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

"Telematics for Libraries" Website

http://www.echo.lu/libraries/en/libraries.html

The "Telematics for Libraries" web site has a dual purpose:

• To disseminate information about the programme, calls for proposals, on-going projects and results;

• To provide background guidance on policies, technical developments and related activites in order to help participants to prepare proposals and carry out project work.

By making our resources widely available, we hope to achieve a better general understanding of priorities for cooperative action in support of networked library services.

The Libraries sector pages cover programme information, projects with links to a large number of project sites, support activities, studies and publications, relevant external resources and contact details for the National Focal Points. There are also special sections on the emerging scene in Central and Eastern Europe and on public libraries in the Information Society. Last but not least, we are slowly adding programme information and background resources in French and German.

While the site is already one of the most frequently accessed on the I*M Europe WWW server, we are constantly trying to improve it by keeping the information fully updated and enhancing our resources and links. We, therefore, always welcome suggestions for general improvements or specific additions and modifications. These should preferably be sent, by e-mail, to Ian.Pigott@ec.europa.eu

Telematics for Libraries Publications

DG XIII/E-4 (Electronic Publishing and Libraries) of the European Commission, responsible for the "Telematics for Libraries" workplan of the Telematics Applications Programme, has funded several studies on important generic topics for further investigation in preparing the ground for future cooperative R&D work in networked library systems and services.

The earlier publications were related to the preparatory work and to the initial programme (1991-1994) under the Third Framework Programme. The objective then was to start a process of change in order to modernize libraries and their services. The recent publications come under the Fourth Framework Programme which, building on the results already achieved, takes the process one step further towards a truly European-wide approach to networked library services.

Some of theses studies have been published in the collection Libraries in the Information Society, which addresses technologies and issues affecting libraries and their roles in the Information Society.

In 1995 four reports were published:

• Artificial neural networks for information retrieval in a libraries context (EUR 16264 EN);
• Hipcard use in libraries and information webs (EUR 16135 EN);
• Business analysis of the library systems market in Europe (EUR 16121 EN);
• Library performance indicators and library management tools (EUR 16483 EN).

In 1996 the following studies have been published or are in publication:

• Synopses of projects under III Framework Programme.
• Knowledge models for networked library services (EUR 16905 EN).
• Deposit collections of electronic publications (EUR 16910 EN).
• Technical briefings for systems librarians (EUR 16911 EN).
• Modèles pour la fourniture de services bibliographiques en Europe (EUR 16931 FR).
• Open distancer learning in public libraries (EUR 16904 EN).
• State-of-the-art report of information technologies in libraries in the Nordic countries (EUR 17476 EN) (in publication).
• Public libraries in the information society (in publication).

These reports have been published by the Office for Official Publications and are available (prices on request) from:

Office for Official Publications of the European Communities (Eur-OP)
2 rue Mercier
L-2985 Luxembourg
Fax +352-2929-42759

The programme has also elaborated a number of documents and unpublished reports and proceedings of seminars and meetings: Synopses of projects under the Fourth Framework Programme; Activity List 1986-1994; Proceedings of the "Exploitation of R&D Results" Workshop, Luxembourg 17-18 June 1996; etc. These documents are available on demand from the Libraries Unit.