The Role of Libraries in European Union’s Information and Cultural Policies

Abstract

The industry society concept will replaced by the concept of knowledge society as the techological development diffuses faster and faster with the aid of globa Lization. It is an undeniable phenomenon that knowledge industry is accepted as an economic power and all countries aim to develop their knowledge industries. In this respect great effort is spent by the European Union and policies are developed to form a strong and globally competitive information industry. The aim of this article is to demonstrate the role of the information centres and libraries in the realm of European Union’s information and cultural policies, and the importance of library and information services within the transformation process leading to knowledge society; thus reviewing principal decisions taken and policies developed by EU by taking the attempted and supported activities into consideration.