Information, reference and document supply ‐ new priorities for national libraries

Abstract

Discusses the fact that national libraries are mainly thought of as symbols of national pride but otherwise may be considered to be incapable of meeting a nation’s information needs. The maintenance of the nation’s reserve collection of books was in the past, and still remains, their principal task. Before we can study the way in which a society regards its libraries, we have to consider those elements which make up their infrastructure, and the environment in which other services and products germinate and prosper. The wealth of a country depends on its economy; the fact that good information is needed for industrial growth and for economic and social development, gives added value to information and reference resources, and the document supply services that a library provides. Analyses the present situation concerning the Croatian library infrastructure and considers future plans for services that could be organised within the National and University Library.

Citation

Mihalic, M. (1998), "Information, reference and document supply ‐ new priorities for national libraries", Library Management, Vol. 19 No. 6, pp. 366-370. https://doi.org/10.1108/01435129810220958