Niels Ole Pors, Library Link Regional Convenor - Europe

Observation on the background of a study conducted for the European Commission DG - XIII/4

It could be of interest for the users of this service to contemplate and possibly react to some of the conclusions, facts and recommendations set forth in a recent EU - study.

A consortium consisting of The Royal School of Librarianship, The German Library Institute and the Danish National Library Authority has conducted an in-depth study of the future of European Public Libraries in relation to Information Technology.

The study is at the moment in the process of publication, but a few words about it can useful.

The study is based on desk - research and investigations into 11 European countries and 6 case - studies. The report contains a very useful amount of information on the European library scene collected in one place.

There are over 40000 public libraries in Europe. It is their future and future role that is discussed and analysed in the report.

The report sees the main role of public libraries as giving access to published information, to offer lifelong learning opportunities, to safeguard cultural identity in a changing world and to ensure that citizen can cope with information technology and have access to the equipment and systems they need.

It is interesting that the role of the public libraries is seen as a prolongation of the traditional values for public libraries. It means enlightenment, learning and access. The philosophy behind the report is the traditional democratic values.

The report analyses the stage of IT - development in different countries and the picture of development is of course very uneven with UK and the Nordic countries in the forefront of the development and southern Europe lagging behind. But even in the same country we see an very uneven development.

The report discuss in depth their definition of the future key roles of the public libraries in relation to the barriers.

The barriers are identified as insufficient political awareness or a lack of confidence in the potential of the public library. This is to some degree connected with missing plans and strategies for networking and technological support. The report also identifies barriers related to the professional development due to insufficiency of continuing education throughout most of Europe. The report also identifies mental barriers and managerial problems as obstacles.

The authors gives a lot of recommendations and advice in the executive summary.

The recommendations are on different levels. There are general recommendations which advises policies and strategies concerning national information policies developed in the single countries. There are quite a lot of suggestions concerning IT - development and concerted actions in this area. Especially professional development of public library staff is in the centre of the advice, recommendations and proposals.

All in all the report paint a possibly bright future for the public libraries throughout Europe.

The report still raises some pertinent questions I would like to debate in this forum:

• Can information technology change the rather old-fashioned image some public libraries have in the eyes of the public?

• Will giving access to Internet and networked resources be a passing phase for public libraries in the permeation of information technology in society?

• Is it realistic to see public libraries as real advocates against information illeteracy?

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