Study Tours
SK-Libris planned and hosted three study tours for our Slovak librarians. Each one provided an opportunity for the participants to see first-hand how U.S. libraries advocate, maintain and facilitate the free flow of information for citizens. Each study tour focused on various aspects of library services with the first being the most general, covering the widest scope of information. The last two focused on union cataloging issues and library advocacy, respectively. The study tours allowed our Slovak colleagues to witness various strategies that American libraries undertake to facilitate the free flow of information. Be it the physical arrangement of the reference department or circulation policies, they saw that the free flow of information is facilitated in a multi-faceted way, from the setting of policies to the setting of library hours. Then, when we gathered again in Slovakia for workshops, we drew upon the experiences gained in the study tours to see how U.S. practices can best work into Slovak context. It was important to be able to demonstrate that some things can be done without more funding. For example we encouraged them to examine their current policies to see if they unduly impacted patron’s access to information.
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The study tour is very educational, it brings experience to knowledge. ~ Jaroslav Gazda |
Study Tours to U.S. ~ Slovak Participants |
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Date |
Slovak Participants |
Affiliation |
Purpose |
|
1998 |
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| 08/31 - 09/19 | Alojz Androvic | University Library, Bratislava | Provide overview of U.S. library programs and services that
facilitate the free flow of information. Library visits were made to the UNI's Rod Library
and IRTS, College of Education; the State Library of Iowa and the State Law Library of
Iowa, Des Moines; Cedar Falls and Waterloo Public Libraries; and the American Library
Association headquarters, Chicago. Workshops or presentations were conducted at each of
these institutions. Visit Czech/Slovak National Museum and Library, Cedar Rapids, Iowa. |
|
| Beata Bellerova | Agriculture Libarry, Nitra | |||
| Jaroslav Gazda | Constantine the Philosopher University, Nitra | |||
| Daniela Gondová | Faculty of Arts, Commenius University, Bratislava | |||
| Melania Majerikova | Faculty of Law Library, Commenius Univeristy, Bratislava | |||
| Sona Makulova | Faculty of Library Science, Commenius Univeristy, Bratislava | |||
| Eva Malackova | Parliamentary Library, Bratislava | |||
| Miroslava Paulovicova | Slovak Academy of Sciences, Bratislava | |||
1999 |
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| 10/23 - 11/6 | Jan Gula | Agriculture Libarry, Nitra | Consortium and union cataloging issues. Workshop on UNIMARC
cataloging, authority control and Z39.50. Attend Cedar Valley Library Consortium business
meeting. Visit Czech/Slovak National Museum and Library, Cedar Rapids, Iowa. |
|
| Slavomira Knazicka | County Library of Karol Kmetko, Nitra | |||
| Eugen Trajtel | Constantine the Philosopher University, Nitra | |||
2000 |
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| 04/21 - 05/3 | Dusan Katuscak | Faculty of Library Science, Commenius Univeristy, Bratislava | Library Advocacy workshops and meetings with State Librarian of
Iowa, Ames Public library, lobbyist, and U.S. Senators in D.C. Visit Czech/Slovak National Museum and Library, Cedar Rapids, Iowa and Library of Congress. |
|
| Anna Pribisova | Ministry of Education, Bratislava | |||
| Daniela Gondová | Faculty of Arts, Commenius University, Bratislava | |||
| Andrea Doktorova | Ministry of Culture, Bratislava | |||
