Possibilities for the regional information supply of specialists

Abstract

A library policy designed to solve the problems of information must reckon with the possible ways and methods of co-operation between technical and other library networks, both in general and in the interest of the information supply of various regions.

This conception coincides with the objective of library policy according to which – to improve the information supply of specialists working in the country and to bring this into harmony with the regional development – the stocks and services of university libraries in the country should be developed so that those libraries might, step by step, become suitable to fulfil the function of a regional library information centre.

Geographically, the network of technical libraries cannot be differentiated so much as to meet proportionately the information needs of technical experts working in the country. However, in a geographically proportionate distribution – in the natural centres of geographical regions – in the so-called commissioned university level centres are working special libraries, developed enough or suited to be easily developed. They – relying either on their own stock or on that of other libraries in the region and transmitting the services of special libraries – can render the country's scientific, technical and economic information efforts more effective.

Parallel with the design and implementation of regional services, preparations should be made to survey information needs and reading habits of technical experts working in the field of attraction of such libraries.

The Central Library of the József Attila University at Szeged has completed the first such investigation based on exact scientific methods, and is now planning inquiries involving a larger number of experts. The investigation has proven that the economically, socially, politically and culturally moat developed country towns may raise most of the more sophisticated needs to information.