Parliamentary Libraries and Research Services in Central and Eastern Europe: Building More Effective Legislatures: 87 (IFLA Publications, 87) - Tapa dura

The International Federation of Library Associations and Institutions (IFLA) is the leading international body representing the interests of library and information services and their users. It is the global voice of the information profession. The series IFLA Publications deals with many of the means through which libraries, information centres, and information professionals worldwide can formulate their goals, exert their influence as a group, protect their interests, and find solutions to global problems.

The period that began with the peaceful destruction of the Berlin Wall and culminated in the unraveling of the former Soviet Empire has been viewed as "the age of parliaments", with legislatures becoming more assertive and playing a more active role in setting policies that govern their nations. The key to democracy is an effective legislature. By the same token, the key to an effective legislature is the knowledge and information that permit it to make informed decisions on specific issues and to play an active role in the policy-making process of the nation.Library and research services are the principal sources for meeting the information and analysis needs of effective parliaments. The section on Library and Research Services for Parliaments has become an important mechanism for sharing ideas on how to improve services to our respective legislatures. Presented here are papers outlining current strategies within the new democracies of the Czech Republic, Hungary, Poland, Slovakia, and others. (IFLA Publication, Vol. 87)