonia

ARCHIVE

2004 - 4, 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