Library informatics

Deadline:
August 2007

Project description:
The project „Informatization of Libraries – Public Internet in Libraries in Slovak Republic“  has been designed by Department of Culture of Slovak Republic in cooperation with Slovak National Library as the methodic centre of  Slovak libraries and Slovak Chemical Library. Talks with libraries, professional forums and occupational organizations have been held during preparation of this Project.
138 libraries have entered this Project of which – according to selection criteria stemming from internet introduction defined by the Program of Electronization of Libraries, ratified by Slovak Government decree no. 801/2002 – 110 were chosen to join the first stage of the Project (2006-2007). They consist of 6 county, 21 regional, 45 municipal and 38 communal libraries. From regional point of view there are 20 libraries from Presov county, 19 from Zilina county, 18 from Nitra county, 17 from Banska Bystrica county, 13 from Trencin county, 13 from Kosice county and 10 from Trnava county.
Department of Culture of SR has delegated the implementation of the Project (in content of implementation schedule as well as its sustainability for a period of at least 5 years after its cessation) to Slovak national Library. The aim of first stage of the Project, in which there are 10 public professional libraries, was to furnish these libraries with IT. Thus 760 new public Internet access spots have been created which cater for:

  • broad public Internet access – t.m. low income and handicapped groups and the unemployed
  • increase of public computer literacy rate
  • improvement of conditions of eGovernment implementation and improvement of public access to it
  • improvement of digital content access
  • extending access to education info and vacancies which will lead to increased employment chances of people on the job market.
  • public access to Internet pages of state and self government institutions with an option of online communication;
  • public access to European Library, to Slovak national Library and to digital library Memoria slovaca


The project „Informatization of Libraries – Public Internet in Libraries in Slovak Republic“  meets quality technological and technical designs which enable it to achieve high standardization of public access to the Internet in all libraries while using their current equipment and attaches seamlessly to the next government project in the library field : implementation and making accessible of unified library software. The Project is based on thin client technology. Each library in the Project was supplied with one server to which, according to the size of library and it’s area coverage, 4 (30 libraries) or 8 (80 libraries) workstations were supplied (thin client, monitor, keyboard, mouse) which serve as public Internet access point, 1 auxiliary supply, 1 network switch and one laser printer.  The Project will enable the use of Internet to all people with no regards to nationality, social position and financial status in all – developed and less-developed – regions of Slovakia. The Internet in libraries  is at disposal during the entire working hours. Every user gets a chance to work with up-to-date info media. Info and manual how to work with a computer and selected software such as office bundle, web browser or e-mail client are at disposal. Each user is free to create an email box and to communicate using email. Whatsmore, in the future the public Internet access will enable to use services of public government on-line (eGovernment), healthcare (eHealth), education (eLearning), environment (eEnvironment), inclusion of disadvantaged groups (eInclusion) and the culture (eCulture). Public use of the Internet in libraries brings along a better access to info, to education and to improving for future job preparation and may make it easier to look for a job.

Project implemented by:
Department of Culture of SR
Slovak national Library
Slovak Chemical Library

Project funding:
1 000 000 EUR

In 2009-2010 a second stage of the Project is expected in which additional 2 000 public Internet access points in additional libraries should be created. Estimated cost of  complete informatization and internet access to libraries in 2007-2013 are approx. 3.000.000 EUR.