Domsa Károlyné, Fekete Gézáné, Kovács Mária (szerk.): Gondolatok a könyvtárban / Thoughts in the Library (A MTAK közleményei 30. Budapest, 1992)

KÖNYVTÁR ÉS KORSZERŰSÉG – LIBRARY AND MODERNITY

Library automation in Finnish research libraries Swedish model was considered better, and of course it alsó was much better known. Opinions of libraries have, however, not been static. Therefore, continuous efforts were needed to make sure that common policy corresponded to the wishes of the libraries and that they were still supporting the accepted policy. On the other hand, the libraries had all the time the possibility to influence decision making, because they had a strong representation in the Steering Group of the Automation Unit and because libraries were regularly informed about all important developments. It would certainly be much more difficult to pursue this type of agreement of the libraries today, when more money and a greater variety of choices is available. One in-built risk all the time was the dominant role of the University Library of Helsinki, due to historical development; other university libraries are far younger and smaller than this library which at the same time is alsó the National Library of the country. There was, and still is, a certain mistrust felt of the Library and we have to leam to live together with it and to be serious about our honest aims of cooperation. The resentment became obvious again when the need of a joint system for the LINNEA network was discussed. Somé libraries were not enthusiastic about the decision to give the responsibility for it to Helsinki University Library. Librarians are alsó only humán! (2) Introduction of modernization on this scale depends not only on the will of the institutions or the money available. Society must, as a whole, have reached a certain stage of development or maturity to be able to accept the change. Well informed librarians were in the 70s ahead of times. Only a few large automated systems existed e.g. within the state administration; why should libraries be the most urgent services to be automated! Ten years later the scene had changed completely. (3) It may sound trivial to say that it is vitai to follow keenly what is being done in other countries and to leam not only of successes but alsó of mistakes. At least a country with limited resources can not start inventing things which already are to be found elsewhere. Neither has a small country any need to develop unrealistic ambitions of doing things before wealthier countries. For Finland the Swedish experience has been most useful and we acknowledge gratefully the help which we have received from our Swedish colleagues. (4) The importance of internationally accepted standards has pro ved to be vitai. Finnish research libraries had to change their automation approach several times. Due to the strict standards which were followed in recording the collections these changes never caused any real harm. The same standards enabled a flexible „ Gondolatok a könyvtárban " 147