University of Sofia Associate Professor Dr.
Krassimir Petkov delivers the opening remarks to the networking session as Dr.
Alexander Dimchev, Dr. Dincho Krastev, and University of Kansas Librarian are
preparing their replies. NETWORKING
Convener:
Associate Professor Dr. Krassimir Petkov
University of Sofia Associate Professor Dr.
Krassimir Petkov delivers the opening remarks to the networking session as Dr.
Alexander Dimchev, Dr. Dincho Krastev, and University of Kansas Librarian are
preparing their replies.
Presenter:
Associate Professor Dr. Alexander Dimchev, University of Sofia,
“Bulgarian Libraries in the Global Network Environment.”
For over 5,000
years, libraries have been preserving the memories of humanity. The library can
be termed as the primary resource for the new information revolution. Libraries
are facing competition. Quo vadis? Please allow me to use the metaphor of the
octopus and the pearl shell. What are the chances for the Bulgarian libraries in
the next few years. Only a small percent of the population can afford to buy
books. Only 3.5% of the population uses the Internet. There are about 200
Internet providers in the country. There is growth in the market for information
technologies. Bulgaria is lagging a bit behind compared to other eastern
European countries in terms of availability of information technologies. The
financial funds for the libraries have 72% spent on salaries and administrative
expenses. The libraries try to fund raise. They succeed in raising about 20% of
their funds. There are some donors such as the Open Society Fund. These funds
impact the character of the collections. Foreign literature is usually donated.
A favorable picture for Bulgarian libraries is seen in terms of donations.
Bulgaria is currently working to build a national information network. About 50
libraries have access to the Internet. A positive factor is the emergence of
professional organizations. The first NGO to submit draft laws to the
legislature. You need positive government policies and sufficient funding.
Don’t want libraries to be turned into pearl shells without their pearls.
Question:
Concerning the data, why the decrease in the number of readers, aside from
government policies?
Response: The lack
of technology is a serious problem. Other problems are lack of effective
marketing and a humble attitude that is inculcated in librarians.
Comment: Besides
the dark picture Dimchev presented, not everything can be bought by money. I am
deeply convinced we do a lot with the university graduates. They are younger and
have a good awareness of the modern world.
Question: You said
that there is a decreasing number of readers. My personal impression is that
there is an increase in the number of readers. To the Library Association: What
can we do in terms of training to improve librarians’ performance?
Question: I work in
the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences. Decision makers who develop strategies under
the new conditions should change their mentality. Should get rid of the idea
that we all need to make money. I hope that investments in libraries will
eventually have cost recovery. There is a need to start thinking in new ways,
for example to invest in human potential as well as technology. People outside
our country lack knowledge about our country, our culture, our folklore, etc. We
need to change this. Libraries charge fees for services, but what happens to the
revenues?
Commentator: The
Internet revolution is multiplied by two in Bulgaria in terms of the challenge
that it represents. We [librarians] try to transform from boiled fish to live
fish in our efforts to adapt to the challenges.
Question: What is
the literacy rate in this country?
Response: This will
be addressed in a later presentation.
Presenter: Dr.;
Dincho Krastev, Central Library of the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences,
“Three
Years Living with EARN, Five Years with Internet: An Optimistic Story of a
Pessimist.”
Dr. Dincho Krastev talks about the role the Internet
has played in Bulgarian libraries.
We are already in
the mode of storytelling. This presentation will present a story to illustrate
Professor Dimchev’s pessimistic portrayal that is actually a bit optimistic.
Once upon a time, our library had access to a mainframe and a VAX machine. This
was 1994. Computer database was accessed via punch cards. This database was lost
in the transition to digital media since then. One challenge: Someone wanted to
find out how to access someone in Poland with just a little information about
him. The library was successful in finding this guy.
Emporia State University School of Library and Information Management student
Brandon Barnett and Professor Maarten Van Veen, University of Applied Sciences
Ijselland, listen intently to Central Library of the Bulgarian Academy of
Science’s Dr. Dincho Krastev’s presentation.
There was a shift
to HTML and web browsers. We were more likely to view the glass as half full
than half empty; there was a great deal of enthusiasm. J.D. Lickleider provided
a correct model. From 1996, our library was trying to adapt itself to the net.
Trying to implement computer-based processing and cataloguing. During the last
7-8 years, Bulgarian libraries have been somewhat successful in this, but not
fully successful; only a small investment was allocated. Some successes in
developing cataloging with minimal funding. Had to ask ourselves if this
investment was justified. This was of great value in the early 1990s, but now in
a time of virtual reality, the challenge is becoming more difficult. Budget for
international periodicals has been reduced to one fourth of its size in the
early 90s. At our library, our clients can search some online databases that we
subscribe to. Often you can write to the author and he will send you a copy of
an article so you can bypass the journal.
Visited the United
States, including Boeing and Microsoft. Raised a challenge to western
participants.
Russian anecdote:
Where vodka appears, there will appear Russia. The same concept applies to the
Internet.
University of Kansas Document Delivery Librarian
Lars Leon, a School of Library and Information Graduate, chuckles at a joke made
by Dr. Dincho Krastev.
Presenter: Lars
Leon, Interlibrary Loan/Document Delivery Librarian, Watson Library, University
of Kansas.
“Improving Access to Information through Interlibrary Loan Best Practices.”
Environment -
University of Kansas
18,700 undergrad
students
6,000 grad students
in over 150 grad degrees
KU libraries - 3.3
million volumes, electronic resources budget, ILL/DD
Information is:
Our patrons are
growing in number and type (e.g., distance education, adult learners) and very
interested in accessing the full range of information. And most want it now!
Purchasing power
can’t keep up with costs. We utilize interlibrary loan and document delivery
to meet our patrons’ needs.
Challenges:
Amount of
information
Patrons
expectations related to speed of access to information
Systems to help
find information, request it, transmit it.
How to proceed?
What new systems
should be used?
Is technology the
only cure we need?
Best practices are
highly effective or innovative operating procedures and philosophies that
produce outstanding performance when implemented.
A noteworthy
relevant publication is by Mary Jackson, Association of Research Libraries:
“Measuring Performance of Interlibrary Loan Operations in North American
Research & College Libraries”
Big Twelve Plus
Libraries Consortium has 30 member libraries in the western half of the United
States. Member libraries participate in Interlibrary Loan, do not charge for
loans or copies to each other, use UPS or FedEx to ship loans to each other, and
use Ariel for delivery of copies to each other.
Individual
libraries implementing Best Practices is not enough. We evaluated the
application of Best Practices on a consortium level.
Resource Sharing
Strategy - evaluate and improve current ILL practices among member libraries
within the framework of the NAILLD principles and in support of the
consortium-wide system. (http://www.big12plus.org/strategicplan.htm)
The presenter
surveyed Big Twelve Plus interlibrary loan colleagues on the following topics:
Accuracy
Speed of
delivery
Accessibility
of materials by patrons
Survey results
revealed the following barriers:
Staffing ---
shortages, training, and turnover
Accuracy ---
citations, supply of correct item
Technology ---
awareness, quantity, maintenance
Procedures ---
outdated, inefficient
Communication
Access
The Big Twelve Plus
has established the following framework for best practices: Conceptual,
Structural, and Procedural. Conceptual: Best practices at the highest level
constitute the philosophical framework within which interlibrary loan operates
and includes goals and standards. Structural are best practices at the middle
level, providing an infrastructure that allows for the implementation of
conceptual and procedural best practices. Procedural best practices are at the
basic level and comprised of daily routines, procedures, tasks, and ways of
processing the workload.
Standards are being
developed. A standard is a reference point against which an organization may
measure its operating procedures or outcomes. An example is that supplying
libraries should supply loans so that the requesting library receives the
material by the 5th OCLC referral day.
Benefits of best
practices are enhanced through cooperation among libraries. Individual libraries
using best practices will result in improved service. Requesting and supplying
libraries’ use of best practices will result in more improved service. Group
of libraries’ use of b est practices will result in the highest level of
improved service.
For more
information about the Big Twelve Plus Interlibary Loan Best Practices Task
Force: http://www2.lib.ukans.edu/~public/btp/
University of Sofia Associate Professor Alexander
Dimchev listens to a presentation made during the networking session.
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