The paper gives an overall review of the development of professional library terminology in Slovakia. The „common roots" of Czech and Slovak terminology is presented on the examples of state standards connecting with the librarianship. Paper gives the overview of specialized bi- or multilingual dictionaries used in Slovak library practice.
The beginning of the last decade of the 20th century is known as the period of opening Eastern and Central European countries to the world. This fact offers new possibilities for development of librarianship in those countries by connecting to the European and world projects. The „boom" of automation and new information technologies brings the need to expand the existing terminology. International standards (ISO - Documentation, ISBDs, library systems technical documentation, etc.) represent suitable resources for this purpose. Accepting new concepts and creating own national library terminology is one of the basic role of the national libraries because they should represent the leader in development of librarianship and whole library system in each country.
The situation in the Slovak National Library is represented on examples of translation of various kinds of materials which are inevitable for the practice of libraries in Slovakia. The translation of the manual UNIMARC Bibliographic format means the first step of accepting new concepts and philosophy of running the cataloguing in connection with automated library system. Other translations of standards have brought the new quality to the development of the librarianship - translations of ISBD recommendations, of ISO standards, of technical documentation of the automated system and of cataloguing rules. The need for creating good translation dictionaries including the definitions of concepts was evident.
The co-operation with academic institutions (academic background, linguistics...) is a crucial point. Dissemination of new knowledge and terminology is done by publishing of basic materials for librarians (standards, rules...) and during the training sessions organized by the national library and other kinds of libraries. The general understanding of the need to have well-thought-out multilingual dictionary of library terminology in Slovakia is represented by the fact that two important Slovak libraries have participated on the International Project Multilingual Dictionary of Library Terminology. The result of this project - Multilingual Dictionary of Library terminology in printed and electronic form as well - will be available this year. In December 1999, thanks to the effort of various institutions in Slovakia, the English-Slovak Dictionary of Library Terminology was published within the framework of the International Project.
The future development of library terminology in Slovakia will continue on the base of co-operation of experts from various disciplines (librarianship, linguistics, information science, etc.). They could be concentrated in a specialized working group on terminology and they should disseminate the results and outputs within library community in Slovakia.
Final abstract, August 31, 2000