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Public Libraries Section, Country Reports: Czech Republic 2004Jarmila BurgetováPursuant to the new Library Act (2001), the Ministry of Culture gave consideration recently to intensive preparation of the Library Development Policy. In elaborating of the document there took part The Central Library Council, the National Library, the Association of Library and Information Professionals, as well as individual departments within purview of which libraries are established. Extensive material analyses present state of "public library and information services" (PLIS), describes and evaluates basic trends of the previous period, draws attention to strengths and weaknesses, opportunities and threats in the field of provision of PLIS; it evaluates efficiency of recent and current programmes of development comparing their costs with their contributions and effects. The aim of the Library Development Policy for 2004-2010 is to provide the inhabitants of the Czech Republic - by the way of the Library System - with an equal access to the documents published and other information sources in any format, to develop information infrastructure for their education and lifelong learning, for cultural interests, research and development as well as economic activities, for independent decision-making of individuals. That is why the emphasis is put on development of the Library System and equal access to the public library and information services, on development and processing collections and information sources, on preservation and access to cultural heritage and human resources development. The document also specifies the state budgetary requirements. The Government of the Czech Republic approved this Policy in early June 2004 and in its Decision No. 679 of 7 June 2004 assigned the ministries, other central agencies and other bodies the task to fulfil it. It is a basic strategic document, which may influence development of libraries in a positive way in the next years if all interested bodies, primordially libraries, take an active part in its fulfilment. The Library Development Policy conforms to the earlier State Information and Communication Policy. It may be used for working out one's own strategic document, in application for subsidies, as well as in dealing with governing bodies. It was the Ministry of Public Health that - in the view of the Policy - approved its own Programme of development of the network of medical libraries for 2005-2010 of 30 July 2004, based on the general Policy of the national government. Statistical data for 2002 give a picture of the "Library System" in the Czech Republic:
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