The medical libraries in Poland, probably similarly to other post communist countries in Central and Eastern Europe, started to catch up with present time information requirements “jumping” in a way into the train of computerization, which in many other parts of the world had been already running pretty fast. This way we skipped several steps of gradual improvements. Having in mind own experiences, the authors representing various professions, and active within different relations with medical library, try to reflect over what efforts and mistakes was spared Polish medical libraries thanks to this “jump”, and what were and are its negative results. The authors review technologies, which had or were supposed to have significant influence on the directions of libraries development. The analysis of technologies used at present, and changes that have occurred in the libraries leads authors to predict possible trends in the development of medical information in the nearest future. Pointed are new responsibilities and tasks of libraries, especially in area of user education, e-learning, distance and mobile learning. Signalized are: difficulties and challenges facing library integrated systems, problems with the transfer of the knowledge and innovations from the scientific centers to the libraries and new role and position of libraries in university education.
Turning back the authors think, that although implementation of new technologies in Poland was pretty fast it was in fact significantly hindered by the lack of adequately prepared and ready for change information professionals and also by conservative social environment. The general result was, that although new equipment was in place often it was not adequately and fully used. Dissemination of technological innovations occurred to be much more effective than dissemination of “know how” to use or apply it. The main conclusion is that any future acceleration in technology dissemination has to be accompanied by appropriate, immediate, and intensive education. The exchange of experiences, observation of best practices and tutoring by more advanced technology users seem to be the shortest way to do so.
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