Art. 1: Elena Maceviciute,
To be or not to be together: is there a choice?

The paper aims to reflect on the aims of contemporary regional library co-operation, its reasons, forms and types of co-operation. It introduces the concept of regional co-operation, follows the historical development of its types, forms, models, and complexity. The emphasis is on the essential difference of modern library co-operation from earlier periods, its drivers and inhibitors, main actors and ultimate possibilities that is open as an intermediary level between local and international library work.

Art. 2: Ewa Grzempa, Janusz Maciej Łokaj ,
Agreement of Borderland Libraries.

The paper presents the origin, the program and the results of the first six months of the activities of the Agreement of Borderland Libraries - the cooperation agreement of public libraries located in the south-western part of the Province of Lower Silesia and operating on the territories of the poviates adjacent to the Czech Republic and the German Federal Republic. An important supplement to the text is The Chronicle of the Transborder Cooperation of the Libraries in NYSSE Euroregion which documents the most important achievements of the Polish, Czech and German librarians in the last 11 years (1993-2004). Following the initiative of the Public Municipal Library in Jelenia Góra, the reasons for the establishment of the Agreement on 12 February, 2004 were the cooperation of the libraries in NYSSE Euroregion which in a significant way influences also the direct contacts among the libraries in the member countries, the need for continuous exchange of experiences associated with the management of cultural institutions, and the search for new possibilities of expanding and financing the offer addressed at the readers. The agreement is an open agreement, and its first signatories have become libraries in Bogatynia, Jelenia Góra, Lubań, Lwówek Śląski and Zgorzelec which successfully realize the established catalogue of activities comprising e.g. consultations as regards organization and management, granting access to collections of 'spoken' books for disabled persons, organization of exhibitions of regional and transborder profile, and initiating domestic and international library projects. The intention of the authors of the paper is to invite to cooperation 'borderland librarians' in Lower Silesia e.g. from GLACENSIS Euroregion, as well as colleagues interested in the program policy and current activities of the Agreement.

Art. 3: Robert B. Hall,
M25 Consortium of Academic Libraries - Library Co-operation in the South East of England. .

This paper will consider the development of a regional consortium of academic libraries (the M25 Consortium of Academic Libraries) in the South East of England, UK. It will begin by examining the reasons for inaugurating the consortium in 1993, chart its history since that date, and discuss its governance and financing model. It will then examine the role of the M25 Consortium in supporting its member libraries by offering advocacy services to relevant regional and national bodies, providing staff training and development opportunities, and other mutual services such as disaster preparedness and provision of services to users with special needs. It will go on to examine the work of the M25 Consortium in facilitating user services such as pan-regional finding aids and access to individual members' collections. It will discuss successes and problems in moving outside defined regional areas and library domains. It will examine the impact of the M25 Consortium on the development of other library consortia and national UK academic and public library responses to collection development access issues. It will conclude by discussing the options facing the M25 Consortium in the future and the role of consortia in the UK library scene.

Art. 4: Ainslie Dewe,
A new era in library and information collaboration in New Zealand.

The New Zealand government has signalled a new era for collaboration by establishing a Library and Information Advisory Commission (LIAC) under the National Library of New Zealand Act 2003. The statutory purpose of the Commission is to "provide advice to the Minister on library and information issues, including matauranga Maori". LIAC is required to take account of recent national and international developments in relation to library and information services. The promotion of collaboration in relation to protecting, preserving and promoting access to information is specifically listed as a key responsibility of LIAC. LIAC is an independent advisor to government via the Minister for the National Library but is not restricted to National Library issues. The work of the Commission in highlighting the importance of library and information services to the wider cultural and economic life of the country is a unique opportunity to work across sectors and suggest a strategic framework for the development of the information society and the knowledge economy in New Zealand. In this respect it will wish to work with LIANZA (Library and Information Association of New Zealand Aotearoa), which has already done considerable work in developing a national approach to information strategy. This is based on a three-pronged approach to knowledge:

• Knowledge Access - the infrastructure to access knowledge,
• Knowledge Content - the content to be made available and accessible through an information infrastructure,
• Knowledge Equity - the skills needed to turn information into knowledge.

As Chair of the Commission, the author of this paper contributes to LIAC a perspective of the importance of e-learning and e-research. Other members bring a wealth of experience from national, public and research library backgrounds and from education, ICT and the media. The work of the Commission in harnessing a wide range of expertise to provide an innovative model of collaboration is outlined.

Art. 5: Juri Jars,
CooperationbBetween Estonian research libraries: Integration .

In this paper the main fields of cooperation (coordinated collections development, creating common databases, joint supply of electronic resources, standardization etc) between Estonian research libraries are examined and the institutions which have been founded for cooperation purposes are introduced. The results of cooperative activities are brought out. An overview is also given about the legal acts and regulations concerning the operation of research libraries.