CORDIS Archive

The following articles first appeared in "CORDIS focus" Special Edition (Issue Number 77, 23 December, 1996):

• Libraries in the Information Society
• Telematics for Libraries
• Initiatives for Public Libraries
• Cooperation between European National Libraries
• Libraries and networking
• The European Commission and Copyright Issues: ECUP+
• Libraries of the future ... digital?
• HARMONICA - A Concerted Action on Music
• Exploitation ... crucial but difficult
• Library Cooperation with Central and Eastern Europe
• "Telematics for Libraries" Website
• Telematics for Libraries Publications
• Telematics for Libraries National Focal Points

HARMONICA - A Concerted Action on Music

Libraries provide access not only to literature but to other items of interest to both professionals and the general user. Music enjoys a special place, not only in view of the large collections in sound archives and music databases, but because many general purpose libraries cater for music lovers.

Increasingly, music resources are available in electronic form, either on CD-ROM or via networked services. Indeed, the potential of widespread access to such resources was recognized by participants in the last call who came forward with a number of interesting, if incompatible, proposals.

As a result, a concerted action has been launched which is aimed at providing a less fragmented infrastructure for access to music information of all types in the library context, taking into account the needs of various groups of users in the evolving world of networked information and interactive multimedia. These include research centres, publishers and related market-oriented suppliers, networking interests, performance rights agencies and standards bodies. Key representatives of these sectors will be identified and possibilities for cooperation carefully examined.

Issues to receive special attention include standards for access (ISMN, ISRC) and encoding (SMDL), networking options (Web, ISDN), user interfaces, requirements for drafting and printing sheet music, copying and downloading recorded music, cataloguing, and consensus building between music publishers, music libraries and rights holders.

Results will emerge principally from exchanges of experience at workshops, seminars and concertation meetings backed up by investigation of practical developments in libraries and networking environments. The ultimate objective is to provide a more robust framework for the development of networked music information services in libraries.

Further information on HARMONICA can be obtained from:

SVB
Mr. Dick Tucker
Molenpad 2
NL-1016 GM Amsterdam
Tel. +31-20-6266465; Fax +31-20-6208459
E-mail: dick.tucker@svb.nl

Exploitation ... crucial but difficult

The exploitation of R&D results obtained in European shared cost projects is crucial. The funds invested should have as large an effect as possible. In some project domains this is more difficult to achieve than in others.

For Libraries projects, under the Third and Fourth Framework Programmes alike, it has been clear from the outset that issues such as replicability, transferability and market impact are all important. Yet, it has been equally clear that commercial exploitation of the results of Libraries projects would meet with considerable difficulties.

In June 1996, some 60 project participants gathered in Luxembourg to discuss their particular exploitation plans and problems, to benefit from each others experience and to learn about approaches taken in other areas and other Community programmes.

Several case studies were presented, clearly corroborating the initial assumptions and concerns. The very dependency of most libraries on some "host institution" makes it difficult for them to push into the market, despite the fact that the services and products developed are useful even outside the libraries sphere. Lack of precision in collaboration agreements with industrial partners, conflicting interests in mixed consortia and, of course, the need for additional funding may be further reasons for shortcomings in exploitation initiatives. Only with further guidance can libraries maintain their potential.

However, a fair number of projects presented had been very successful in disseminating their results among fellow librarians, in arousing productive interest, in transfering know-how and skills within the libraries community and beyond, and in raising awareness, especially among decision makers at all political levels: A less tangible but certainly no less effective way of non-commercial project exploitation.

Library Cooperation with Central and Eastern Europe

Background and Motivation

The momentous political changes at the beginning of this decade suddenly made it possible to consider much closer cooperation than had hitherto been possible with the libraries of Central and Eastern Europe. It became immediately apparent that libraries as gate-keepers of, and gate-ways to, information can play an important role in the transition of these societies to democracy and a market economy. It was also clear that libraries, in both the European Union and Central and Eastern Europe, would benefit from a coordinated effort at European level to realize the longer term aim of effective cross-border cooperation in order to create a pan-European and modern library infrastructure.

In June 1994, the European Commission organized, in collaboration with the Council of Europe, a conference on "Library Development in Central and Eastern Europe". Following the recommendations of this East-West conference, DGXIII/E-4 initiated actions which could underpin the definition of a future strategy. These actions focus on ten countries that have signed an Association Agreement with the European Union, namely: Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Czech Republic, Slovakia, Hungary, Romania and Bulgaria.

The actions to date include:

• Development, through visits to nine of the ten countries, of a state-of-the-art picture of the role and situation of libraries in Central and Eastern Europe, an understanding of library policies, national plans for library development and of national and local barriers inhibiting progress;

• Establishment of an information "Consultation Group for Library and Information Cooperation with Central and Eastern Europe" to gain advice from practitioners and to validate findings of studies and recommendations;

• Launch of a study on "Library Economics in Central and Eastern European Countries" to collect and aggregate data on the volume of library activities and their associated costs for the years 1989-1994;

• Compilation of an Information Pack on "Introducing Information Technology in Libraries" to help small and medium sized libraries who are at the beginning of automating their services;

• Joint organization with the Regional Libraries Programme of the Open Society of the "International Conference on Library Automation" (Budapest, April 1996), bringing together experts from more than 20 countries;

• Support to expert meetings (on issues such as on digitization or library legislation) to facilitate exchange of experience and the transfer of know-how;

• Raising awareness of the activities of the Libraries programme through papers at conferences and in national library journals and the provision of a web site on "Library Cooperation with Central and Eastern Europe".

Disseminating information and raising awarness about opportunities for cooperation in projects within European Commission programmes continues to be an ongoing activity. This will include specific information about opportunities under the next call for proposals in the "Telematics for Libraries" sector. It will also include information about and stimulation of participation in the International Cooperation (INCO-COPERNICUS), PHARE and TEMPUS programmes.