The Commission can though be a source of financial support, co-operation and contact on a European basis, which can enrich and broaden the literary activities and promotions of the Library Service. Indeed there is a very real possibility in general terms of an increase in the level of support as the Commission recognises the potential economic input of cultural activities particularly in relation to regional development.

The basic underpinning concepts which it is important to appreciate is that the Community and the Commission sets its own objectives and priorities and develops funding programmes to further these aims; it is thus the case that any library proposal regarding literary promotion must fulfil the parameters set by the Commission. However good or unique a particular idea may be it will not be funded if it is not in line with the Community’s policy aims. Furthermore any bid for funding would normally have to compete against equally interesting and innovative proposals from across the Community - a hit rate of two to three in ten is one to be pleased with. The basic elements in any European supported project includes the following:

Partnership - most European fund seeks to encourage the European ideal and thus inter-country partnerships are normally central and projects need usually to demonstrate why a particular activity is European in concept - how does it gain from being an inter-national as opposed to British event etc.

Dual Funding - not all but many sources of European funding provide a percentage (say typically 40 to 50%) of the cost of a project; the potentially negative impact of this is counter-balanced by the acceptance of, for example, staff time as a contribution-in-kind;

Accountability - many, although again not all, European schemes require meticulous record keeping and detailed submission of reports, account statements, evidence etc. - all of which have to be submitted by strict deadlines, although in return the payment of the Commission funding can take many months!

Despite these apparent difficulties much can be achieved particularly by Library Services, who use their information expertise to identify a wide range of possible funding programmes. It is true that there are currently, for example, a number of directly relevant programmes including:

Kaleidoscope - supporting cultural and artistic activities

Raphael - promoting cultural heritage

Arianne - encouraging the translation of modern works of literature

Icon - an inter-regional cultural network

However the vision needs to be broader, for example, exploring the aims and policies of the Bureau for Lesser Used Languages, funded exchange programmes, the action aimed at the central European states etc.

Fundamentally the European Community can be a potential source of funding and certainly the effort to gain such financial support does frequently create exciting and artistically invigorating networks and linkages. However, to exploit this resource we have to use our information skills creatively and ensure, often through direct personal contact, that our Library Service is known of by colleagues across Europe.