New Perspectives in Science Education

The report presents main findings from the first stage of realization of the scientific project "Copyright policy of libraries and other cultural institutions" (2012-2014), financed by National Science Fund of the Bulgarian Ministry of Education and Science, Contract № DFNI-К01/0002-21.11.2012.

The interaction between the creators of digital information (libraries, universities, museums, archives and other ‘memory institutions’), their role as portals for access to digitized information for users and to overcome the digital division and the necessity to be linked to the protection of copyright and related rights – all this outlines the interdisciplinary issues of the project. It covers problems from library and information sciences, cultural heritage and law sciences.

The report summarizes the results from the conducted empirical study on "Copyright Literacy of specialists from libraries and other cultural institutions", accumulated in Bulgaria in the period 25^th July – 5^th September 2013. For the target group of the online based questionnaire survey (Lymesurvey) are prefered managers and professionals responsible for the information service of users in library and other cultural institutions in Bulgaria. The goal of the empirical study is to identify, analyze and summarize how far the respondents are familiar with copyright issues directly related to the leaded by them institution and the services provided to consumers. To achieve a balance, the main objective consists of three sub-goals which investigate with:

1. Awareness of managers and professionals responsible for information services to consumers on issues related to copyright observance;
2. Their attitude to the problem of the need to development and implementation of copyright policy in library and cultural institutions;
3. Their opinion for the academic education and continuing training in the area of library and information sciences, archive and cultural heritage sciences regarding the considered problems.

The conducted empirical study allows to highlight important findings and conclusions. It is necessary to clarify that the survey covers respondents from 28 regional areas of the country, and there were invited 218 specialists of the research area to take part in the survey. The population consists of 118 effective surveyed adult Bulgarian citizens (working in libraries and other cultural institutions), which makes the survey representative for the country.  

Findings from the results will be used in the implementation of activities for the second stage of the project that aimed to increase the efficiency of the relationship: education - practice and stimulating the application of new forms of interaction between academic education and professional associations to prepare the specialists in matters on intellectual property issues, digitalization and the new forms of educational and scientific exchange.