RESOLUTIONCouncil and the ministers with responsibility for cultural affairs, meeting within the Councilof 27 September 1985on collaboration between libraries in the field of data processing(85/C 271/01)

THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES AND THE MINISTERS WITH RESPONSIBILITY FOR CULTURAL AFFAIRS, MEETING WITHIN THE COUNCIL, 1. having noted that: - the collections built up by all the public and private libraries in the European Community constitute a treasure-house of material both culturally and from the viewpoint of scientific, technical and economic development; -full use can be made of this treasure-house only if there is also proper application of the present wealth of new technolgies for processing and disseminating information, which alone will provide the user with access to the whole of this heritage, believe that the European Community should take action in this sector; 2. at Member State level, recognize the need for greater harmonization of the initiatives already taken in this area by a large number of libraries in the European Community and the need for others to acquire new managment techniques without this undermining their budgetary possibilities for acquiring new works; 3. at Community level: -request libraries, on the basis of a prior cost/benefit evaluation, to increase their cooperation at Community level and help in drawing up a common programme aimed at establishing the most suitable procedures for promoting such cooperation; -request the Commission to take into consideration the desirability of swift action to help libraries; -recall that this action may be realized within the framework, and with the resources, of the Community programme for the development of the specialized information market in Europe, adopted by Decision 84/567/EEC (1) (2) . Such action should be aimed in particular at: (a) defining and setting up in close collaboration with the most important libraries in the European Community, a system which, based on existing systems and forms of collaboration, would enable computerized catalogues to be linked up; (b) preparing, in close collaboration with those responsible for libraries in the Member States, a possible work programme designed to speed up the development of library activities both at the cultural level and as a major force on the information market in terms of both innovation and innovation support; 4. request the Commission to: -keep them informed of work currently in progress in areas connected with the management and use of libraries; -submit an annual report to them on any initiatives it sets in motion on the basis of this Resolution. (1) OJ No L 314, 4. 12. 1984, p. 19.

(2) The Commission would point out that by virtue of the said programme the necessary funds exist for an initial action in this field. If a more far-reaching programme is subsequently deemed necessary, the Commission shall submit to the Council a request, as appropriate, for appropriations.