Page:NATIONAL INTELLIGENCE SURVEY 18; CZECHOSLOVAKIA; THE SOCIETY CIA-RDP01-00707R000200110015-7.pdf/44

 APPROVED FOR RELEASE: 2009/06/16: CIA-RDP01-00707R000200110015-7

As a result, publishing houses have begun to concentrate on Soviet and other Communist authors. Western technical books continue to be sold, but they are expensive and limited in quantity. Overseeing the publishing industry, the Czechoslovak Center for Publishing and the Book Trade promotes ideological objectives and coordinates all activities of publishing houses and bookstores in accordance with official guidelines.

Because of the high literacy rate and the general interest in intellectual pursuits, a great demand for library resources exists. Consequently, the system is extensive, consisting of public libraries, university and school libraries, state society facilities, and libraries associated with mass organizations. In addition, some industrial plants and social clubs maintain small libraries or reading rooms. Facilities are heavily concentrated in the Czech Lands which had 74% of the country's 13,391 public libraries and branches in 1971. In the same year, all facilities contained a total of 34,665,000 volumes, and 1,825,000 readers were registered. All library facilities are regulated by the Central Council for Libraries.

The largest library is the State Library of the Czechoslovak Republic. Established in 1956 as a consolidation of six libraries, it has approximately 4 million volumes and an extensive microfilm collection. Other significant facilities are the Slovak National Library in Martin with 1.8 million volumes, the National Museum Library in Prague, containing 1.7 million volumes, the University Library at Brno with 1.6 million volumes, the Prague City Library with 1.4 million volumes, the State Technical Library at Brno, and the Slovak Technical Library at Bratislava. The two technical libraries contain 1.1 million volumes each. Five other state scientific libraries offer comprehensive collections in special technical fields.

2. Radio and television

Radio is the most important medium of mass communication and a major vehicle for political, social, and cultural indoctrination. Operated by Czechoslovak Radio (Ceskoslovensky Rozhlas), broadcasting began in 1923 with 2 hours daily. By 1972 there were 120 hours of daily broadcasting as well as extensive foreign transmissions. In the 1970's a campaign to reorganize and expand the radio system was begun, and by the end of the next Five Year Plan (1976-80), it is anticipated that stereo broadcasting will reach the entire countryside.

Radio reception is already extensive. In 1971, 3.8 million licensed radio receivers existed; the ratio of 264 radio receivers per 1,000 population was one of the highest in Eastern Europe. The number of transmitters has doubled since 1960 to reach 100 in 1971. Additional and more powerful transmitters are planned.

The radio system consists of three networks - Programs I, II, III. Utilizing medium and long wave AM transmitters, Program I is composed of Radio Prague, which presents general news and educational broadcasts and certain specialized programs in Czech, and Radio Bratislava, which broadcasts similar programs in Slovak as well as in Hungarian and Ukrainian. In 1973, Program I added transmissions in Czech and Slovak, capable of reception in the rest of Europe, Africa, South and East Asia, and Australia. Program II, Radio Star (Hvezda), was created in 1970 to replace a previous national system. It broadcasts 24 hours daily in Czech and Slovak over long and medium wave AM transmitters. Light music constitutes the bulk of the second network's programming and, while newscasts are frequent, they are less detailed and compose a smaller proportion of broadcast time than those presented on Program I. Because Program II requires less concentration, it is the most popular of the networks. Program III is composed of the Czech-language Radio Vltava and the Slovak-language ''Radio Devin. Radio Vltava'' also broadcasts in English, German, Russian, and Spanish. The programming for the third network consists of classical music, modern jazz, operas, art and literary discussions, and foreign language instruction.

Czechoslovakia also has an extensive foreign broadcast program. The Czechoslovakian International Service in Prague, employing shortwave transmitters, broadcasts in seven languages to all parts of the world. The largest target area is Europe. Programs usually consist of news and commentary on Czechoslovak developments and world affairs.

Introduced in 1953, television broadcasting is one of the most popular mediums, and is the responsibility of Czechoslovak Television (Ceskoslovenske Televize). Nonetheless, because of the mountainous terrain, TV coverage has not been as complete as radio, and consequently, has not had the influence or propaganda value of that medium. Therefore, the regime is in the process of increasing the number and power of broadcast facilities. The 32 transmitters in existence in 1971 are more than double the total in 1960. By 1973, 4,500 hours of television programming per annum were being transmitted to 3.3 million TV receivers. The ratio of 243 TV sets per 1,000 population ranks Czechoslovakia among the five leading nations in the world, and the government claims that 80% of all families own a television set.

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APPROVED FOR RELEASE: 2009/06/16: CIA-RDP01-00707R000200110015-7