The total volume of acquired foreign literature was 8,393 units and compared with 2001 it slightly decreased. The proportion of exchanges to total acquisition of printed documents was 47.1% (3,960 unites), gifts 30.45% (2,556 units), and purchase 20.7% (1,735 units). Non-printed documents were acquired both by purchase and by gifts or exchange. Due to a small number of acquired documents (1.65%, i.e. 139 units) their structure is not presented here.

The proportion of exchange to total acquisition fluctuated in 1995-2002 between 38-59.5%, the proportion of gifts between 26-34%, and the proportion of purchase between 13.5-23%.

The exchange of publications still presents the most important source of aqcuisition of foreign literature. The permanent evaluation of efficiency of particular exchange was an integral part of our work as well as the mutual comparison of benefits and exchange accounts. It resulted that the exchange contacts were variable as well as the structure of publications exchanged: periodicals, current book production, titles issued by the exchange partners themselves, offers of our duplicates, and in some cases also electronic publications. The exchange of periodicals was of the utmost importance, because they could be acquired for much less financial means in this way then through an ordinary subscription.

Active exchange contacts were maintained with 215 partners (national libraries, universities, special libraries, and professional institutions) in 46 countries. More details about the number of exchange partners in particular countries are presented in the tables.

Traditional reliable exchanges of high-quality were maintained with partners from German speaking territories (Germany, Austria), and from Romance language territories (France, Spain, and Italy). A valuable contribution presented our exchange with the USA and Great Britain; our exchanges with Canada were increasing. The interest in exchange from the part of Nordic countries was revitalized. Our exchange relations with Russia and Poland were very specific, because they did not only replace the insufficient market, but they also offered – compared with purchase – a significant decrease of too high prices of publications or journals. Our exchanges with Slovakia were very successfull and the exchanges with Baltic states as well as with the states of former Yugoslavia seemed to be very perspective. The specialists highly appreciated the results of exchanges with Taiwan and China. The exchanges with other countries were liable to fluctuations or they were – compared with other countries – less important.

The majority of publications were acquired from Russia (762), Germany (655), USA (340), Austria (289), Poland (264), and Great Britan (189). The data on other countries are presented in the tables. In addition to printed publications, we acquired also some monographs and national bibliographies on CD-ROM. Through exchange we acquired 399 periodical titles, i.e. 51,2% of the total number of titles. Compared with 2001, the number of foreign documents acquired by exchange slightly increased.

Together with the regular gifts, which the Library had been receiving for many years thanks to the membership of the Czech Republic or the Library in international organizations, also gifts from various inland and foreign institutions and organizations were acquired, as e.g. from embassies, specialised institutions, exhibitors in the Prague Book Fair, etc. There were also gifts from private persons. In principle it can be said that we accepted all gifts in line with the acquisition profile; an ideal case was when we could consult the structure of a gift in advance. In contrary cases, the gift was not accepted and we recommended to donors another relevant library; in extreme cases, the gift or their parts were redistributed as agreed.

The majority of publications were acquired from the USA (618), Germany (423), France (170), Turkey (151), Poland (147), and Switzerland (144). The data on other countries are presented in the tables. In addition to printed publications we acquired also several titles on CD-ROM. Compared with 2001, the number of gifts of foreign documents slightly decreased.

Due to long-time critical lack of financial means for acquisition which was in the last years partly moderated through a special subsidy, the purchase of foreign literature aimed at getting really necessary profile titles, acquiring ongoing titles including updates of databases on CD-ROM, and completing indispensable reference literature.

All offered reductions of prices were accepted purposefully. These were traditionally offered by exhibitors during the annual international Prague Book Fair ´Book World´, by the Centre for Democracy and Free Enterprising, at occasional exhibitions of foreign exhibitors, and by concrete offers of various foundations and publishers. Thanks to that, the average costs per publication were relatively low with regard to real catalogue prices, i.e. CZK 1,510. The average cost of one ongoing title on CD-ROM was CZK 49,412, while the average cost of a monograph title on CD-ROM was CZK 2,289.

The most of publications were purchased from the USA (565), Germany (464), Great Britain (202), Italy (120), the Netherlands (76), France (65), and Spain (59). The data on other countries are presented in the tables. In addition to printed publications, also titles on CD-ROM were purchased; mainly updates of publisher and bibliographical databases. Compared with 2001, the purchase of foreign documents has fallen down.