National electronic information service projects. Part 1. Finland: RnELib

Abstract

In the last few years in several developed countries, including Scandinavian countries, the United Kingdom, Canada, national electronic information service (electronic library) projects have been started, mostly with government support. In the frame of these projects journals, databases are provided mainly for the academic and research communities based on national site licences. The objectives have been to challenge price policies of publishers and scientific associations, and reach lower prices and more favourable supply conditions for the countrywide consortia, and by centralising the related management and development activities to achieve saving on the national economy level. This first part of the series of papers outlines the resutts and experiences of the Finnish National Electronic Library Program (FinELib) that seems to be one of the most successful projects in international comparison. The components of the success factor include central financing of acquisition and development efforts, an almost ideál cooperation of member libraries, their involvement in decision making, high level of professional skills both on management and execution levels. The experiences of the Finnish case should be taken into consideration in Hungary in the course of the preparations for a similar national project, initiated and financed by the Ministry of Education which is planned to launch in 2001.