Regional information services for European libraries
A report entitled "Regional information services - a key role for libraries in Europe" has recently been published by the Royal School of Libraries and Information Science of Copenhagen, Denmark. The report analyses the LIBERATOR (Libraries in European Regions - Access to Telematics and Other Resources) project, funded within the EU's Telematics Applications programme, which aimed at establishing innovative regional information services through public library networks. The report provides a strategic analysis of public libraries as a key player in the Information Society based on the LIBERATOR project, which also aimed to develop a general method for the planning, design and evaluation of regional information services. The report assimilates and interprets the lessons learnt from the development, functionality and evaluation of the North of England Regional Information Society (RIS) project demonstrator, and on resulting recommendations. Policies and strategies in the Information Society have also been taken into account, in line with a 1996 study on Public Libraries in the Information Society (PLIS) undertaken for the European Commission. The following sections are contained in the report: - Introduction to equal and democratic access to knowledge in the regions and the relevant roles of public libraries; - Public libraries and regional information systems; - LIBERATOR - collaboration in and between regions; - Opportunities and barriers for public libraries in the Information Society; - Aims of the present study and significance of the problem.