Preservation and Conservation Section
Strategic Plan
2006-2007
Mission
To facilitate the global exchange of information about preservation and conservation activities programs and projects.
To advise, collaborate with, and support the IFLA PAC Core Activity.
To promote the importance of preserving the cultural and intellectual heritage within national and international contexts.
To develop publications and other tools that enable libraries to promote preservation policies and concerns locally, regionally and nationally.
Goals
1. To promote among libraries, archives, museums, the general public and governments a better recognition and awareness of the importance of preservation and conservation of the world's cultural and intellectual heritage.
(Professional priorities: (a) Supporting the role of libraries in society; (g) Preserving our intellectual heritage; (h) Developing library professionals)
Actions
1.1 To collaborate with the IFLA-PAC Core Activity to sponsor a symposium on new trends in preservation and conservation at the Bibliothèque national de France in Paris in March 1006.
1.2 To plan a mid-term meeting of the Standing Committee to coincide with the above symposium to further the work of the committee.
2. To promote education, training, and continuing professional development in the field of preservation and conservation.
(Professional priorities: (h) Developing library professionals; (I) Promoting standards, guidelines and best practice)
Actions
2.1 Promote the development of programmes to meet the training needs of both conservators and preservation managers, especially those in developing countries, by planning a program at the 2006 WLIC in Seoul Korea, in collaboration with the Continuing Professional Development and Workplace Learning Section, on preservation training for librarians and users.
2.2 Prior to the 2006 WLIC in Korea, to co-sponsor a pre-conference in Tokyo at the National Diet Library on preservation of Asian library materials.
2.3 To plan a pre-conference before the 2007 WLIC in Durban on Integrated Risk Management (pests, mold, dust) geared toward the problems in developing countries.
2.4 To plan an Open Session at the 2007 WLIC in Durban, in collaboration with the Rare Books and Manuscripts Section, on "Preservation on a Shoe-String."
See also 1.1
3. To promote "best practices" and standardization in library preservation and conservation activities.
(Professional priorities: (i) Promoting standards, guidelines and best practice)
Action
3.1. Continue to publish the Section ´s Newsletter in electronic form and develop the range of information available on the Section´s web site, collaborating whenever possible with International preservation news, produced by the IFLA PAC Core Activity.
3.2 Encourage section members to reproduce important section news in national and local newsletters.
3.3 Collaborate with IFLA´s Division 8 on Regional Activities in supporting initiatives to raise awareness of preservation needs in developing countries.
3.4 Work with the Deutsche Bibliothek in Leipzig to convert the publication First Do No Harm: A Register of Standards, Codes of Practice, Guidelines, Recommendations, and Similar Works Relating to Preservation and Conservation in Libraries and Archives to a database on IFLANET so it can be easily searched and updated.
3.5 To establish a process for the Standing Committee members to update the First Do No Harm database, at least annually.
4. To encourage and facilitate the establishment of national preservation strategies and programs.
(Professional priorities: (a) Supporting the role of libraries in society; (g) Preserving our intellectual heritage)
Actions
4.1 Work with the Regional Centres of the IFLA PAC Core Activity and the National Libraries Section to arrange a series of interim meetings in various parts of the world with the purpose of furthering committee business and promoting preservation and conservation activities and Programs.
See also under 1 above.
5. To press for development of solutions and methods for long-term preservation of library materials that are in digital form.
Professional priorities: (d) Providing unrestricted access to information; (g) Preserving our intellectual heritage; (I) Promoting standards, guidelines and best practice; (k) Representing libraries in the technological marketplace)
Actions
5.1 Together with the IT section, monitor developments and track progress in developing
mechanisms, policies, and practices toward long-term preservation of library materials in
digital form to determine appropriate means to press for solutions and methods.
6. To promote the awareness of the issues of preservation management by cooperating with other relevant professional organizations both international (e.g., UNESCO, ICOM-CC Documents Working Group, International Council on Archives), regional (e.g., ECPA, LIBER) and national (e.g., CLIR in the USA) in developing joint programs, seminars and publications.
(Professional priorities: Supporting the role of libraries in society; (g) Preserving our intellectual heritage; (h) Developing library professionals; (I) Promoting standards, guidelines and best practice)
Actions
None proposed in this time period.
