The works concentrated on better tuning of the production lines of digital documents both in the area of digitization of manuscripts (development of a special tool for validation of bibliographic descriptions in DTD MASTER) and in the area of preparation of metadata for periodicals incl. their automated generation (to be completed in 2003). The capacity of the pre-cache disk arrays of the digital library was enhanced and new Oracle licenses purchased. Analytical preparatory works for joining the EU project VICODI were made as well as works on migration of data of digitized manuscripts into the new DTD; in 2002, only on the level of the bibliographic record (http://www.memoria.cz). In addition, the storage capacity of the robotic library was enlarged.

Conceptual questions were solved in relationship to processing of and access to full texts in the COSABI Co-operation System of Bibliography of Articles from Periodicals. The automatic indexing of documents was preferred for generation of descriptive metadata. The works on linking to national authority files during processing of full texts started and new institutions joined the project. New topics were defined in the ANL FULL database and the annual Internet license and technical support for the TOPIC system were purchased. Bibliographic records from the ANL database were linked to freely available texts on the web (ca. 1,060 records).

Since May 2002, preparatory works were being done for transfer of the Union Catalogue under the ALEPH 500 system. Even after that, the data import module of the former CUBUS system will continue to be used, because of its qualities to handle duplicate records. In addition, new program tools have been prepared to guarantee daily data conversion routines from CUBUS into ALEPH and vice versa. Their testing has been postponed due to the delayed delivery of the new ALEPH server.

A pilot system of acquisition and workflow of automated extraction of metadata was put into operation to create bibliographic records from full texts and to import files for the bibliographic and full text databases. The metadata creation was based on automatic generation of Dublin Core in HTML, XHTML, and XML. Ca. 13,000 bibliographic records and full texts were loaded to the databases. Bibliographic records were published in the Czech National Bibliography. The portal (subject and regional structure) for free texts on Internet was extended and links from the ANL database records to free full texts provided. New design of the http://full.nkp.cz server was completed. An application for download and export of full texts with metadata in several formats (text, rtf, html, UNICODE, and XML) was put into operation as well as an application for administration (statistics, corrections, and users) of ANL FULL database. The analysis of topics was done and the topics were updated. An application for management of the co-operative system was tested and optimized (MNG COSABI). A new interface for MNG COSABI was implemented as well as upgrade of the anl.nkp.server upgraded.

The work continued in processing the following thematic catalogues:

The catalogue records were completed with archival information that would be necessary for further editorial work. The collections were assessed from the musicological and historical points of view as well as from that of their regional provenance. The Music Department co-ordinated the individual centres thanks to the information richness of the Union Music Catalogue and the RISM CD-ROM. The utilization of the two information resources kept growing and thus the regular activity of the Music Department was closely connected to the project.

The 2002 schedule expected programming of tools for mapping and sorting of collections stored in different Czech libraries [via their catalogues]. The development and testing of the software resulted in a new and more powerful version of the RIS [Information system for retrospective conversion] system enabling to trace different phases of retrospective conversion including their graphic interpretations. Czech libraries were offered the possibility of ordering retrospective conversion of particular records directly from the National Library to save their own human resources. The graphic design of the retrospective conversion web pages was changed and the content was enriched; in addition, their English version was made available.

In the beginning of 2002, the Uniform Information Gateway [UIG] was opened to users. According to the goals and schedule written in the project it was intended to be a pilot project focused mainly on serving a common group of users coming from both participating institutions – National Library and Charles University, but thanks to successful testing it was opened for outside users, too. The UIG became extremely popular and highly used from the very beginning. Almost all large Czech libraries and union catalogues – and also the two largest Slovak libraries with their union catalogues - joined it in 2002. In 2002, much more was achieved than expected – the pilot project of the two institutions grew into the national and international ones. But this was just the first line of the project – implementing of foreign technical tools and standards for the UIG. The second one – preparing pre-conditions for the best UIG functionality in Czech library environment – was completed by the Conspectus method application in the National Library and through preparation of guidelines for other Czech libraries. Subject authorities will be linked to Conspectus data that will enable – thanks to the applied UDC-DDC concordance – seamless parallel searching in both Czech and foreign information resources including subject gateways.

New type of archival cardboard was developed. It started to be produced by Czech paper mills. New technology of production of protective boxes was prepared for application on cutting plotter. In addition a new design of protective envelopes was developed as well as a special measuring scanner. The quality of the new cardboard was confirmed through the tests made by the specialists from the State Central Archives and from SYNPO Institute in Pardubice.

The basic goal of the project was to create a Czech terminological database for library and information science, the output of which would also be a list of terms published on Internet for the larger public. Twenty authors from the whole Czech Republic took part in selection and preparation of entries. The result is a database containing records with explanations, revised by specialists in various domains from the Czech Republic and Slovakia. The fully functional database contains 4,180 terms, 2,800 database entries, and 3,330 English equivalents.

The project aims to provide access to OCLC FirstSearch Service with full texts (OCLC Base Package with Full Text) for ten largest libraries in the Czech Republic. The primary goal is to procure equal access to this service for scientists and scholars from research and development institutions in all regions of the country and to tie this service with direct connection to ILL services. The goal of the project is not only to have a four-year access to the service but also to evaluate its efficiency and benefit regularly. The providing libraries foresee to form a consortium, which would secure access to these services after the termination of the project.

In 2002, new libraries joined the project and the number of registered libraries grew up to 275. Usage statistics of EBSCO databases for each library were published constantly on the project web site. The project was presented in professional journals and during conferences and workshops. The EBSCO Company completed databases with more than two thousand additional new titles. Further reference sources were added and also access to new databases – ERIC and Agricola – was provided.

The aim of the project is to secure further development of the Reference Centre and to realize its main mission – to facilitate services from local and remote resources for local and remote users alike. Under this project the infrastructure of the Reference Centre was improved and the offer of information resources enriched. Rationalization and upgrade of ILL services through resource sharing were ensured via web and document delivery services both in traditional and electronic formats.

The fundamental information resources for the library and information science were ordered for 2003: Library and Information Science Abstracts – LISA from Great Britain and Library Literature and Information Science – LLIS from USA, and completed with the American database Information Science Abstracts – ISA, which – among others – contains the highest number of electronic periodicals from this area. These three world databases will be used especially for documentation and analytic works in the library. In addition, other important documents were ordered. In 2003, the stress will be put on acquisition of the above resources LLIS, and ISA as well as on targeted preparation of analyses for project administrators, translation activity for users, and more intensive provision of electronic access to databases for users.

The goal of the project is to create technological prototype and a methodological model for the European historical web and to build basics for trans-national contextual understanding of the European history through integration of primary, secondary, and tertiary resources and documents. In 2002, administrative preparations took place as well as introductory discussion to formulate the main areas to be solved.

From the point of view of the national participation, the main attention was paid to translation of recommendations of the PULMAN project for public libraries. The national profile of the Czech Republic was updated and a national PULMAN seminar organized. In the European dimension, the project aimed to mobilize individuals and institutions – especially politicians – for creation of optimal conditions for work of public libraries and their co-operation with museums and archives. The PULMAN recommendations have been translated into most European languages and they offer practical advice for work of public libraries in several areas incl. work with users and solution of many technological problems. For the last year, the project was enhanced with the PULMAN-XT initiative that contained also other European countries outside of EU member, candidate, and associated states.

The Public Information Services of Libraries (VISK) is a programme of the Ministry of Culture. It contains nine sub-programmes in which Czech institutions can take part with their projects on basis of calls for proposals. The programme is co-ordinated by specialists from the National Library of the Czech Republic.

The co-ordination centre carried out all special, administrative, and co-ordination activities related to implementation of VISK in 2002. This work concerned realization of the State Information Policy, update of content and goals of the programme, organisational leadership of boards of specialists in individual sub-programmes, and processing of data concerning results of two calls for proposals. The centre was active also in the presentation and publicity area concerning the programme.

The National Library realized three projects that concerned the training courses as follows: Basic Information Literacy in which 313 librarians from different types of libraries acquired knowledge and basic skills at work with ICT. Within this project seven modules were taught: Basic ICT Terms, ABC Work with PC and File Management, MS Word Editor, Spreadsheet Program (Excel), Databases (Access), PowerPoint Presentation and Information Network (Internet). There are still hundreds of librarians interested in the training courses. The cycle Electronic Information Resources and Databases contained following topics: CASLIN Uniform Information Gateway, Archiving of and Long-term Access to Electronic Documents, Electronic Information Resources for Library Science, Weblog – Future of Publishing and Information Retrieval on Internet, Economic Information Resources, and Biographic On-line Resources. 439 librarians and information specialists attended the seminars.

The aim of the project was to build basic conditions for starting WebArchiv operation, concerning technical, library, and legislative issues. Harvesting of the domain.cz started and necessary modifications of the harvesting software were made. A draft agreement with on-line publishers was prepared to fill in the gap in the legal deposit legislation. Necessary negotiations with publishers were initiated.

The main task of the Digital Library is to create, archive and provide access to documents produced in the two national digitization programmes Memoriae Mundi Series Bohemica and Kramerius. The libraries whose projects are selected for realization receive digital copies of documents on physical media (CD or DVD), while archiving storage is ensured on CD-R or in magnetic tape robotic library in the Central Depository in Hostivař. The funds of VISK 4 cover especially maintenance of equipment that is used for creation and archiving of digital documents, access provision, data transfer, or enlargement of storage capacities.

The project was divided into three parts:

Due to financial limits, only 9,893 records were converted from which 4,592 records were edited, 4,204 records were newly imported and additional data about owners and years of subscription were added to 1,097 records, taken from ISSN Compact. The rest of 4,200 records were fully processed by cataloguers of the Union Catalogue Department. The records were imported into the Union Catalogue of Foreign Periodicals, which is available on the Internet. The entries H – S were completed so that the titles are now available in the Union Catalogue with full data about location of periodicals and about their status in individual collections, covering thus the whole Czech Republic.

Altogether 99 manuscripts were digitized, i.e. 46,394 pages. The records of digitized manuscripts under the whole VISK 6 programme are accessible from a new database at the URL http://www.memoria.cz. Works have been started to make fast access to digitized manuscripts available to authorized users so that it can be offered from the above-mentioned database during 2003. At present, ca. 400,000 pages of rare documents, especially manuscripts are digitally available (another 140,000 pages of historical textbooks had been digitized two years ago in lower quality).

Partly or completely, 35 titles of Bohemical periodicals were filmed within nine approved projects. The National Library guarantees also archival storage of microfilm and digitized documents for the participating institutions. The records of digitized periodicals are added to the list of reformatted titles (CZROMM) and they will be delivered to the European EROMM database. The work on projects was hindered by August floods, which affected the company engaged in editing of image data. The Kramerius programme was supplemented with a work package concerning production of protective boxes for reformatted documents. This was possible thanks to the finalized research and development project concentrated on this topic. Thus, libraries received not only digital copies on CD-R, but in addition their damaged volumes were boxed in permanent archival cardboard. The floods proved that the boxes protected the documents even in case of water damage, as they were able to diminish the volume of water penetration directly into the paper block and to save the documents from rough contamination.

Czech libraries had access to online database KnowEurope through national license in the framework of the project Service KnowEurope. Over 360 libraries and institutions of government administration were registered. Training courses were organized and more than 200 librarians were trained. The project was presented in professional journals and at conferences and workshops. The project web site http://www.knoweurope.cz was created and information materials and tools for searching prepared.

Greater part of large Czech libraries and union catalogues were included into the information gateway. Also the two largest Slovak libraries – Slovak National Library and University library in Bratislava – together with their union catalogues joined it. The gateway covers many foreign and international resources. Printed and electronic information resources catalogued at the National Library were also included. Close connection of the gateway to the WebArchiv project was established. Methodology for creation of Czech subject gateways with the aim to integrate them into international context was prepared. Subject authority files were enriched with English equivalents and further work was going on in the field of definition of UDC-DDC concordance.

In 2002, the Union Catalogue operated under the CUBUS system and simultaneously preparatory works started for its transfer under ALEPH 500. These works included update of ca. three million records for Czech and foreign books, periodicals, and special documents. The aim was to improve the quality of records and to remove duplicates. A new server, necessary for adequate functioning of the catalogue in the new environment, was bought towards the end of 2002. Its purchase was partly covered from this project resources.