ISSN 1461 4154 PO journal e director's comment

The N PO has moved into the cp new British building at NPO Journal St Pancras!

Turpin Distribution Services Ltd Blackhorse Road Letchworth Hertfordshire SG61 HN Tel: 01462 672555 Fax: 01462 480947

National Preservation Office The British Library, 96 Euston Road, LONDON, NW1 2DB Tel: 0171-412 7612 Fax: 0171-412 7796

he move to the new British the Office's main concern: the • Library building at St Pancras, development of a national supported by Tafter months of deliberation preservation strategy. The British Library and uncertainty, capped a year of In the last two years, we have The Public Record Office extensive growth and transition for continued to run the enquiry service The National Library of the NPO. on a fairly small scale. Over the last Scotland We moved in on the 14th six months we have been able to Trinity College Library Dublin December 1998, and after the devote more time and energy to it and The Consortium of University Christmas break, have begun to settle can now once more offer a fast­ Research in well and surprisingly quickly. The response enquiry and information Cambridge University library professional and practical benefits of service on aspects of preservation The National library of Wales th is move will become even more relevant to libraries and arch ives. Our The Bodleian library, apparent over this next year. aim is to continue to work on this so Oxford University The integration of the independent that the Office becomes a natural focus of the NPO, within the new focus to which professionals come to Cover picture: John British Library at St Pancras, means for advice and to share experiences. Chrysostom, Homiliae super that we ca n create closer links w ith We hope that colleagues in the BL Matthaem etc. Printed in our colleagues, whilst creating a and throughout the UK and Ireland Cologne, 1487. Cambridge bridge to other organisations and w ill feel they can contact us with University library, Inc. institutions on topical preservation relevant queries or ideas so that we 3.A.4.6(470) issues to the benefit of all . Over the can collaborate on projects, events Credit: Reproduced by kind next three years we will be piloting a and problems, and even reach perm iss ion of the Syndics of number of initiatives to gather the solutions. Please come and see what Cambridge University background information we need for we are doing! library.

The vtcws expressed withtn this publi< alton an• not ne( cssanly Dr Vanessa Marshall, Director of thos(' of th(' Editor, the NPO or The National Preservation Office - The British Library. e cover story

The Census of Medieval Bookbinding Structures to 1500 in British Libraries by jenny Sheppard 0

he British Census project is one of medieval period, especially from the three projects that are currently in later 13th century onwards. Tprogress in Eu rope (though they Secondly, the project aims to raise are unrelated). The other two are in Italy awareness among all w ho read, care and France w here research institutes for and handle medieval , about are providing both teams of researchers proper hand Ii ng practices, for these rare and the support that such a project needs. and often fragile items. This includes The British project began to evolve reading room supervisors and I ibrary a number of years ago in Cambridge and staff w ho have the among a group of medieval important but often uncons idered Psa/ter.Written in first half 13th century, scholars, keepers and conservators of responsibil ity of carrying medieva l probably in England. Cambridge, medieval books, and it is in Cambridge materials between storage areas and University Library, MS Add. 7220. that phase one of the project is being reading rooms. It raises awareness carried out. about the valuable evidence that is Interest in the structure of med ieva l embedded in su rviving bindings bookbindings is a comparatively new concerning the history of the text or development in the field of physical texts w hich each binding protects. This bibliography. Until about 50 years emerging branch of medieval phys ica l ago, research was directed almost bibliography has much to reveal to exclusively towards decorated covers. practised minds and eyes. The practised Because their importance has been observation of easily visible elements hitherto overlooked, medieval bindings of bindings and the st ra ightforward have for centuries been replaced and recording of these elements are ski lls discarded on a very large scale, though that anyone can develop. the texts within and the decorated To assist in furthering these aims, a coverings have been preserved. booklet cal led A Guide to the Census However, medieval binding structures has been produced and distributed john of Turrecremata, Quaestiones are wel l worth studying in their own to all collections and that, Evangeliorum de Tempore et de Sanctis. right as a part of the history of the book. according to our research, are likely to Printed in Cologne in1478. Cambridge, In addition, they may contain evidence hold books or arch ive materials in early University Library Inc. 3.A.4.16 (595 ). about the origin and of a bindings. This comes together w ith book w hich is vital to all scholars who information about the project and a work on any aspect of medieval books, returnable form on w hich recipients their readers and med ieval libraries. can indicate their interest to participate The project has two main objectives. and w heth er in-house or other I ists of Fi rst, it aims to produce a list of su rviving books in early bindings exist. This well medieval binding structu res before illustrated book contains a copy of 1500 on books in British I ibraries. the form that is being used to record At present, there is no such I ist. Even information and an explanation of the where they exist, not all published work the project's researchers wi II be catalogues include systematic doing. It is hoped that the booklet w ill reference to bindings. As a resul t of the help keepers who need ass istance in census we shall know, for the fi rs t time, identifying books w hich the project's how many books in early bindings have researchers w ill need to see. Well over Origen, Super Cenesim, Exodus, survived in th is country and where they 500 booklets have been sent out across Leviticum. Written in England in are. The census may also generate the country. Repl ies from more than the second half of the 12th century. some research findings of its own, half this number have already been Cambridge, University Library, particularly with regard to identifying received, virtually 100% express ing MS Add 5368. practices which can be applied locally enthusias m forthe project. However, and the refinement of dating changes this leaves about 200 free booklets Credit: AI/ pictures reproduced by kind permission of the Syndics in binding structures through the unacknowledged ! If readers have of Cambridge Universi ty Library. people e

received a communication from the The depositing of photocopies of the long-acknowledged difficulty in project (it w ill have arrived between represents a first rapid step towards estimating how long the research will November 1997 and March 1998) making the records avai lable for take in each centre have become more but have not yet replied, it would be consultation and comment. However, sharply focused. Attempting to co­ appreciated if they could do so as a more widely accessible means of ordinate up to 10 researchers working soon as possible, even if they believe disseminating the findings is currently in different places at once for different they have no early bindings or only being considered. A hard copy version periods of time would be likely to one or two, or if they do not w ish of the forms is a possibility, but it may make the administration unnecessari ly to participate. prove to be less useful than making the complex and the efficiency and smooth Production and distribution ofthe computerised findings available on the running of the project would be likely booklet and processing the replies internet . Currently the use of SGML to to be compromised. Secondly, it may have constituted a major element of encode information gathered from the be easier to raise funds for the project stage one in terms of time and cost. project and the possibility of scanning to proceed in stages. However, there The second element is the carrying the drawings made on the reverse of is no reason why, once research has out of the census in Cambridge the census form are under active been set in motion in one centre, work libraries, which is being done by investigation. Wider consultation, could not then begin to attract funds the project co-ordinator (currently its especially with the keepers of the books for research to commence in another. sole researcher) on a part-time bas is. in question, sti II remains to be done. A few copies of A Guide to the A ll books w ith pre-1500 bindings On completion of stage one (end Census are sti ll ava ilable for sa le and held by the University Library have 1999), when the computerisation and can be obtained from the address been recorded. Photocopies of the publication questions will have been below at £8.50 for one, or £8.00 for completed form for some 600 books resolved, the most recent thinking in more than one, including postage (MSS and incunables) have been light of the experience in running stage and packing. deposited in the relevant department one, is that the project would most and can be seen on request in the sensibly proceed by geographical Manuscripts or Rare Books Rooms. centre rather than country-wide all at Attention is now being directed to once, as had previously been planned. Enquiries about the project should be college collections beginning w ith There are two main reasons for this addressed to the Project Co-ordinator, those that are richest in surviving change. Fi rs tly, si nce the number of Dr Jenny Sheppard, Lucy Cavendish bindings. So far 116 records have books involved in most geographical College, Cambridge CB3 OBU . been completed. centres is unknown, the implications Fax: 01223 332178.

people

obin Dale is a Program Officer in the Research Libraries Group's Member Programs & Initiatives division. As RLG's program officer for PR ESERV, RLG's Rpreservation program, she coordinates and supports the group's initiatives related to digital archiving, digital imaging, preserving magnetic media, and enhancing access to information about items w hich have been digitally reformatted. Robin came to RLG from Columbia University. As head of Columbia's Preservation Reformatting Department, she was active in developing and evaluating new technologies in support of preservation while managing Columbia's ongoing traditional preservation reformatting activities via microfilming, photocopying and audio transfer. Prior to Columbia, Robin worked in the Department of Preservation at the University of California, Berkeley. e digital imaging

Joint RLG and NPO Conference on Guidelines for Digital Imaging by Neil Beagrie, Collections and Standards Officet; Arts and Humanities Data Service Executive and Nancy Elkington, Program Officer, Research Libraries Group

ver ninety people from sharing the breadth of her experience common criteri a used in digitisation North America, Europe and in a series of ten guiding principles. projects, such as whether the original O Australia convened at the Two of the most critical of these, at items are damaged or in danger, in University of Warwick (UK) September least in the context of the conference, high demand, or have significant 28-30, 1998 for a first-of-its-kind were: " Don't reinvent the w heel" intellectual or artifactual value. It working conference. The Research and " Don't reinvent an o ld wheel." was stressed that most d igitisation is Libraries Group and the National Participants were admonished to access driven rather than preservation Preservation Office (NPO) of the UK avo id drawing too literal an analogy driven at present. Discussion raised and Ireland joined forces to focus on between preservation microfilming the issue of w hether preservation of creating an international consensus strategies an d work flows and those digitised images would prove more in the development of guidelines for that are relevant to digital conversion costly than re-digitisation at some digital imaging and . efforts. She further argued against the future date. It was generally concluded Proceedings for the conference will development of guide I i nes that are that this assumption may often be be made available at the conference too rigid or too narrowly conceived; curtailed by the need to conserve t website http://www.rl g.org/preserv/ instead, she suggested that experts he ori ginal objects and to invest in joint orhttp://www.thames.rlg.org/ should be working toward agreements converting materials not yet in preserv/joint/ and in print form (from on providing guidance rath er than digital form. NPO) in the coming months. Updates guidelines. Kenny encouraged the The need for guidance rath er than that include summaries of plenary group to undertake that w hich is guidelines proposed by Anne Kenney discussions, small group recommen­ achievable, and to acknowledge the was widely endorsed. At the same time dations, and follow-up actions by RLG gap between the ideal and the it was recognised that some education and the NPO w ill appear on the web poss ible. She also emphasised the is needed to achieve and implement site in the coming weeks. M eanwhile, re lationships and inter-dependence this: often in questions on digitisation this abbreviated version is being made of decisions taken during the selection, a single solution or standard is sought. avai lable as soon as possible after preparation, and capture in digitisation The answer to such questions invariably the event. projects and the importance of a begins with " it all depends ... "There is Fifteen speakers from th e US, UK, coordinated approach, citing the a learning curve on how to choose Canada, and Australia shared insights recent AHDS study http://ahds.ac.uk/ appropriate solutions and standards and challenges on se lection issues, manage/framework.htm and its advice w hich are "fit for purpose", and that phys ical an d editorial preparation on developing a strategic policy meet project and institutional needs requirements, image capture techniques framework for creating and preserving and requirements. and rationales, metadata approaches, digital collections. Finally, and most Recommendations coming back to and digital preservation imperatives. persuasively, she urged participants to the audience from the small group Delegates from over a dozen countries recogni se that sometimes "reasonable, discussion included: were able to air their opinions in small well-informed people can disagree" • No one set of guide I i nes can be group discuss ion sess ions and open on what constitutes best practice. prescribed that w ill at the same time question/answer periods amid several be useful and usable by all types of plenary sessions. And all participants Selection institutions and repositories. took advantage of the unique Guidelines for Selection, the first of • Institutions should be encouraged opportunity to exchange ideas and three focused sections combining to formulate their own guidance trade experi ences less formally over formal presentations and small group documents that will help them the three-day conference. discussions, was moderated by Julia reach decisions regarding digital Anne R Kenney (Cornell University), Walworth (University of London conversion of materials. the conference keynote speaker, is Library); the podium was shared • There should be a unified web site one of the world's most experienced by speakers Janet Gertz (Columbia for information, case stu dies, and professionals currently engaged in University) and Paul Ayris (University guidance on the process of selection exploring digita l technology and College, London). to aid institutions w ishing to expand seeking best methods for applying it Speakers identified examples of their understanding of the issues and to th e needs of libraries and archives. se lection guidelines avai lable on the develop their own selection She acted as teacher and mentor, web, and summarised some of the guidelines. digital imaging e

• Selection guidance w ill only be • Recommendations to address Jane Williams outlined the work effective within a wider institutional unmet needs in the areas of: costs of the Technical Advisory Service for framework and consideration and (cost/benefit analysis models), Images (TASt), a national service for the development of institutional collection staffing, training, physical work areas, UK higher education community. Her policies for digital materials. term inology, digital preservation, and experience again underlined the need articulating the role of preservation for education rather than prescription, and preservation-mindedness in digital and for ensuring that digitisers Preparation imaging for access. understand the consequences of Preparation, the second of three different choices they will face so in-depth sessions, was chaired by that they can then make informed Alison Horsburgh (National Archives Image Capture decisions. A wide-ranging overview of Scotland). Jo ining her to address Robin Dale (RLG) led the sess ion on w ith recommendations was presented issues of physical preparation was image capture, arguably th e most of image capture, imaging john Mcintyre (National Library of complex of the three topics given methodologies, formats, acquisition, Scotland); Ann Swartzell (Harvard extensive attention in the conference. archiving, quality control, file naming, University) addressed issues Stephen Chapman (Harvard University) and delivery and presentation to users. characterised as editorial preparation. and jane Williams (Technical Advisory The many clear recommendations Papers presented were w ide-ranging Service on Images) (TASt) explored a included the suggestion that and detailed, drawing on the extensive range of technical, intellectual, and digitisation projects should consider experience of the speakers. Issues educational issues. All the speakers an initial "dummy" run atthe beginning addressed included: protecting the emphasised the inter-relationships of a project to allow for experimentation, original item; assessments of condition and decisions taken between image calibration of systems, developing and identifying vulnerable material; capture and the preceding stages of capture procedures and quality checks preservation/conservation records; selection and preparation. to reflect the fact the quality increases procedures for safe handling; identifying Stephen Chapman outlined the as scanning procedures are refined and suitable scanning methods; disbinding different trade-offs between image experience developed. (when, if, and how!); scanning methods quality, cost, potential or acceptable Recommendations coming back to and their implications for both the damage to the original, use of the audience from the sma ll group originals and the quality ofthe digital intermediates, and the method discussion included: image; use of intermediates and of scanning employed. He also • General agreement on desirable surrogates; types of lighting and their highlighted the paradox that while minimum imaging characteristics effects; and institutional policies for many digitisation projects are of black and white (1 -bit), gray-scale post-scanning access to the original undertaken to reduce use of originals, (more than 1 -bit), and colour (24-bit items. The lesso ns learnt from the actual handling of the originals and higher) images . preservation m icrofi I m i ng projects during the process of digitisation may • Need for a set of guidance documents for preparation of materials and be collectively higher than at any other to assist those w ith less experience planning production workflow were period in the history of a collection. in imaging programmes and also discussed, together with changes The conservation implications of projects, including: definition of needed for digital production regimes. digitisation itself need to be considered a "digital master", white paper on The importance of cataloguing and and the impact of digitisation on digital reproductions, guidance bibliographic contro l were also originals minimised. Digital cameras on quality control, principles for emphasised. The experience of a were discussed with the different selecting colour space, and widely number of projects underscored the requirements of and implications for disseminated minimal attributes of fact that preparation, cataloguing, getting a good signal, getting a good fi le formats (as above). and provision of metadata may be sca n, and getting a good image. The • The group suggested an action twice or three times the costs importance of calibrating the overall agenda (including the tasks listed associated with image capture. system and components used for above) that wi II be taken up by the Recommendations coming back to digitisation was emphasised together conference organisers in the next the audience from the small group with the view that, in addition to few months. discussion included: guidance, there may be a need to • Consensus on the need for a range identify at least minimum requirements of gu idance documents (some based for preservation quality imaging. on existing reports and published Different aims and "capture levels" and Digital Archiving research) addressing: disbinding, for image outputs were also discussed: Two conference sessions were linked lighting, book cradles, handling the four image levels used by Corbis and intended to give participants an procedures, scanning methods, (http://www.corbis.com ) of rendered, overview of the issues and challenges use of intermediates and surrogates, fai thful to photographer's intent, inherent in addressing metadata and access policies to originals post­ original photograph rendered digital preservation needs. Michael scanning, finding aids, file naming, (restored), and original film rendered Day (UKOLN) and Margaret Hedstrom - and metadata. (film bias corrected) were summarised. (University of Michigan School of e digital imaging

Information) gave excellent of the survey already identified in PANDORA Project (http://www. presentations on metadata and discussion with the audience was n la.gov.au/pol icy/plan/pandora.html). digital archiving, respectively. the absence of adequate institutional The importance of a sense of local Michael Day surveyed the array collection policies for electronic ownership of policies and guidance of metadata types and models put materials and the need to support was also emphasised- the benefits forward by a host of organisations and guide their development. of learning from others and not with distinctly different purposes. reinventing the wheel need to be He pointed participants to the work tempered with "checking th e wheels" of three projects/organisations that Conclusions ("kicking the tyres") and ensuring are specifically addressing metadata An international reaction panel commitment from the participants. requirements in the context of files that was formed in order both to reflect Peter Fox (Cambridge University are intended to survive over the long activities outside of the US and U I< Library) summarised the conference term: RLG's Working Group on Issues contexts and also to point conference by harking back to Anne Kenney's of Preservation Metadata (http://www. organisers toward new ways of keynote message that this is an rlg.org.preserv/presmeta.html), the thinking about how to address the unprecedented opportunity for action. making of America 2 (MOA2) White dozens of needs expressed over the He asserted that there were two main Paper, Version 2.0: Metadata Section course of the three days. Karen Turko themes that we need to pay attention (h ttp ://suns ite. Berkeley. ED U/moa2/ (University ofToronto), Seamus Ross to: first, that there are several areas in wp-v2.html), and the Consortium of (University of Glasgow), and Colin which consensus and agreement is Univers ity Research Libraries' CEDARS Webb (National Library of Australia) already possible, and second, that Project (http://www.leeds.ac.uk/ shared the spotlight during this session. we need to think strategically of how cedars/). Day concluded that there is The reaction panel provided an best to persuade institutions to adopt a need fori ntegration of preservation overview of current digitisation guidelines and guidance provided. metadata models with other metadata initiatives in Canada, the UK, and Fox encouraged RLG and NPO to forms, and assured the group that the Australia. Karen Turko provided an work closely with others where needed CEDARS Project wi II, as one of its overview of the Early Canadiana expertise lies outside of their purview, outcomes, develop guidance documents Online Project, UniversityofToronto to "harness experti se wherever it can for others interested in metadata Library Digital Initiatives, and the be found." Finally, he urged all those in supporting digital preservation. Canadian Initiative for Digital attendance: "Don't lost the momentum". Margaret Hedstrom addressed Libraries. Seamus Ross stressed the Many thanks are due to speakers and digital preservation by encompassing need for strategic vision to develop delegates for making this a memorable the larger world of digital documents, digital resources and their preservation, and inestimably useful conference. whether they are "born" digital or arrive and referred to national initiatives in that form after an analogue-to-digital within Higher Education in the UK conversion effort. Underscoring the such as the Arts and Humanities Data disjuncture between implementations Service (AHDS), the Higher Edu cation and best practices, she suggested that Digitisation Service (HEDS) and best practices w ill always be influenced CURL Exemplars in Digital Archives heavily by the nature of the source (CEDARS). Drawing on his experience documents, known and anticipated as information technology adviser to uses of the material, and by institution's the Ul<'s Heritage Lottery Fund, he technical capacity. Hedstrom argued stressed the very different needs of forthe rel iance on non-proprietary funding agencies. Funders need to file formats and encoding schemes, know risk assessment, how to iden tify cautioning that conversion into such best practice, and how to assess the formats must be balanced against a public benefit of digitisation projects. series of risk assessments (information The staff of d igitisation projects must loss, source integrity, cost of conversion). understand and be able to apply Further, she set out best thinking in guidance and identify the best trade­ storage and maintenance techniques, off of different requirements and identified areas where we are currently standards for their projects. Colin Webb lacking guidance and experience, and spoke of the IT initiatives in Australia, listed a range oftechniques used to particularly at the National Library This article was first published in RGL ensure access to digital materials into and the National Archives, and their Oiginews Vol. 2, No.5, October 15, the future. She concluded by reporting relationship with local regional 1998, ISSN 1093-5371 on a survey of RLG members as to th eir institutions. He stressed the need to http://www. thames. rlg.org/preservI digital preservation needs; a final report focus on the initial development of diginews/diginews2-5.html w ill be made available in the RLG infrastru cture and appropriate tools NB. NPO journal Issue 4 will Website http://www.rlg.org/prese rv/ such as th e customised harvesting contain· an article on RLG's role ri!l index.htmllate in 1998. One outcome tools for web pages developed for the in prese rvation. ~ education e

Introducing an M Phil in Digital Preservation Studies 2 1 by Seamus Ross', Michael Moss and Lesley Richmond University of Glasgow

placement. The first ten weeks of the course introduces students to the issues of Information, Technology, Organisations, and Records. The course then follows a modular structure. Module 1 on the history of information reviews the development of the transmission of information from the earliest times, and examines the imp I ications of the information revolution for these historical paradigms. Module 2 examines how information technology is used in organisations. The success of the digital preservation professional in part depends upon their understanding how ICT is used in the course of business activities and their having the skills to contribute to the development of new he increasing quantities of to give students the chance to acquire information management systems digital material and the growing theoretical, methodological and w ithin organisations from inception to Tdependence of society upon practical ski lls in the management deployment, use and replacement. The digital information is changing the and preservation of materials in digital third module includes an introduction fabric of the materials with which form. The course provides them with to information and organisational librarians, , and records an understanding of how information behaviour. The fourth module, managers work. Its preservation resources are used in contemporary Compliance, Lega l Frameworks and depends upon investment, planning, organisations, the issues involved in Information Audit, examines how and thoughtful curation by the preservation of digital data, the electronic document management professionals. At the University of problems associated with its systems will manage records, Glasgow a partnership between the maintenance, retrieval, storage and document policies and procedures, Humanities Advanced Technology distribution, and a grasp of the legal and provide evidence of retention and Information Institute (HATII) and compliance issues surrounding and disposition action which can meet (http://www. hati i .arts.gla .a c. uk) digital resources. fundamental audit and legal tests. and the University Archives (http: To assess this programme of study It also covers the issues of data //www.archives.gla.ac.uk) has a mixed model has been adopted. protection and secu rity, privacy developed an MPhil course in Digital Assessment of the taught portion of legislation, rights (e.g. copyright, Preservation Studies designed to the course will be by a combination IPR), freedom of information, data provide students with the background of written work (70%), oral examination encryption and watermarking. skills that they need to be able to (20%), and presentation (1 0%). The Although the paperless office is manage digital information resources taught portion of the course will be still distant, many transactional records and electronic records in records followed by a three month placement in organisations today never exist in centres, libraries and archives. The that will be detailed in a dissertation any form other than digital. Module 5 core team involved in creating the due at the close of September. Only introduces the issues of Organic course included Dr Seamus Ross students who achieve top marks will Recordkeeping: Electronic Records (Director Humanities Computing be permitted to go on the placement and Information. This module and Information Management & stage. Those w ho pass but are not examines the nature and life-cycle HATII), Professor Michael Moss, in the upper range wi II be granted of electronic records; provides an Lesley Richmond (Acting University a diploma. overview of electronic records and ), and Claire Johnson The course year divides into four management systems; investigates (Senior Records Manager). main streams: two ten week segments, environment preservation vs. migration - The primary aim of th e course is a presentation element and a project vs. emulation. Other areas covered e education

include: management issues in In many cases a medieval document 1 Director, Humanities Computing the dissemination of records and on parchment is more accessible than and Information Management Faculty information; digital , and ten-year old machine-readable data ofArts and ofthe Humanities Advanced evaluation of user needs in selecting due to the absence of appropriate Technology and Information Institute, a value-added records system. acquisition strategies. Students w ill University of Glasgow The modules which make up part follow a module w hich covers appraisal two of the course focus on description, stages, administration, technical, legal 2 Professor Michael Moss (University access, digitisation, storage and and information issues, the handling Archivist), Archives & Business Records appraisal. These w ill include modules of hybrid documents, documentation Centre, University ofGlasgow which explore theoretical and standards, and sampling strategies. practical ski lis areas of Description, The single module in the third term 3 Acting Director, Archive Services, Cataloguing and Navigation; the aims to introduce students to issues Archives & Business Records Centre, theories and principles of indexing and methods of project management. University of Glasgow in the digital age; the development During this one-week intensive of authority records; and the design training course they w ill acquire and use of thesauri. an understanding of the key project While much of the material with management skills needed during w hich the digital preservation their project and later when they enter professional w ill need to deal w ill the work place. It covers such issues as: have been created in digital form, not project stages, project team composition all of it w ill have been. Digitisation and roles, analysis of project costs, risk provides a powerful way to assist in the assessment, quality assurance, resource conservation/preservation of materials implications and budgeting. In addition, at risk (e .g. special collections and students w ill be expected to do detailed Abstracted from : Ross, S., Moss, M., archival materials) and as a means of research on a topic either not covered and Richmond, L., 'Planning and improving access to holdings. Further in the course syllabus but relevant to Designing a programme of Digital modules w ill introduce students to digital preservation (e.g. ethics) or to Preservation Studies', Electronic the principles and best practices in the investigate in more depth a topic Access : Archives in the new M illenium digitisation of documents, texts, image covered touched on in th e modules (Public Record Office, Kew), 102-110 resources, and sound, and to the issues (e.g., privacy, data protection, freedom (forthcoming) involved in creating, curating, and of information). managing access to such collections. The course is targeted at those For further information: Storage technologies are central who wish to take on the role of records Dr Seamus Ross to the preservation of digital materials managers, archivists, digital librarians, Director, Humanities Computing & and Module 9 focuses on the history of or who want to specialise in organisation Information Management and I ikely future directions in storage record compliance. The course will be Humanities Advanced Technology and distribution technologies. This small, attracting no more than twenty­ and Information Institute module is divided into three sections : five to thirty students in any year. It w ill Faculty Office, Faculty of Arts an introduction to the development be very intensive. By providing students 6 University Avenue of storage technologies over the last with a grounding in the key issues, and University of Glasgow 40 years and an overview of the an understanding of organisations, the Glasgow, G 12 8QQ technologies that are most commonly Glasgow MPhil in Digital Preservation Scotland encountered; an examination of the Studies w ill produce graduates able to Tel: 0141 330 3635 (direct) issues of current storage technologies, contribute to the preservation of our Secretary: 0141 330 5512 providing a grounding in emerging digital heritage, whether it is of a (Mrs Ann Law) technologies so that they will be able cultural or organisational nature. They Fax: 0141 330 3788=20 to understand new deve lopments will be records managers, archiv ists, E-mail: [email protected] and have the ski lls to assess their role and librarians, for the next millennium. http:/ /sro.arts.gla.ac.uk for access or preservation; and an Institute Website: introduction to the issues of network http://www .arts.gla.ac.uk/HATII distribution technologies. conservation e

Teamwork for Preventive Conservation A report by Shad Mehmet, BL Conservation Department

"It is a commonly held fal lacy that once number of aspects in which the BL is partner in the Raphael-funded project an object enters a it is safe. engaged: "Teamwork for Preventive Nothing could be further from the • Environment - using data loggers in Conservation", Jim McGreevy, Keeper truth and objects can continue to the stacks and exhibition cases to of Conservation, clarified the role of dete'norate in for a number ensure optimum conditions. project manager and co-ordinator for of reasons ... " A. Oddy, 1992. • Storage Management. the various Museum Departmental That discerning statement was • Security- risk assessments; good Heads. Once the project team had quoted by Jim McGreevy, Keeper of hand I ing training; seminars for staff identified the broad issues affecting Conservation at the Ulster Museum, to increase awareness and encourage the Museum, working groups were on Wednesday, 25th March 1998 at a acceptance of individual responsibility establ ished, made up of people from small seminar organised by the National for care of the collections. all departments. They were given Preservation Office for the British • Salvage/disaster Planning. specific objectives and remits to ensure Library to introduce the concept of • Book Care Department: includes a consistent approach. The human "Teamwork for preventive conservation". book cleaning; minor repairs and difficulties in running teams were A wide range of senior BL staff from phase boxing. mentioned but he emphasised the all departments were invited to attend Further plans are under consideration to advantages of mobilising heads of by the NPO. The NPO had brought expand the boxing programme by using department and staff from the entire together an impress ive line-up of an automated box cutting system. This organisation. The aim w ith this speakers. system is currently used at the National approach was to cover preservation and Helen Forde, Head of Preservation Library of Scotland. The machine conservation from every perspective at the Public Record Office, explained originates from the packaging industry thereby fully utilising the ski lls, how the concept of a corporate preventive where sample boxes are produced for knowledge and experiences available. conservation policy is applied at the potential customers. Book measurements The importance of commitment to the PRO with the aim" ... to hit preservation are loaded onto a hand held data logger. project by all staff from the part-time from different angles". All staff and The information is then fed into the cleaners to the Chief Executive and departments are made aware of computer which works out the best senior management team was strongly preservation issues and how they combination of sizes to maximise the emphasised. This resu lted in a dynamic are responsible for caring for the use of boxboard. Each board is loaded force for change in the culture towards collections. Each department has a on and is automatically cut and creased. Collections Care at the Ulster Museum. preservation co-ordinator, linking This leaves the final operation of Neal Putt, co-ordinator of Preventive the organisation. To keep preservation attaching the ties and labels. Apart from Conservation for ICC ROM (the high on the agenda, quarterly meetings the advantages of increased production, International Centre for the Study of the are held for all staff whereby new handling of the books is vastly reduced Preservation and Restoration of Cultural knowledge is imparted using videos since they remain on site whilst the box Property) explained how funding from the and lectures on interesting and relevant is produced- another preventive European Commission Raphael Project subjects. The underlying principle conservation reward. helped to establish this project. The fi rst " Preservation Supports Access" leaves Another aspect was the prospect of phase ran from 1995-1997 and involved no doubt as to the importance of incorporating as museums from Belgium, France, Hungary, preventive conservation. part of the preventive conservation Portugal, Netherlands and the United Mike Western, Head of Preservation strategy towards new acquisitions. 60% Kingdom, together with specialist partners and Conservation, British Library, of acquisitions arrive at the BL on acidic from ICOM, Australia and Canada. briefly outlined the need for a corporate paper. The technology has now been The concept of using teams as a part programme of preventive conservation well tested and is available to prevent of the management function is nothing for the BL, defining this as, " ... any policy future problems. Instead of waiting until new. The Team Work for Preventive which allows an object to reach its ful l the books are old and brittle to deacidify Conservation project has shown how life expectancy". Since resources are them, a small levy atthe acquisition this methodology can be used to limited and it is an impossibility to treat stage could easily fund a preventive implement and develop strategies to every object, a bal anced policy will mass deacidification programme. imbue an institution which has exert the greatest possible impact on the To explain in detai l the involvement stewardship of our national heritage greatest number of objects. There are a of the Ulster Museum, as the first UK with a preservation culture at the centre. e preservation

The international dimension has in Europe and is currently looking for from the objects' own internal meant that the various national larger institutions, especially National chemistry. Throughout the sem inar, experiences, problems and solutions Libraries and Archives to be involved. training was identified as a key issue in could be shared and be used to Mirjam Foot chaired a discussion an organisation aiming to develop a generate further ideas and participation. period during the afternoon, and led in " preventive preservative" cu lture. The project has enabled Directors to w ith the reminder that since Teamwork for Preventive Conservation use teamwork management for the prevention is better than cure, we all means that the whole is worth more firsttime to so lve conservation issues. need to think in terms of preventive than the sum of the individual parts! ICC ROM now w ishes to extend the conservation. People can do more Teamwork Project to a w ider audience damage to objects than degradati on

A Model for Assessing Preservation Needs in Libraries by Naomi Dungworth and Will Wakeling

\9 . " in libraries and archives in the UK public and special libraries, archives, ,_ ..~ and Ireland; museums and heritage organisations. • to develop the model in such a way Based on the findings of the analysis, as to facilitate an assessment of interviews and site visits, the project f:J=~=~~=lif3i'~ national preservation needs and team devised a draft preservation priorities. needs assessment. (~~f~} Throughout the course of the This draft model was tested on ••••~~ --- )t"- ""' \t'Ww';;;;<.·~·"·t'ii.'::::. ..____ ' research the project team has worked sixteen different types and sizes of closely w ith the NPO, a Working library and archive collection in the Group of the NPO's Preservation UK between January and April, 1998. Administrators' Panel (NPOPAP) Practical aspects of the model were ~,~~l·~;:..t'l'!'-·l~ ·- and an Advisory Panel comprising evaluated, such as how easily and ~D;:it~:::..~' ,.,_!C'l"' ~,_,..,..... (It ~ librarians, archivists and conservators accurately the questionnaire could be with considerable preservation completed, and how useful the data and conservation experience obtained would be at both local and and expertise. national levels. During these visits, Several key preservation survey twenty-nine people with relevant fifteen-month British Library methods and guidelines published experience and expertise (for example, Research and Innovation in the USA, Canada, Europe and in preservation or library systems), ACentre (BLRIC)-funded research Australia were analysed, as well as including librarians, archivists and project, based in the Department of nearly forty internally-produced conservators, were interviewed. As Information and Library Studies at reports on preservation and there was not enough time to carry Loughborough University, was conservation surveys ca rried out in out a full-scale assessment in each completed in August 1998. The the U 1<. Interviews were carried out organisation (this would have entailed project's aims were: w ith sen ior I ibrarians, archivists, looking at 400 items at each site), • to develop a standard model for conservators and others responsible evaluation was managed by testing the assess ing the preservation needs of for managing and/or carrying out model on a sample of around 20-40 paper-based and photographic preservation and condition surveys items and/or asking interviewees to go materials (including microforms) in a se lection of academic, national, through and comment on the model. preservation e

The results of the interviews and test Access, needs to be created (an justify funding claims and the assigning assessments were analysed and the undertaking to which the NPO, with of national strategic priorities. It will model re-appraised as to its application British Library funding, is already therefore form a vital companion to the and suitability for both local and committed). Th is will put the work a Iread y undertaken under the national needs. A model for use in assessment questionnaire and the auspices of the National Council on libraries was completed on the basis associated statistical means of Archives, the PRO and others in of ourfindings, and after lengthy analysing the samp le data onto a producing, from its survey of 123 local discussions w ith our Advisory Panel. diskette or a web-site, making it archives services, the Domesday Book Fu rther work on developing a generally available to librarians of Archival Provision (see http://www. comparable model suitable for use nation-wide. With a copy of the pro .gov. u k/news/pressreleases/prl982. in archives will be needed after this software, librarians will be able to htm). It will also provide vital data for project is completed. The NPO will carry out or commission an assessment the NPO in its plan to develop a National be responsible for directing this further of a small sample of their collections, Register of Collection Strengths and development. input questionnaire information to the Preservation Status. There is much still The library assessment model software locally, and receive a ready­ to be done to rea lise the grand design, comprises a short questionnaire on worked snapshot or "body-scan" of the but the completion of this project to general preservation needs and types state of preservation of their collections. create a model for Preservation Needs of damage, with accompanying notes There are clear benefits to be had here Assessment represents a major step in on terminology and guidelines in terms of identifying local pressure­ that direction. explaining how to use the model and points, generating priorities for Naomi Dungworth was Project answer the questions. It involves preservation and conservation activity Research Assistant in the Department se lecting a statistica lly-valid sample (and expenditure), and underpinning of Information and Library Studies, of 400 items from the I ibrary, or one of institutional bids for preservation and Loughborough Univers ity. W ill its collecti ons, and completing a short conservation-related funding. Wakeling was a member of the questionnaire for each of these items. For the package to be usefu I and Project Advisory Panel. The questionnaire is in two parts. Part its adoption attractive to more than a one consists of fifteen 'tickbox' questions handful of institutions, much work on core preservation management also still has to go into developing and Postscript issues identified during the earlier part documenting training procedures, A Model for Assessing Preservation of the research, namely: access; use; help fi les and explanatory material Needs in Libraries is available as British accommodation; condition and to support the application. Proper Library Research and Innovation Report usability; value and importance. The provision will also need to be made 125. It may be purchased as photocopy raw data obtained from these questions here for the wide range of potential or microfiche from the British Library are analysed and subsequently users, some of whom may well not Thesis Service, BLDSC, Boston Spa, weighted to produce a preservation have access to sophisticated IT Wetherby, West Yorkshire LS23 7BQ. priority rating for each item. The facilities, support or networks. The The NPO has welcomed the needs assessment model thus provides NPO will also be ensuring that, w hen successfu l completion of this sufficient quantitative information on th e software tool is fully developed and important study, and is committed to w hich to base policies and strategies, available, it is extensively promoted taki ng the work forward . The first step while being practical, concise and and d isseminated through the user will be to pi lot the method in a small straightforward to use. Part two of the community, and its local and national number of libraries, using 400-item questionnaire consists of a short set of significance properly registered. samples, in order to testthe method 'tickbox' questions designed to assess There is an additional major benefit and validate the weightings. We whether the sampled item has any which follows from creati ng a standard will use the findings to inform the structural,physical, chemical or software package. It offers the welcome development of software. This work biological damage or has had opportunity, which again the NPO is will be done in the first half of 1999. damaging repairs. eager to grasp, of gathering and The British Library will also be using The project report and assessment collating a large volume of statistical the preservation needs assessment model, which also contains data from a broad range of libraries method, together with a sample­ recommendations for the future and archives in order to paint a clearer based condition survey, to assess its application of the model, was national picture of preservation needs collections in the next two years. submitted to BLRIC in August 1998. than we have ever previously had. It The development of an version of Thereafter, several steps need to be will require widespread co-operation the assessment method to cover archives taken before the rewards of this project in col lecting and/or submitting data, is currently under discuss ion with can be reaped. First of all, a si mple and the resources of the NPO to BLRIC and the Public Record Office. software package either similar to that process the resu lts; but the resulting developed for the Calipr assessment overview will be unprecedented in its tool (http://sunsite.berkeley.edu/ scale, w ill be consistently-derived and Enquiries about the programmes CALI PR/) in the USA, or based on free of dependence on anecdotal or i 11 - should be addressed to Alison Walker - proprietary software such as Microsoft matched evidence, all the better to at the NPO. lfB e training

Preservation Management Summer School Training rganised by the Public The meetings w ill take place Record Office and LIBER, in mainly at the Public Record Office in O conjunction w ith the British Kew. One day w i II be spent at the Library, the European Commission on new British Library. Centre Interregional Preservation and Access, University Outline programme College London and the International de Conservation du Counci I on Archives 19 July: Preservation policies and Livre A summer school for preservation strategies. Reception atthe Pub I ic managers in archives and I ibraries Record Office Based in Aries, CICL offers courses designed to introduce certain key 20 July: Environmental issues. on a w ide range of preservation and elements of preservation management Vis it to Library of Royal Botanic conservation techniques and on and to give the participants some Gardens, l

International Graduate Summer School (IGSS 99) Programme Released

IGSS 99: Management and the structure. IGSS has always provided Manchester. All delegates can take Electronic Library has announced its an opportunity for information part in the study tour. programme on an extensive web site professionals from around the world A detailed printed brochure and through a brochure which will be to meet and discuss current issues containing all th e information that mailed shortly. at the same time that they take part prospective delegates need is IGSS, now in its 27th year, is based in a work programme which aids avai lable by postfrom the address at the Department of Information and their continuing professional given below while the IGSS w eb site is Library Studies, University of Wales development". regu larly updated w ith news of Aberystwyth and is the resu It of The 1999 school, which runs from modules, lecturers and programme. cooperation between four major 19 june until1 5 july and has th e A full programme should be avai lable library and information stud ies Electronic Library as its central theme, on the web shortly. schools: Aberystwyth, the School of is divided into two distinct courses. http://www.dil.aber.ac.uk/IGSS/. Information Sciences at the University The courses cover management of Pittsburgh, the Graduate School of (19 june to 3 july) and collection Further details or a brochure from: Library and Information Studies at management (1 j uly to 15 j uly). Joyce Wallace IGSS Administrator McGill University in Montreal and the Students can attend for either course Department of Information and School of Librarianship, University of or for the complete Summer School. Library Studies CapeTown. Th ere are also lectures on Copyright University of Wales Aberystwyth Director Chris Armstrong said, and the Internet and Business Llanbadarn Fawr " Last year, IGSS covered issues Information Resources, Case Studies, Aberystwyth relating to the Electronic Library and it Workshops, visits to loca l libraries and SY23 3AS was very well received: this year's a three-day study tour centred on the E-mail: [email protected] programme is addressing the sa me Library Association's Umbrella 5 Tel: +441970 622157 themes but w ith a more flexible conference and exhibition in e publications

Book Reviews

There was extensive consultation on-conservators, no doubt many during the preparation of the practising conservators will find it principles by the International usefu l to check the difference between Federation of Library Associations magnetic and optical media or as a and Institutions Core Programme on reference when composing a notice Preservation and Conservation (IFLA­ on good practice in a reading room. PAC), w hich, since 1994, has been The IFLA-PAC programme publishes comments from a broad a newsletter International Preservation range of institution and organisations News three times a year. For on the updating of an earlier 1986 information contact the Regional document. Centre for Western Europe. Bibliotheque IF LA Principles for the Core and The document aspires not only to Nationale de France, 2, rue Vivienne Handling of Library Material look at the threats to library material 75084, Paris cedex 02. France. IFLA-PAC International and the ways in which storage and Tel: +33 (1) 47 03 87 26 Preservation issues Number One handling can increase durability, but E-mai I: marie-therese.varlamoff@bnf. fr also to outline and encourage co­ According to the titI e page verso Compiled and edited by Edward operation between library staff in the IFL A Principles for the Care and Adcocl< with the assistance of search for solutions to preservation Handling of Library Materials is to be Marie-Therese Varlamoff and problems. The attempt to put specific avai lable on the CLI R website: Virginie Kremp. Paris 1998. recommendations into an institutional http://www.clir.org and the IF LA ISBN 2-9 12743-00-1 context in this way is to be applauded. website: http://www.ifla.org. There are a lot of recommendations. Review by Helen lindsay Every chapter is littered w ith bullet points listing do's and don'ts. Although From the title of this publication you this is extremely useful, there may be could be forgiven for expecting a a danger of overloading the reader w ith primarily theoretical text, but it potential things do to, and it would actually contains a considerable have been helpful to highlight some amount of practical information key points and to include some and straightforward description. discussion on the development of this Chapters cover environment, security information into a preservation strategy. and disaster planning, reformatting, However, the editor's note refers to photographic and fi lm based media, this issue and includes an extensive trad itional and new media. Aimed at list of suggested further reading. individuals and institutions with little One area that could have been or no preservation knowledge it further developed is the application attempts to strike the difficult balance of standards. As we know, in a world between technical information and where the word 'archival' is as readabi I ity. meaningless as 'fresh', the use of Protection et mise en valeur du The last few years have seen a standards is the best way to establish patrimoine des bibliotheques: plethora of publications on policies consensus on bas ic good practice and Recommendations techniques. and strategies, manuals and handbooks appropri ate materials. Some more Paris, Direction du livre et de Ia relating to both general and specific on this would have been welcome. Lecture,1998.(Text in French) aspects of preservation. This sl im The format of the text is very document sets out to bring together the readable with well-spaced headings Review by Alison Wall

News in brief

rather than a series of leaflets was both protection, the various possibi I ities are easier to handle, and also emphasised outlined, but box-making, for example, Disaster preparedness the I inks between the various aspects of is not described in detail. The manager website preservation represented. would be expected to give responsibility The aim of this book is to demonstrate to the conservator for making the boxes The Conservation On I ine Web to collection managers the pros and cons or other form of protection once he had site, maintained by the Stanford of various preservation techniques, and made a decision on the best form of University Libraries Department of to present the standards to be followed. protection for his collection. Conservation, provides information It is not an instruction manual but a It is expected that guidelines such as on disaster preparedness, including management tool. To quote the these would need revision every five full texts of disaster plans for more introduction: " le but recherche n' est years or so. However, some will date than 20 university libraries. It can be pas de donner a savoirfaire, mais a savoir more quickly than others, in particular found at http://pal impsest.stanford.edu. comprendre pour mieux donner a fa ire". the section on digitisation, w here the The authors are from various preservation landscape changes very rapidly and agencies in France, including the w ill continue to do so for some time. The International Bibliotheque Nationale de France Cu rrently, the authors state quite clearl y and regional conservation centres. that digitisation cannot yet be seen as a Directory on Training This essentially pragmatic approach form of preservation, and strongly situates preservation in the day-to- recommend digitisation only from an in Conservation of day management ofthe library, and intermediate format such as microfilm conservation as one stage among many or photograph. in the physical history ofthe book. This compilation is full of common The International Directory on It attempts to balance the tensions sense, backed by a strong ph ilosophy Training in Conservation of Cu ltural between full conservation and minimal based on a recognition of the Heritage can now be found on intervention, suggesting a "critical importance of the history of the book ICCROM's website (http://www. path" approach by means of diagnosis, allied to the acknow ledged need for iccrom .org/eng/TrD i rectory). There decision, and action. What are pragmatic solutions. are I inks to the listed institutions proposed are practical solutions, The text is also available at own websites where more extensive not perfectionist idea ls. http://www .cu ltu re. fr/cu ltu re/conservat information can be obtained. There are chapters on ion/fr/ preventi/preventi .htm. Additions and updating of entries environmental issues, book cleaning, can be done using the printed or protection (wrapping, encapsulation, electronic updating form. These boxing), security marking, reading can be sent as printed material or room management (handling e-mail to [email protected] gu idelines, use of book supports), repair of modern materials, especially perfect bound paperbacks, Bell and Howell conservation of graphic documents, preservation of newspapers, pictures, Bell & Howell have purchased the sound and audiovisual materials, share capital of International Imaging reprography, microfilming standards, from Sir Charles Chadwyck-Healey. digitisation, exhibitions and disaster Bell & Howell is committed to preparedness and sa lvage. maintaining and developing the In general, the recommendations Mel bourn site while eventually the do not demand a high level of prior Bassingbourn site may close and knowledge, yet are sufficiently production transferred to Mel bourn. informative to allow the manager to The day to day contact will continue make informed decisions. For example, to be julie Davis at Bass ingbourn or the chapter on microfilming gives Patricia McQuade at Mel bourn. deta i I of the standards to which an Please contact David Webb at Bell & external contractor should adhere, so Howell on 01869 245711 forfurther that the manager can specify these in information. the contract. In the chapter on

the NPO lour:1a l e calendar

Conferences, Meetings and Events

e January- April1999 ECPA, PO Box 79721, 1000CC,Amsterdam, and Access, University College London and Chemistry for Conservators The Netherlands. Fax: +31 20 620 4941; the International Council on Archives. This four month correspondence course E-mail: [email protected] Registration fee: £150 per person, payable in provides an introduction to chemistry and the sterling. Deadline for applications 31 March chemical processes which form the basis of e 13-16 May 1999, Toronto 1999. For further information please contact: many of the practices and techniques used in looking at Paper Evidence and Sue Seber, Public Record Office, Kew, conservation. Tutor: Velson Horie. For further Interpretation. Sponsored by the Canadian Richmond, Surrey TW9 4DU, UK. information on this and other lAP activities Association for Conservation (CAC) and Fax:+44(0)1813925254or please contact: james Black, Co-ordinator, Institute of Paper Conservation (I PC). E-mail: [email protected] Professional Development Programme, Historical and bibliographical analysis of International Academic Projects, paper, including production and use. e 14-19 August, 1999, Rochester NY 31-34 Cordon Square, London WC1 H OPY Venue: Toronto. For further details contact: "Preserving Photographs in a Digital World" . Te/:+44 777 3879657; ' Looking at paper', Box 956, Station F, A course from the Image Permanence Fax:+44 7713880283; Toronto, Ont. M4Y 2N9, Canada. Institute, combining traditional preservation E-mail: [email protected] Fax:416/204-2692; techniques with digital methods in lectures, E-mail: john_oneil/@argo.net. demonstrations and workshops. For information e 25-26 February 1999, london Papers wiII be pub/ished. and regis tration:ca/1 1-800-724-2536, ext. 339; A Healthy Heritage. Collecting for the Future Fax: 716-475-7000; or write to Rochester of Medical History. A symposium to be held at e 15 May-July 31 , 1999, Paris Institute of Technology, T&E Center the Well come Trust on 25-26 February 1999. "Finely Conserved, Finely Bound: Today's Registration, 67 Lomb Memorial Drive, Speakers include representatives from bindings on antiquarian books and Rochester, NY 14623-5603. major libraries and archives, healthcare documents" International exhibition affine professionals and scientists, historians and conservation bindings at the Bibliotheque e 24 August-4 September 1999, Brussels others. A mixture of presentations and Historique de Ia Ville de Paris. To lend items, ICOM Conservation Committee's 12th workshops will encourage opportunities for contact: Fram;oise Courbage, Conservateur en triennial meeting. Contact: CC Chairperson participation and input. For further details: chef, Bibliotheque Historique de Ia Ville de David Grattan at CCI (613/998-3721. Sue Chapman, The Wei/come Institute, Paris, 24 rue Pavee, 75004 Paris. Fax: 6 73/998-4721) or Franr;oise Rosier, 783 Euston Road, London NW7 2BE. Fax: 33142 74 03 16 ICOM-CC Secretary, lnstitut royal du Tei:01716718494; Fax:07716718703 ; patrimoine artistique, 1 pare du E-mail [email protected] e 17-19 May 1999, Rome Cinquantenaire B- 1000, Brussels, Belgium. 6th International Conference on "Non­ e 25th and 26th March 1999, Dundee Destructive Testing and Microanalysis for e 8·1 0 September 1999, london Where to draw the line. A two day conference the Diagnostics and Conservation of the Reversibility- Does It Exist? focusing on the accession, interpretation, use Cultural and Environmental Heritage". The British Museum Department of and care of architectural drawings and photo­ Official language: English. For more Conservation will hold a three-day conference reproductive prints. Venue: The conference information contact: AIPnD- Rome Office. from 8-1 0 September 1999 in l ondon. For facilities at the University of Dundee. Fax:+ 39 6 320 04 38, or see 1/C Bulletin, further information and registration pack, For further details contact: Helen Holden, August 1998 please contact: Sara Carol/, Department of Library Conservation Unit, Main Library, Conservation, The British Museum, Great Smalls Wynd, Dundee 0014HN. e 19June -15 July 1999, Aberystwyth Russell Street, London WC1 B JOG. Tel: 07382 344094; Fax:07382 345 614or International Graduate Summer School Fax: 0171 323 8636; E-mail: [email protected] (IGSS 99) Programme E-mail: conservation@british-museum .a c. uk jane Rowlands, at the same address A full programme should be available on the E-mail:j.K.Row/[email protected] Web shortly, at http://www.dil.aber.ac.uk/ e 5-9 October , 1999, Chicago PIGSS/ or Further details or a brochure from: The Broad Spectrum: The Art and Science of e April and September 1999 joyce Wallace, ICSSAdministrator, Conserving Colored Media For further details West Dean College Department of Information and Library contact: Elizabeth Sobczynski at Voitek Teaching Skills for Conservation. 11-16 Apri I Studies, University of Wales, Aberystwyth, Conservation, 9 Whitehorse Mews, 1999 and 5-1 0 September 1999. Course Leader: Llanbadarn Fawr, Aberystwyth SY23 JAS. Westminster Bridge Road, London Robert Ferguson, University of London. For Tel: +44 79 70 622157; E-mail: [email protected] SE 17QD, UK. Tel: 44 777 928 9920; further information please contact: Lis Vinson, Fax: 44 777 928 6094, E-mail: voitekcwa@ Tel: 07 243 87 8277; Fax :01243 811343; e 1-4 July, 1999, Shropshire BTintemet.com, or Harriet Stratis, Dept of E-mail: [email protected] Society of Bookbinders Silver Jubilee Prints and Drawings, the Art institute of Web: http.//www/westdean.org.uk/ Conference, at the University in Shropshire. Chicago, IL 60657. Tel: 312 857 7662; Contact Newsletter Editor Frank Hippman, Fax: 312 443 0085; E-mail: [email protected] • 19-21 April1999, Amsterdam Windrush, Wiston, Haverfordwest, Pembs. Preservation Management: Between Policy Wales, UK, SA62 4PS. Tel: 01437 731255 e 30 November, 1999, los Angeles and Practice. European Conference organised Triennial Meeting of the ICOM-CC Working by the Koninklijke Bibliotheek (KB, National e 19-23 I uly 1999, london Group on Training in Conservation and Library of the Nethe rl ands), the IFlA Core Preservation Management Summer School Resto ration. Further details contact: Kathleen Programme on Preservation and the European Organi sed by the Public Record Offi ce and Oardes, WC Coordinator, Getty Conservation Commission on Preservation and Access LIBER, in conjunction with the British Library, Institute, 1200 Getty Center Or., Ste. 700, - (ECPA). For further details contact: the European Commission on Preservation Los Angeles, CA 90049- 1684.