Croatian public libraries and social networks

Hrvatske narodne knjižnice dio su globalne knjižnične mreže pa su, kao i drugdje u svijetu, zahvaćene informacijsko-komunikacijskim promjenama. Pitanje je, međutim, kako se knjižničari s time nose, pokazuju li interes za nove komunikacijske tehnologije i prenošenje dijela djelatnosti na internet i web 2.0 alate, konkretno, službene internetske stranice knjižnica i društvene mreže kao njihovu nadogradnju. Cilj ovoga rada bio je utvrditi razinu aktivnosti na službenim internetskim stranicama hrvatskih narodnih knjižnica, utvrditi i analizirati stanje i aktivnost hrvatskih narodnih knjižnica na društvenim mrežama, percepciju društvenih mreža kao komunikacijskog alata i stav hrvatskih knjižničara prema društvenim mrežama, razlike između knjižničara i korisnika u percepciji knjižničnih usluga na društvenim mrežama, stav korisnika prema društvenim mrežama u uslugama narodnih knjižnica, te komunikaciju na relaciji knjižničar-korisnik-knjižničar. Četiri postavljene hipoteze koje su trebale dati odgovore na postavljena pitanja, kvantitativnim su istraživanjem, izvršenim metodama anketiranja i promatranja i dobivenim rezultatima, obrađenim nizom postupaka, u konačnici i potvrđene.Croatian public libraries are part of the global library network so, as elsewhere in the world; they are affected by information and communication changes. The question is, however, how are they handling those changes, are they showing interest in the new technologies of communication and are they transferring of part of their activities on the Internet and Web 2.0 tools, specifically, on the official internet library pages and social networks as the library service upgrade. Therefore, the aim of this study was to determine and analyse the level of activity on the official website of the Croatian public libraries, the status and activity of Croatian public libraries on social networks, the perception of social networks as a communication tool, and a position of Croatian public librarians towards social networks, the differences between librarians and their users in perceptions of library services on social networks, users’ attitudes towards social networks in public library services and librarians-users-librarians communication on social networks. Taking into the account the importance of the Croatian public libraries as those who reach the majority of the public, this paper deals with a shift of library services to the Internet, through the use of Web 2.0 tools, specifically social networks, as globally accepted communication tools, information competences and openness towards the new communication paradigm with the goal to determine the state and readiness of Croatian public libraries to change. The basic concepts important for understanding of communication trends on the Internet are clarified in the paper. Also, the results of numerous studies related to social networks in general and social media in library services are shown, as well as the overview of Web 2.0 services in national libraries around the world and public libraries of neighbouring countries (Slovenia, Serbia)