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This paper summarises solutions for analysis and comparison of academic libraries' data. Articles from assorted electronic sources were reviewed to identify and describe various types of systems. 24 of them were discovered that fit the main specified criteria: have the possibility to compare different libraries, which serve mainly higher education institutions. In addition, each selected system needed to still be active. The research was geographically limited only to tools used in Europe, the USA, Australia, and New Zealand. An overview table with general description of the systems is attached in the Appendix. Three categories were established to classify the systems: annual statistical reports, benchmarking of quantitative data, and benchmarking of user satisfaction. A characterization of each category is provided. This paper is a result of the authors' activity in Research Seminar, a one-semester course at the Division of Information and Library Studies at the Faculty of Arts, Masaryk University, Czech Republic. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The core of the European Union is made up of individual institutions. These institutions have their own libraries, which significantly contribute on the creation of an information policy of the EU information policy. In this paper I introduce libraries of five EU institutions (the European Commission, the European Parliament, the Council of the European Union, the Court of Justice of the European Union, the European Court of Auditors). I describe their significance and function within the institution, its services and access for the user. On the example of the Central Library of the European Commission I try to demonstrate that the library serves its purpose and manages a network of libraries of the European Commission, but individual libraries in the network do not work in a uniform manner and do not cooperate too much. There is no common and centralized information strategy and policy of information resources and miss a common rules and procedures for working and functioning of the libraries. Cooperation between libraries of the EU institutions is not much better. Probably the only form of cooperation between the libraries is a network of European institutions - Eurolib - within which libraries communicates with each other and jointly promotes wider awareness of Europe and its problems. In the conclusion, I will try to suggest way how to deal with this situation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]