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One of the important issues in contemporary librarianship is the selection and use of appropriate research strategies which would provide that data collected in libraries are used for the optimum development of services. An analysis of the research strategies and subject content (topics) of articles published in Vjesnik bibliotekara Hrvatske in the period from 1998 to 2006 was made. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose. The aim of the paper is to briefly present the founding and development of the Public library “Juraj Šižgorić’’ Šibenik from its establishment to 1980s, especially in the context of the development of the Croatian librarianship and libraries, but also of general social and political circumstances. Approach/methodology/design. The first part of the paper describes the circumstances in Šibenik during the 20th century, at the time when the city library was founded and developed. The second and the third parts of the paper present the development of the Public library “Juraj Šižgorić’’ Šibenik in the context of the development of Croatian librarianship, from 1920s to the Second World War, and the third part describes the period from the war to the 1980s. The data were collected from the daily newspapers, available in digitized form, thanks to the digitization activities of the Public Library “Juraj Šižgorić’’ Šibenik, as well as the University Library in Split, and the data from the scientific and professional literature. The librarians from the Public Library “Juraj Šižgorić’’ Šibenik have published several papers about their library on different topics: contributions by deserving directors, creation and development of collections, the role of the library in the contemporary social and cultural life of the city. Findings. This paper gives an insight into the historical development of the Public Library “Juraj Šižgorić’’ Šibenik and its connection with social and cultural life of the city. Throughout its long history, the library has often faced many problems such as lack of space and fi nancial support, but has always strived to keep up with the contemporary demands and needs of the community. Originality/value. The development of the library has been viewed both in the social context and through the general development of libraries in Croatia. The paper may serve as a basis for further research, but it may also be the inspiration for writing reviews about the history of other libraries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Croatian libraries have not yet started acquiring e-books, although the interest for this new medium does exist. This paper gives an overview of the experiences with the acquisition of e-books in the libraries around the world (public and academic). Special attention is given to the models of circulation of this new medium, as well as the limitations that occur in the process. Namely, the models of borrowing/usage of e-books are strongly connected with significant limitations imposed by the publishing sector through Digital Rights Management (DRM) which affect the use and circulation of e-books. Therefore, libraries must be well acquainted with these regulations before acquiring e-books. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Strategic planning and strategic management are present in librarianship like in all other economic activities of modern society and link the librarianship with the field of market management and economy in general. As stated in the Regulations of the Activities of Central Commissions for Libraries in the Republic of Croatia (2001, article 15), the National and University Library in Zagreb is the center of the library system and the central library for all types of libraries in the Republic of Croatia. It has the task to organize and develop libraries in the Republic of Croatia in order to improve their work, taking into consideration the contemporary librarianship theory and practice, and thus ensure the quality of library services in science, education, culture, and society. Building the strategy for the development of libraries in the Republic of Croatia cannot be separated from the context of, especially European, librarianship, so this paper will also present the strategies of several European and US libraries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]