Croatian Libraries Research Articles

Information privacy culture in Croatian libraries

PurposeThe research aims to establish the predictors of the acceptance of technical and organizational measures for the protection of personal data to ensure information privacy in Croatian libraries, starting from the constructs of the APCO Macro Model.Design/methodology/approachTwo data collection methods were used: the online survey questionnaire method and the analysis of the websites of independent libraries in the Republic of Croatia.FindingsThe results show that the acceptance of measures for personal data protection by a library manager is mostly influenced by perceived knowledge, while culture and trust have a positive correlation of moderate strength. Awareness has a low positive correlation, and privacy experience is not statistically related to the acceptance of measures. There is no statistically significant difference in the acceptance of measures for the protection of personal data concerning age and work experience in the profession. There is a statistically significant correlation between compliance with the principle of transparency and the size of the library.Originality/valueThe study is valuable as it examined the characteristics of the culture of information privacy in libraries and determined the existence and impact of factors that influence ensuring the information privacy of users in Croatian libraries.

The Concept of Controlled Digital Lending: Possibilities of Application in Croatian Libraries

The purpose of this paper is to investigate the relationship between the recommendations of the international library communities and the modern legislative framework in the Republic of Croatia on issues of copyright and related rights regarding libraries and e-lending. In 2021, a new Copyright and Related Rights Act entered into force in Croatia, and in recent years, especially in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic, more attention has been paid in the literature to the concept of the so-called Controlled Digital Lending (CDL) which helps fulfil the mission of libraries in supporting research, education and participation in cultural life within the limits of existing copyright laws. The CDL allows the library to circulate a digitized title instead of a physical copy, provided that the loan must take place in a controlled manner: the loan may contain as many copies of the title as the library has legally acquired. As a concept, CDL is an interesting and suitable solution for the uninterrupted provision of library services in cases of extraordinary circumstances such as a pandemic. Given that has its roots in the American legal system that is significantly different from European legal framework of copyright, IFLA in the Statement of controlled loan e-books (IFLA Statement on controlled digital lending) published in June 2021 recommends considering the application of the CDL in the framework of national legislation, so the paper will present the position of the international library community on lending e-books expressed in the Declaration and consider the possibilities of e-lending and digital copying of printed books and its lending according to the CDL concept in the context of the new Copyright and Related Rights Act and in general within the framework of contemporary Croatian and European legislation.

Information needs and behaviour of incarcerated persons in Croatia: findings from a national quantitative study

This paper examines the information behaviour and information needs of incarcerated persons in Croatian correctional facilities. A total of 620 printed questionnaires were mailed to six Croatian penitentiaries and administered to prisoners who were serving a long-term period sentence. Sample included both male and female prisoners with the response rate of 81%. The data was analysed with the help of statistical software SPSS. Almost all incarcerated persons that participated in this study have a greater need for information while in prison than they had before incarceration. The largest majority of respondents require information about the life in penitentiary, information about their family members and friends, and information about life-after-prison. In most cases, respondents seek required information from their family members and friends. Very rarely are their varied educational, informational, legal and recreational needs met by a prison library. The findings indicate that about a third of respondents revealed that their current information needs were not met and that Croatian prison libraries are unequipped to meet information needs of incarcerated persons. In order to change present situation, better cooperation between Croatian Library Association and Croatian prison administration is needed.

Croatian public libraries in time of crisis

Croatian public libraries faced complex processes in society at the turn of the 20th into the 21st century – a time of transition and transformation in Croatia. During this period, Croatia shifted towards democracy and modernization. Its constitution (now seen as a geopolitical and cultural entity), extraordinary conditions of war disaster in the Homeland War 1991–1995, and conditions of the post-war period all presented unique challenges for public libraries in Croatia. In addition, Croatian libraries have also been influenced by characteristics of the information society that occurs trans-nationally and trans-societally (among all globalization processes and permeating all aspects of life with information and communication technology). Croatian libraries had to transform their traditional role of lending books and acting as cultural heritage institutions to follow international modern library trends in the information age as multifunctional information, educational, cultural and communication centres of their local communities. The aim of this article is to give a historical review of public libraries’ accommodation to these turbulent changes in Croatian society, as well as in the world in the last few decades.

Croatian library leaders’ views on (their) library quality

The purpose of this paper is to determine and describe the library culture in Croatian public libraries. Semi-structured interviews with 14 library directors (ten public and four academic) were conducted. The tentative discussion topics were: definition of quality, responsibility for quality, satisfaction with library services, familiarization with user perspective of library and librarians, monitoring of user expectations and opinions. These interviews incorporate some of the findings of the project Evaluation of library and information services: public and academic libraries. The project investigates library culture in Croatian public and academic libraries and their preparedness for activities of performance measurement. The interviews reveal that library culture has changed positively in the past few years and that library leaders have positive attitude towards quality and evaluation activities. Library culture in Croatian libraries is a relatively new concept and as such was not actively developed and/or created. This article looks into the library culture of Croatian libraries, but at the same time investigates whether there is any trace of culture of assessment in them. Also, this article brings the latest update on views, opinions and atmosphere in Croatian public and academic libraries.

Translations of IFLA's documents published by the Croatian Library Association - analysis, status, prospects

The paper provides an overview of the Croatian translation of IFLA documents, guidelines, manuals and standards published by the Croatian Library Association (CLA), including both documents as standalone editions in monographs and parts of proceedings or serial publications. For this purpose we have made the bibliography of translations including the year 2014. Data on the published translations have been analyzed according to quantitative and qualitative parameters. Based on the collected data, the author has tried to determine if there is a need for further publication of translations of IFLA's documents in the edition of CLA. The paper provides an insight into the issue of publishing by professional associations in Croatia.

The History of Jesuit Libraries in Croatia

The purpose of this study is to provide a historical overview of the Jesuit libraries in Croatia from their foundation to the present. The first known libraries were at Jesuit high schools, called “colleges,” established during the seventeenth century. This article deals with foundation of libraries at the Jesuit colleges in Zagreb, Varaždin, Požega, Rijeka, and Dubrovnik, emphasizing their role supporting education and the dissemination of knowledge. These libraries were witness to a strong influence of Jesuits colleges on the spiritual, educational, and intellectual life of many Croats. Highlighted in this respect is the famous library of the Jesuit school in Dubrovnik (Collegium Ragusinum). After the suppression of Jesuit order in 1773, the colleges were closed, and their libraries scattered and plundered. Nevertheless, many books survived. Portions of the collections of the former Jesuit colleges are today an invaluable part of the patrimony of the largest Croatian libraries.

Libraries in Croatia: Developments and Trends in the Postsocialist Period

In the last two decades, Croatian libraries have been influenced by four key factors: 1) becoming an independent state with new sociopolitical and economic systems in the 1990s, during which time the state transformed from socialism to a democracy with a market economy; 2) reconstructing after the devastation brought by war; 3) developing information and communication technologies; and 4) experiencing the effects of a global economic crisis, the impact of which is still strongly evident throughout Croatia. The present state of libraries in Croatia indicates that the profession of librarianship and libraries are facing many problems. Yet, there is also a sign of the significant potential resulting from the long tradition of librarianship in Croatian history, and the relatively high level of library development that had occurred centuries prior to the process of transition brought by upheaval in the late twentieth century. During the postsocialist period, libraries in Croatia saw the continued evolution of a historical, legal, and normative library framework invested in librarianship as a service to the public, coupled with an increase in international networking, cooperation, and education. The rapid global advancement of information and communications technologies in the last decade of the twentieth century expedited the construction of the technological infrastructure necessary to building Croatian libraries, enabling their innovation. At the present time, the country’s libraries are characterized by a focus on the information needs of their patrons that is guided by the principle of freedom of access to information.

Perception and Adoption of Change Management in Information Institutions: A Study from Croatia

AbstractThis paper explores the way in which professional staff employed in information institutions perceive changes and different aspects of change management. The research focuses on Croatian libraries, museums and archives, as public and non-profit organizations. The influence of five background variables (institution, gender, age, level of education, and position) was examined in the analysis. The results show that professionals are only partially satisfied with the changes in their institutions. The type of institution they work in, and the position in the management structure proved to be strong predictors of differences in satisfaction ratings. Factor analysis has revealed three factors: change management mechanisms, impact of change on users and local community, and importance and necessity of change. These factors represent the underlying constructs of the professional staff’s perceptions of change and change management. With respect to the background variables, employees generally have similar attitudes toward the latent factors. They are aware that change is important and that well managed changes improve effectiveness and efficiency. However, from their responses, it is clear that change management is not performed properly. Based on the extracted factors, the survey subjects are classified into four clusters. The study highlights some critical areas of change management in information institutions. Since theory and practice of change management in such organizations have been largely disregarded, the paper contributes to a better understanding of these issues.

An analysis of job satisfaction among Croatian librarians as support to library human resource management

In the ICT-dominated world, libraries are facing major challenges in an attempt to fulfil their functions. If libraries are to respond adequately to rapid and complex changes, they need highly skilled and motivated employees. As people are an organization’s greatest asset, human resource management in libraries should be given proper attention. Different questions related to job satisfaction are definitely crucial for efficient human resource management. This paper presents the results of research focused on the way in which librarians in Eastern Croatia perceive certain aspects of their work. The analysis shows that Eastern Croatian librarians have a relatively positive attitude to their work, but they are less satisfied with their social status, salary levels, working conditions, possibilities for further training, and interpersonal relations at work. To a large extent, the results of this study indicate that human resource management in Eastern Croatian libraries needs to be improved. Statistical methods were also used to examine the differences in librarians’ opinions with regard to gender, age, professional title and the type of libraries they work in.

Picture-books

Early literacy has recently become a current topic, and there’s a widespread belief that literacy startsdeveloping almost as soon as the child is born, if the child is surrounded with adequate materials and persons who will motivate the development of literacy. The first structured reading materials that a child interacts with are picture-books. It is usually the first contact a child has with literature and a written word in general, and it happens during childhood, the child's most sensitive period, which is why it is important to pay special attention to the quality of picture-books. Croatian picture-books published till the early 80ies of the past century have been investigated to a some extent. However, the picture-books found on the Croatian market and in the libraries in the past 30 years have been the subject of research only sporadically. There's little data on the quality and features of this multifunctional material that is of such great importance for children. The aim of the paper is to give an overview of the relevant data found in literature on the historical development of picture-book publishing, their features, functions they help develop, their age-appropriateness, and quality. The paper presents research results stemming from the analysis of the Croatian Children's Book Centre documentation on contemporary picture-book publishing and data on the language of picture-books that are the result of a picture-book corpus study made as part of the PhD research by the author. The data on contemporary authors and illustrators was obtained by analysing the documentation of the Croatian Library Association, Commission for library services for children and youth. The language of the picture-book corpus was analysed using a computer programme, i.e. the analysis was conducted of the lexical diversity of picture-books for three-year olds. The picture-books have not been investigated from the linguistic perspective before, which makes this research innovative. The findings and results of this research can be applicable in picture-book publishing, first of all in changing the attitude of publishers, i.e. their approach to age-appropriateness and quality of picture-books. The aim of the paper is to give on overview of the picture-book situation, trying to raise awareness of the importance of their quality and potential, and spark off further picture-book research in different fields of arts and sciences. Thus, this paper will have an indirect practical value that may affect the current practice.

Customer satisfaction at the Faculty of Philosophy Library in Osijek, Croatia

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to present the findings of the customer satisfaction survey of the Faculty of Philosophy in Osijek Library. The purpose of the survey was to determine the level of satisfaction among two customer groups: students and faculty.Design/methodology/approachThe methodology utilised was a five‐page satisfaction questionnaire.FindingsThis paper presents the findings of the first customer satisfaction survey of the Faculty of Philosophy in Osijek Library. The satisfaction data are collected as a part of a wider library evaluation program and present the first step in future continuous measurement of customers’ expectations and their satisfaction.Research limitations/implicationsThe structure and the size of the sample do not secure the representativeness. Among the student population, the paper was distributed only to those who visited the library, which, in a way, reduces the validity of the sample (those who are dissatisfied with library services may avoid the library). Among the faculty, the survey was distributed via e‐mail, but some faculty members do not check their e‐mail accounts regularly (or not at all).Originality/valueThis is the first measurement of customer satisfaction for the Faculty of Philosophy in Osijek Library. Furthermore, there are only a few similar papers that report on research in Croatian libraries in international literature.

Gifts in Croatian public and academic libraries

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to provide information on handling gifts‐in‐kind in Croatian public and academic libraries. It also recommends what should be done to improve practice with gifts for collections.Design/methodology/approachThe paper is based on the author's research conducted using an anonymous online questionnaire that was sent to Croatian public libraries (n=139) and academic libraries (n=73) in May 2011. After a two‐week period, a total of 84 responses was received (40 public libraries and 44 academic libraries). In statistical analysis, some variables are tested by χ2‐test to show whether differences between public and academic libraries are statistically significant.FindingsThe majority of Croatian libraries do not have gift policy statements. Gifts do have a significant part in collection building, especially in Croatian academic libraries, but are not always handled in the right way (i.e. according to IFLA's guidelines). This paper shows the quantity of gifts in the libraries, librarians' reasons for not accepting some gifts, librarians' methods in dealing with gifts, and their way of communicating with donors or potential donors.Originality/valueThis paper gives results of the first complete study of gift policies in Croatian public and academic libraries. In conclusion, a need for a written gift policy in Croatian libraries is emphasized and some recommendations are given.

Measuring Croatian public and academic library culture

PurposeThis paper aims to present the results of interviews conducted with public library directors and academic Chief Librarians on various topics connected with library quality in order to determine the library culture in those libraries.Design/methodology/approachSemi‐structured interviews were conducted with ten library directors.FindingsThese interviews represent some of the findings of the project “Evaluation of library and information services: public and academic libraries”. The project investigates library culture in Croatian public and academic libraries and their preparedness for the introduction performance measurement activities. The interviews reveal that library culture has changed positively over the last few years and that library leaders now have a positive attitude towards quality and evaluation activities.Research limitations/implicationsThe findings from the interviews with ten library directors form only a small part of the results of a much larger and comprehensive data gathering exercise (including survey and statistical data).Originality/valueLibrary culture in Croatian libraries is a relatively new concept and as such has not been actively developed and/or created. This article brings the newest update on views, opinions and atmosphere in Croatian public and academic libraries.

Knjižarski katalozi kao izvori za povijest knjige

Cilj je rada na temelju analize knjižarskog kataloga (Obznanenye) Novoselove knjižareistražiti povijest knjige i čitanja u Zagrebu na prijelazu iz 18. u 19. stoljeće. Analiziranije katalog objavljen 1800. ili 1801. godine. Pretpostavka je da su Novosel i njegovisuradnici i nasljednici ponudu u knjižari temeljili na zahtjevima čitatelja. Rast ponude,ali i potražnje za knjigama poticao je i nove oblike oglašavanja, tj. pojavu samostalnihprodajnih kataloga. Slijedom toga analizirani knjižarski katalog predstavlja novioblik oglašavanja koji oslikava kulturno i intelektualno stanje i potrebe zagrebačkihčitatelja toga doba. Djela navedena u katalogu analizirana su s obzirom na jezik, žanr i zemlju tiska.Posebno su analizirana djela tiskana u Hrvatskoj i djela pisana na hrvatskom jeziku. Prianalizi kataloga korištena je i baza Skupnog kataloga hrvatskih knjižnica pomoću kojesu rekonstruirane godine tiska i tiskari hrvatskih knjiga koji nisu navedeni u katalogu.Jezična i žanrovska analiza kataloga pokazala je da se u Zagrebu na prijelazu iz 18.u 19. stoljeće tiskalo najviše knjiga na hrvatskom, a u knjižarama je u ponudi bilonajviše knjiga na njemačkom jeziku. Žanrovska analiza ukazala je na velik broj knjiga spodručja književnosti, gospodarstva i znanosti, što svjedoči o utjecaju prosvjetiteljstvana knjižarsku ponudu, iako je i dalje u ponudi bilo mnogo djela s područja teologije.Budući da se knjižarstvo u to doba moralo temeljiti na zahtjevima čitatelja, dokazanaje opravdanost analize knjižarskih kataloga kao izvora za povijest knjige, povijestčitanja i povijest kulture općenito.

Anonymity of library users in The Netherlands and Croatia

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to document a joint research project aimed at investigating the existing library practices regarding protection of personal data, in view of computerization of libraries and its consequences, and awareness of the privacy (anonymity) of the library users that was carried out simultaneously in The Netherlands and Croatia in the autumn of 2007.Design/methodology/approachThe research was a continuation of an ongoing cooperation between The Netherlands Public Library Association and the Department of Information Sciences, University of Zagreb. A questionnaire was developed based on previously conducted interviews with librarians and survey of recent literature on anonymity. It was carried out online via a special link on the web site of The Netherlands Public Library Association and sent by e‐mail to selected libraries in Croatia.FindingsReplies obtained from 65 Dutch and 33 Croatian libraries of all types have been compared and commented in the paper. The research shows that despite existing differences in library facilities librarians in both countries have not yet become fully aware of all aspects of privacy issues that new services provided by the new technology have brought about, nor received adequate training or taken appropriate measures.Research limitations/implicationsFurther research on library practices regarding data protection and measures and steps to be taken by libraries in order to improve the present inadequacies can be envisaged in future.Originality/valueThe paper provides information on data security issues in Dutch and Croatian libraries.

Quality measurement of Croatian public and academic libraries: a methodology

PurposeThis paper aims to present the proposed methodology for the first scientific project to evaluate Croatian academic and public library services.Design/methodology/approachThe project shown in the paper will: collect statistical data on state‐of‐the‐art in libraries, as well as public and academic library staff opinions on evaluation activities in their libraries; define dimensions of effectiveness that will differentiate academic and public libraries; show differences in views between library management and staff; and encourage more positive attitude of library staff toward evaluation activities.FindingsThe paper finds that the possible obstacles to creating a positive climate for performance measurement in the Croatian library and information science community might be, among other things: insufficient number of staff, inexperience and lack of skills needed for data collection and processing, lack of motivation, fear of being made redundant, etc. This project will hopefully help uncover all the weak spots of Croatian library community. However, certain problems are anticipated in getting Croatian librarians to express their real opinions.Practical implicationsThe project is considered of utmost importance for the Croatian LIS community because it will not only describe the present situation, but it will also draw attention to evaluation topics preparing librarians by the means of a set of workshops and an evaluation manual designed especially for Croatian library community for systematic and dedicated work on measurement and improvement of library services.Originality/valueThe paper shows that this is the first project of its type in Croatia.

Continuing education of librarians in Croatia: problems and prospects

Prior to the recent establishment of the Training Centre for Continuing Education of Librarians, training of librarians in Croatia had been organized sporadically by several organizations in the field. For the majority of librarians, however, professional education could have easily ended with diploma, because there has been no legal obligation to attend any form of further education. The first attempt to establish a consistent pattern of continuing education for librarians in the whole country was made when four major organizations in the library field, the National and University Library, Zagreb City Libraries, Croatian Library Association and Department of Information Sciences, Faculty of Philosophy, signed an agreement on the establishment of the Training Centre. The programme of the Centre was successfully launched in February 2002. However, further activities of the Centre might become seriously hampered by the lack of legal provision for continuing education that makes it difficult for librarians to obtain leave, lack of funding allocated in library budgets for the education, and the impossibility of relating professional development to professional promotion.

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

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.

Wounded Libraries in Croatia. Ed. Tatjana Aparac-Gazivoda and Dragutin Katalenac. Trans., Vesna Vrgoč. Zagreb: Croatian Library Association, 1993. 58 pp. Index. Illustrations. Paper.

Wounded Libraries in Croatia. Ed. Tatjana Aparac-Gazivoda and Dragutin Katalenac. Trans., Vesna Vrgoč. Zagreb: Croatian Library Association, 1993. 58 pp. Index. Illustrations. Paper. - Volume 55 Issue 2