Sarah McClung Professor Wildemuth UNC SILS Prague Study Abroad September 6, 2010 A Brief History of Czech Medical Libraries Medical libraries provide library and information services for both professionals and the general public by acquiring sources of scientific medical and health information. The extensive library system found in the Czech Republic includes these special libraries that focus on consumer health for the general public and scientific medical information for researchers and healthcare providers. In order to understand the current situation of Czech medical libraries and their position in the field at large in both the Czech Republic and internationally, one must consider their past as well as the intertwining history of Czech libraries in general. An occasionally tumultuous political and economic atmosphere was a pervasive force in the history of the Czech Republic and the development of the nation s libraries was no exception. The Czech medical libraries of today were undeniably shaped by the lasting effects of the great struggles of the country. Further discussions about two main institutions in the Czech medical library field, the National Medical Library and the Institute of Health Information and Statistics, as well as mentioning the libraries participation on an international level will facilitate a better comprehension of the current efforts and accomplishments of Czech medical libraries. The first university library in Czechoslovakia was founded when Charles University was established in 1348. Aside from the standard religious books, it also began to collect volumes on numerous scientific subjects, including medicine (Libraries of 11). During the Age of Enlightenment over the course of the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries, public interest in science and, subsequently, scientific literature flourished. Public reading rooms began to appear in Czechoslovakia at the end of the eighteenth century and municipal public libraries, founded
McClung 2 predominately by local reading associations, followed in the beginning of the nineteenth century. Under the influence of the spreading of printed books and libraries and thanks to the increase in general literacy the conditions were created for books to become a cultural necessity (Libraries of 12). Also at this time, scientific and specialized libraries saw a rapid expansion of their collections. Some of them began obtaining subsidies from state and local governments. With the development of new fields of science and institutes there was also an increase in the number of special and research libraries and specialized technical, commercial, legal, medical, agricultural and statistical libraries were established (Libraries of 13). In 1919, the first Library Law, number 430, was passed by the Czechoslovak Parliament. Named the Law on Communal Public Libraries, it required every community to establish and maintain an adequate public library (Kase 155). This law also enabled Czechoslovak public library standards to resemble those of international libraries. During the German occupation of Czechoslovakia from 1939-45, development of the public libraries was considerably stifled (Libraries of 13-4). Even though Czechoslovak libraries experienced destruction during both World Wars, the losses suffered during the occupations were less serious than the Communist weeding policies after 1945 and 1948. When the German occupation ended in 1945, the Czechoslovak government was turned over to the national committees. These committees were ruled by radial left-wing parties among which the Communist Party dominated. Public libraries, as agencies of the local government, were entirely at the mercy of the Communists (Kase 156). Even though the country was ruled by Communists after the liberation, library development began again. Despite clear indications that the Law of 1919 was no longer abided by and that the library climate had changed, it was not abolished after World War II. Instead, the irrelevant law was reinforced. Also, international lending was once again an offered service (Libraries of 14).
McClung 3 The First Congress of the Czechoslovak Librarians was held in May 1948. The result of this groundbreaking meeting was the adoption of a centralized reorganization of the library systems. The resolutions of the Congress called for abandonment of the dual system of research and popular libraries and for placing all libraries under direct administrative supervision of the governmental organs (Kase 157). Communist ideology was the biggest influence in the formation of this unification. Under the new system, libraries could only be established by the national government, local governments, or by certain approved associations. In 1952, the Ministry of Information and Culture mandated the cooperation of all Czechoslovak libraries in the establishment of an interlibrary loan system. Over time, this initiative unfortunately did not live up to expectations. Even though the librarian congress proposed the idea of centralized library systems in 1948, the authoritative step toward unification was not made until after the Communist coup in February 1958 (Kase 157). In 1959, the second Library Law, number 53, was passed. This law, named the Law Concerning the Unified System of Libraries, officially created a fully centralized system of libraries in Czechoslovakia under the direct control of the Communist government. The nation s public libraries were no longer independent units, but merely parts of the greater system (Kase 154). The original idea for this type of library organization came from Vladimir Lenin s speech during the First Congress of the Extra-Curriculum Education Workers in May 1919: We must utilize all books in our possession, and organize the libraries in a network which would enable the people to make a full use of all available books; we must create not parallel organizations, but a single, planned system (Kase 164). Libraries were divided into networks according to the different types of libraries- public, school, medical, scientific, etcetera (Libraries of 14). The networks were supervised by a specialized ministry according to the type of libraries in the
McClung 4 network. The ministry in charge decided upon the central library for each network, starting the second hierarchical level after the overruling national library (Kase 158). District, municipal, and local libraries followed in the chain (Libraries of 14, 22). With so many levels of supervision, the networked libraries functioned under little autonomy (Kase 158). Public health libraries were considered specialized public libraries and, therefore, had their own network under the new law. These public health libraries could be found in schools with public health programs, hospitals, and various health institutions. As of 1961, there were 1,050 medical libraries with 800,000 volumes in Czechoslovakia. Additionally, there were 530 hospital libraries with over 350,000 volumes (Kase 159). The Library Law of 1959 also created library boards or library commissions that assisted the newly founded library networks on administrative and coordinating levels. The regional and district library commissions included members from all the library networks, including public health. They were in close contract with the educational and cultural commissions of the national committees and [assisted] them in matters concerning the unified library system, book acquisitions, and book promotion (Kase 163). They also offered assistance with interlibrary loan services, bibliographic services, and training for both professional and volunteer librarians (Libraries of 23). Perhaps more influential than supervision over selection and lending policies was the ideological control the Communist party had over the libraries through the library commissions, as they were merely instruments of the ruling political party. The centralization of the Czechoslovak libraries entirely [eliminated] independent acquisition and selection policies of research libraries which, in view of their highly specialized nature, formerly enjoyed at least a limited degree of freedom from too close supervision by the party organs (Kase 164).
McClung 5 While the elimination of the duplication of resources and, therefore, cost, were pros to the Communist unified library system in Czechoslovakia, there were many cons to the system (Kase 163). Censorship played a large role in Communist rule. Public library collections were purged of trash literature, including romances, mysteries, Westerns, and any anti-marxist and anti- Socialist works. Fortunately for medical and health libraries, literature about science, medicine, and public health were largely exempt from being censored, as per Article II of the Decree of the Ministry of Education, Number 63/1953 (Kase 160). Even though medical literature was not subject to all the extremes of censorship, there were measures in place to evaluate such material to ensure that the literature met the approval of professionals: Sometimes an entire scientific team [was] used for expert appreciation, especially when planning a purchase of foreign journals from non-socialist countries (Peska, New Approaches 65). These appraisals also reinforced that, starting from the central library, the acquisition policies would be consistent throughout the entire network of medical libraries (Peska, New Approaches 64). The aforementioned speech Lenin made in 1919 for the education workers implied the possibility that Czechoslovakia was experiencing a book shortage. Many believed that that was indeed the case. Exhaustive utilization of the libraries available resources by implementing the centralized system was considered by the government to be the best way to combat the unfortunate situation (Kase 164). In conjunction with centralization, every book s availability was based upon who was requesting it. Some books were outright deemed restricted access (Libraries of 14). Library users were differentiated based on if the patron was a teacher, student, physician, a member of the institution, etcetera. These classifications were arranged hierarchically and requests for books were filled according to where the patron fell in the hierarchy. The librarian [had] the right and duty to examine the urgency of each request for a
McClung 6 loan, and he must refuse service to a person whose need for a particular book [did] not appear fully justified (Kase 164). Additionally, restrictions were placed on the importing of foreign literature as well as patron s access to it (Libraries of 14). Thanks to these various circumscriptions put into place by the Communist party, traditional library activities were severely limited and were a marked contrast to the common library principle of universal accessibility (Libraries of 14; Kase 164). Because the libraries of Czechoslovakia were essentially only instruments of ideological indoctrination of the ruling Communist party, all library policies [were] wholly subordinated (Kase 165) and the hollowed remains functioned only in defense of the state policy (Libraries of 14). The Library Law of 1959 and the idea of a unified library system were never fully realized. Regardless, this lofty plan was the cause for the significant increase of cooperation between Czechoslovak libraries of different types (Libraries and Librarianship 10). Additionally, as a basis for a public library system, it was functional and useable. After the collapse of the Communist regime in 1989, librarianship in Czechoslovakia began to develop on a more democratic foundation (Libraries of 22, 14). Books previously withdrawn because of censorship were returned to library shelves; prohibited books were published in large numbers and found their way into library collections. Library services were extended so as to provide the public with open access to cultural values and information sources. The essential automation of library processes was accelerated. (Libraries and Librarianship 7) Even though the Library Law of 1959 was still officially on the books, the centralized library system with its networks of hierarchically organized libraries ceased to exist (Libraries and Librarianship 8). Public libraries began to separate from the government enforced unified system
McClung 7 and instead function on a local level. Unfortunately, many times the library could not subsist on its own and would rejoin a cooperative system of some kind (Libraries of 22). In this way, even though Czechoslovak libraries were still developing and trying to improve, the process of transformation for libraries after the fall of Communist rule was not always positive or easy (Libraries and Librarianship 8). The national conversion to a free market economy after Czechoslovakia split into two separate countries in 1993 created an extensive transformation of the Czech healthcare system. Changes to healthcare included: the introduction of both public and private services, giving patients the choice of physician and location, having the new insurance system as the main source of financial gain for medical services, the movement of a large amount of healthcare workers to the private sector, a reduction of research activities, the introduction of a grant system, and the introduction of funding coming from sponsors and foundations. The effects of these extreme changes trickled down to the medical libraries (Pinkas, The National 28). Because of their direct association with the healthcare system, medical libraries underwent a corresponding radical change. About half of the medical libraries in 1993 were considered regional or district public health centers and their funding through the Ministry of Health was discontinued in 1993. Their funding became solely the burden of their local authorities. The remaining half consisted of medical libraries that were part of organizations that were still under state and government authority and, therefore, still received their funding from the Ministry of Health. Local governments were not accustomed to providing funding for medical libraries and, as a result, some were forced to close. The state budget allocated money for those libraries that provided the best service to the broadest public. Seeing as the privatization of healthcare, and, consequently, medical libraries and health information centers, caused a
McClung 8 decrease in the numbers of their users, state funds could not be counted on (Pinkas, The National 28). Czech medical libraries found themselves between a rock and a hard place. Luckily, the Ministry of Health recognized the problem and worked out a solution that provided funding for these libraries. The Ministry focused on creating a system that diversified funding sources, ensuring that more than one source of funding would be provided by largely taking advantage of the new prevalence of grants (Burgetova 363). Even with a better, more variegated funding plan in place, the damage on the network of medical libraries could not be completely halted. There were only 109 medical libraries in the Czech Republic in 2009, compared to the 239 libraries in 1993 (Librarianship Institute). For libraries during the first half of the 1990s in the Czech Republic, as in most developed countries, rapid change was a result of the introduction of computer-based technologies. Many libraries saw their facilities become modernized as they were provided with larger spaces and more funds to purchase literature and equipment. The prestige of the library in the community [had] improved (Libraries of 25). As an act of further decentralization, the Czech Republic was divided into fourteen regions in 2001, giving more localized power throughout the country (Libraries and Librarianship 9). In June 2001, a third library law, number 257, was passed by the Czech Parliament. Named Libraries and Terms of Operating Public Library and Information Services, or Library Act for short, the law is concerned with the issues of public libraries. Public library in this instance refers to a library that simply offers services to the general public and, therefore, does not exclude different types of libraries from joining the new system. The new act determines the [two] conditions under which a particular library can become a part of the system of libraries: the library must guarantee equal access to the library for all members of the public and the
McClung 9 library must be listed in the public library register that is maintained by the Ministry of Culture of the Czech Republic (Libraries and Librarianship 10). Libraries that join the system gain advantages of state benefits, such as funding and legislative privileges. As of 2007, there were 122 medical libraries included in the registry (Libraries and Librarianship 11, 16). Another advancement that was made possible by the Library Act was the Library Internetization Programme. This program provides funding for internet access to participating libraries. Measures are in place for this program to continue until 2015. Further funding opportunities for Czech libraries became available when the Czech Republic joined the European Union in 2004 (Libraries and Librarianship 9). Today, Czech medical libraries are commonly funded by the Ministry of Healthcare; the Ministry of Education, Youth, and Sports; the Ministry for Regional Development; [and] the Ministry of Defense, as well as other private and non-profit organizations and institutes (Libraries and Librarianship 38). In addition to the aforementioned funding crisis, another reason for such diverse origins of financial support is because medical libraries can now be found in so many different types of institutions across the country: teaching hospitals and medical faculties, specialized medical centres, research and development institutes, sanitary preventive workplaces, balneologic institutes, nursing colleges and other special institutes (Libraries and Librarianship 38). Just as with other types of libraries, medical libraries attempt to stay abreast of and teach new technologies, as well as provide automated library services (Libraries and Librarianship 38). One of the most prevalent technological concerns in the Czech Republic, as elsewhere, regards electronic publications. Questions surrounding the pricing, licensing, and archiving of e- collections have become increasingly pressing as libraries attempt to provide and expand their e-
McClung 10 services. However in a medical library the expectations of the physicians put a strong pressure on the librarians and drive them to improve and extend the accesses to electronic resources (Bouzkova et al. 365). The National Medical Library (NML), located in Prague, is considered by most to be the foremost medical library in the Czech Republic. The library was officially established in 1949; however, its origins spring from the former Library of the Union of Czech Physicians, which dates back to 1841. It is the largest medical science and public health library in the Czech Republic. Under the administration of the Ministry of Healthcare, the NML is a public, nonprofit institution. In addition to providing scientific information to support the research efforts of medical professionals, the NML compiles a specialized union catalog and a national medical bibliography, sets up and maintains international partnerships, facilitates the high demand for interlibrary loan services, oversees the translation of Medical Subject Headings (MeSH) into the Czech language, maintains the Medvik system, and performs a host of additional duties integral to the successful coordination and the national and international involvement of the medical libraries of the Czech Republic (Libraries and Librarianship 39). The NML understands the importance of international cooperation and partnerships in gathering relevant and up to date medical information. Before 1990, it was nearly impossible to break through the Communist grip on communication to find collaborations from Western countries and, subsequently, the medical community suffered setbacks from their isolation. By the late 1990s, however, the NML was able to form partnerships with both the Slovak Medical Library in Bratislava and the National Library of Medicine in Bethesda, Maryland. The initiative with Slovakia allows for an exchange of photocopied material and for the continuance of the monthly bulletin, Bibliographia Medica Cechoslovaca, the physical manifestation of the Czech
McClung 11 and Slovak medical union database. The National Medical Library in Bethesda offers a literature exchange with NML, which is an immense improvement to their literature exchange programs when compared to the meager volume they acquire from the other former socialist countries. The importance of the internet for cost effective and quick international communication cannot be stressed enough and can be considered nothing short of a miracle for cash strapped countries such as the Czech Republic (Pinkas, International Co-operation 47). One definitive way the Czech Republic was able to stay current with international medical information was by adapting MeSH and translating the terms into Czech. MeSH is a controlled vocabulary word list created by the National Library of Medicine, the main medical library in the United States, to make searching medical databases more consistent and fruitful. The NML has used MeSH since 1997, but only recently developed a way to continually revise the Czech translations, as the MeSH terms are constantly being updated and improved. They coined this created database the MeSH Translation Maintenance System (MTMS). With this database, they are also able to track changes within MeSH on a yearly basis. The Czech translations of MeSH are used nationwide by catalogers and indexers and so it is important for all medical libraries to have timely access to the new translations to remain up to date and to enable them to work synchronously (Simova and Votipkova 440). MeSH and MTMS play a key role in the success of the Medvik system, a centralized library management system for medical libraries in Czech Republic (Kriz et al. 1). The quality of the records in the system is dependent upon the authority files, including the common Czech translation of MeSH, that are used by catalogers to create the bibliographic records. The innovative Mevik system was developed between 2000 and 2005 with funding from the Czech government. The development of the system was headed by the NML and assisted by four
McClung 12 additional medical libraries and a software company. As holder of the general license, the NML can integrate other Czech medical libraries into Medvik. As of 2008, there were six collaborating libraries in Medvik with more expected to join in the near future. Implementation of Medvik system brings for all interested parties among others reduction of costs, facilities for qualified support, unified methodology and more benefits resulting from effective collaboration (Kriz et al. 1). The system serves as a union catalog for the foreign medical periodicals found in the Czech Republic. As of the end of April 2008, Medvik contained 59 full text resources, 25,830 journal titles, and over 46,000 links to full text articles. Surprisingly, the majority of usage is for licensed content, despite the ready availability of the free journals (Kriz et al. 2). Another key player in the Czech medical library field is the Institute of Health Information and Statistics (UZIS). UZIS was founded in 1960 by the Ministry of Culture and is considered a government organization. It focuses on the development and improvement of the National Health Information System as well as compiling and publishing health statistics. UZIS can guarantee the implementation of restructuring of information infrastructure within both sectors of health and social affairs and, therefore, also anticipate expected measures and share in the acceleration of development in more demanding conditions (Peska, The Role 22). Through the Ministry of Health, UZIS is influential in helping to constitute national library policy and has an extensive publication schedule (Law 289). In the 1980s, UZIS undertook searches of both selective dissemination of information (SDI) profiles of Czechoslovak doctors and in areas of medical interest. The results of these searches were kept on file and researchers could gain access to them upon request. UZIS also held the responsibility to compile the national medical bibliography. Because it had copyright,
McClung 13 the organization was able to compile a computerized bibliography before the complete national bibliography, containing every subject, was released (Law 290). Beginning in the late 1980s, the need for formal information education for medical professionals became apparent. It was determined that Czech medical students and doctors had insufficient theoretical, as well as practical, knowledge of how to utilize information services. From 1948-1989, the Communist rule further contributed to this unfortunate situation by restricting access to scientific information, especially to non-soviet resources. These circumstances, coupled with restricted international traveling, led to the general decline of the study of foreign languages, which further limited the utilization of foreign scientific information (Spala and Choc, Participation 246). UZIS was the first to research and try to combat this nationwide problem by developing a standardized system for information education. They first focused on physician information education since they are the most significant users of medical information. It was decided that the organizational structure should mirror the structure of physician education as consistent information courses throughout undergraduate, graduate, and postgraduate levels would be most effective. Outside of the classroom, the classes should also be held in hospitals, other healthcare facilities, and medical research institutions. The objectives of the information education for physicians are as follows: A physician should acquire information knowledge and skills, ability to communicate with information workers and librarians, to overcome information barriers, to develop due information habits as well as form a positive attitude needed to make use of the latest knowledge in his research and practical work. The basic forms of information behavior should be considered as a necessary part of physician s professional qualification. (Horakova 139)
McClung 14 Other health care professionals were slated to have education programs created for them by the end of 1990 (Horakova 140). UZIS conducted library classes to graduate medical students in 1991 and began postgraduate classes in 1992. They compared two studies from before and after the Velvet Revolution regarding library use and information literacy to determine the efficacy of the classes (Spala and Choc, Participation 246). The improvement of the political and social atmosphere in the Czech Republic was able to stimulate medical study by itself; however, the restructuring of the economy resulted in financial restrictions on research and reduced the number of students interested in conducting research and, subsequently, publishing their findings. After one year of offering the programs, UZIS discovered that the use of medical databases doubled in postgraduate study. After two years, they determined that the number of students voluntarily attending additional lectures increased by three fourths (Spala and Choc, Participation 247-8). In 1993, UZIS expanded their offerings to a course for postgraduate biomedicine students and, in 1995, added classes for undergraduates, teachers, and staff members of libraries and other information institutions. They began to focus on electronic access to information as the technologies had not been fully adapted by the majority of users, even though the extreme usefulness for research and teaching was universally acknowledged (Spala and Choc, A New 445-6). Using modules and training tutorials, UZIS educated users in the retrieval of information by using the electronic resources available at the university library. They symbolically [removed] the walls of the traditional library facility by bringing information to the user, via network communication technology, when and where the user happens to need it (Spala and Choc, A New 447). Even though UZIS acknowledged that the courses and information they offered were not yet adequate for the current demands, overwhelmingly positive feedback from
McClung 15 the majority of participants, primarily from researchers and postgraduate students, confirmed the effectiveness of the organization s efforts (Spala and Choc, A New 445-6). Czech medical libraries and librarians continue to stay relevant and up to speed on technological advances and opportunities by being active members of international organizations, such as the European Association for Health Information and Libraries (EAHIL). Established in 1986, EAHIL consists of over 1400 members from 25 countries. Members include librarians, libraries, and companies sharing an interest in health information, with the common goal to improve library services to the health professions by cooperating and sharing experiences across national boundaries (Accart and Ebro 12). EAHIL works in close conjunction with other associations, including the Medical Library Association (MLA), the International Federation of Library Associations and Institutes (IFLA), the World Health Organization (WHO), and the Council of Europe. The association created the Twinning with Medical Libraries in Eastern Europe program that established international partnerships for easier and quicker access to photocopies, the exchange of duplicate materials, and assistance with online searches (Accart and Ebro12). At a time when Central and Eastern European countries were emerging from Soviet rule, this twinning program helped to ease the burdens of inadequate resources, shortage of hard currency, [and] broader social problems placed on their healthcare and information systems (McSean 5). EAHIL s vast connections with other organizations offered the Czech Republic and other Eastern European countries additional opportunities for not only funding, but also the chance to network internationally within the medical library field (McSean 5). Additionally, the Czech Republic also participates in medical information conferences, such as the European Conference of Medical Libraries and MedNet. The European Conference
McClung 16 of Medical Libraries began in 1986 and is the biggest of the workshops and meetings hosted by EAHIL. In order to make this cooperation not only possible but also mutually effective, it is necessary to reach a level of concrete working contacts and common solutions of principal issues (Peska, The Role 21). During the meetings, common issues and developmental trends are discussed. MedNet was organized by the Society for the Internet in Medicine, an international scientific association devoted to promote the education of the public and of the medical community in the applications of the Internet and related technologies (van der Slikke 345). The meetings convened annually from 1995 to 2008. Since 2009, the conferences are now named Medicine 2.0. The international forums bring together both developers and researchers to reach the common goal of creating better and more effective healthcare for everybody by empowering the citizen or patient and supporting the medical professional (van der Slikke 345). Despite the challenges currently faced by the Czech medical libraries, their future remains optimistic. By remaining cognizant of their weaknesses and continuing to take advantage of the opportunities surrounding them, they are able to largely overcome their limitations of funding, size, language, and historical disadvantages. Czech medical libraries have been and continue to be avid users of the interlibrary loan systems. Even though they may lack in collection sizes, they are resourceful in accessing needed information. Their active participation in international organizations is telling of their willingness to cooperate with other countries to achieve the greatest results. Lastly, they have embraced technology from the start and continue to find ways to shape new tools to their needs. Small as they may be, Czech medical libraries are succeeding at providing relevant medical information to their users and will continue to do so largely due to their admirable proactive attitude, inventive resourcefulness, and determined work ethic.
McClung 17 Works Cited Accart, Jean-Philippe, and Diane C. P. Ebro. "EAHIL Update." MLA News 277 (1995): 12. Bouzkova, H., et al. "Access to e-resources in the Medical Libraries in the Czech Republic." Technology and Health Care 13.5 (2005): 364-5. Burgetova, Jarmila. "Czech Libraries Half Way Towards Transformation." Library Management 19.6 (1998): 363-5. Horakova, Kveta. "Education of Medical Information Users in the Czech Socialist Republic." Days of Scientific Information in Medicine. 19-22 September 1988, Bratislava. Bratislava: Institute of Scientific Health Information, 1989. Kase, Francis J. "Public Libraries in Czechoslovakia Under the Unified Library System." Library Quarterly 31.2 (1961): 154-65. Kriz, Filip, et al. "Medical Virtual Library (MEDVIK)- Collaborative Environment for Innovative Information Services in Czech Republic." 11th European Conference of Medical and Health Libraries. 23-28 June 2008, Helsinki, Finland. EAHIL. 31 July 2010. <http://www.eahil.net/conferences/helsinki_2008/www.terkko.helsinki.fi/bmf/eahilpapers /Filip_Kriz_paper.pdf>. Law, D. G. "Czechoslovak Medical Libraries." Libri 34.4 (1984): 289-95. Librarianship Institute of the National Library of the Czech Republic. "Czech Library Statistics." Czech Library and Information Science Portal. Librarianship Institute of the
McClung 18 National Library of the Czech Republic. 19 Aug 2010. Web. 29 Aug 2010. <http://knihovnam.nkp.cz/english/sekceno.php3?page=05_libra/statistics.htm>. Libraries and Librarianship in the Czech Republic. Trans. Ota Bridl. Ed. Eva Marvanova. Prague: National Library of the Czech Republic, 2009. Czech Library and Information Science Portal. 5 September 2010. <http://knihovnam.nkp.cz/docs/czechlibraries.pdf>. Libraries of the Czech Republic. Prague: Ministry of Culture, 1999. McSean, Tony. "Eastern Europe: Beyond our Stretched Resources?" Newsletter to European Health Librarians 25 (1993): 5. Peska, Jan. "New Approaches to the Management of the Medical Libraries in the Czechoslovak Socialist Republic." Inspel 24.2 (1990): 60-7. ---. "The Role of the Institute for Medical Information in the Restructuring of Information Infrastructure within the Branches of the Health Service and Social Affairs." Days of Scientific Information in Medicine. 19-22 September 1988, Bratislava. Bratislava: Institute of Scientific Health Information, 1989. Pinkas, Otakar. "International Co-Operation: Czech Libraries." Health Libraries Review 15.1 (1998): 47-8. ---. "The National Medical Library (NML), Prague on its Way to Internet." Health Information: New Possibilities. Ed. Tony McSeán, John van Loo, and Euphemia Coutinho. Dordrecht: Kluwer Academic Publishers, 1995. 28-30.
McClung 19 Simova, A., and M. Votipkova. "The On-Line Czech Translation of MeSH." Technology and Health Care 13.5 (2005): 439-40. Spala, Milan R., and Frantisek Choc. "A New Task for the Information Literacy Training by the University Libraries: Elektronic Media and Computer Networking." Sbornik lekarsky 97.4 (1996): 445-8. ---. "Participation of the Medical Faculty Library in Graduate and Postgraduate Medical Education." Health Information: New Possibilities. Ed. Tony McSean, John van Loo, and Euphemia Coutinho. Dordrecht: Kluwer Academic Publishers, 1995. 246-248. van der Slikke, Hans. "Preface: Welcome to MedNet 2005." Technology and Health Care 13.5 (2005): 345-6.