Art.1: Anna Gruca
"The Universe Called a Library..." In Memory of Professor Wiesław Bieńkowski

Professor Wiesław Bieńkowski died in Cracow on November 22, 1999. He was born in Cracow on July 7, 1929. He studied history, sociology and ethnography. He took his M.A. degree in history and sociology. During the years 1951-1953 he was working in the Municipal Library in Gdańsk. In 1953 he moved to Cracow where he took up a position in the Institute of History of the Polish Academy of Sciences and in the Institute of Library Science and Information at Jagellonian University. In 1992 he was appointed to the position of a full professor. He edited the current Bibliography of Polish History and he was the author of over 500 works. He enjoyed socializing with his students and he was a stimulating companion, with a lively tongue.

Art.2: Wanda Pindlowa
Will the Technology That Facilitates Communication Between People Lead to the Demise of a Librarian - Information Specialist?

The role of the reference librarian, that is a professional involved in the provision of information services is predicted by some people to be on the decline, and by others to strengthen in the coming information era. The article presents the situation of reference librarians at the beginning of the new century, as well as the expected development of professional training in information science and librarianship. Special emphasis is put on the necessity of introducing new fields of study, new curricula that would embrace not only training in information technology, but also legal questions, professional ethics, the art of negotiating , as well as humanistic values of working with the user and satisfying his information needs. The question is put whether information will have to be provided in libraries. Will these institutions be threatened with becoming only archives or kind of museums?

Art.3: Teresa E. Szymorowska
Polish Public Libraries at the Turn of the Century

In the coming years the traditional concept of a public library will have to be redefined. Public libraries will have to meet the changing needs of local communities and very diverse groups of users. In Poland, public libraries have to cope with severe financial and organizational problems that may result in their collapse. There are over 9000 public libraries in Poland. They are usually underserved , and about 90% of them do not have full access to information. There is also an urgent need to cast off the traditional stereotypes of the library profession and to raise the status of a librarian. In the 21st century public libraries will have to become the centres of social and cultural life of local communities. They can no longer be only lending libraries. They will offer services to all social groups, as well as local administration, and their local government will have to take charge of them.

Art.4: Jan Jackowicz-Korczynski
Pedagogical Libraries. Suggested Transformation Trends

This article discusses the role and the structure of pedagogical libraries in the new reformed educational and administrative systems at the freshold of a new millennium. Since September 1999, the process of implementing educational reform has been initiated. A team of experts was formed, attached to the Ministry of National Education, to investigate the possibility of setting up a computer network in public pedagogical libraries and to draw up a training programme for librarians. The process of library digitization keeps going smoothly in school libraries that use the system called MOL. Starting from the year 1991, it has been implemented in 1300 school libraries. As for pedagogical regional libraries, the situation is more complex because of the lack of appropriate funds. Only very few of them pioneered library automation. Pedagogical libraries will have to deal with pace of change and to adapt to new digital environment. They will have to verify their goals, methods of work, and to change their structure. Pedagogical libraries will become educational centres of information.

Art.5: Blazej Feret, Marzena Marcinek
The Future of the Academic Library and the Academic Librarian A Delphi Study

This article is based on a paper given at the conference "The Future of Libraries in Human Communication" which was held in Chania, Crete in May 1999. The authors present the vision of the academic library and academic librarian in the near future, i.e. in the year 2005. Librarians will have to meet the challenges and opportunities presented by the information society and to keep up with pace of change. What factors will shape the future of the academic library? What can we expect in the near future? What steps are to be taken? And finally, what skills and characteristics are necessary for the librarian of the future? The authors give the most probable answers to the above questions basing on the opinion of 32 experts in the field. A Delphi method was selected, so that the results of a team expertise could be presented.