The Library of the Future, but what Future? Economic and Demographic Conditioning
Ewa Parzonka and Elżbieta Pieńkowska

Abstract

This article examines the meaning of the globalization process, globalization of knowledge and symptoms of globalization in libraries in Poland. In doing so, it examines such things as organizational changes, the role of the Internet, the restructing of the economic system into a global and knowledge–based economy, and the creation of new professions. It also examines social issues that will influence the future of Poland’s libraries such as changing demographics (notably our aging society and new categories of users) and the increased growth of poverty areas.

Introduction

“In the time of stabilisation everything has a name and everything is in its place; very little can be questioned. In the time of suspension, however, we have a great strength and the power to influence personal, professional and institutional life. All we need is the feeling of sense, a clear idea, a clear vision of the way ahead of us. My God, what a fantastic time we live in!”
— J. Naisbitt, Megatrends [1]

The words of John Naisbitt adapted as the motto of this paper depict our current reality accurately. We live in the world full of continual and dynamic changes within the areas of economy, politics, culture and society. In their everyday work librarians obviously notice the changes, but not always analyse them. However, it is essential that they try to find information about these changes to be able to adapt to the constantly changing conditions.

In this paper issues and phenomena which are most pertinent to the problem in question are presented. The most important among them are the following: globalization, globalization of knowledge, the process of globalization in libraries, the Internet as a means of globalization, transformation of the economic system, and demographic conditioning.

Analysis of the described processes and trends which are taking place in today’s world, is an attempt to answer the question: what future will they bring to libraries?

Globalization — A Life–changing Process

It is not easy to define the term “globalization.” There are many definitions in the extensive literature which lay particular stress on different aspects of globalization and present various approaches to them. An exhaustive economic definition of the process has been given by Anna Zorska:

“The globalization of business activity is a long–lasting, worldwide process of integrating an increasing number of individual national economies beyond their borders, thanks to extending and intensification of their mutual connections (in the field of investment, production, trade and co–operation), as a result of which one worldwide economic system comes into existence. It is characterised by a significant interrelationship between and repercussions of undertaken activities even in remote countries.” [2]

An eminent sociologist, Piotr Sztompka, defines the term differently:

“globalization is a process of congestion and intensification of connections and dependencies in economy, finance, politics, military, culture and ideology, among humane communities, which results in uniformization of the world within the above areas, and gives rise to the appearance of social bonds, solidarity and identity on a supernational and superlocal scale.” [3]

Professor Edmund Wnuk–Lipiński (a sociologist too) describes globalization as “an element”:

“A process, which is not controlled by anybody. Globalization is like a river. Its current can be controlled but not fully. We face it when more and more local events have influence on other local events in a different part of the world.” [4]

A process of globalization created by global phenomena or activities is characterised by: acceleration of the distribution of goods and services (which increases their availability); the increase in the role of supernational institutions and corporations; changing the idea of the “national sovereignty”; expansion of many different cultures and changes in the social awareness; increase in unity with a simultaneous threat to cultural identity; increase in social differences on a national and international scale. [5] The consequences of globalization show that it has its advocates and opponents. The first group maintains that globalization brings about the spreading of technological achievements and welfare, causes a decrease in nationalistic trends and spreads the idea of mankind being a unity inhabiting a common planet. The second group perceives it as promoting short–term interests and benefits at the expense of resolving the most important social end economic problems. Social balance is upset: a decrease in employment and salaries, an increase in joblessness and poverty, and lowering of social standards take place. There arises a discrepancy between the technological and communication unification of the world and its cultural, religious and political diversification.

Countries of the Triad (the U.S., Western Europe and Japan) were first technical and civilisation centres. The so called “Asian tigers” [6] are trying to equal them. European countries are trying to narrow the gap between themselves and the U.S. using their Lisbon strategy. According to economic forecasts, India and China are due to outstrip the U.S. by the year 2040. [7]

Kazimierz Kuciński suggests extending the economic term of globalization to globalism, which is characterised by: an even, conscious, far–sighted and fair use of production factors; active communicating of intentions allowing understanding of the meaning and goal of undertaken activities; mutual help resulting from a deep sense of solidarity; a strive to equal chances and a fair use of knowledge in serving people and nature. The author also gives attention to the consequences of globalization:

“They are at the same time sweet raisins for 20 percent of the world’s population and bitter almonds for the remaining 80 percent. And it is important that the sweetness and the bitterness should not be too intense.” [8]

The above (economic and cultural) transformation together with the inherent chaos and uncertainty of the future obviously influence library circles. During the last few years library literature has examined the subject of improving the image of a librarian, the quality of work, professional ethics, the need to introduce changes in educating future librarians and the need for continual professional self–improvement.

A ranking of countries by an indicator of globalization measured by the integration of a country in the field of economy, politics, technology and social life was carried out by the firm A.T. Kearney and Foreign Policy magazine. The ranking is based on 12 variables grouped in four categories: economic integration, personal contacts, technology and political involvement. The table includes countries which generate 96 percent of the global world production, and have 85 percent of the world’s population.

Table 1: Ranking of selected countries by the indicator of globalization (GI). Source: [9]
Country	Position in 2005	Position in 2004	Change of position
Singapore	1	2	1
Ireland	2	1	-1
Switzerland	3	3	0
United States	4	7	3
The Netherlands	5	4	-1
Canada	6	6	0
Denmark	7	10	3
Sweden	8	11	3
Austria	9	9	0
Finland	10	5	-5
Czech Republic	15	14	-1
France	18	15	-3
Germany	21	18	-3
Hungary	23	26	3
Spain	26	24	-2
Poland	31	31	0
Ukraine	39	43	4
Russia	52	44	-8
China	54	57	3
India	61	61	0

The position of Poland has not changed. It is a good sign, particulary since the processes of globalization are on the increase. Maintaining a given position means that Poland is becoming increasingly globalized.

Globalization of Knowledge

Raising the level of education is a world–wide trend. In Poland only 10 percent of the population has a university education, which is not much compared with other European countries [10]. Is Poland prepared to be in the European Union as a partner in the field of science and technology?

Ewa Okoń–Horodyńska has made an attempt to answer this question and listed conditions of improvement in this field: an increase in educational efforts of society and better financing of education and science; extending scientific elites and strengthening their culture–forming role; further development of innovative infrastructure (based on European experiences); institutional and law changes adequate to the above goals; and adaptation of the Polish educational systems to the European standards. Creating innovations, which is a crucial factor in determining the level of competitivenes and the level of society, are a priority in education [11]. It is described by Edmund Wnuk–Lipiński by the following categories: global market, relativization, modernization or detradionalization, homogenization or hybridization [12].

Globalization of knowledge influences curricula at universities all over the world. Curricula are diffused which results in their unification (homogenization), particularly in the exact sciences. Social sciences and humanities undergo hybridization, i.e., incorporation of global elements in programmes of national or regional character. University education can be perceived as a world educational market. In the U.S. there have been established universities for profit. In Poland private universities, subject to the rules of the market, came into existence. The implementation of computers and the Internet has brought universities all over the world closer, inevitably extending their scope of activity and reducing costs. The Internet has accelerated globalization of knowledge by enabling teams of scientists from all over the world to carry out common research.

The globalization of science and knowledge causes on the one hand an increasing differentiation within the scientific circles; on the other hand, the internationalization of universities and an increase in mobility of scientists brings about a higher quality of research activities.

Globalization Processes in Libraries

Libraries have two basic functions: information (connected with education) and based on the knowledge of culture (socialising). The first one is popular with theorists and practicians of librarianship, especially in the context of the influence of globalization on the future of libraries.

Depending on the kind of library there are many different processes of globalization.

They are most visible in university libraries, which are subject to the same processes as their parent units, because they are included in them. Globalization in libraries manifests itself mostly by access to information (not only as the proper policy of acquisition, but also as cooperation with other libraries via consortiums and interlibrary exchange, even in the field of digital copies). Components of information policy, such as standards, law regulations, data protection, protection of intellectual property, protection of the right to privacy and testing the quality of library work, and library marketing are listed as features of globalization [13]. Building a knowledge–based, information society can bring about a reduction in the differences between libraries. On the other hand, these dissimilarities can be intensified depending on the tasks and areas of activity of a library.

Theorists and practitioners of librarianship write about transformation of forms of library activities [14]. They confirm the argument that globalization in libraries is closely connected with globalization of knowledge:

“The closest environment of a university library is its parent unit, which undergoing changes itself, forces and stimulates them in a library [...]. That is why the processes taking place in libraries, especially in university libraries should be discussed in a broader context of social and civilisation changes. Poland is heading towards building information society, characterised not only by an accelerated flow of information and computerization, but also by a marked increase in the social need for open access to information, limited neither by time nor by location.” [15]

The author of this argument points also at the tendency to create hybrid libraries, which combine elements of a digital and a traditional library. Hybrid libraries and the connection between the real and the virtual world have become a fact.

Homogenization, one of the features of globalization, is not only visible, but also increasing in Polish libraries. It was initiated by the unification of bibliographic and subject descriptions, by means of implemented technologies and protocols, which enable exchanging information and building consortia like ALEPH or VTLS. A great achievement of library globalization is the National Universal Catalogue of academic and university libraries, built by co–cataloguing.

Reasons behind these processes are economic: the cost of work is lowered and access to information is accelerated. And here the role of the Internet is unquestionable. Modern information technologies let users of information gain access to global resources, which requires libraries to carry out organisational changes, broaden the range of services and “learn” continually.

Recently there has been a tendency to transfer economic vocabulary to librarianship for example globalization in economy–globalization in libraries; management strategies in business–management strategies in libraries; integration in economy–integration in libraries, etc. It is also an increasingly common practice to use terms and marketing instruments with reference to library services, e.g., promotion, distribution, product, client, etc. [16] Another vital problem is the differentiation in financing different kinds of libraries. It curbs their development and reduces their role to that of local libraries. Financial policy of superior units has a great influence on activity of libraries; a poorly financed library does not come up to the expectations of its users, so they have to turn to other libraries [17]. It is in the interest of a parent unit to extend the area of the given library’s activity. It has a good influence on its assessment in the given environment, so it can bring about its better financial condition.

Globalization causes an increasing diversification in the economic situation of libraries. The resulting changes will lie in modernizing, homogenizing or hybrydizing libraries. In the case of university libraries, especially of state–run universities, it is better than the situation of school and public libraries. Universities undergo the process of accreditation and so do their libraries. Having insufficient financial resources, local authorities have to make a choice and so they cut down on financing culture. It can be illustrated by the report on the state of automation of public libraries from the year 2004, which revealed that only 3.39 percent out of 8,663 libraries are fully computerised [18].

Table 2: The state of computerisation of Polish public libraries. Source: [19]
	2000	2002	2004
The number of public libraries and their branches	8946	8858	8663
Inclusive of libraries computerised and undergoing the process of computerisation	831	1336	2223
Percentage of libraries computerised and undergoing the process of computerisation	9,3%	15,08%	25,66%
Number of fully computerised libraries			294
Percent of fully computerised libraries			3,39%

The following proposals of Jacek Wojciechowski are worth paying attention to and being implemented. A library has a chance to exist only on condition that:

“The offer it presents is easily available, free or cheap, maximally diverse, complete; unique as compared with other offers (when it includes something no one else offers): mediations in communication, help and advice in this field, communication training, local (environmental) information, individualized information, a chance to organise local (environmental) meetings in narrow circles.” [20]

The Internet as a Means of Globalization

Progress in science and technology is both the reason and the consequence of globalization (a phenomenon of feedback). ICT (Information and Communication Technologies) direct societies and economies towards globalization and cause the acceleration of the exchange of information and lower costs of transactions. These are a few facts worth quoting to illustrate this phenomenon: In 1860 sending two words across the Atlantic cost US$40. Now it would be the cost of sending all data from the Library of Congress [21].

The cost of storing one megabit of information on a hard disc is 30,000 lower than it used to be. The cost of sending 1,000,000 bits within the years 1970–2000 became 1,250,000 times lower [22].

The Internet is the most powerful tool of globalization, nowadays applied in all aspects of life. The ability to use it enables and facilitates participation in a knowledge–based economy and in social life. It combines the constant existence and presence of information with the speed of transfer and immediacy of reception together with multimediality. It fulfils the McLuhan’s idea of the “global village” [23].

Table 3 illustrates the dynamism of the pace of increase in the number of Internet users in a country in which globalization has commenced.

Table 3: The pace of the increase of Internet users in the U.S., 1999–2003. Source: [24]
1999	2000	2001	2002	2003	2004
36%	44%	50%	55%	59%	68.3%

The amount of information available on the Internet increases at a high pace, too.

In 1996 the World Wide Web contained about 70 million pages. In all probability in the year 2020 all human recorded knowledge and experience, gathered for the past 5,000 years will be stored there.

The consequences of the Internet coming into existence are comparable to these of Gutenberg’s invention of movable type. Up to now the capacity of computers has risen 10 billion times and their computing capacity doubles every 18 months [25].

Table 4: Access to the Internet in the world, 2004. Source: [26]
	Number of Internet users (in millions)	Percentage of the whole population
World	813	12.7
United States	201	68.8
Africa	13	1.4
Asia	258	7.1
North America	222	68.3
South America	56	10.3
Australia & Oceania	15	48.5
Europe	231	31.6

North America is still the leading continent in using Internet resources (the rate of use remains at the level of 68.3 percent). However Asian “internauts” are the most active and most often can be met on the Web. They are a group of 258 million people, or 7.1 percent of the whole population. Within the next few years the position of Asia is going to be strenghtened thanks to increased participation of China and India [27].

The increase in the number of Internet users reflects progress in its accessibility and allows a comparison between Poland and other countries. Who uses new technologies in Poland now? As many as 26 percent of Polish people use computers, the Internet and cell phones. [28] Research carried out by the Social Monitoring Council proves that 43.1 percent of respondents use computers and 33.4 percent use the Internet but 41.4 percent of them do not make use of new technologies. There is a significant relationship between the use of new technologies and social–demographic factors. [29] Education and social–professional status are crucial. Seventy–five percent of those with a university education use computers and 65 percent of them use the Internet.

The figures for people who have not yet completed their education (students, pupils) are 90 percent and 84 percent respectively. A large number of people who have computers and access to the Internet (about 41 percent) do not use these technologies. They may not have motivation, need or skills to use them.

According to the report entitled “Internet 2004, Poland, Europe and the World,” prepared by IAB Poland (Interactive Advertising Bureau), in the year 2004 as many as 813 million people worldwide had access to the Internet. The leading countries are Sweden (74 percent) and Holland (66 percent). From December 2003 to December 2004 the number of new Internet users in Poland increased by one million. In Poland, 23.5 percent of people have access to the Web. The AIB predicted that in the year 2005 there would be 10 million Internet users in Poland. The largest group of Polish Internet users (37.2 percent) are students and pupils [30].

Table 5: Progress in access to the Internet in selected EU countries. Source: [31]
Country	Number of users of the Internet (in thousands) in the years:		Increase in the number of users in years 2000–2004	Percentage of the whole population
	1998	2003
Czech Republic	400	3100	170.0%	26,4%
France	3704	21900	194,7%	41,5%
Spain	1733	9789	161,6%	32,5%
The Netherlands	3500	8500	177,1%	66,2%
Germany	8100	39000	93,6%	56,2%
Poland	1581	8970	220,4%	23,5%
Sweden	2961	5622	66,1%	74,3%
Hungary	400	2400	235,7%	23,8%

The ubiquity of the Internet in many different areas of life makes libraries appreciate its role in the contemporary world. Unfortunately it is still unavailable or even unknown in many Polish libraries (it concerns some school and public libraries). [32]

Restructuring of Economic Systems: Knowledge–based Economy (KBE) and Knowledge–based Society (KBS)

Human capital has become a crucial factor conditioning economic growth. Now it is much more important than land, natural resources, labour force and capital. [33] The role of production of highly advanced technologies, making use of achievements in scientific research, is constantly on the increase. Economies based on natural resources are becoming less important than the so–called “new economy.”

This term has been coined to describe knowledge–based economy, behind which innovations and new technologies are the driving force. It is characterised by competitiveness on a world scale and constant technological and organisational changes basing on computerisation. Partnerships and co–operation between the private and the public sectors play an important role in the development of the new economy. [34] The new economy heads towards a highly integrated and electronically interconnected system, referred to as “digital economy.” Now knowledge is the source of prosperity and the most important factor of production.

The new economy has different names: digital economy, information economy, high–tech economy, e–economy, knowledge–based economy (this term is used in English language literature). Newly developing societies are also given new names: information society, cybernetic society, high–tech society, knowledge–based society. The main feature of KBE is a superior role of knowledge in the growth of the economy in a country, an increase in the scientific and technical potential and supporting these fields which decide competitiveness at the macroeconomic level. The U.S. is a leading country in the area of KBE. To close the gap between the EU countries and the U.S., the EU worked out the Lisbon strategy which was adopted in 2000. The strategic goal of the EU is to achieve within 10 years a position of the most competitive and dynamic knowledge–based economy characterised by social unity, sustainable economic growth and job creation. The Lisbon arrangements were confirmed in March 2002, during a session of the European Council in Barcelona and in March 2003 in Brussels [35].

Development of a national system of science and technology together with the improvement of the quality of intellectual potential of society are conditions of success in the knowledge–based economy. They are also crucial for the future of Poland [36]. The reasons are the following: firstly, a knowledge–based economy is going to be the material and technical basis of the future information society, which will replace industrial civilisation; secondly, knowledge and information are the key to innovation which is the driving force of the current economy; thirdly, the pace of development of contemporary science is enormous.

The world store of knowledge has been estimated to double every five years [37]. Our government deals with issues of computerization by law regulations [38].

The next utterly new phenomenon is the development of new professions and change in the nature of old ones. The increased competitiveness of the labour market makes modern firms search for highly qualified employees. It has been estimated that in the 90’s more new professions came into existence than in the previous 40 years. They were connected mostly with computer technology. And a new category of an employee appeared — the “knowledge worker.” [39] This is a creative person with high qualifications and specialisation, with university education and the ability to work independently. In the U.S. currently one–third of all employed people fall into to this category. The proportion is going to rise within the next 25 years to one–thirds. In the U.S. labour market this category of employees is replacing unskilled and manual workers. Changes in the labour market manifest themselves in new forms of employment. It is worth considering whether they will also apply to library staff, or whether a new option will be implemented; introducing new specialisations. A change in an approach to the profession of a librarian (perceiving it as a wide range of activities) gives him more job mobility. The example of France is a good one. [40]

The outcome of research of the labour market carried out in the Lower Silesia [41] proved that the most popular and needed jobs of the future (for example an e–librarian) will be connected with the Internet. [42] New branches which are going to develop are for example: e–business, telework, e–administration, e–health and e–learning. Employers are likely to appreciate the following features of their employees: specialised knowledge and skills, practice, appropriate education, scrupulousness, discipline, responsibility, honesty, punctuality, creativity, independence, diligence, willingness to work and commitment.

Poland’s admission to the European Union in May 2004 and the chance to use structural funds makes it possible for us to raise the level of our KBE to make it comparable with other countries of the EU. Operating programmes are developed and implemented thanks to the European Social Fund, the Union Initiative EQUAL and the URBAN programme. [43]

Demographic Conditioning

The National Population Census carried out in the year 2002 [44] showed changes in the demographic structure of Poland. According to a forecast for the year 2030, the number of people will fluctuate around 37 million. This is due to such factors as: emigration (over the past four years 96,000 people left Poland), an increase in the number of one–person households, an increase by 50 percent, i.e., by over one million. The last factor indicates abandoning the traditional model of family, an increase in so–called “partner relationships” (of which there were about 200,000 according to the Census). The number of births until the year 2020 will fluctuate and it will start to fall, because the generation born during the period of population decline (the turn of the twentieth and the twenty–first centuries) will come into the child–bearing age. The number of people will decrease by one million as compared to the present state, and 10 years later it will fall by another 1.5 million. The decreased birthrate and the increase in lifespan will result in an aging society. There is already a tendency (resulting from the decline in the number of pupils) to close schools, especially in small places.

The Census also revealed a trend which inspires optimism connected with education and its spread. According to the Census the number of people with formal university education increased from 1.8 million in 1988 to 3.2 million in 2002, so it was about to double. [45]

For the next 10 to 20 years the pressure on the labour market will decrease and the unemployment rate will gradually fall. In the period up to the year 2020 there will be an increase in the number of employed people and the decrease in the number of the unemployed, from 19.9 percent in 2002 to 11.1 percent in 2020. Besides, owing to better qualifications of elderly people, the period of professional activity will last longer. [46]

Table 6: The state of population at the age of 15 or more and their situation in the labour market. Source: [47]
	2005–2006	2007–2013	2014–2020
Population (in thousands)	32038	32429	32365
Active (in thousands)	17104	17087	17118
Working (in thousands)	14135	14632	15083
Unemployed (in thousands)	2969	2455	2035
Participation rate (in %)	53.5	52.8	53.0
Employment rate (in %)	44.2	45.3	46.7
Unemployment rate (in %)	17.5	14.4	11.9

Demographic changes in the oncoming years will affect the number of people in the productive and after–productive age. Up to the year 2010 the number of people in the productive age (which is now 23.8 million) will increase by about one million and the number of these in after–productive age from 5.8 million people to 6.8 million [48]. In the coming 20 years the number of people in the productive age will fall and in 2030 it will be 20.8 million, while the number of these in after–productive age will rise up to 9.6 million. There will be 72 people in the non–productive age for every 100 people in the productive age, instead of 60. So the economic encumbrance will rise by 20 percent. The Census proved that the cost involved in supporting the group of people in after–productive age and its social and economic consequences will be a key problem. It will influence the state–monitored welfare system as well as the market of commodities and services which are necessary to meet needs of this very group of people. It concerns medical service and services connected with spending leisure time.

To sum up, the data gathered during the National Population Census in 2002 make us think of the future of our country. As a result of a low rate of child–bearing and an increase in the number of people around the age of 65, our society will grow old and there will be a change in its structure. Up to the year 2030 the number of people will fall by 2.5 million (in comparison with the year 2000) and the average age of a citizen in 2030 will be 45.5. There will also be an increase in the demographic burden rate [49] (from 19 percent now to 37 percent in 2030). The findings of the Census, together with the assumptions made in the cited forecast, let us suppose that the profile of the readers of the future will change. The necessity to change jobs will make people acquire new skills by ongoing education, and the tendency to popularise education will increase the number of people interested in library services.

Demographic forecasts show also conclusions concerning social consequences of the demographic development, i.e.,

“unemployment and its reduction in the context of the demographic explosion in Poland, (...), investment demanding education of Polish society in connection with the EU labour market, (...), the fact that Polish population is relatively young, but its health condition, lifespan, level of education and conditions of life differ significantly from those in the EU.” [50]

There is one more problem of social demography that librarians should familiarise themselves with: the expansion of poverty–stricken areas. Poverty brings about disintegration of the country and marginalization of society. It influences indirectly effectiveness of the economy. Unemployment is the main source of poverty in Poland. In the years 1996–2004 it increased significantly. In 2003 59 percent of people lived below the level of subsistence, on the verge of privation (the estimate is based on measuring the level of spending in households) [51].

As an institution of public use, the library is obligated to play an important social role of stimulatating the community. If market forces dominate interpersonal relationships, they will damage these personal features which condition efficient social activities. In this context the theory of social capital — human resources network — acquires a new dimension. Social capital is supposed to be the basis for the development of intellectual capital. Social capital is a fairly new, not utterly defined scientific term [52]. However, it enables an evaluation of the role played by organisations in society. For example, the role of a library is to take part in building a civic society.

Summary

It is impossible to halt globalization, a megatrend dominating in the twenty–first century.

The processes which take place within it are relatively new and change in a dynamic way. Globalization influences all areas of social life, so it also affects library activities. The process makes the community of librarians observe the formation of arising phenomena, investigate their reasons, understand the continuously changing reality and learn continually to find new solutions.

Like other organisations, libraries must comply with market rules. The discussed issues give rise to at least three conclusions:

1. In view of an increase in the importance of the role of knowledge and education in the contemporary world, libraries should be prepared for some changes in their readers’ expectations and the fact that their present state will no longer be sufficient. A reader, user, customer of the library will be better prepared to use the latest technological developments and thus will be obviously a more demanding one. [53] The question is how to customise the quality and character of the library offer to the changes resulting from the discussed issues;

2. Economically developed countries put an emphasis on education. Libraries have always been “knowledge warehouses.” The potential of knowledge stored there makes it easier to deal with challenges of the contemporary world. On the other hand, the ubiquity of the Internet and the requirements of economy (basing on knowledge) — as well as the development of an information society — force changes in attitudes towards the roles of librarians. Now the need for continual improvement of qualifications by librarians is unquestionable. The librarian of the future should be able to deal with an increasing amount of information by means of more and more advanced search tools.

3. Due to the visible impoverishment of our society libraries can and should have one more function: the function of an institution eradicating differences in access to education. This could help many people improve their qualifications and put an end to their stagnation and poverty.

The authors of this paper believe that having undergone some changes forced by the spirit of the time, libraries will survive. This conviction is based on the role and function of libraries in creating knowledge society.

Now a new era approaches. Ambitious and success–orientated people will find fulfillment. They have to be ready for permanent development, learning, changing their specialities and acquiring new skills. In this context the words of the Japanese scientist and futurologist, Michio Kaku become important and are worth memorising. They are not only a message but also as a warning:

“In any activity, there are winners and losers. The winners will likely be those nations which fully grasp the vital importance of these three scientific revolutions. Those who would scoff at the power of these revolutions may find themselves marginalized in the global marketplace of the twenty–first century.” [54]

Notes

1. Retranslated into English from the Polish edition.

2. A. Zorska, 2002. Ku globalizacji? Przemiany w korporacjach transnarodowych i w gospodarce światowe. Warszawa: Wydawnictwo Naukowe PWN, p. 20.

3. P. Sztompka, 2002. Socjologia: Analiza społeczeństwa. Kraków: Wydawn. Znak, p. 598.

4. E. Wnuk–Lipiński, 2004. Świat międzyepoki: Globalizacja, demokracja, państwo narodowe. Kraków: Znak, pp. 57; 318.

5. M. Osadnik, 2003. “Kontrowersje wokół rozumienia globalizacji,” In: Problemy i kontrowersje wokół globalizacji, Part 1, edited by E. Okoń–Horodyńska. Katowice: Wydaw. AE, pp. 9–20.

6. The name of the “Asian tigers” was given to the following countries: South Korea, Taiwan, Singapore, Malaysia.

7. L.W. Zacher, 2004. “Globalizacja jako zagadnienie interdyscyplinarne,” In: Ekonomiczne i społeczne aspekty globalizacji, ed. K. Kuciński. Warszawa: Szkola Glówna Handlowa, pp. 93–109.

8. K. Kuciński, 2004. “Społeczny kontekst globalizacyjnych uwarunkowań konkurencyjności,” In: Ekonomiczne i społeczne aspekty globalizacji, ed. K. Kuciński. Warszawa: Szkola Glówna Handlowa, pp. 7; 137.

9. A.T. Kearney, 2005. Foreign policy [online], Globalization index data and methodology 2005, at http://www.atkearney.com (accessed 2 July 2006).

10. W. Wereda, 2004. “Nowe koncepcje i teorie zarządzania w XXI wieku — uwarunkowania w Polsce,” Zeszyty Naukowe Kolegium Gospodarki Światowej Szkoły Głównej Handlowej, no. 16, p. 165; at present (according to 2006 press information) it is 11 percent of the society.

11. E. Okoń–Horodyńska, 2003. “Edukacja a umiejętność funkcjonowania w układzie globalnym,” In: Problemy i kontrowersje wokół globalizacji, Part 1, edited by E. Okoń–Horodyńska. Katowice: Wydaw. AE, pp. 90–100.

12. E. Wnuk–Lipiński, 2004. “Oblicza globalizacji — konceptualizacja pojęcia,” In: Globalizacja i co dalej? Prace zbiorowa, edited by S. Amsterdamski. Warszawa: Wydawn. Instytutu Filozofii i Socjologii PAN, pp. 15–30.

13. W. Pindlowa, 2005. “O zjawisku globalizacji coraz bardziej widocznym w pracy bibliotek,” In: Biblioteki naukowe w kulturze i cywilizacji. Działania i codzienność. Poznań: BGPP, pp. 48–49.

14. Among others: W. Pindlowa, J. Wojciechowski, G. Piotrowicz.

15. G. Piotrowicz, 2003. “Polskie biblioteki uczelniane u progu XXI wieku,” Roczniki Biblioteczne, Ann. 47, pp. 4–5.

16. J. Sójka, 1994. “Promocja w strategii biblioteki,” Zeszyty Naukowe Akademii Ekonomicznej w Poznaniu, no. 136.

17. W. Pindlowa, op.cit., p. 47.

18. K. Winogrodzka, 2005. “Raport o stanie automatyzacji bibliotek publicznych 2004,” Bibliotekarz 2005, no. 2, p. 5.

19. Ibid.

20. J. Wojciechowski, 2002. Idee i rzeczywistość: Bibliotekarstwo pragmatyczne. Warszawa: Wydaw. SBP, p. 36.

21. R. Żelazny, 2003. “Globalizacja jako proces przepływów technologii, wiedzy i informacji — sprzężenia zwrotne,” In: Problemy i kontrowersje wokół globalizacji, Part 1, edited by E. Okoń–Horodyńska. Katowice: Wydaw. Akademii Ekonomicznej, p. 87.

22. Ibid.

23. M. McLuhan, 2004. Zrozumieć media: Przedłużenia człowieka. Warszawa: Wydawnictwa Naukowo–Techniczne, pp. 144; 458.

24. “Measuring globalization, globalization index” (2005 May/June), at http://www.atkearney.com (accessed 2 July 2006).

25. M. Kaku, 2000. Wizje czyli jak nauka zmieni świat w XXI wieku, Warszawa: Prószynski i S–ka, pp. 50; 80.

26. Raport Strategiczny IAB Polska. Internet 2004, Polska, Europa i świat, Supl. to Brief 2005, no.5 (68), p. 10.

27. Ibid.

28. D. Batorski, 2006. “Korzystanie z nowych technologii: Uwarunkowania, sposoby i konsekwencje,” In: Diagnoza społeczna 2005: Warunki i jakość życia Polaków, edited by J. Czapiński and T. Panek. Warszawa: Wydawn. “Vizja Press & IT”, pp. 269–293.

29. D. Batorski, op.cit., p.270.

30. “Polski Internet rośnie w siłę,” Magazyn Internet (2005 Juni) no. 117, pp. 50–52.

31. “Measuring globalization, globalization index 2005, Internet Users data,” at http://www.atkerney.com (accessed 2 July 2006); Raport strategiczny IAB Polska. Internet 2004, Polska, Europa, świat, Suppl. to “Brief” 2005 no. 5 (68), p. 10.

32. See Table 2: The state of computerisation of Polish public libraries.

33. J. Bielawski, 2000. “Wpływ globalizacji na wielostronną współpracę gospodarczą,” Sprawy Międzynarodowe, no. 1, p. 34.

34. L.W. Zacher, 2002. “Społeczne wymiary ‘nowej gospodarki’,” Nowe Życie Gospodarcze, no. 9, p. 4.

35. M. Rymsza (editor), 2005. Elastyczny rynek pracy i bezpieczeństwo socjalne: Flexicurity po polsku? Warszawa: Instytut Spraw Publicznych, p. 196.

36. A. Kukliński, 2001. “Gospodarka oparta na wiedzy jako wyzwanie dla Polski XXI wieku (szkic memoriału),” In: Gospodarka oparta na wiedzy: Wyzwanie dla Polski XXI wieku, edited by A. Kukliński. Warszawa: Komitet Badan Naukowych, pp. 13–20.

37. A. Karpiński, 2004. “Przyszłość gospodarki opartej na wiedzy w Polsce a rynek pracy,” Polska 2000 Plus, no. 1, pp. 20–21.

38. The most recent regulations: “Ustawa z dnia 17 lutego 2005 o informatyzacji działalności podmiotów realizaujących zadania publiczne,” Dziennik Ustaw 2005 no. 64, position 565, [at]: “Rozporządzenie Ministra Spraw Wewnętrznych i Administracji z 14 marca 2006 w sprawie kryteriów i trybu przeznaczania oraz rozliczania środków finansowych na informatyzację, Dziennik Ustaw 2006 no. 53, position 388.

39. A. Karpiński, op.cit., p. 21.

40. For information on the official Web sites of French schools and library organisations see http://abf.asso.fr and http://www.carrieres-publiques.com. Professions connected with research and information are divided into 13 branches, with the twelfth including professions connected with information, communication, and publishing.

41. “Inżynierowie są w cenie, Politechnika Wrocławska bada lokalny rynek pracy,” Gazeta Wyborcza 30 March 2006 no.76, Suppl. Gazeta Dolnośląska, p. 8.

42. Research of the Wrocław University of Economics and the Main Institute of Mining in Katowice Rynek pracy aglomeracji wrocławskiej. Stan i perspektywy, [at]: A. Karpiński, 2004. “Przyszłość gospodarki opartej na wiedzy w Polsce a rynek pracy,” Polska 2000 Plus, no. 1, pp. 30–31.

43. M. Rymsza (editor), 2005. Elastyczny rynek pracy i bezpieczeństwo socjalne, op.cit., pp. 197–201.

44. A. Rajkiewicz, 2004. “Wyniki spisu powszechnego z 2002 r. a strategia długookresowa,” Polska 2000 Plus, no. 1, pp. 11–19.

45. A. Rajkiewicz, op.cit., p. 19.

46. Polska 2005. Raport o stanie gospodarki, Warszawa 2005, p. 210.

47. Ibid.

48. Prognoza demograficzna na lata 2003–2030, Warszawa 2004, p. 16.

49. The demographic burden rate is a ratio of the number of people in after–productive age to those in productive age.

50. R. Rauziński, 2004. “Stałe i czasowe migracje zagraniczne a rynek pracy w Polsce,” In: Społeczne i regionalne aspekty przemian strukturalnych w polskiej gospodarce okresu transformacji, edited by Z. Mikołajewicz. Opole: Wydawn. Uniwersytetu Opolskiego, p. 38.

51. Polska 2005. Raport o stanie gospodarki, Warszawa 2005, p. 75.

52. L. Frąckiewicz and A. Rączaszek (editors), 2004. Kapitał społeczny: Praca zbiorowa. Katowice: Wydawnictwo Akademii Ekonomicznej im Karola Adamieckiego, p. 7.

53. In the nineties in elementary and post–elementary schools there was introduced an obligatory subject: information techniques.

54. M. Kaku, 2000. Wizje czyli jak nauka zmieni świat w XXI wieku, Warszawa: Prószynski i S–ka, p. 31.

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About the authors

Ewa Parzonka is Head of Periodical Section at Wrocław University of Economics Main Library.
E–mail: ewa1 [at] wp [dot] pl

Elżbieta Pieńkowska is Head of Cataloging Department at Wrocław University of Economics Main Library.
E–mail: : elzbieta [dot] pienkowska [at] ae [dot] wroc [dot] pl

Please note that this paper is joint work of both authors, each author contributing 50 percent of the content.

© 2008 Ewa Parzonka and Elżbieta Pieńkowska.