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Purpose. Open Science entails research reproducibility, with an emphasis on data sharing and reuse. Hence, research data management (RDM) is an essential asset in research institutions for supporting open science. This study offers a systematic review of the landscape of research data management in academic libraries. It further examines the influence academic libraries can have if they are involved in the research lifecycle process, and how this benefits research institutions that have started implementing research data management, especially in the data-intensive disciplines. Methodology. In this study, the authors analysed Web of Science and Scopus databases, searching for papers connecting research data management and academic libraries. The authors found a total of N=387 articles. After removing duplicates and applying the exclusion and inclusion criteria process, the authors finally analysed N=32 articles, n=20 case studies, and n=12 research papers at both national and international levels. Limitations. This study has some limitations. Although the authors retrieved as many papers as possible for the analysis, it should not be considered as an exhaustive analysis, as varying studies may also be missing from the sample. The authors observed that there are more case studies focused on one institution rather than research papers involving different institutions at the international or national level. Therefore, more research studies would enrich the literature and show best practices in RDM. Results. The results show that research data management has some services implemented in different countries at the local or the international level. The authors argue that research data management generates new opportunities for academic libraries and librarians to acquire new skills as a part of the research data lifecycle. Originality/value. This study reports the current state of research data management at the international level in academic libraries and the influence libraries can have if they are involved in the research lifecycle process. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose. The aim of the paper is to present the Rights Statements and the possibilities that these Statements off er for labelling the copyright status of materials available in the digital collections of cultural heritage institutions, and to describe the implementation of the Rights Statements in the Digital Collections of the National and University Library in Zagreb (NUL). Approach/methodology. In the first part of the paper, the importance of copyright in regards to the management of digital collections of the cultural heritage institutions is presented by reviewing the literature, and the problem associated with labelling the copyright status in digital collections is defined. The second part of the paper describes the Rights Statements and analyses their relationship with Creative Commons licenses. In the third part of the paper, the implementation of the Rights Statements in the Digital Collections of NUL is presented and examples of the use of the Rights Statements are given. Findings. Labelling the copyright status of digital objects in the digital collections of cultural heritage institutions is of key importance for their legal further use. The application of standardised Rights Statements makes it easier for heritage institutions to label the copyright status and offers users comprehensible information about the possibilities of their use. Social implications. Labelling the copyright status of digital objects available within the digital collections of heritage institutions is extremely important for conveying information to the widest group of users about the possibilities of re-use of the available objects. Originality/value. Prior to this paper, there has not been research in Croatian literature on the topic of Rights Statements and their implementation in a Croatian heritage institution. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim. This paper presents the topic of migration and the role that libraries play in the process of migrants' adaptation and integration. The purpose of the paper, based on a literature review, is to present insights into library services in relation to the needs of migrants, the migrants' perception of libraries and obstacles to using libraries. Approach/methodology/design. The methodological approach in the paper is based on the review and analysis of literature published in the field of information sciences on the topic of libraries and information needs of migrants. The identified knowledge is synthesized at the end of the work in the form of recommendations to libraries. Results. The paper identified and described information needs of migrants and the most commonly used sources of information, the services libraries offer to migrants through their programmes, collections and space, and the barriers migrants face when using libraries. The role of libraries in the development of a multicultural society and the importance of reading in building and maintaining their identity were also analysed. Most of the topics presented are related to services and needs in relation to the country of immigration. There is a gap in the existing literature on the information needs and library services of emigrants in relation to the homeland. Limitations. Terminologically, the paper uses the term migrants as a general concept and considers issues at a more general level concerning various groups of migrants. Although most services are viewed in the context of public libraries, the results are also applicable to other types of libraries for which migrants are a potential user group, such as academic libraries. Originality/value. The paper provides an overview of fundamental insights into library services for migrants and can benefit libraries in developing services for migrants, as well as other stakeholders for whom information needs, integration, identity preservation and wellbeing of migrants are important. The paper also encourages awareness of the indispensable role that access to information plays in fostering social inclusion and the role of libraries in the development of tolerance and democratic society. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose. This paper aims to research and analyse data about acquisition policies of Croatian academic libraries in respect to e-books, librarians' satisfaction regarding databases and e-book suppliers, problems they encounter, and the impact of COVID-19 pandemics on acquisition and lending policies. An additional aim is to clarify the reasons of slow integrations of e-books into collections of academic libraries. Approach/methodology/design. A questionnaire survey was conducted using the LimeSurvey application. The questionnaire was designed at the Universities of Boras and Gothenburg and used for the research of e-book impact at Swedish publishing, bookselling and librarianship. The same questionnaire was also used in Lithvania and finally in Croatia. A quantitative analysis of the results was performed, while in their interpretation a comparative method was used to compare the results of the research with the content analyses of available recent literature. Findings. Croatian academic libraries, with one single exception, do not purchase e-books. However, they have experience in e-book use and lending, either through database subscriptions or through using open access contents. As purchase for permanent ownership is the dominant or important model in comparable markets, the possible causes of such a difference are analysed in the conclusion. Research limitations/implications. Since only one academic library purchases e-books for permanent ownership, the survey results regarding acquisition policies are not highly representative. Originality/value. This is the first paper that investigates the issue of integration of e-book in the collections of Croatian academic libraries. Among the most important contributions are the guidelines for the model of an ideal e-book lending system (e.g. one platform for all books, removal of DRM restrictions, etc.) from librarians' point of view, and final recommendations for a more functional system of e-book acquisition and lending models based on an analysis of recent literature overview and comparable foreign experiences. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim. The aim of this paper is to investigate the services of assisting students in seeking information which are provided in faculty and university libraries in Croatia. Also, the aim is to investigate the ways in which librarians provide such assistance to students in the process of searching for information. Approach/methodology. The first part of the paper provides a theoretical overview of the concepts related to the field of assistance to students in the process of seeking information - information services of academic libraries and the role of librarians in providing assistance to students in the process of searching for information. The second part of the paper presents the results of the research on assisting students in seeking information in university and faculty libraries in Croatia, which were obtained on the basis of three methods - interview, observation and survey. Results. The results of the research have shown that in university and faculty libraries in Croatia there are various services and activities that help students in seeking information: providing reference services for students, teaching students to seek information, counselling about seeking information and the so-called dual mode of assistance. The research has shown that the most common way is the help of librarian with the passive presence of student, which is contrary to modern recommendations on providing assistance in the academic context where the focus is on the active participation of students in seeking information. The paper describes ways of providing assistance in searching for information and forms of guiding students in the process of seeking information. Practical implications. The content of this article can help librarians to better understand and assist students in seeking information as well as in planning the development of information services in academic libraries. The originality and value. This research provides an overview of services that provide assistance to students in the process of seeking information in university and faculty libraries in Croatia, which has not been compiled prior to this paper. The research is also specific in that the provision of this assistance to students is viewed in the context of the process of seeking information as part of the academic educational process. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Goal. The aim of the paper is to acquaint the general public, and especially the library community, with the programs of the Green Library of the Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences in Zagreb, realized in the period from 2018 to 2021. The programs empha size the importance of acquiring skills and knowledge on environmental issues through developing awareness of environmental protection and sustainable development. Approach. This paper will explain the theoretical and practical application of green programs in academic libraries on the example of the Library of the Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences in Zagreb. Furthermore, it will analyze the ways in which the programs designed to protect the environment and promote sustainable development of society can be implemented into programs of other higher education and academic libraries. Results. The paper presents different ways of educating users about the importance of sustainable development and environmental protection in the period from March 2018 to March 2021. The work of the Faculty Green library is also recognized in the international professional community: the Library of the Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences in Zagreb is the first Croatian library marked on IFLA's page SDG Stories Map - IFLA Map of the World. Practical use. The Green Library of the Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences organizes activities aimed at protecting the environment and encouraging the sustainable development of society. The study programs of the Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences provide numerous opportunities to include the green topics in the form of open teaching in cooperation with the scientific, teaching, and non-teaching staff of the Faculty, as well as with the scientists from other institutions and faculties, and with other institutions and associations dealing with related topics. Social significance. The goal of all these activities is to increase awareness about sustainable development and society. Encouraging and raising awareness of issues related to green topics affect the personal development of program participants by raising awareness of the necessity to protect the environment. Close cooperation between librarians, professors, students and external associates enables faster and better implementation of this knowledge in everyday life. The activities of the Green Library of the Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences can encourage other libraries to implement green topics in the new programs useful to the local community. Originality. The originality of the Green Library program of the Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences, which has a social and humanistic orientation, originates from the desire to recognize the enormous potential of green topics. Green themes represent a bridge between the social and natural sciences. They are connected in a unique way in a socio-humanistic context, thus emphasizing to what extent man is connected to nature through beliefs, customs, literature, and language. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose. The role of reading in the emotional and intellectual development of a young person is unquestionable and is therefore recognized as a frequent topic of scientific and professional papers dealing with reading among young people, a group to which most students belong. The aim of this paper is to point out the importance of encouraging students' reading habits, regardless of the reading purpose, and to point out the role that academic libraries have in achieving a greater degree of reading comprehension among the student population. A particular emphasis is placed on the importance of encouraging recreational reading, which is often unfairly neglected at the academic level. Method. A literature review was conducted on papers written on the topic of reading habits of young people, as well as papers that directly or indirectly deal with the topic of reading in the student population. Through analysis and comparison of the results of previous studies certain conclusions were drawn. Results: A distinct benefit that a higher level of reading literacy adds to the overall development of a person is also recognized within the student population. Such a level of literacy is achieved only by frequent reading of quality texts, regardless of the text's nature, whether it is educational or recreational. Yet, despite of, or precisely because of their focus on supporting education and research within their parent institution, the role of academic libraries in reading promotion is rather marginalized. Moreover, when it comes to recreational reading, it is also sometimes purposely unfairly neglected. Since a higher level of recreational reading, among other benefits, is associated with students' greater academic achievement, some academic libraries accept this role: they devise creative ways to encourage reading among students, as well as ways to develop reading comprehension skills. Originality / Value. Due to the positive impact of reading on the intellectual and emotional development of a young person, we justifiably come across a larger number of papers on this topic in the Croatian professional literature. By pointing out the exceptional contribution that academic libraries can make in the intellectual development of students, and thus to the quality of scientific work of the institution itself, by working to encourage reading, this paper joins the before mentioned group of papers on this extremely valuable and sensitive topic. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose. The aim of this research is to determine the views of librarians employed in academic, special and research libraries in Croatia about the use of the National and University Library in Zagreb Subject Headings. An additional goal of the research is to determine the extent to which subject headings are used in describing the content of materials in general in the mentioned libraries. Approach/methodology/design. For the purposes of this research, an online questionnaire was distributed to all academic, special and research libraries in Croatia. A quantitative methodology was used to process the results. Findings. The results of the research have shown that The National and University Library in Zagreb Subject Headings is well accepted at the national level in Croatia, considering that 54% of the librarians who participated in the research use The National and University Library in Zagreb Subject Headings. Fifty-nine percent of those who do not currently use it plan to use The National and University Library in Zagreb Subject Headings in their work in the future. Furthermore, the results have shown that 24% of the respondents use only keywords to describe the library material, and 8% of the respondents do not use subject headings, from which it can be concluded that 32% of the respondents do not use subject headings at all in the description of the library material. A certain percentage of librarians (11%) uses the other most represented system of subject headings in Croatia, the subject headings in the field of medicine -- MeSH, and the system based on the Zagreb City Libraries Rulebook for the subject catalog from 2004. Originality/value. This paper presents and analyzes, for the first time, the views of the librarians on the use of a common system of subject headings at the national level of the Croatian system of science and education, provides information on the current use of the National and University Library in Zagreb Subject Headings and examines the future intentions on the use of this subject headings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose. This paper presents the starting points, challenges, solutions, and achievements in managing and systematically developing the library collections of the Croatian Defense Academy "Dr. Franjo Tuđman" Library. Furthermore, it will point out the importance of the professional and systematic approaches to the process of acquisition of library materials and building of library collections in the library which is at the same time a special library within the Croatian state administrative body, and an academic library as part of the University of Zagreb. The paper presents the library's entering the academic community and the impact it had on the previously established processes of managing library collections, as well as the significance of the systematically managed acquisition and developing collections for the parent institution. Approach / Methodology / Design. The paper describes the structure of the library holdings and the functioning of the acquisition before the Croatian Defense Academy joined the academic community. It presents the steps and the outcomes in developing library collections, and the attempt to improve library collections quality. Results. The paper points out the importance of a systematic and carefully planned building of library collections and acquisition managed from the library itself in order to improve the quality of library collections, promote librarianship, and thus contribute to a more successful achievement of the goals of the parent institution and the university. Social value. The emphasis is on the importance of the quality of library collection management in libraries within the state administrative body, which participate in creating the memory of the institution, and particularly in the higher education institutions, where library collections support the educational processes and lifelong education of the teaching staff and the library employees. The importance of managing the acquisition process from the library is emphasized because it is the organizational unit of the parent institution primarily responsible for building high quality collections, and this represents the foundation of its business operations. The emphasis is also on the role and responsibility of librarians in proactively implementing the mission of the parent institution. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose. The purpose of this paper is to collect information from the professional and scientific literature, documents and records, and interviews with library directors in order to analyze facts and make a more comprehensive, systematic overview of the development of libraries in Zaprešić and its surrounding area from the foundation of the first library until the end of 2018. Approach/methodology. The approach was a systematic search of the professional literature and available documents. It was concluded that the information in these sources were insufficient and it was decided to prepare a questionnaire with the questions about the development and current status of the libraries, which was sent to the libraries in Zaprešić and surrounding area. All the libraries responded to the questionnaire. The survey covered all libraries in the Zaprešić area (public, school, and university libraries). Findings. A detailed analysis of the literature and responses of the library directors and librarians was performed and the development of libraries in Zaprešić and surrounding area was presented. The presentation was made according to the type of libraries and chronologically. The aim was to show the complete picture of all libraries from the beginning and to the present state and activities. The results have shown that the libraries cooperate very well and very often. Also, it was observed that in the Zaprešić area the libraries have always played a very important role in everyday life of the community in the past and present, and that they are keeping pace with the modern changes in society and the development of library profession. Originality/value. This paper offers the first systematic review of libraries in Zaprešić and surrounding area. During the research process, a number of mostly unknown or less known facts about the libraries were revealed which could be invaluable to future researchers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose. The aim of this paper is to describe and critically analyse the application of citation analysis in the evaluation of the "Andrija Štampar" Library collection, an academic library of the Zagreb University School of Medicine, the School of Public Health in Croatia. Methodology/Approach. A total of 235 master's theses from the Graduate Program of Studies in Nursing at the University of Zagreb School of Medicine in the period from 2014 to 2017 were examined using citation analysis. The selected sample of master's theses has a broad range of specialisations which encompass key disciplines in medical sciences. Results. The results show that the library collection meets the needs of this specific group of users. The study revealed that the journals were the most preferred source of information used by the students in the field of nursing, accounting for 55.7% of total citations. The nursing students used the journals familiar to them that are easily accessible and available in open access. Practical implications. This paper indicates that citation analysis is a valid method for collecting indicators on the actual use of library information sources. Originality The paper aims to contribute to the understanding of the quality of library collections in the academic library. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose. The purpose of this paper is to investigate the presence of academic libraries at the Josip Juraj Strossmayer University in Osijek on the social network Facebook, and to analyze their activity. A quantitative and qualitative analysis of the seven academic libraries' posts that have their own Facebook pages was carried out to determine which content on the sites is most popular and how much Facebook can help libraries to promote their activities and establish better communication with users. Approach/methodology/design. By browsing the websites of all University components that have libraries, it was found that 7 out of 15 libraries have their own Facebook pages. By determining the number of „likes" and the number of followers, the popularity of each library Facebook page was estimated. In the next step, the activity of librarians on the Facebook pages was observed by counting published photos, videos, events, and notes. The data on the posts published by the libraries and the reactions of the followers were analyzed in detail quantitatively and qualitatively for the period from January 1st to April 30th 2020. Finally, the most popular posts on library Facebook pages were highlighted. Results. The analysis showed that less than half of the libraries of the Josip Juraj Strossmayer University in Osijek do not have their own Facebook page. The Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences has the largest numbers of „likes" and followers on their page. We have not been able to prove the assumption that the numbers of „likes" and followers of the pages are influenced by the size of the total number of students of a certain faculty, the date of creation of the site, and whether the faculties belong to the social sciences or STEM. The popularity of the Facebook pages, however, depends mostly on the type and content of the posts, the number of photos, videos, and events. The best indicator of popularity is the number of reactions to the posts, the number of comments and shares. According to these indicators, we found that the Facebook page of the library of the Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences is the most popular library Facebook page at the University. Originality/value. The paper brings previously unpublished data on the presence of academic libraries of the University of Osijek on the social network Facebook, the quantitative and qualitative data on their activity, and the overall user acceptance of the posts written by the libraries. The detailed content analysis of the libraries' posts on their Facebook pages can serve as a guide for libraries in strategic planning and identifying the needs of their users, primarily students. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Goal / Purpose. The paper aims to present the state and changes in the acquisition policy and building of library collections in the higher education institutions libraries of Josip Juraj Strossmayer University of Osijek based on a longitudinal research conducted in March 2015 and in March 2019. The research aims to determine the way the acquisitions are carried out according to the type of library material and the form of acquisition, point to the changes that have taken place in organizing library collections in the observed period and explore whether there are written guidelines of the faculties and libraries regulating the acquisition and building of library collections, as well as the level of influence of the particular university unit in which the libraries of the University of Osijek are active, when it comes to decision-making in managing the collections and the best solution practices. Methodology. The research was conducted by applying qualitative and quantitative methods. The quantitative data were collected by an online questionnaire available to the research participants via a link forwarded by e-mail. The participants in the research were the head librarians of the higher education libraries at the faculties, academies, and departments, constituencies of the University of Osijek. In the 2015 research there were 13, and in the 2019 research there were 15 participants. The qualitative data were collected by a semi-structured interview conducted in October 2020. Five head librarians from the higher education institution libraries and one employee in the Acquisition Services of the City and University Library of Osijek participated in the interview. Results. The results of the questionnaire were used for a discussion at a joint meeting of the head librarians of the higher education libraries of the University of Osijek, on the benefits of the research in terms of setting a matrix or a framework for a written acquisition policy and building of collections in higher education institutions libraries. The analysis results of the conducted research led to the conclusions that indicated a possibility of improving the quality of library collections through cooperation at both local and national levels. Originality / contribution. The paper contributes to the possibility of setting the criteria that can serve as the foundation for the organization and setting acquisition guidelines for library collections in all higher education institutions libraries, taking into account the differences between particular university constituencies and possible solutions to coordinate the acquisition policy of the University. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose. The aim of this paper is to present the goals and the process of establishing the Croatian DOI Office as part of the National and University Library in Zagreb, the development and characteristics of the DOI-HR System as well as the work and the accomplished achievements of the Office. Approach/methodology/design. The paper uses the descriptive method to explain the basic characteristics of the DOI identification system, its registration agency the Crossref and the Crossref registration office in the Republic of Croatia – the Croatian DOI Office. Along with the analysis of the statistical data recorded at the end of 2018 on the current Croatian scientific and professional journals, the paper presents the reasons for founding and the benefits of the membership obtained through the mediation of the Office. The paper mainly focuses on the work process and procedures of the Croatian DOI Office, the analyses and description of the DOI-HR System, its structure, purpose, functionalities, collaborations models, and metadata submission methods. Findings. The paper presents in detail the establishment and the activities of the new service of the National and University Library in Zagreb. It shows the necessity of the establishment of the Croatian DOI Office at the Library. The paper describes a new Crossref model operated by the national DOI office that provides signifi cant financial savings and broad range of other benefits for publishers who use the service through the Croatian DOI Office and DOI-HR System, such as Similarity Check services, technical support for assigning and registering DOIs, permanent storage of registered articles and all-rounders, maintenance of permanence of DOI, semi-automatized inclusion of articles in the Croatian National Bibliography and publication on the portal Digitalne zbirke Nacionalne i sveučilišne knjižnice u Zagrebu (Digital Collections of the National and University Library in Zagreb). Practical implication. The paper is intended for the wider library community and publishers who use or want to use the Croatian DOI Office registration service and other national and university libraries that consider establishing a national DOI office. Originality / value. The paper describes the establishing of the Croatian DOI Office, a new service of the National and University Library in Zagreb, the first national and one of the three university libraries in the world that use the new Crossref model of representing publishers (Sponsoring Organisation). Furthermore, the value of and the need for this unique type of service, that the Croatian Ministry of Science and Education has recognized too, are presented. The paper describes a unique system, the DOI-HR System, developed especially for the needs of the Office by the National and University Library in Zagreb. The System allows easier constructing and registering DOIs for the publishers, submitting metadata and objects and provides connectivity to other systems, and, at the same time, fulfills other tasks of the publishers and the national library, such as delivering and receiving of the legal deposit of online resources and their inclusion in the national bibliography and the digital library [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose. The University of Rijeka Library has limited financial funds for the acquisition of library materials at their disposal. Based on the existing data on the purchased books usage statistics, this paper aims to determine the efficacy of these acquisitions, that is, if the library users have really borrowed the purchased books. Further more, the paper will try to identify the books that were purchased but not borrowed and explore the reasons why they were not borrowed. Approach/methodolo/design. Based on the reports of the book loans generated by the library software, the usage analysis of the purchased books has been carried out. The analysis was conducted on the monographs which were purchased and borrowed in the period between 2014 and 2018. Findings. The results show that in the researched period mostly domestic books were purchased. The topics and the content of the acquired books correspond to the study programs of the University of Rijeka. High percentage of the purchased books have been borrowed later by the library users. Research limitations/implications. Since the University of Rijeka Library is purchasing only a small number of serial titles, this analysis is limited to the purchased monographs only. Practical implications. The methodology of the analysis can be applied in libraries that can procure the same or similar data reports. It is applicable in the libraries that consider necessary the evaluation of their own acquisition policies from time to time, taking into consideration the usage data on all acquired materials, regardless of the acquisition methods. The analysis results can be used as an argument in the negotiations with the library founders and any other potential library financiers. They can also be used to revise and adjust library acquisition policies. Originality/value. Usually, the collection evaluation methods are used on the entire collections or the library holdings as the whole, regardless of the acquisition methods. This analysis was focused on the books acquired by the specific method, regardless of the library collection each item belongs to. It is intended to explore and evaluate if the financial means were used in the most efficient way, but viewed from the users’ perspective. [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]

Purpose. Book treatment or bibliotherapy is most commonly associated with the psychiatric field, where it is performed as an auxiliary and creative therapeutic method. The aim of this paper is to consider how meaningful it is to have bibliotherapy in a library as one of the institutions where it is implemented as a preventative method and carried out on healthy population. There is also the question of the possibility of its implementation in university libraries that are often unfairly neglected on this matter in Croatia. Approach. The paper considers different types of bibliotherapy, emphasizing the developmental bibliotherapy as a form that could and should be implemented in libraries. The role of librarians in the implementation of bibliotherapy, freedom of action and competence is being problematized. The results of the research conducted outside of Croatia, presented in this paper, indicate the degree of importance of its implementation in university libraries among the student population. The paper is based on the method of analysing and reviewing the existing knowledge and literature and their synthesis in the new text. Results. It is believed that by introducing bibliotherapy in libraries they are gaining one more, socially useful role, which should not be carried out solely in school and public libraries, but also in university libraries, which, addressing students as a particularly vulnerable group of young people, can give their own contribution to this area. Originality / value. The humanity of bibliotherapy and the encouragement of its implementation in libraries and the questioning of opportunities that the university libraries can provide, are the dominant values of this work. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose. On an example of a conference organized by an academic library, the aim of the paper is to illustrate the benefits a conference can bring to networking between a library and its community. Approach/methodology. The Medical Information Conference (MICC) is organized by the Central Medical Library affiliated to the University of Zagreb School of Medicine. The research results on the number and profile of the conference speakers and participants are presented. The conclusions point to the role of the conference that provided the library with the opportunity to participate in continuing training of health professionals, and inclusion in the official programs of continuing medical education. Findings. The success of the MICC Conference concept, which the organizer aligned to the user's requirements and needs, was confirmed by the research that investigated the number and the profile of the conference participants. The results show that the physicians are the most frequent participants of the conference (45.1% of the total number of participants in the period from 2009 to 2018), and thus the aim of the library to provide support to experts from the field of expertise of its parent institution has been achieved. Practical implications. Conferences are an effective way of connecting an academic library with its users and partners, as well as for providing support in achieving the educational goals of the parent institution. By organizing conferences, libraries can participate in raising awareness of information needs of participants, teaching them information literacy and encouraging lifelong learning. Social implications. Specialized conferences focusing on information literacy in the area of higher education contribute to familiarizing the user community with current topics in the field of scientific information and scientific communication. Originality/value. The paper describes the only regularly held conference on medical information organized in Croatia by an academic library. In addition, the paper presents the library experience in organizing a conference, exploring topics and identifying information needs of the user community. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim. The aim of this paper is to show possibilities of the academic libraries in the preparation and carrying out of elective courses in higher education institutions. Approach. The paper presents the content and the teaching methods used in the two elective courses related to information literacy of medical students. The courses were designed by the Central Medical Library (CML) at the University of Zagreb School of Medicine. The student evaluation questionnaire was used to measure the course effectiveness. Findings. The outline of the elective courses was made in the CML considering the characteristics of information needs of medical students. The elective courses were evaluated and approved by the appropriate bodies of the parent institution. In the courses, each lasting 25 hours per semester, mainly in the form of practical classes, the librarians and the teachers of the basic and clinical subjects participate together. The co-teachers were chosen by the CML staff. According to the results of the survey, the majority of the students attending one of the CML's elective courses responded that they were satisfied with the elective courses content and its presentation. Practical implications. The elective courses are an effective way for academic libraries to design and disseminate contents that support students' information literacy and prepare them for lifelong learning. The collaboration between the library and the teaching staff of the parent institution is crucial for their success. The example described in this paper may be a powerful stimulus to other Croatian academic libraries for a similar approach to students' information literacy activities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose. The paper deals with the role of academic libraries in the context of open science, especially in supporting researchers, faculty and students in the research data management process, publishing and sharing research data. It examines research data as a new library material, the features and differences from the "traditional" library materials and services, as well as new skills and knowledge needed for research data services. Approach: An overview is given of scientific and professional papers and examples of good practice regarding scientific data services in academic libraries. Findings: Academic libraries should respond to the rapid changes in the scientific landscape and to the new needs of their users by developing research data services. Some of these services could be considered as expansion of the existing information services (for example searching and finding the resources and also citing of the research data sets), but in most cases this kind of services demands new skills and knowledge. Furthermore, the cooperation among library staff is of vital importance for the high-quality research data services development, as well as the cooperation with other faculty departments and other institutions dealing with research data (especially research data archives). Practical implications: Academic libraries can consider introducing research data services in their strategic plans, missions, and planned activities according to the recommendations presented in the paper. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: The aim of the paper is to present a model of the union catalogue of the Croatian academic and research libraries in the context of technical, semantic, and organizational interoperability. Approach: The paper problematizes a specific crisis of the traditional library catalogues in the segment of technical and authority data preconditions and gives some new perspectives on the development of union catalogues in the context of digital transformation of modern libraries and interoperability issues in a complex system for distributed information resources sharing. Methodology: A case study method was used to describe problem-solving approaches to the questions of interoperability of the information retrieval and resources sharing in the national union catalogue of the National and University Library in Zagreb and Croatian academic and research libraries. Findings: The paper summarizes and advocates the necessity of introducing a comprehensive approach to interoperability issues, essential for functioning of a complex information system, which would comprise technical, semantic, and process, that is organizational interoperability. Value: The paper can be quite valuable to anyone who deals with information retrieval and resources sharing on theoretical or practical levels, as well as library cooperation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose. The aim of this study was to identify basic quantitative and qualitative indicators of the publication activity in the field of the Croatian academic and special librarianship through the analysis of the bibliographic items listed in the Bibliography of publications in the field of Croatian academic and special librarianship 1950-2015. Methodology: A quantitative analysis was conducted by sorting, grouping, and summarizing bibliographic data in order to determine publication patterns, chronological distribution of publications, number of authors, their affiliations, etc. A qualitative analysis was performed by coding and classifying publications into eight thematic categories to describe both the publications' overall and chronological thematic orientations. Findings: The papers published in the national journals and conference proceedings were identified as the preferred mode of publishing (81%). Approximately a third of the articles was published in Vjesnik bibliotekara Hrvatske, the key national library science journal. A considerable share of articles (29%) was published by the specialized journals in the fields other than library and information sciences. This could be a proof that the academic libraries are embedded in the special information environments of their parent institutions. A half of the conference papers was published in the National Days of the Academic and Special Libraries proceedings. Thematic orientation of both the papers published in the journals and in the conference proceedings was similar. Dominant topics were library and information-service activities (23%), bibliographic control (17%), scientific communication analysis (17%), and library history (17%). The themes of professional development and lifelong learning were minimally represented (1%). The number of papers has been growing steadily since the 1980s, with dominance of single author papers (67%). The authors affiliated to the academic libraries wrote 31%, special libraries 23%, and the National and University Library in Zagreb 24% of the total number of papers. The valuable original contributions to the library and information sciences were also made by the master's (66%) and doctoral theses (34%). Research limitations: The thematic analysis was based on the titles of the bibliographic items only, which could present a limiting factor. Value: This is the first comprehensive study examining the publication output in the field of the Croatian academic and special librarianship. The results can be a useful starting point for further analysis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose. The aim of the paper is to present the results of a research into the experience and satisfaction of users with the online service Ask a Librarian - a thematic search of the National and University Library in Zagreb during lockdown and the establishment of work from home, when isolation measures were in place to prevent the spread of COVID-19. Approach/methodology/design. The survey method was used in the research of the service users, and a 10-question online questionnaire was created for this purpose. Before the survey, the analysis of the data from the Ask a Librarian - thematic searches online application was conducted. The data on the users and requests for the thematic searches were collected during the lockdown period in which the library was working in exceptional circumstances, and the survey invitation was sent to the e-mail addresses of the users of the service in that period. Results. The results of the survey have shown that the users' decision to use a thematic search service during the period of isolation was influenced by a previous positive experience with this service, or another person's recommendation. It was found that users were satisfied with the quality of the service, as well as with the amount of literature recommended, the availability of content, the promptness of responses, the provision of additional references and other information, and communication with the librarians. It was shown that a large number of respondents also subsequently independently searched the e-resources, thereby confirming the value of the effort made by librarians to educate users about the available online information sources, and not only provide the relevant information on a particular topic in the form of recommended literature. Practical application. Obtaining feedback from the service users made possible the evaluation of the work of librarians, the library's subject specialists who are responsible for providing this service, and the research results will serve them in the organization and improvement of their work in the future. Originality/value. The results of the research will be used for the further development and upgrading of the Ask the Librarian - a thematic search online service. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose. The aim of the article is to present the challenges and solutions the librarians face while curating a book exhibition in the academic library. Based on practical experience, a model for creating exhibitions in academic libraries will be offered. Approach/methodology. The article provides an extensive overview of conceptual and practical activities performed by the Central Medical Library while setting up and curating the book exhibition on the occasion of the 100th anniversary of the University of Zagreb School of Medicine, i.e. the library's home institution. Based on the experience gained during staging of the exhibition, and scholarly and professional publications, a model proposal for developing a concept for exhibitions curated in academic libraries will be outlined. Findings. The article offers a proposal for a model for creating and working on exhibitions in libraries. The proposed model will provide librarians as authors of exhibitions with a foundation for planning and a framework for staging book exhibitions in academic and other types of libraries Originality/value. The discussion on the role of academic librarians as authors of exhibitions (librarian-curator), with a special emphasis on the exhibiting of books, was initiated. In addition, the need for new research and professional papers on the mentioned topic, especially in the local Croatian context, was recognised. The value of this article is in presenting a model for creating an exhibition concept designed specifically for exhibitions held in academic libraries. The model consists of a detailed program and organizational plan for staging of exhibitions. The purpose of the aforementioned model is to provide the librarians who are already engaged in setting up exhibitions, as well as new library professionals, with the support in designing and implementing exhibition projects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Commission for Academic Libraries of the Croatian Library Association proposed the first draft of Advocacy Strategy for Academic libraries at the 38th Assembly held in Osijek 2102. The importance of academic library advocacy was a frequent topic of discussion at various professional conferences and particularly at the 11th Days of Special and Academic Libraries held in in Opatija in 2011, which prompted the Commission to outline the draft proposal. In this paper the author analyzes the long-term effects of the proposed Strategy and refers to the best practices from other library associations. The paper would also like to encourage Croatian library community to think strategically at the best mode of action at all levels. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Last year the National and university library in Zagreb (NUL) introduced a new online service "Ask a Librarian". It enables all users to send search requests on particular topics using a web form. The Library developed its own software solution based on open source. This paper will explain technical components of the online application, and also present the statistical indicators for relevant parameters. Furthermore, the paper will give the results of the user satisfaction survey conducted on library users who use this service. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Communication skills belong to the fundamental skills for librarians, especially those who work in user departments. But, the question is how successful are we really in communication with our users? Do we manage to communicate our message to them, and if we do, to what degree? This paper presents the findings of the research conducted at the City and University Library in Osijek. The research was qualitative in nature, and conducted on two focus groups in order to gather the necessary data. One group consisted of the librarians, and the other of the users of the City and University Library in Osijek. Through the analysis of real-life situations, the research focused on communication errors and problems, but has also shown the examples of positive practice in the librarian-user everyday interactions. The paper offers suggestions for improvement of librarian communication skills. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper analyzes the development of the Faculty of Philosophy in Osijek Library in the context of the Faculty Development strategy, and also the constantly changing roles of academic libraries which occur due to the introduction of Bologna process in Croatian higher education system. Since the project of developing a new university library system for the "Josip Juraj Strossmayer" University in Osijek is currently being designed, the paper discusses the possible role of the Faculty of Philosophy in Osijek Library in this project. Finally, the importance of building a National development strategy for university library systems is emphasized as a starting point for making academic libraries the fundamental factors of modern university library systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose. This paper establishes the availability of library resources and services adapted for access from mobile devices in academic and related libraries that support scientific work and higher education: The National and University Library in Zagreb and other university libraries, general scientific, and special libraries ˗ institutes. Approach/methodology/design. Three research questions were asked: 1) To what extent have the academic and related libraries adapted to users in terms of the availability of library resources and services on mobile devices? 2) What types of mobile library resources and services are represented to a greater extent and which ones are less represented in the researched academic and related libraries? 3) What are the similarities and differences between the different categories of the researched libraries with regard to the implementation of the analyzed library resources and services for mobile devices? The research was conducted on the sample of 97 library websites according to 10 content criteria, and each criteria with the presence less than or equal to 50% was considered underrepresented. Findings. The responsive web design is present on 43% library websites. It is most prevalent in university and general scientific libraries (both categories with 50% each), followed by institutes libraries (45%), and the least represented among academic libraries (42%). Only one library (1%) has a library mobile application. None of the researched libraries has a mobile catalog application, while 13% of library catalogs have a responsive Web interface. Libraries do not direct users to access online databases, e-books or e-journals from mobile devices. Communication with users via text messaging is not provided by any library. 23% of the libraries have Facebook profiles. The application of new technologies and services (QR, NFC, Beacon, AR) is not mentioned on most of the libraries’ websites and is represented in rare individual cases. A total of 29% of the researched libraries enable a discovery search of all e-sources: it is offered by all university libraries (100%), 28% of academic libraries, and 20% of special libraries. Education on the use of library mobile resources and services is not explicitly mentioned on any of the researched library websites. Out of the total number of the researched libraries, as many as 44% of libraries do not meet any of the content analysis criteria, and out of the 10 content criteria, the largest percentage of them (30%) is present in 8 libraries. The research findings have shown that the resources and services for mobile devices are not suffi ciently represented (less than or equal to 50%) in the total number of the researched libraries nor in the individual libraries. Originality/value. For the first time, an analysis of the Croatian mobile library resources and services has been made and discussed, which provided an insight into the current situation and can give an incentive to consider the user needs for such services in the future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The paper brings, in chronological order, short biographies of the directors of the National and University Library in Zagreb and its predecessor libraries. The introduction offers an overview of the former investigations and accumulated knowledge on the status and role of the previous managers of this central Croatian library, followed by short descriptions of their life and work in the Library. The aim of this paper is to contribute to its 400th anniversary by supplementing the more extensive published works on its collected book heritage, events, premises and services, from which we rarely learn much about the persons who gave the greatest contribution to its development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The memorial book collection of the City and University Library in Osijek is a special collection within the library holdings which comprises materials published before 1945. The collection is divided into several subcollections: books published before 1945, the rare book collection, the Divaldiana, and the legacy collections (Hengl, Sonnenfeld, Pollak, Magjer, Rakoš, Pinterovic, Kocijan, Gottschalk). This paper presents briely the various collections and their cultural and historical values important for the local community. The memorial book collection with its completely or partially catalogued resources is available to the public. It is necessary to expertly catalog and process the collection and all its subccollections, present the collection's structure (topics, languages, publication types), and single out old and particularly valuable books. The goal is to preserve the integrity and particularity of the subcollections. In order to provide greater public access to cultural heritage resources, the project of digitization the memorial collection was started, with a particular emphasis on the local monographies and periodicals, as well as graphic maps with local themes. Cataloging, protection, conservation and presentation of memorial collections are necessary in order to preserve them as part of the cultural and social identity and heritage. Thus the library has a signiicant role in contributing to the preservation of the memorial and cultural heritage of Osijek and Slavonia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In order to follow the development of science and technology, libraries are faced with the need to change the ways they use their space and services, but also the ways they train users for their present and future needs. The advance of Internet and various communication channels available through Internet have created a new paradigm in the education of library users. More and more users are turning to Internet and other forms of e-education (e-journals, e-books, etc.) and their number is growing every day. Also, the forms of e-education in libraries are easily available, facilitate the communication between users and librarians, stimulate the education which does not depend solely on users' actual coming to the library, and as the final result, libraries have satisfied users. This paper follows the phases of creation and development of e-materials for educating library users, from the first decision to create the e-materials (initial discussions on the forms of e-education, choosing the best tools combinations, preparing the materials, etc.) to the final moment of publishing the materials. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The paper presents some aspects of new library services provided through the web site. Librarians should use web sites in order to offer online the traditional library services, and to provide access to the library's own digital resources and also to the remote information resources, in other words, to offer a new service. Using the method of analysis of the web content of Croatian university libraries, we classified the contents of library web sites and services, taking into consideration the possibilities of new information technologies. The research was conducted on two occasions, in 2009 and in 2012. The research results have shown the content and the role of the new service -web sites of the university libraries, and the goals the libraries have accomplished by introducing the new service. We analyzed the role of the library as a mediator between its users and a potentially available source of information which can be provided through a web site, and which enables easier access to information, as well as the ways in which it improves the research and the use of information sources. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this paper is to present the current state in the university libraries with special reference to the library staff. In the period between October 2011 and the end of February 2012 the research on the profile of the employees in the university libraries was conducted. It was done by searching the university web sites and by phone contacts with the librarians. The conclusion is that such analyses should be done regularly. They should be based on the parameters which would be defined by The Standards for the Academic Libraries in order to enable the extraction of the relevant statistical data and reports. Such analyses should become a legal obligation which would provide an insight into the current problems and ways of solving them as well as creating the conditions for staff enforcement and more effective functioning of the university libraries. [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]

In efforts to join the European Union, Republic of Croatia has issued an official document entitled Communication strategy for informing Croatian public on Croatia's efforts to join European integrations. Spreading information about European Community is being carried out by setting 85 Euro Info-Points in all counties and bigger cities. Besides the Euro Info-shelf, an Internet Kiosk is a constituent part of these Euro Info-Points. The technology of the Internet Kiosk is described on the examples of several libraries in the world, emphasizing its advantages regarding the improvement of existing and introduction of new services for library users. Exemplified by Zadar University Library, the importance of Euro Info-Points in retrieving and distributing information about European integrations is being considered in this paper, particularly after these issues entered the educational programmes of certain University departments. In addition, the Internet Kiosk has also introduced new services for the users of University library -- access to Internet and the use of electronic mail. The fact that more than half of the Euro Info-Points have been set in libraries is also emphasized, confirming their unavoidable role in creating the conditions for achieving intellectual freedom and preserving fundamental democratic values and civil rights. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The paper presents the French union catalogue of serials and its historical development over the past two decades. The authors have described the environment and the governance structure of the union catalogue. Presented is the information system which enables the processing of collections in libraries and documentation centres of French universities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]