Session Number

05

Description

Library automation is probably the main challenge that libraries in Europe have to face now. Despite various achievements at regional and national levels, the European library scene is still partitioned and hampered by national borders as well as regional and local particularisms.

This swift overview on library automation in Europe is based on recent studies on libraries in Europe and on the papers presented last year in Brussels at the European Conference on Library Automation and Networking.

Five years ago, the Commission of the European Communities decided to tackle the problem of library automation in the 12 EC countries. Among its first initiatives, there were the study on library economics and 12 surveys on new technologies in libraries, summarized in 1988 by Lupovici.[3] But the main initiative will be the five year Plan of Action for the Libraries of the European Communities; this Plan should take off within a few months.

Last year in Brussels, the EFLC organized the First European Conference on Library Automation and Networking; with 700 participants, it was the largest meeting of European librarians to date, and its 50 papers, published by Saur[2] in Munich a few months ago, give a good overview of library automation in Europe. This Conference was also an opportunity for UNESCO to fund a study on interlending in Europe, produced in 1990 by G. Cornish.[l]

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Library Automation in Europe

Library automation is probably the main challenge that libraries in Europe have to face now. Despite various achievements at regional and national levels, the European library scene is still partitioned and hampered by national borders as well as regional and local particularisms.

This swift overview on library automation in Europe is based on recent studies on libraries in Europe and on the papers presented last year in Brussels at the European Conference on Library Automation and Networking.

Five years ago, the Commission of the European Communities decided to tackle the problem of library automation in the 12 EC countries. Among its first initiatives, there were the study on library economics and 12 surveys on new technologies in libraries, summarized in 1988 by Lupovici.[3] But the main initiative will be the five year Plan of Action for the Libraries of the European Communities; this Plan should take off within a few months.

Last year in Brussels, the EFLC organized the First European Conference on Library Automation and Networking; with 700 participants, it was the largest meeting of European librarians to date, and its 50 papers, published by Saur[2] in Munich a few months ago, give a good overview of library automation in Europe. This Conference was also an opportunity for UNESCO to fund a study on interlending in Europe, produced in 1990 by G. Cornish.[l]