Volumul II (1997), nr. 1

Preparing for European unification requires a conceptual clearing-up. From the point of view of unification Europeanness must be judged according to institutions and culture, not by the geography and history of Europe. However, the institutions are objectifications of culture, therefore the dissensions concerning affiliation with Europe belong to the field of culture. In the author's opinion European cultural specificity consists of the following facts: a) it activates the behaviour characterized by economic rationality, allowing for the estimation of profitable results; b) it is a culture of effective administration supported by law; c) it promotes personal liberty conceived as the autonomy of the individual; d) it is a culture of systematic research and of transforming reality according to the individual objective; e) at the same time it is a spiritual culture capable of the thoughtful use of traditions.

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The sociological study of the recrudescence of nationalism in ex-communist countries must be initiated from the perspective of ethnification. The theories of ethnification are structured according to the paradigms: cultural-attitude which operates mainly within the preponderently irrational elements of ethnification and rational choice which focuses on the calculation of costs and profits. The main intention of the present study is to show the relation between the paradigms is complex and nuanced.

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The study analyses the connections between minority being and minority culture in  Hungarian life in Romania. It begins with the hypothesis that the peculiar image of culture that emerged during decades of deprivation of minority rights distorted the real functions of culture and its institutions in society as well as the intellectuals' image of themselves and their image of culture. This image of culture, which has become a cultural paradigm, is linked to the specific interpretation where minority being is considered to be a deficient and distinct category which inflicts moral duties on those living a minority existence. It endows culture with a distinct value-creating role from the point of view of survival. This interpretation of existence has been gradually infiltrated into culture and is being continuously procreated by its self-reproductive mechanisms. Therefore it continues to exist alongside the image of culture, even after the events of December 1989, although it does not reflect the real needs and endeavours of minority individuals and has become an obstacle to the development of the new processes. This contradiction which has evolved can now only be overcome by the development of a vigorous civil society.

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The main objectives and most significant findings of the user/nonuser survey designed and conducted at the "Octavian Goga" Cluj County Library are presented, the survey being one of the principal tasks of the Public Libraries Development Project under the European Union PHARE Partnership Programme. In order to support the library management's intention to improve  existing services and to initiate new ones,a study of the following was made: 1) the users'/nonusers' characteristics and main reasons for visiting/not visiting the public library; 2) the degree of using the available library services and the customers' level of satisfaction with these services, and especially 3) the public's needs for new services. The most important conclusion reached is that, although the main reason for library visiting is the use of books (particularly borrowing) and that the overall level of satisfaction with library available services and environment is registered as good, the users'/nonusers' interest for new library services appear  significant. The principal proposals were: an audiocassette, videocassette and CD lending service, a European Union Information service and the most important a Community Information Service. The main information priorities of the latter were: social/welfare assistance, medical/health care, employment, retraining/improving professional performance and leisure/recreation.

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