The libraries of the European Union institutions: present and possibilities for further development

The core of the European Union is made up of individual institutions. These institutions have their own libraries, which significantly contribute on the creation of an information policy of the EU information policy. In this paper I introduce libraries of five EU institutions (the European Commission, the European Parliament, the Council of the European Union, the Court of Justice of the European Union, the European Court of Auditors). I describe their significance and function within the institution, its services and access for the user. On the example of the Central Library of the European Commission I try to demonstrate that the library serves its purpose and manages a network of libraries of the European Commission, but individual libraries in the network do not work in a uniform manner and do not cooperate too much. There is no common and centralized information strategy and policy of information resources and miss a common rules and procedures for working and functioning of the libraries. Cooperation between libraries of the EU institutions is not much better. Probably the only form of cooperation between the libraries is a network of European institutions - Eurolib - within which libraries communicates with each other and jointly promotes wider awareness of Europe and its problems. In the conclusion, I will try to suggest way how to deal with this situation.

Soňa Fryščáková

Ústav informačních studií a knihovnictví
Univerzita Karlova v Praze, Filozofická fakulta
U Kříže 8
158 00 Praha 5-Jinonice