Enache, Part 4
4. The Integration of Romanian Libraries in European and World Structures
We can overcome the present crisis in Romanian librarianship only by integrating Romania into Europe and the rest of the world. This essential integration into European and world structures cannot exclude the informational integration, and along with this the integration of libraries, since information represents first of all an element of order in modern society and secondly, the integration itself is a process which takes place on the basis of information provision. Libraries in this context must become the strongest of all supports to promote values, equality and the triumph of democratic principles.
To conclude, I would like to suggest some priorities which would allow the integration of Romanian and Eastern European libraries in the extended family of international librarianship:
- Defining a European library policy (elaboration of a White Charter of libraries);
- Perfecting library education;
- Perfecting library management.
- Creating international standards for libraries evaluation.
- Designing networks and systems with clear objectives based on universally compatible guidelines.
- Mutual action for the triumph of informational option.
- Establishing cooperation through coordinated programs.
- Creating a European code of deontology for librarians.
In the future, library science education will depend on the progress of library activities. Although the dynamics of information technology will cause rapid transformation, in the future libraries will have the same function: the active participation in the generation and development of a number of human values such as beauty, hope of an ideal, justice and knowledge.
The future of library science education will be conditioned by librarians’ understanding of the purpose and function of the library in the present.