Publishers and librarians in Central and Eastern Europe – love or hatred?

Abstract

PurposeTo provide an overview and propose solutions in improving scholarly publishing and document supply in Central and Eastern Europe (CEE) in connection with copyright acts and library practice.Design/methodology/approachCurrent (national) libraries’ practices are analysed, especially with regard tp improving access to documents through ICT. A broad overview of intellectual property protection is given. Scholarly publishing in CEE is analysed retrospectively with a particular emphasis on current obstacles to better communication and distribution of scholarly work published in CEE.FindingsFindings are related to the digital environment and social changes in contemporary Europe. Lack of highly skilled personnel within the document production and access chain is stressed as the major problem. Along this, language barriers, lack of cooperation among non‐fiction writers, universities, publishers and libraries strongly affect efficient document supply to students and scholars in CEE.Research limitations/implicationsAccess to comparable statistical data on books and journal publishing and use would add to the possibility reach of more precise findings and conclusions.Practical implicationsUniversities, publishers, non‐fiction writers and libraries could use the findings as a proposal for rethinking and remodelling of their activities with regard to document supply to readers in the digital environment in CEE.Originality/valueThe paper argues for an urgent need for efficient cooperation within scholarly publishing in CEE.