Final Technical Report

Matthew A. Kollasch, Director

SK-Libris & Instructional Resources & Technology Services

College of Education, SEC 222

University of Northern Iowa

Cedar Falls, Iowa 50614-0609

319.273.6145 voice

Project Background

History

SK-Libris: The Slovak Free Flow of Information Project was funded from a United States Information Agency (USIA) grant. USIA is now called International Information Programs and is part of the U.S. State Department. SK-Libris was originally established as a one-year project with $110,000 in funding. However, it was extended to a two-year project based on initial successes; therefore, the project duration was extended from April 1998 through May 2000 with total funding of $160,000. SK-Libris was directed out of the College of Education at the University of Northern Iowa (UNI). Matthew A. Kollasch, Dr. Kurt Meredith and Dr. Jeannie Steele (Orava Project directors) wrote the initial project grant. Kollasch served as SK-Libris director and wrote the project extension grant proposal.

SK-Libris was borne out of the work initially done with Slovak libraries under the auspices of the Orava Project, which is an USAID funded project focusing on systemic school restructuring in Slovakia. The Orava Project had worked with Slovak university librarians and with the Slovak Parliamentary Library. The latter was at the request of USAID, Bratislava. In Nitra and Dolny Kubin, workshops were presented on the effective use of technology and the integration of information skills into the curriculum. These experiences provided insight into the challenges faced by the Slovak library community in a quickly changing political, cultural, and technical landscape. Thus, when a USIA Request for Proposal was announced for a library project to improve the free flow of information for Slovak citizens, we submitted a proposal. We believed that our understanding of the Slovak schools and libraries, along with experiences gained from working in Slovakia since 1994, would serve this project well.

Project Intent

The chief intent of SK-Libris was to increase the free flow of information for Slovak citizens via libraries. Collaboration, the hallmark of all successful library programs that facilitate the free flow of information, was promoted and practiced by SK-Libris. From the onset Slovak and U.S. participants have jointly agreed upon specific goals, initiatives and activities. This practice was also extended to Slovak institutions that now work together due to SK-Libris participation.

Project Setting

The centers of project activities were primarily Bratislava and Nitra. Bratislava, with a population of 452,000, is the capital and located along the Danube River near the Austrian border. Nitra, population 87,357, is an hour east of the capital. Slovakia has a population of 5.3 million, with a literacy rate of nearly 100%.

Like many former Soviet satellites, Slovakia continues to make the difficult transformation from a centrally planned economy to a market-oriented economy. The slipshod fiscal policies of the Meciar government slowed economic progress from 1994-1998. In May 1999, the current Dzurinda government approved austerity programs to cut state spending, lower social benefits, and deregulate various prices, such as those for electricity, natural gas, and public transportation.§

development challenges. Instead the significance of planning and learning was emphasized as the way to prepare for the day when a healthier economy will prevail.

Most libraries are housed in buildings originally designed for other purposes. One of the more strange juxtapositions is the Agricultural Library in Nitra that is now housed in half of an extant sweater factory. It, like many libraries, lost a favored position (in the Centrum convenient to public transportation) to accommodate the de-nationalization of property. The Constantine the Philosopher University Library in Nitra was moved from its central location, near the university’s classrooms and offices, when the Catholic Church reclaimed the building (a church). This library is now in a building originally designed as a Kindergarten. In referring to the new location of the Pedagogical Library in Bratislava, yet another displaced library, Helena Pangrácová said, "Our location is kind of fatal for us." The Pedagogical Library is now far from the Centrum and the building is makeshift and confining.

In response to the financial plight of libraries, the project addressed library funding, working diligently on library advocacy, which includes lobbying for government support. Our emphasis on library advocacy was strengthened by the 1998 election results in which the Meciar government was removed from power, paving the way for a more favorable political climate for libraries. Libraries could now find more receptive people in government. Appointments began to be made based on expertise, versus political affiliation. For example, Tibor Trigna, a well-respected librarian in Slovakia, is now the director of the University Library, Bratislava. Despite its name, the University Library is not affiliated with a specific university, but serves as a research library. The appointment of Andrea Doktorová, a librarian, as Director of the Department of Museums, Galleries, and Libraries at the Ministry of Culture is yet another prominent example, as is the direct involvement of the Ministers of Culture and Education in the Week of Slovak Libraries activities. "This is an historic day for Slovak libraries," observed Daniela Gondová, "Librarians got the participation of two ministers on the same day!" The successful passage of the new library law indicates that government officials are now more responsive to the library community. It is commonly agreed that under the previous government progress in this area would not have occurred. Even in the post-election scramble that year, the Meciar government still was making political appointments. One autumn morning on a scheduled visit with a library director to discuss SK-Libris it was learned that the director was to be replaced at noon by a non-librarian of the "correct" political persuasion. Disruptions in leadership further complicated the ability of libraries to effectively function.

Even though funding shortages persist, the SK-Libris emphases on customer service and library advocacy have helped improve services to library customers.

Project Objectives and Outcomes

To address the project’s chief purpose, to increase the free flow of information for Slovak citizens via libraries, several objectives and outcomes were articulated. SK-Libris did meet or exceed most of these objectives. These successes occurred because SK-Libris developed effective relationships with individual librarians, libraries, and the library associations both in Slovakia and the United States. This collaboration helped familiarize us with libraries and librarians that, in turn, helped identify institutions that were most receptive to the goals of the project. Once these effective working relationships were developed the focus turned to the core elements that would foster activities that address project objectives and outcomes.

Evaluative comments appear in italics after the objective/outcome.

Objective 1: Introducing the practical use of new technologies and services through promotion and use of library technologies such as: access to online catalogs, providing free citizen access to the World Wide Web, shared library resources through technology and formal agreements of reciprocity (e.g. inter-library loan), technology applications for enhancing library management, improving collection organization and increasing citizen access to resources.

Objective 2: Improving library networks for eventual integration of library systems to increase citizen access to multiple library collections, including public, university and other specialty libraries.

Objective 3: Increasing library services to library consumers. Increasing access to global full-text databases.

Objective 4: Increasing access to professional library literature through translation of seminal documents from the American Library Association.

SK-Libris purchased several cataloging documents for the Nitra Consortium and other professional library books for the Faculty of Arts collection at Comenius University, which is the home of the school of library science and a member of the Bratislava Consortium. SK-Libris was not able to secure, even after several assurances to that we would, the copyright permission to translate AACR2 from English to Slovakia. The American Library Association and the British Library Association jointly hold this copyright, making it more difficult to obtain permissions; apparently our British colleagues were not agreeable to our request. Kollasch will continue to communicate with ALA about this issue to see if progress can be made.

Objective 5: Increasing practical use of new technologies that enhance library services and increase the flow of information to citizens.

The Neuhaus / Kollasch workshop "Reference Librarian: Ambassador for the Free Flow of Information" was effective on two levels. First, the workshop clearly communicated that proactive, service orientated reference librarians are essential for the free flow of information. Second, the interactive presentation style, which included role-playing and group work, served as a role model for presenting an engaging workshop. The role-playing of librarians with various levels of customer service seized their interest and generated a lot of discussion about how attitudes on library staff can impede or facilitate the free flow of information. This is an important aspect of library work anywhere, but in Slovakia, where a library’s physical plant often creates barriers to information, a thoughtful and empathetic librarian is essential in facilitating the free-flow of information. A core group of librarians should be trained in interactive workshop techniques and proactive customer service techniques for libraries and begin to provide workshops on their own.

Objective 6: Engaging the Culture Ministry in dialog regarding the move towards an integrated library system.

Objective 7: Establishing formal agreements of reciprocity among the Slovak partnership institutions participating in this project.

Objective 8: Increasing citizen awareness and access to the Slovak Parliamentary

See Appendix A for excerpts from interviews with Slovak librarians.

Core Elements

The core elements represent the chief implementation activities of SK-Libris. The project objectives and outcomes served as guiding principles for the development of these activities, which were jointly planned and implemented by Slovak colleagues and U.S. specialists. Each section outlines specific activities with a bulleted list of activities, followed by an overview of the work undertaken in that area.

• Bratislava Consortium on Reference Services and External Databases

• Site visits and consultations
• Workshops by U.S. Specialists
• Funding full-text database access via WWW at heavily discounted price negotiated by SK-Libris
• U.S Study Tour - September 1998

Slovak library cooperation has been formalized in two specific ways. First there is the formation of a library consortium of Bratislava libraries that collaborated on reference work and jointly implemented an EBSCO database project. The three libraries in this consortium are: Faculty of Arts Library at Comenius University, Slovak Academy of Science Libraries and the Economical University Library of Bratislava.

 SK-Libris worked closely with Ministry of Culture and Education officials, library association officers, and individual librarians regarding the importance of lobbying appropriate parties to support the EIFL Direct Project. This project has great potential for providing Slovak citizens with a wide-range of information. SK-Libris emphasized that the EIFL Direct Project is a historical opportunity that must be addressed now. It is doubtful that Slovakia will ever again have such a robust database made available at such an affordable price. The key to EIFL Direct’s success in Slovakia is two fold: 1) There must be adequate funding from the government and, 2) Effective promotion and implementation by all library types in Slovakia, including a campaign to widely market this resource. EIFL also provides for the issuance of passwords by libraries so that citizens with the requisite home computer access can search the databases from home or office. SK-Libris repeatedly emphasized the need to market to patrons and administrators in the various institutions and encouraged librarians to visit department heads, deans and rectors to demonstrate the value of this resource. SK-Libris believes that if marketed properly that use of these databases would become an integral part of the institution. Consequently, once the OSI support is gone the verity of these databases will be recognized, validated and funded. SK-Libris emphasized that the decision makers -- department heads, deans, rectors, directors, et al, must be targeted for marketing and training. Some librarians did a better job of this than others. We also recognize that this type of activity -- marketing -- is not part of the Slovak librarian’s experiences. Thus, even some of our best Slovak librarians had a difficult job in doing this. The library advocacy concepts are ones that still need to be instilled into the Slovak library community. The library associations must take an active and highly visible lead championing the use and proliferation of EIFL.

The second occurrence of formal cooperation within the library community is the Nitra consortium. The Karol Kmetka Public Library, Agriculture University Library and Constantine the Philosopher University Library have formed the Nitra Valley Library Consortium. They have begun establishing the necessary policy and technical infrastructure needed to build a union catalog. They have completed an "intent to cooperate", a legal document, that allows them to share funding. This document was modeled after the one written to bring structural organization to the Cedar Valley Library Consortium in Cedar Falls/Waterloo, Iowa. This is likely the only such document to exist in Slovakia and it serves as a model for the Slovak library community. SK-Libris has helped fund telecommunication charges for Karol Kmetka Public Library so that they can fully participate in this project. This consortium will serve as a model for other Slovak libraries to follow in the years to come. Establishing and maintaining formal collaboration among Slovak libraries is crucial in maintaining the free-flow of information among Slovak citizens. When libraries collaborate their users benefit by having access to wider range of information through interlibrary loan and shared services such as cataloging, reference or readers’ advisory. Collaboration also serves as an informal method of continuing education because librarians who collaborate are learning from each other as well.

Interest in this consortium now comes from three Trnava libraries (one regional and two university libraries) that now want to join the Nitra Valley Library Consortium. Marilyn Mercado, in her April 2000 technical report, wisely cautions, "Don’t rush into adding more libraries into the union catalog until the initial three libraries have the system working…" It is encouraging to see this interest by Slovak librarians in consortium work. However, continued training and financial support are needed to proceed.

• Library association building and library advocacy

• U.S. Study Tour - May 2000
• Workshops by U.S. Specialists
• Site visits and consultations
• Workshops by U.S. Specialists

The first study tour emphasized both the importance of library association building as well as library advocacy at large. This is an area of great importance in Slovakia and has been seriously addressed by SK-Libris. Encouraging signs of progress in this area include the Týzden slovenských knizníc or the Week of Slovak Libraries. (For more information on this, see Appendix B for a news article from American Libraries.) The idea for a national celebration came out of a SK-Libris workshop presented by Gerald Hodges and Sharman Smith for members of the Slovak library associations. As a direct result of this workshop, leaders of the library community in Slovakia planned and implemented the first-ever "Week of Slovak Libraries." However, the work to make it a reality came from the Slovak library associations. Another example of an increased awareness of the need to advocate your library is a brochure that the Slovak Academy of Science Libraries produced to promote their services. It is a brief, well-designed brochure that outlines library services for patrons.

The discussion of the importance of libraries in Slovakia has begun to be raised on a national level as witnessed by the recent successes of the Library Week celebration and the effective lobbying of Parliament for changes in the library law (e.g., the legal separation of the National Library and Matrica Slovenská). However, it is interesting to read Slovakia 1998-99: A Global Report on the State of Society (Bratislava: Institute for Public Affairs, 1999) and to find no mention of libraries. Until Slovak libraries are part of a widespread national discussion they will find themselves continuing their noble, but frustrating struggles with inadequate budget and buildings.

Another opportunity that the library associations can now take advantage of is the recent passing of the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA). The library associations have an opportunity to be awarded a grant from the Democracy Commission Small Grants Program out of the Public Affairs Section of the U.S. Embassy in Bratislava. Kollasch helped them begin writing the grant during meetings in Slovakia in May 2000. The goal of this grant would be to provide public libraries with training on the libraries’ role in providing citizen access about the FOIA law that would lead to them becoming clearinghouses for information to help citizens learn about and use FOIA.

The library associations must maintain an active and ongoing campaign to systematically lobby Slovak officials on all aspects of the library community.

Study Tours

U.S. Specialists Activity In Slovakia

UNI Archives and SK-Libris

SK-Libris is in the process of submitting project records to the University Archives at the University of Northern Iowa Rod Library where they will be cataloged and classified. In the spirit of the project, all records will be accessible to the public. This includes technical reports, correspondence, news clippings, contracts and many photographs and negatives. The UNI Archives have a web presence at: http://www.uni.edu/petersog/.

The legacy of SK-Libris is collaboration. Prior to work with SK-Libris many Slovak librarians worked in isolation. Perhaps Darina Krausova best said it:

"For the library community… solo parts are not the way… [SK-Libris] was a great motivation for cooperation that will be for sure reflected in our work and it is a kind of platform on which we can build our activities. This linkage creates a basis for cooperation, mutual contacts, sharing of information, simply, breaking borders in everything…"

It is not easy being a librarian in Slovakia. The pay is low and respect from society is negligible. However, the nascent expressions of teamwork that emerged under the auspices of SK-Libris are encouraging. SK-Libris has helped build a sense of community among librarians that will serve them well as they take on challenges in which they face. which include:

• Access to full-text, Web-based databases. While the EIFL project is in place, as is the JASON (German language databases), it is important that the library community form a united front to address this issue now. With just two years left on the Soros negotiated contract (EIFEL Direct), it is crucial that considerable inroads be made in all libraries to widely promote and use these resources.

• The development of a continuing education / post-graduate professional development classes need to be developed to help keep the library professional current with their profession. Ideally, this program would include a certification program that would be tied to increased remuneration. Certification of library staff could be further tied to certification of libraries that meet minimum standards of service. Melánia Majeríkova notes that a "system of further education of librarians … is still missing in Slovakia." Developing such a system, using distance education methodology (video conferencing, WWW, etc.) would be a worthy cooperative project of the library associations, the ministries, Comenius University and the National Library.

• The development of a combined directory of both library associations would further encourage cooperation among librarians and libraries. The directory would include information about libraries and librarians such as areas of expertise, collections and special projects. The directory should be web-based with hard copies also available.

• The issue of brain drain has been discussed in the Slovak press and among Slovak librarians. Generally, there is a concern about young Slovaks leaving the country for opportunities abroad where economic life is less trying. In the library community, the brain drain is also within Slovakia, where many graduates of the university library science program find employment in the private sector where there technological prowess and language skills are in high demand and the pay is much better than in the state financed libraries. Thus, there is a concern that not enough young professionals are entering the profession, and those who do get a university library science degree don’t work in libraries upon graduation. This is one of the most difficult concerns to address because it is tied directly to the currently stagnant Slovak economy. Still, it is one that must be researched to determine the extent of the problem and to articulate some possible solutions.

• Building and maintaining a versatile and universal means by which to share cataloging information is crucial for the Slovak library community. There simply is too much duplication of effort with each library often doing all of their own cataloging without sharing records. Now that the National Library is no longer under auspices of Matrica Slovenská, thus having control of its own budget, hope has been expressed that they will take a more visible and proactive stance on this important issue.

Interview Participants