Czech libraries half way towards transformation
| DOI | https://doi.org/10.1108/01435129810220930 |
| Published date | 01 September 1998 |
| Date | 01 September 1998 |
| Pages | 363-365 |
| Author | Jarmila Burgetová |
| Subject Matter | Library & information science |
Introduction
Czech librarianship in the year “zero” (here I
have in mind the end of 1989 when funda-
mental political and economical changes took
place in Czechoslovakia) was proud of a wide
network of libraries, both public and special.
This is documented in statistical data. In
1990 there were 8,364 public library branches
in the Czech Republic, at that time part of the
common state of Czechoslovakia. This means
that there was a public library in nearly every
village. There were, on average, 1,239 inhabi-
tants per library and 5.7 books per inhabitant.
The total number of books in the public
libraries amounted to 60 million. Other net-
works and different types of libraries worked
satisfactorily – albeit within a rigid centralised
system. These included university libraries,
libraries of various institutes of the Academy
of Sciences, medical and technical libraries.
After 1990 a number of new regional universi-
ties was established with libraries as an inte-
gral part, but on the other hand, about 20
institutes of the Academy of Sciences were
abolished, including their libraries. University
libraries are now fully independent from the
state organisations and their situation is gen-
erally better. It is entirely up to the manage-
ment of the respective university, whether or
not it will provide financial support for its
library. Very important changes occurred in
the network of medical libraries as a result of
the privatisation of health services. The Min-
istry of Health recognised the problem in
time, examined it, and found a solution which
would provide funding for these libraries. A
system of more than one source of funding
was introduced, in particular a system of
grants. The worst situation exists in the case
of technical libraries and information centres.
Apart from the large information centres of
ministries, the majority ceased to exist as a
result of the privatisation of industrial enter-
prises, or they were privatised.
Changes since 1990
Since 1990, Czech librarianship has under-
gone a number of basic changes. Public
libraries are no longer part of the state, they
are now a charge of municipal and local
authorities. Co-operative systems of libraries,
through which libraries with professional
librarians rendered assistance or services to
small libraries headed by voluntary librarians,
363
Library Management
Volume 19 · Number 6 · 1998 · pp. 363–365
© MCB University Press · ISSN 0143-5124
Czech libraries half way
towards
transformation
Jarmila Burgetová
The author
Jarmila Burgetová is Consultant and Advisor to the
Director of the Main Library, The Academy of Sciences of
the Czech Republic.
Abstract
Czech librianship finds itself at the half way point in an
overall transformation. Describes the positive and nega-
tive sides of the developments during the last six years,
and indicates the direction of libraries including existing
problems and obstacles. A functioning infrastructure,
materials and a technological base are essential for the full
implementation of the role of libraries in society.
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