Digitization of libraries is successful, but the Ministry of Culture of the Czech Republic is making mistakes in subsidies

The SAO's audit focused on the money spent between 2017 and 2023 to support the digitisation of libraries and showed that the Ministry of Culture (MoC) directed the funds to the real needs of libraries, but set the digitisation objectives very generally, which prevented an overall evaluation of the effectiveness and efficiency of the funds provided. The SAO found that the Ministry of Culture did not monitor the impact of the support provided, did not transparently evaluate applications, provided subsidies contrary to the conditions set and carried out only one public audit in seven years. In the audited years, the Ministry of Culture spent CZK 446.7 million to support the digitisation of libraries. The Ministry of the Interior spent CZK 444.6 million from the state budget and the "National Plan of Restoration". The SAO focused on three beneficiaries of the subsidies, which are the largest public libraries in the Czech Republic, including the National Library of the Czech Republic (NL CR) and the National Technical Library (NTK).

The SAO selected a sample of 72 projects worth almost CZK 70 million. CZK. The audit showed that the projects have had a positive impact on the services provided by the Czech library network. For example, between 2017 and 2023, almost 80,000 digitised historical and rare documents from the NCR's collections were made available and the library preserved or reformatted a total of 564 volumes comprising over 416,000 pages. The SAO verified that no duplicate digitisation of identical documents took place.

The auditors found that the Ministry of Culture provided subsidies of CZK 12.7 million to 24 projects in the audit sample. CZK in violation of the legal regulation. It paid them 100 % of the budgeted costs, although the relevant government regulation stipulated that the maximum amount of the subsidy could be 70 % of these costs. According to the SAO, these are facts indicating a breach of budgetary discipline. The Ministry of Finance also did not transparently evaluate the applications for subsidies by failing to exclude committee members whose impartiality was in doubt. These members were involved in the evaluation of 29 projects for which they had links to the applicants.

The SAO draws attention to insufficient public administration control by the Ministry of Culture. In seven years, it has carried out only one audit of a single subsidy recipient. "In view of the shortcomings mentioned in this audit conclusion, the area of subsidy provision by the Ministry of Culture can be considered risky. The SAO repeatedly draws attention to the low number of public audits carried out by the Ministry of Culture, see for example SAO audit action no. 18/19, č. 21/16 or no. 23/15," said Adolf Beznoska, a member of the SAO who led the audit.

The National Technical Library has spent between 2017 and 2022 to make electronic information resources available* CZK 1.1 billion from the European Structural and Investment Funds and the state budget within the "CzechELib" project. According to the SAO, these funds were spent efficiently and economically. Thanks to the project, a national centre for the acquisition of electronic information resources was created, which saved money and reduced administration.

The audit showed that NTK does not consider digitisation as one of its key activities, although it is included in its charter. Compared to the National Library, it digitises documents from historical collections more slowly. NTK does not have a dedicated workplace for digitisation of library collections and the technical equipment for digitisation consists of only two outdated large format book scanners and one desktop scanner. Meanwhile, there is a growing preference among users for digitised documents. According to the SAO, it is desirable that the NTK speed up the process of digitisation of documents. The auditors found deficiencies in the archives and filing service of the NTK.

Since 2011, the Czech Republic has been dealing with the introduction of mandatory printouts of electronic publications. Although the Ministry of the Interior has already submitted a draft law, this draft was not discussed and approved by the Parliament of the Czech Republic until the end of the SAO audit.

* A collective name for electronic journals, electronic books and special databases of particular relevance to research and development.

SAO/ gnews.cz - RoZ