The basic statistical indicators still show the trend that prevailed
in the last decade of the 20th century. The number of registered
loans is still high. Compared to previous years the loans to the
reading rooms decreased whereas number of check-out loans is growing.
This trend demonstrates itself in a rather interesting way in the
number of requests. Compared to the year 2000, we registered more
requests and fulfilled almost 90% of them. This trend, among other
things, testifies to a higher information literacy of users. They
have got used to more effective methods of searching. They also
request material on-line. Requests are not made ‘blindly’. Users
understand much better the entries in OPAC and order items, which
they really need whereas in the past, they ordered many more things
than they had needed and chose as late as prior to making the actual
loan. They do not request materials already borrowed by other
readers. Here we are witnessing results of an excellent improvement
in our automated lending system – on-line registration of loans to
the reading rooms. In the past these loans were recorded manually
and to users of OPAC they appeared to be available. This trend is
also underlined by the fact that more than 40% requests were made
on-line.
In 2001, the number of registered users has
slightly decreased. Nevertheless together with the preceding year it
is the highest figure since 1989. After furnishing the Reference
Centre with computer technology and providing access to increasing
number of electronic resources, the National Library has become one
of most important providers of electronic services via Internet to
both remote and local users. More than 70 000 users utilised these
services and 100% of machine time capacity was reached. Total number
of users coming to the library is the same as in the last years.
Decrease was noted in the Main Services Hall. This is, however, a
positive trend caused by comfort of remote use of OPAC and chance to
order on-line. The user doesn´t have to request material in the
library and can do most of needed steps from outside via Internet (placing
requests, renewing loans, checking his borrowing account). He or she
must only come to pick up ordered books and to return them. Lower
attendance was noticed practically in all reading rooms except for
the Slavonic Library and the Reference Centre. Attendance of the
Reference Centre is extremely high. This is caused by relatively
cheap and comfortable access to Internet and by number of available
electronic resources. We have, however, noted increased attendance
of educational programmes, excursions, seminars, exhibitions and
other cultural events organised by the library.
Reproduction services are still in high demand
even though for several years in a row we are noting a small
decrease in the use of self-service machines. On the other hand
there is a growing demand for copies made to order by the library
staff. This trend shows a stricter enforcement of preservation rules
in providing reproductions service.
Performance of the interlibrary loan (ILL)
section is permanently very high. We managed to bring to a stop
growth of requests for searches in the union card catalogues. We
consider this a great success as it shows that our ILL colleagues in
other libraries became more ‘information literate’. For the first
time since 1989 the number of requests for loans from abroad
decreased. It is a result of having more full text electronic
resources available in the libraries as well as of a change in a
financial policy of the National Library. In addition, we
implemented stricter rules for acceptance of ILL requests. Requests
that hadn´t been searched in the National Library databases and in
the Union Catalogue of the Czech Republic were returned to the
sending library. Part of the success is most likely due to increased
availability of electronic information resources, namely OCLC
FirstSearch as most important source for providing a successful
international ILL services.
