Public libraries in communication programmes on accession to the European Union

Abstract

In 1995, following the request of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, a team of experts prepared the first document on the communication activities for the preparation of Hungary's accession to the European Union. In the frame of the communication programme, started in 1996, in 2001 the Ministry launched its Library Programme. The main objective of this programme is to provide city and village libraries with financial support in order to enable them to establish EU collections and new, accession-related services for the citizens. At the second stage of the programme, the EU training of librarians has been launched, too. The article descibes the main objectives and activities of the Library Programme, its achievements and experiences gained in the last years.