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This paper aims to describe some of the unique features of the Dutch academic library benchmarking system.

The Dutch system is compared with similar projects in the USA, the UK and Germany.

One of the most distinguishing features of the Dutch system is the method by which the results are analysed and presented. Absolute values of performance indicators are converted to median relative scores and, as a result, a graph can be created for each library that shows at a glance its relative position for a whole range of indicators.

Similar benchmarking projects may benefit from the Dutch experience regarding the selection of raw data, the choice of performance indicators, the validity of the performance indicators, methods for analysis and presentation, and interpretation of the results.

The paper provides detailed and critical information on a long‐running project. It questions the validity of some established performance indicators.

The purpose of this paper is to determine the percentage of recently published books provided with tags drawn from LibraryThing for Libraries, the nature of these tags, the relation of the tags with keywords in the record and the percentage of records actually enhanced by tags.

A random sample of 600 records from a catalog of a large academic library was examined to determine whether or not they carry tags. A random sample of 160 records was taken to assess their nature and added value for retrieval purposes.

It was found that: about one third of the records are provided with tags; 80 percent of the tags are subject terms; 50 percent of the subject tags are covered by a keyword in the record; 25 percent are broader than a keyword and another 25 percent are related, narrower or new. Almost 40 percent of the records with tags can be considered as enriched.

In some cases the determination of the added value required a subjective judgement. It was not examined whether the tags properly reflect the content of the book.

Unlike earlier studies, this study is based on a large and random sample. Tags are compared not only with subject headings, but also with other keywords and differences between disciplines are examined.

Interlending in the Netherlands is based on a national system for the supply of scholarly literature and a regional system for supplying a wider range of material mainly between public libraries. Some 725,000 requests were made in 1979. Most requests are satisfied through union catalogues or printed union lists. In addition to the 12 provincial centres, the 13 regional support libraries have a central role in the regional supply system; they received 131,708 requests in 1980 and satisfied 27%. A single centre in each region is recommended. A survey of the national system showed that 40% of all requests at this level came from academic libraries, 40% from special libraries and 20% from public libraries. Most requests are for science and technology (60%), for English language material (55% of all requests; 70% of requests for journals), and for more recent material (65% published in the last ten years). The satisfaction rate was 76% (higher for requests sent to union catalogues): half were supplied in two weeks, two‐thirds in three weeks. Important gaps in journal coverage were identified, eg in medicine. An on‐line national union catalogue will be available in 1984 and will be used to distribute requests more evenly between libraries, but specific grants to support the interlending function in major supplying libraries will still be necessary, and charges should be made. Improved union catalogues are envisaged at the regional level also.

In the Netherlands, cooperation among libraries has been common for many years. By sharing a common catalog and collaborating in the interlibrary loan system, libraries have a tradition of working together to give their users better service.

Dramatic changes in the role and position of public libraries require a fundamental reconsideration of professional development programs for library professionals. This paper seeks to address this issue.

This Dutch case study describes an innovative academic professional learning programme and its development through a process of intensive stakeholder consultation and co‐creation.

Market analysis and stakeholder consultation revealed that traditional professional development programs are not sufficient, and that an innovative learning approach is needed to accommodate professionals in the current disruptive context. Through intensive co‐creation between academics and library stakeholders, a learning approach was developed that combines workplace learning, networked learning and distance learning with intensive inspirational face‐to‐face sessions, merging formal and informal learning. A first batch of professionals has just started the programme that centres around four main themes that deal with the current challenges for public libraries: changes in society, culture, organisation and technology. Each theme is integrated into the main learning stream of collectively developing new librarianship.

The Library School learning approach is expected to be suitable for many sectors that deal with continuous professional development.

Society in the twenty‐first century requires innovative approaches to continuous professional development. Close collaboration between universities and professional stakeholders can lead to sector‐wide commitment and thus create added value for all parties involved and for society as a whole.

A co‐creative development process has led to an innovative learning approach for continuous professional development. This paper is of value to professional development departments, learning providers and human resource managers.

This paper aims to describe the current infrastructure for interlending and document supply in The Netherlands.

This paper provides an overview of the current infrastructure for interlending and document supply in The Netherlands.

Document supply has declined dramatically over the past 10 years, and The Netherlands is going through a period of great change as OCLC moves its library services to the cloud based WorldShare platform.

This paper is the first overall description of the interlending and document supply system in The Netherlands to appear for a great many years.

The purpose of this paper is to document a joint research project aimed at investigating the existing library practices regarding protection of personal data, in view of computerization of libraries and its consequences, and awareness of the privacy (anonymity) of the library users that was carried out simultaneously in The Netherlands and Croatia in the autumn of 2007.

The research was a continuation of an ongoing cooperation between The Netherlands Public Library Association and the Department of Information Sciences, University of Zagreb. A questionnaire was developed based on previously conducted interviews with librarians and survey of recent literature on anonymity. It was carried out online via a special link on the web site of The Netherlands Public Library Association and sent by e‐mail to selected libraries in Croatia.

Replies obtained from 65 Dutch and 33 Croatian libraries of all types have been compared and commented in the paper. The research shows that despite existing differences in library facilities librarians in both countries have not yet become fully aware of all aspects of privacy issues that new services provided by the new technology have brought about, nor received adequate training or taken appropriate measures.

Further research on library practices regarding data protection and measures and steps to be taken by libraries in order to improve the present inadequacies can be envisaged in future.

The paper provides information on data security issues in Dutch and Croatian libraries.

The economic impact of information and communication technology (ICT) on the academic library and on the academic institution are discussed in terms of changes in the value chain of scientific information induced by the use of ICT. Argues that ICT is a very strong engine for change as it has the potential not only to transform the research information system, but also the educational information system or even the education system at large. Academic institutions will have to create their own publishing and archiving environments using the same technology as in research publishing. These developments will have a profound impact on the value chain of scientific information as it leads academic institutions to assume entirely new roles in this chain and to develop new capabilities. As well as a digital collection strategy, academic libraries will develop strategies for supporting e‐learning and e‐publishing. This leads to changes in the economic conditions at the institutional and also industrial level. The developments will be discussed in general.

The term “library management” covers many different aspects of the way that a library is operated and conjures up different concepts in the minds of different people, depending on their own interests, agendas and requirements. Research into the subject is even more difficult to define because the application of research in one field can be vital to the development of another. Some researchers would not consider their research central to library matters at all, whereas the practising librarian might well see it as casting new light on a difficult area of understanding or development.