Library within Cyberspace Paradigm: the Integrated Virtual Library Concept

The role of libraries, librarians and information specialists in the situation when libraries and traditional information institutions are not sole and exclusive provider of relevant information (potentially useful to users) is one of the most frequently discussed questions of our day. At present, when cyberspace becomes a global communication paradigm of its kind, a traditional ”institutional” approach to problems of establishment and management of public information structures is often regarded as unsuitable. The new communication environment emerging in cyberspace is highlighted by open, decentralised and flexible ”hyperstructures” as well as by interactive client/server procedures. This constitutes an exact opposite to traditional centralized and institutionally managed library and information structures and processes. However, it is apparent that in practice some of the centralized or institutionally managed library and information procedures (e.g. shared cataloguing, co-ordinated acquisition, union catalogues, interlibrary loan services etc.) are irreplaceable, for both economic and procedural reasons. [...]