Academic libraries, apart from their main function, which is to provide information services to academic communities, may also perform a number of social roles in the broad meaning of the term. Accordingly, they now tend to serve as the third place offering inclusion and animation activities to academic as well as local communities (including…

The Kettering Foundation is a nonprofit, operating foundation rooted in the American tradition of cooperative research. Kettering's research is distinctive because it is conducted from the perspective of citizens and focuses on what people can do collectively to address problems affecting their lives, their communities, and their nation. The…

Librarians in the Ukraine have become an indispensable part of the entire scientific and cultural life of the republic and books are now an object of prime necessity in the people's life. (Author)

This paper discusses the role of the Parliamentary Library in Russia. The first section provides historical background. The second section addresses two prerequisites of the Parliamentary Library, i.e., the official documents collections and the rule of public law. The third section describes implementing public access to government information…

The questions of how and to what extent the changing information environment has influenced the concept of the national bibliography were addressed at the conference, "The National Bibliography in a Changing Information Environment," held in Estonia in October, 2000. The National Library of Estonia, organizer of the conference, invited…

Provides historical background and describes the change in the role of Russian libraries from conduits for party propaganda to organizations designed to serve the needs of their users. Considers problems for library educators in providing librarians with the skills needed in the new political and technological environment of post-Communist Russia.…

Describes the impact of social and political reforms in Russia during the 1860s on the role of the Imperial Public Library. The discussion covers the changes in library organization and operations that reflected a willingness to adapt to changing social conditions, and the resulting perception of the library as a vital tool for progress. (80…

Emphasis is placed on the role of scientific and technical libraries in the education of Soviet workers. One of the main tasks of technical libraries is to educate workers to respect their professions, and to maintain communistic attitudes towards labor. Librarians acquaint younger workers with literature on the history of their plants with…

Examines reading habits of Estonians with studies dating back to the 1960s and discusses the impact of the printed word on culture. Focuses on changes since the Estonian's transition to the market economy: (1) reading has become casual and less frequent; (2) literary preferences have shifted; and (3) smaller home libraries have increased the need…

Gives an overview of past, present, and future developments the of Russian information infrastructure with emphasis on sci-tech information (STI). Research presented includes survey of the state STI system; STI infrastructure in transition; acquisition of foreign sci-tech publications; user needs; budgetary funding of scientific and information…