Republic Moldova is a country with a strongly pronounced agricultural profile what accordingly impacts development of economy of the entire country. The changes in the field of agriculture during the last few years have brought new problems also into the field of information thus challenging it to set up information infrastructure that will be capable to satisfy modern information needs of agricultural information society.

Agricultural information network currently comprises RASL (Republican Agrarian Scientific Library), 12 scientific libraries, 9 college libraries and 14 farmer information-consulting centers.

The most important library-related problems are presented by lack of local area networks, insufficient coordination between libraries and information-consulting centers, coordination of activities related to local area networks, integration of existing network into the national information system and international cooperation. Process of shaping agricultural information resources lags behind the information needs of end-users of agricultural information. International cooperation in the field of information is crucial. Fully developed international cooperation, however, would require a better presence of information technologies in Moldova.

To this end a project of library automation was begun in Moldova. First step is presented by automation of RASL, and respective creation of the National Documentation Center in Agriculture. It is based on a special library program TINLIB.

Modernization of library activities is a very complex problem in Moldova. It demands significant financial resources, good choice of information technologies and sufficient technical equipment. A very important part is played by library staff where there exists a high need for better qualification with regard to the use of new technologies. Not only is there a need for new qualification - structural changes as to the library staff are also needed. There is a demand, e.g., for computer experts, specialists with knowledge in languages, market information specialists, etc.

At the moment a problem of raising qualification of personnel is priority at the RASL as it has just started to modernize its activity. All the problems that might arise have to be resolved by the library alone. The first step is comprised of training on the use of modern information technologies, i.e. transition from traditional library methods to the new technological platform. The library as a functional system is composed of several functional subsystems. Each subsystem presents a certain technological cycle that consists of operations and processes, which have to be automated by the employees. The professional training must therefore include two elements: good knowledge of computer technology and also the corresponding characteristics of library processes.

The whole system will be serviced on different levels:

• First level ŕ whole system service
• Second level ŕ separate subsystems service
• Third level ŕ realization of separate technological processes ·
• Fourth level ŕ realization of elementary operations

The different system levels are serviced by specialists with specific basic qualifications and professional interests. Training also differs with regard to the level. First and second level specialists attend lectures, seminars, business presentation, and practical work with problem-solving education elements in order to improve thinking skills, and also decision making skills. Third and fourth levels involve lectures, practical and laboratory training.

The final success in the above training results in a higher job position, and an increase in salary. Both collective and individual education is carried out. This applies especially to the employees that deal with less traditional library technologies. Market of information services is extremely mobile. New information technologies appear constantly so one of the main tasks of libraries is to investigate all the new possibilities, and evaluate them with respect to the practical usage.

The future status of library will hopefully become one of an information an education center. Traditional functions of libraries will be preserved, and new ones will be adopted. This may bolster the prestige of the library profession.