VOLUME I, Number 1-2
1996

Contents

Abstracts, 5-8

The Project, 9

Meda Diana BÂRCÃ,The "Lucian Blaga" Central University Library in Cluj (Short  History), 11

CULTURE, BOOKS, SOCIETY

    Interview with Professor Andrei Marga, Rector of  the "Babes- Bolyai" University, ClujThe
                        Europeanisation of Romanian Universities , 14

    Adrian MARINO, Romanian Culture Between East and West, 19

    Vasile MUSCÃ,   Lucian Blaga in the Romanian Culture, 29

    Vasile FRÃTEANU, A Metaphysical Model: Lucian Blaga, 55

    Klára JAKÓ:  History of the Báthory University Library Kolozsvár (Cluj)  from 1579 to 160763

LIBRARIANSHIP: A CHANGING PROFESSION IN A TRANSITIONAL SOCIETY

    Cornelia GÃLÃTESCU,  Ioachim CRACIUN, Mentor of the Romanian Bibliological School in Cluj, 91

    Sally WOOD-LAMONT,   The Application of Modern Methods of Working Practices  in a
                        Transitional Society, 100

    Ioana ROBU, Ana-Maria CÃPÂLNEANU, Ana TODEREAN,   The Library Assistance Program
                        of the Soros Foundation for an Open Society, 112
 

VARIA: EXHIBITIONS AT THE SPECIAL COLLECTIONS OF THE LIBRARY

    Silvia DUMITRU,   The Special Collections of the Central University Library, 128

    Silvia DUMITRU,   Claudopolitan Publications (Exhibition), 130

    Meda Diana BÂRCÃ, The Destiny of the Royal Dinasty in Romania (Exhibition), 135

Abstracts

THE EUROPEANISATION OF ROMANIAN UNIVERSITIES
(Interview with the Rector of "Babes - Bolyai" University Cluj)
Andrei Marga

Europeanisation is a current challenge for all universities nowadays. Thanks to the contribution of the
leaders of the European Union, the procedure of universities’ Europeanisation has been settled. The
needs of  professions' "common market", increased mobility and connections between National,
European and global commitments of universities have been the primary issues. Romanian universities
are undergoing at present an ambiguous process of reformation. The "Babes - Bolyai" University in
Cluj, one of the most dynamic universities in Romania, has initiated its project: Institutional
Development of the University according to these ideals of Europeanisation.
 

ROMANIAN CULTURE BETWEEN EAST AND WEST
Adrian Marino

 The whole modern Romanian culture is characterised by the conflict between Western "forms" and
traditional foundations. Are the Europeanisation and personalization of Romanian culture mutually
exclusive realities? Can they not in fact cooperate through proper creative solutions? The answer is
positive, but the process of co-operation means that many obstacles must be overcome.
 

LUCIAN BLAGA IN THE ROMANIAN CULTURE
Vasile Muscã

 The poet and philosopher Lucian Blaga is known and acknowledged in Romanian culture as the most
profound and creative theorist of "Romanian national specificity". Far from being confined to this
aspect, his creativity is an outstanding and original contribution not only to the philosophy of culture
and to metaphysics but also to the philosophy of history. The present study outlines the works of this
interesting and complex spiritual figure.
 

A METAPHYSICAL MODEL: LUCIAN BLAGA
Vasile Frãteanu

 The study analyses the philosophical conception of Lucian Blaga, one of the most important
Romanian thinkers of this century. The metaphysical philosophy of Blaga is considered to be part of
the great trend of ontological - theological thinking, a trend that has come once again to the forefront of
philosophical debates in the latter years. The Blagian philosophy has at its core the concept of the
supreme being, of God. Unlike the ontological "metaphysics" of Husserl and Heidegger which
introduce the concept of transcendence in immanence (in the contents of the human being itself), the
metaphysics of Blaga is based on the concept of a transcendence that radically differs from immanence
and is realised as such.
 

HISTORY OF THE LIBRARY OF BÁTHORY UNIVERSITY, CLUJ FROM 1597 TO 1607
Klára Jakó

 The foundation of  Báthory University in Cluj represents the efforts of this region to come abreast
with Western culture and civilisation. However, the University library does not illustrate only the
history of the institution. Its extant collections have outlived the university itself and consequently are
precious relics of Transylvanian book - culture in present times also.
 
 

IOACHIM CRÃCIUN, MENTOR OF THE ROMANIAN BIBLIOLOGICAL SCHOOL IN CLUJ
Cornelia Gãlãtescu

 The famous historian, researcher and university Professor, Ioachim Crãciun was the founder of the
bibliological school in Cluj as well as the initiator of bibliological education.
 The results of his activity are manifold: a whole array of specialists and competent librarians have
emerged. A large amount of bibliographical works and catalogues have been published and various
information tools have been created. In addition, the College of Librarianship with a 3 year course was
founded in 1995 at Cluj. The current publications of the Bibliotheca bibliologica series (first published
in 1944) as well as the commemorative publication, Philobiblon (published in 1995, at the 75th
anniversary of the University Library) reflect the significant importance in bibliological research, which
is still going on in Cluj.
 

THE  APPLICATION OF MODERN METHODS OF WORKING PRACTICES IN A
TRANSITIONAL SOCIETY
Sally  Wood -Lamont

 This article relates the experiences of a Scottish Librarian working in Romania for the past three years
as a Library Consultant at the Central Library of the University of Medicine & Pharmacy in Cluj -
Napoca, Romania. A summary of the work achieved in the automation of the library is given. The
problems of overcoming negative working attitudes in workplaces are reviewed during the initiation of
a sweeping program of change. Dilemmas of how to transform old mentalities and how to promote
initiative and motivation are related. Even offering contemporary Courses in Librarianship round the
country, though oversubscribed, fail to be an overwhelming success as new ideas taken back to the
libraries are received often with cynicism and lack of enthusiasm and cooperation. The rather
pessimistic conclusion is that unless a radical reform of working practices is considered a priority in
Romania, there will be little change in the future.
 

THE LIBRARY ASSISTANCE PROGRAM OF THE SOROS FOUNDATION FOR  AN OPEN
SOCIETY
Ioana Robu, Ana Maria Cãpâlneanu, Ana Toderean

 The article presents and analyzes the support programs for Romanian libraries and library science
developed by the Soros Foundation for an Open Society. In the context of extremely low budgets for
libraries the only solution is to turn to other sources, foundations or other non-government
organizations. This not an uncommon practice in the more developed libraries in the West.
 After a general presentation of the mechanisms of management of the Soros Foundation programs,
namely how they developed, who is responsible for the strategy and approvals of applications, the
three main programs are described in turn: (1) Support for books and current serials acquisition; (2)
Support for inter-library telecommunication and automation of libraries; (3) Support for Training in
Librarianship and Library Higher Education. Descriptions include the content of the programs as well
as precise details regarding the money allocated. They also attempt to analyze the strong and weak
points of each, based mainly on the impact of the programs in the library community and society in
general.