Library

The Library of the Research Institute for Labour and Social Affairs (RILSA), public research institution, is a specialized library focusing on the fields of labour and employment, occupational safety and health (OSH), social policy and protection, family issues, and other related disciplines.

The library collection consists of two formerly independent libraries – that of the former Research Institute for Labour and Social Affairs and that of the former Occupational Safety Research Institute. At present, the library holds more than 40.000 items in print, electronic, or digitized form. The collection also includes specialized Czech and international periodicals. The library is developed with particular regard to research needs.

Services

The library primarily serves the research staff of RILSA; however, its services are also available to students and the professional public. Loans must be requested in advance (via e-mail). Ordered items for external borrowing are provided at a prearranged time in the library reading room. Advance booking is also required for on-site consultation.

The library provides interlibrary loan services to all libraries through the Union Catalogue of the Czech Republic or upon written request.

The library uses the TRITIUS library system – an online catalogue is available through the institution’s website. The older part of the collection (acquired before 1994) is currently accessible only via a card catalogue. Part of the collection – specifically articles from the Official Journal of the European Communities, Czech legislation, and research outputs – is accessible in full text via SAFE, the OSH digital archive. SAFE also includes other document types such as books, articles, standards, student theses, internal documents, journals, and research reports. An independent database, the Golden Fund of Social Policy, provides a catalogue of historically and academically significant publications documenting the emergence and development of Czech (and formerly Czechoslovak) social policy.

The library offers search, information, and bibliographic services.

A computer with internet access and a copying service are available to users.

The operation of the library is governed by the lending regulations (see PDF).