LITHUANIA: The Changing Image of Academic Libraries.

The article examines the changing image of academic libraries in Lithuania as of 2004. According to the Law of Libraries, there are several types of libraries represented in the Lithuanian library system. By the end of 2002, there were a total of 3,571 libraries in Lithuania comprising of the Martynas Mazvydas National Library of Lithuania, 5 other libraries of state significance, 1,405 public libraries, 15 state university libraries, 2,052 other libraries in educational institutions, and 93 other special libraries. Although all these types of libraries belong to different ministries, the Ministry of Culture is the institution authorized to regulate state administration of libraries in the republic of Lithuania. The Library Council of Lithuania is an institution that acts as an expert and consultant on the most important issues of library activity. If a Lithuanian academic librarian in Soviet times had been asked what his library was famous for, most of them fits of all would mention a big and rich collection that allowed the library to provide each student with a copy of the most needed textbooks. The modern library world was opened after the proclamation of independence, and since then many foreign librarians have visited Lithuania for the first time.