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| Format: | Recurso educativo Open Access |
| Language: | en |
| Published: |
1997
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| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://eric.ed.gov/?id=ED414937 |
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Table of Contents:
- The Cross Currents of Technology Transfer: The Czech and Slovak Library Information Network. Lass, Andrew Change Foreign Countries Government Role Information Networks Information Technology Library Automation Library Development Library Networks Library Planning Library Services Technological Advancement A simplified account of an extensive library automation and networking project that the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation initiated and funded in the Czech and Slovak republics is provided in this paper. The proposal to establish "The Czech and Slovak Library Information Network" (CASLIN) commenced in January 1993. Storage, document preservation, retrospective conversion, and connectivity have all undergone substantial changes over the past few years. However, the CASLIN partnership was weakened and library management left dysfunctional due to a parallel, semi-clandestine, political plot. The fact that all the original CASLIN libraries come under the administrative oversight of the Ministry of Culture explains the persistence of territorial behavior; the dramatic cuts in the ministries' overall budgets are passed down to the beneficiaries who find themselves competing for limited goods. The publishing world was strictly regulated under the previous regime. At present, due to severe cuts in budget, many libraries cannot begin to fulfill even the most spartan acquisitions policy; for the same reason, publishers do not consider libraries as important parts of their market. The introduction of information technologies into the state scientific and national libraries, in particular the CASLIN group, was the single most visible and disruptive change. Unless there is a change in government policy towards a more consistent support, both financial and legislative, for education and research, the situation will continue to take on many backhanded twists and turns. (AEF)