10 the result of their actions has a dual character: that of a closed object but one open towards the reader at the same time. The phenomenon of brand

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1 9 The dynamic development of new technologies triggers changes in the environment in which the book and the library function: consequently, new questions need to be asked about their position and role in the developing knowledge and information society. The questions should concern not only the next contexts of the functioning of books and libraries but also the exact definition of their role and position in the social communication system. Similarly, problems concerning the phenomenon of the book itself, its definition and new communication capabilities must not be omitted. Advanced instruments produce new and incomparably larger information resources than previous ones, and they also intensify the flow of information itself. In view of this reality, the science of the book, library and information is facing a challenge to define and deepen both traditional and new research areas. One of such attempts is the present collection of studies the outcome of research inquiries conducted by representatives of centers concerned with bibliological and informationscience problems, both in the theoretical and didactic contexts. The opening part contains texts discussing the issues related to the book. Grażyna Piechota presented the important problem of publication advertising of handbooks in the Old Polish period. She analyzed its different forms practiced by both booksellers and printers (typographers). These are reflected in the archeology of Old-Polish printed books but also in the activities promoting the school book by its distributors. The elements of advertising devices appeared in the book s literary and typographical frame showing its substantive value, importance in the educational process, and the addressees. On the basis of the book resources collected in the Art Book Museum in Łódź, Jacek Ladorucki tried not only to describe but also to thoroughly consider the phenomenon of the contemporary art book. Focusing on its attributive features and their dialogue with the traditional form of the book codex he comes to the conclusion that although the book produced by artists frequently does not look like its codex form, one cannot understand it without diverse references to the form known for centuries. The interest in the book on the part of artists and collectors stems from its phenomenon combining finished forms on the one hand, and universal ones on the other. Hence

2 10 the result of their actions has a dual character: that of a closed object but one open towards the reader at the same time. The phenomenon of branding or creation of global products/brands in the area of books addressed to children and young people is the subject of the study by Anita Has-Tokarz. Her research experience proves that branding is becoming one of the major tools that create international book marketing, including the segment targeted at young readers. Trying to answer the questions about the reasons for the international success of the book for children and young people and about the marketing features of this phenomenon, the author points out special attributes of books/products, and the commercial contexts of their functioning: she does this, using the examples of extraordinary global successes of selected products/brands and the ways of promoting them. New technologies significantly change the environment in which the book functions. Problems pertaining to crossing of boundaries between the world of traditional publications and digital ones are the subject of the study by Ewa Jabłońska-Stefanowicz. For this purpose, she suggests using a suitable model of the integration of advanced technologies with previous experiences. Moreover, she points out the varied character of new book productions and the increasingly less important position of the author and publisher in the publishing process since technological advancement strengthens the role of new participants in it. It is therefore essential to ask a new question about the shape of the publishing process in the environment of the electronic media. The interdisciplinary character of studies on the book, the library and information also focuses on the fringes of literary life. Katarzyna Wodniak presents her research-based observations resulting from the bibliographic comparison of the literary repertory published in the Przyjaciółka weekly in This highly beneficial source in research terms also makes it possible to study various bibliological processes, in particular those concerning readers choices and the reception of foreign literatures in Poland at the time when free access to the world s literary achievements was restricted. Part Two of the collection opens with the study by Małgorzata Fedorowicz-Kruszewska, who analyzes the presence of materials other than the book in library collections. The changing environment in which the presentday library is functioning generates new different than previous needs of the users. In order to fulfill its tasks properly, the library must therefore apply various instruments, important to local communities, in satisfying all educational, social and cultural needs. Agata Walczak-Niewiadomska, drawing upon the experience of public libraries in the United Kingdom, Norway, and Poland, seeks to present the specific character of this type of libraries whose operations overlap with the

3 11 area of social, cultural and information activities. Diverse historical and cultural experiences impact somewhat different models of library services addressed to the youngest users in particular countries. A critical analysis and assessment of them allows the author to indicate the direction of changes in this segment of public libraries. School libraries are also intended for the young user. It is them, as part of the education system, that are meant to introduce school students into the world of books and information, teach them to formulate their reading and information needs, and also to satisfy them. The study by Jolanta Laskowska seeks to answer the question about the state of reading among school children and teenagers in Gdańsk. Regrettably, the presented analysis of survey results, supported by opinions of teachers and librarians, clearly shows a declining tendency in this respect. The problems of scientific libraries are discussed in the article by Dymitr O. Tarasov and Andrei M. Peleschyshyn. They present the process of formation and the principles of creation of the consolidated electronic resource in the Lviv Polytechnic National University Library. The Authors focus on the kinds of electronic documents assembled in this institution, the rules of their preparation, storage and availability, especially from the practical point of view. Digitalization of library resources gives rise to many problems associated with copyright law. The issues concerning the rights of libraries to make intellectual achievements available, especially in respect of so-called orphan works, are analyzed in the study by Lidia M. Jarska and Adrian Niewęgłowski. They discuss the problems not only in the light of the binding law but also in the context of Directive 2012/28/EU of the European Parliament and the Council of 25 October 2012 on certain permitted uses of orphan works. The domain of designing libraries of the present and the future is introduced by Tomasz Kruszewski s article. The abandonment and violation of the previously respected ideas is intended to create spaces without distinct didactic and educational purposes. Their main function will be first of all to participate in the socialization of people isolated by the Internet. The Author s discussion focused on to what extent architectural details, library spaces and library customs can support processes of this kind. The essence of crowdsourcing taking away of a certain activity area from an organization and transferring it, through open invitation, into the hands of a crowd, i.e. a large group of people, is the subject of the study by Małgorzata Kowalska. Basing on the examples of the use of its mechanisms in library work the author defines the areas where crowdsourcing can be used to fulfill tasks more efficiently not only by libraries but also archives, museums, culture centers, and the like.

4 12 Apart from positive changes, the development of advanced technologies produces negative ones. One of them is digital exclusion. The activities of libraries intended to reduce it are presented in Renata Malesa s article, who points out that full participation in social life is increasingly conditioned by the use of advanced technologies while libraries especially public ones are the place in which the technologies are not only accessed but also learned to use. The emphasis on the role and significance of these institutions in combating e-exclusion allows us to view libraries as an important factor in the development of the knowledge and information society. The new library environment also poses new challenges to librarians. To define and categorize their competences and role in managing human resources was the objective of the study by Maja Wojciechowska. Her inquiries are based on Polish legislation, which defines the necessary professional qualifications of librarians. In Part Three, the opening study by Jadwiga Woźniak-Kasperek is concerned with methodological issues. The Author focuses not only on the questions of interdisciplinarity of information science and on epistemological trends in this domain but She also discusses more general problems to emphasize the role and significance of truth in scientific cognition. She observes that in the inquiries to date it is difficult to notice vivid discussion on the nature and internal logic of information science, and there are not enough metascientific, axiological and science-of-science investigations while the failure to position information science in the sociological-anthropological context results in treatment of cognitive and non-cognitive values as mutually competitive. The digital revolution also poses questions concerning the democratization of literacy. This issue was discussed in the article by Małgorzata Góralska, who presents it on the one hand in the context of steadily improving conditions for the use of text resources while on the other hand she draws attention to the growing access to production and distribution of documents in circulation. The author also focuses on actions taken by various circles for wider access to computer technology. Maria Komova s interests focus on the impact of convergence on the development of typological structures of the new media. Basing on Her investigations, She assesses changes in the typological structure of the mass media in the on-going process of media transformation. Piotr Tafiłowski analyzed problems concerning the behavior of users in the Internet environment. His investigations focused on their identity, i.e. on making information about them available on social networking websites and Internet forums, and on their relationships with other users as well as the media environment the Internet.

5 13 Artur Znajomski discusses the issue of local bibliographies in Poland from1945 to Despite their considerable development, many large cities and smaller towns still do not have this important source of local information. Among the published lists of that kind the prevailing ones are retrospective subject bibliographies. They try to respond to the changing socio-political reality, use different criteria for the choice and selection of materials, and use different methodological solutions but this does not affect their information value and efficiency. The present collection does not present many phenomena important for the science of books, library and information. However, it offers a comprehensive view of these issues in the context of occurring changes resulting from the new information and communication environment. The vast array of the analyzed problems undoubtedly enriches the knowledge of book culture and information, allows the scholars to view them from a broad perspective while at the same time inspiring further studies, and it opens new research fields. Maria Juda