Round Table on Audiovisual and Multimedia

Annual Report 1994-1995

Ms Isabelle Giannattasio Département de la phonothèque et de l'audiovisuel, Bibliothèque Nationale de France, Quai François Mauriac, 75706 Paris, Cedex 13, France (e-mail:isabelle.giannattasio@bnf.fr) is Chair of the Round Table on Audiovisual Media, succeeding Catherine Pinion (UK). Ms Bibbi Anderson (Department of Culture and Education, Upplands-Bro Kommun, Kultur- och utbildningsf ? rvaltningen, S-19681 Kungsangen, Sweden (fax: +(46-8) 58169088)) is Secretary, succeeding Ms Giannattasio.

Executive Committee

The Round Table has an Executive Committee of nine members from nine countries, plus five corresponding members. The past year has been a particularly active one, as a result of the projects undertaken in conjunction with the NGO Round Table on AV Records. The year has been dominated by copyright and training issues. Within the IFLA orbit, the Round Table has continued its multimedia programme and raising awareness, and has started on a bibliography on managing AV in libraries. [Note: the Professional Board approved a name change of the Round Table to Audiovisual and Multimedia Round Table at its meeting in December 1995.]

Meetings

Unesco AV Copyright Seminar: December 1994, Paris

On behalf of its Round Table, IFLA had undertaken a Unesco-funded conference in December 1994. The aim was to discuss legal issues relating to audiovisual records: their collection, preservation and user's access to them. This meeting included key representatives from the NGOs, a lawyer, a representative from the Council of Europe and also a Unesco staff member. It was a very successful meeting, progressing the work of Birgit Kofler, a lawyer who was commissioned by Unesco to study the legal issues affecting audiovisual archives. The two-day seminar, with contributions from a range of different types of collections, plus the dialogue with "the other side" was useful for all. As a result of the discussion, the Council of Europe's Draft Convention on AV Materials was withdrawn for further revision. For users and for those looking after AV collections, this is a particularly important document as it overrides national copyright laws and is binding on the countries that sign it. [About three years ago the Round Table had placed a resolution before IFLA expressing concern about an earlier version, but no action was taken by IFLA other than to circulate it to the IFLA PAC Core Programme which referred it back to the Round Table!]

Interim Meeting, Paris

Each September/October after the annual conference there is a meeting of the committee to concentrate on the resulting work, and to debate specific issues in greater depth. This has proved to be useful as members of the Round Table come from a variety of backgrounds and also attend other IFLA meetings, thus enabling them to report back to the committee on anything they consider relevant to the Round Table. In addition, because so many members are also active in other international AV associations, this provides a chance to discuss issues of mutual concern. Final decisions concerning the next year's programme are also taken. During the report period, IFLA funding for preparatory work towards the compilation of a bibliography on AV management was approved. This work will be undertaken by Isabelle Giannattasio (Italy) and will be targeted at practicing librarians.

NGO Round Table on AV Records

Founded in 1981 by IFLA and ICA with IASA (International Association of Sound Archives) whose president was also an IFLA officer (representing the Section of University Libraries), the Round Table brings together IASA, FIAF (Federation of Film Archives), FIAT (Federation of Television Archives), ICA-CAV (International Council on Archives - AV Committee) and the IFLA Round Table on Audiovisual Media. These associations are all concerned about AV collections, copyright issues and access questions, as well as curriculum development problems. The NGO Round Table provides an opportunity for joint action on projects common to all associations. IFLA has participated in the research projects and has been represented at appropriate meetings. Unesco has supported the work of the Round Table, providing funding for projects and missions.

The annual meeting of the NGO Round Table took place in London in February 1995, where it was hosted by IASA. ICA acted as rapporteur, and will host the 1996 meeting in Vienna. In 1996 IFLA will act as rapporteur, and, according to rotation, host the group in 1997.

Currently, Unesco is keen to support the compilation of a Reader on AV, to further the work of the Curriculum Development Working Party. Helen Harrison (IASA) is the convener of this Working Party; a meeting was held in London in January 1995. provide funding to either IASA or FIAT as these two NGOs have not received funding directly before. further the results of the December Copyright meeting.

A Technical Coordinating Committee (TCC) reports to this group and organizes a major international conference every thee years. A three-day Joint Technical Symposium took place in London in January 1995 with 224 delegates. George Boston (UK) (TCC) organized the event which was so successful that it was suggested that it become a biennial conference. The Chair of the IFLA Round Table was on the conference committee.

Involvement in Unesco projects is an important part of the IFLA Round Table, because the NGO Round Table provides many contacts with other AV associations. As NGO projects are funded by Unesco, a representative from each NGO is involved. The report period saw the IFLA Round Table involved in a Curriculum Development debate in Vienna, convened by FIAT. The Copyright Seminar, December 1994 in Paris was organized by the IFLA Round Table. Resulting from this meeting was a project relating to the collection and analysis of agreements in existence currently being carried out by Catherine Pinion.

The IFLA Round Table has benefitted from the Unesco funds, which enable it to participate in major projects affecting a wide range of issues. In some areas, e.g., access to materials, differences between archives and libraries in the AV world are academic: all organizations are tackling the same problems. Often the same people are involved, as both librarians and archivists.

Istanbul Meeting

Continuing the theme of "Multimedia" the Round Table organized a session describing a number of initiatives in different parts of the world - Sweden, France, Argentina and an EC access project between three countries (Italy, Denmark and the UK). The use of computers in accessing collections and materials, especially in the manipulation of data, is a concern for all. Common to all projects was the question of how the various legal issues can be addressed.

Papers presented

No More Hidden Treasures in the Library: Some Multimedia Projects at Lund University Library
by KIRSTIN DAHL

Abstract:
Throughout the world libraries are keeping special and sometimes very precious collections. Those collections are often very valuable, vulnerable or too fragile to be available to ordinary library users. Old books, for example, have the dilemma of being both a carrier of current information and an antique object. To ensure that these collections can be available even for future generations, this paper describes some multimedia projects produced in-house.

Le programme audiovisuel de la Bibliothèque nationale de France
by GERALD GRUNBERG

Abstract: Not available at this time.