Publishing and Librarianship in Central and Eastern Europe: The Needs to Join Forces

Abstract

Some interesting findings result from an analysis of the post-1990 publishing and bookselling scene in various Central and East European countries (Albania, Bosnia and Hercegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Czech Republic, Hungary, Macedonia, Poland, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, and Yugoslavia). The number of small and medium size publishers is growing, as are the number and diversity of titles published. Bookstore networks are disintegrating, state subsidies to publishing have ceased, and many publishers do not submit legal deposit copies to the national library. Electronic publishing is growing slowly but steadily, and there is an increase in expert assistance and financial subsidies from western countries. Whereas librarianship can continue building on its existing infrastructure, the publishing industry has little professional experience. Both have in common a major interest in information and communication technology, especially electronic publishing and long-term preservation of digital material. The fact that these activities are still in a development stage gives CEE countries some advantage compared with developed countries, but practical advance depends on expert knowledge. There are several areas of possible cooperation between librarianship and publishing in Central and Eastern Europe, mainly concerned with research and education.