World Libraries: Joint electronic catalogue of major libraries’ resources to be set up in Belarus

A joint electronic catalogue of major libraries’ resources is being set up in Belorussia. From the beginning it will bring together catalogues of the National Library of Belarus, Republican Library for Science and Technology of Belarus, the Central Scientific Library of the National Academy of Sciences of Belarus. Later it will add catalogues of other libraries of the Republic. In particular, Oblast libraries are also expected to join the catalogue in 2012. It will offer open access to its resources, its users will be enabled to easily and in no time find necessary literature via Internet and order it.

As for today, electronic catalogues of the National Library of Belarus, all large libraries and Oblast libraries are separately available on Internet.

The National Library of Belarus has considerably increased national electronic service for country’s libraries and users. There are over 2 million inquiries to all the library’s funds. Over 67% inquiries are submitted via electronic service. It first and foremost deals with “Ask librarian” service. Among other frequently used services is a virtual center which offers legal information. Patrons can order documents and have them delivered online. Patron of the library can make any inquiry and then receive a response from the National Library of Belarus.

Now libraries are currently creating fragments of their electronic libraries. The fragment of such a library with a local access has been created at the main library of the country as well.

The library has opened 38 electronic reading rooms at Oblast libraries and libraries of country’s major universities. Via these virtual reading rooms the National Library of Belarus has provided access to its own electronic resources, these are before all the resources connected with memorial dates calendar, history, and ethnography of Belarus. Regions also have an access to world resources via the National Library of Belarus virtual reading rooms.

The National Library of Belarus has been expanding its international activities. To date it is developing its international relations with foreign national libraries worldwide: the USA, Europe, Asia, Scandinavian countries and Baltic States. It has lately signed about 20 agreements with various libraries of the world.