OPAC and ISBN

The 1970s marked the beginning of the development of centralized cataloging systems (Lupovici, 2000, pg. 286). With the advent of the technical environment of the internet this system is changing again. A universal virtual digital library (une bibliothèque numérique virtuelle universelle) is being enabled by the development of new research tools and the internet. Library functions such as acquisition, storage, conversation, research, access and display are being transformed through the use of computer (Lupovici, 2000, pg. 286). OPAC or Open Access Catalogue is starting to be use in cataloging and is a large change from the traditional system of cataloging. Also the ISBN (International Standard Bibliographique Description) is becoming the new norm (Lupovici, 2000, pg. 287).

Lupovici, Catherine, (2000), De la bibliotheque classique a la bibliotheque numerique: continuité et rupture. in: Documentaliste-Sciences de l’information, vol.37, nr.5-6, p.286-297.

Historical Basis of Group Conflict in Belgium

Belgian libraries are heavily influenced by the local governments who are based on the linguistic community of the region with the “resilience of group allegiance as a basis for education and organization still seems to be more often the norm than the exception, especially in education” (McAndrew, 2004, pg.70). The Dutch are the majority populace in the country but there is a long history of the French speaking populace to have control of the federal government. In the 19th century French was considered to be more prestigious and was spoken by politicians. The education policy in Wallonia reflected this division as many Flemish labors worked in the mining and steel industry in the area (McAndrew,2004, pg.71). The Borinage region, whose capital is Mons the town where I am currently living, is famous for being a mining region. The French spoken in the region is heavily influenced by the Flemish language as the lower class of both the French and Dutch worked in the mines. People living in and around the Borinage region are called the Borain. Linguistic affiliation has become a social war with the upper class speaking French and the lower class speaking Dutch or Borain French. There is a strong “atmosphere of distrust and the conflicting political intentions of the Flemish and French” (McAndrew, 2004, pg.72). To date there is a shift in power as the democratic system is shifting power from the minority of French to the Flemish (McAndrew, pg.70). At the moment the Belgium doesn’t have a government head as the different political groups are refusing to compromise as they are polarized groups and are evenly matched in power.
Brussels, the capital of the country, is bilingual which “refers to the fact that there is always a Dutch speaking and French speaking alternative in official contracts with the government and in education and other public services” (McAndrew, pg.10). This is different from Wallonia and Flanders, who are monolingual, and who do not have to offer both languages in public services. A large percentage of the Belgian population is bilingual, but only in Brussels is it required to have both languages present in public services, such as libraries. The public services provided by the regional government in Brussels are linked to either French or Flemish system French. The French are guaranteed equal political representation on national level, and the Flemish who are the minority in Brussels have same guarantee (McAndrew, 2005, pg.71). Brussels is also unique as 30% of the population have a non Belgian nationality and can go to private or European schools (McAndrew, pg.76).

Mc ANDREW, M. et Janssens, R. (2004). The role of schooling in the maintenance and transformation of ethnic boundaries between linguistic communities: Contrasting Quebec and Belgium. Canadian Ethnic Studies/Études ethniques au Canada, numéro spécial, G. Bourgeault, M.-H. Chastenay et M. Verlot (dir.), Relations ethniques et education dans les sociétés divisées : comparaison Belgique-Canada/Ethnic Relations snd Education in Divided Societies: Comparing Belgium and Canada, 36(3), 61-83.

National Library

The Royal Library of Belgium is the national library of Belgium. It is located in Brussels along with most of the national agencies in Belgium. According to the library’s mission statement, its purpose is to preserve the nation’s cultural heritage and to acquire Belgian publications. The library promotes international collaboration and access to scientific information (Bibliothèque royale de Belgique, 2010). The library has specifically states that it has a user centered approach and is dedicated to meeting their needs.

It is the Belgian equivalent of the Library of Congress and has a copy of all the publications that are published in Belgium or by a Belgian in another country. The Royal Library is the national Belgian center and is in charge of assigning and cataloging the ISSN (International Standard Serial Number) of Belgian published documents. It is also the “dépôt légal” or legal deposit of Belgium and is the center for information concerning the rules and regulations of publishing material in Belgium. Special collections includes six sections or cabinets: precious reserves, maps and plans, music, manuscriptsm, engravings and chalcography (engravings on brass or copper). There is also the Fondation Roi Baudouin that holds an extensive collection of bronze medallions and plaques from antiquity. Online resources include Publications électroniques (Swets) and the Academic Research Library (ARL). The library has only recently started to include online databases into their collection. It also has a database called Digitool which is a “digital assessment management” tool. Unlike the Royale Libraries traditional catalogue this online database includes search tools such as Truncation, Boolean Operators, Parentheses, and Proximity Operators.


Bibliothèque royale de Belgique. (2010). Catalogues. Missions et gestion. Retrieved from http://www.kbr.be/catalogues/catalogues_fr.html