Newspapers Section
Strategic Plan
2006-2007
Mission
The Newspapers Section is concerned with all issues relating to newspapers in libraries and archives, including acquisition and collection development; intellectual and physical access; storage and handling; preservation of newspapers and their contents; preservation of microfilm of newspapers; interlibrary lending; and the impact of digital technologies on all of these.
Goals
1. Gather and disseminate information on international newspaper collections, procedures and practices, and develop mechanisms for communication and interchange of knowledge between the major newspaper collections of the world.
Pillars: Society, and Profession
IFLA Professional Priorities: (a) Supporting the role of libraries in society; (b) Defending the principle of freedom of information; (c) Promoting literacy and reading; (d) Providing unrestricted access to information; (e) Balancing the intellectual property rights of authors with the needs of users; (f) Promoting resource sharing; (g) Preserving our intellectual heritage; (h) Developing library professionals; (i) Promoting standards, guidelines and best practice; (k) Representing libraries in the technological marketplace
Actions
1.1 Update and expand the information available in the Directory of Institutions reporting national newspaper collections. (Work to be carried out in 2006/2007.)
1.2 Complete in 2006 analysis of questionnaires sent to libraries on Africa, regarding their newspaper collections and their use. Seek funds for taking the project forward.
1.3 Hold Programmes 1) at the 2004 IFLA at the IFLA 2005 Oslo on Newspapers Digitisation Projects for Older Newspapers. 2) In 2006 organise a Satellite meeting, on Digitisation of Newspapers in North America. 3) organise a Programme for IFLA Seoul, 2006 around the theme: Newspapers of South East Asia.
1.4 Disseminate more widely the papers of the CAMF Conference held in London. CAMF (Cellulose Acetate Microfilm Forum) was a two day conference hosted by The British Library, in partnership with LIBER, in May of this year. Delegates attended the London conference from as far afield as America, Scandinavia, New Zealand and Australia to discuss and debate the issues of cellulose acetate microfilm collections. Papers from the conference have been published by LIBER.
2. Encourage the development and adoption of international standards in newspaper preservation, microfilming, and digitisation programmes.
Pillars: Profession
IFLA Professional Priorities: (g) Preserving our intellectual heritage; (i) Promoting standards, guidelines and best practice
Actions
2.1 Prepare and arrange for publication of Spanish translation of the Newspapers Section Guidelines for the preservation microfilming of newspapers(published by IFLA in 1996), and mount of the IFLANET. (Planned for 2006)
2.2 Prepare a supplement to the above Guidelines on the best practice for microfilming of newspapers in preparation for possible future digitisation. The ISO standards for film density which affect digitisation will be reviewed. (Completed 2003; English, French, Spanish, Chinese versions on IFLANET.) Revision of these Guidelines... will be considered in 2006/07.
2.3 Organise a Workshop to disseminate awareness of digital standards and best practices. This is planned for 2007.
2.4 Storage and handling of Microfilm: work to be continued on this; a workshop to be considered for 2006 or 2007. Satellite meeting planned to be held in Mo I Rana, Norway, August 2005 in collaboration with IFLA Preservation and Conservation Section.
3. Monitor technological developments arising from and affecting newspaper production, distribution, archiving and access, and assess their implications for library practices.
Pillars: Society
IFLA Professional Priorities: (b) Defending the Principle of Freedom of Information; (c) Promoting Literacy, Reading, and Lifelong Learning; (d) Providing Unrestricted Access to Information; (k) Representing libraries in the technological marketplace
Actions
3.1 Developments in electronic access to newspapers will be monitored.
3.2 Exploration of the linking of a list of newspaper electronic sources with the Directory of Newspapers.
Exploration of the linking of a list of newspaper electronic sources (see: http://www.collectionscanada.ca/8/16/r16-214-e.html and: http://www.bl.uk/collections/newspapers.html#Electronic) with the Newspaper Section's content on IFLANET.
3.3 Look at using an "email alert" system to notify members of developments
3.4 A summary of Website developments for newspapers will be provided on the IFLANET.
4. Explore opportunities for co-operative approaches to the provision of newspapers in libraries and archives.
Pillars: Society, and Profession
IFLA Professional Priorities: (f) Promoting resource sharing
Actions
4.1 Develop closer working relationship with ICON (International Coalition on Newspapers) on the co-operative acquisition and preservation of, and access to, global newspapers. (Meeting held in Feb. 2004;
5. Evaluate existing guidelines for bibliographic control of newspapers and explore complementary and / or alternative means of intellectual access.
Pillars: Profession
IFLA Professional Priorities: (c) Promoting literacy and reading
Actions
5.1 Plan revision of IFLA Guidelines for Newspaper Cataloguing. Look at USA Newspaper Program Cataloguing Scheme to see if a brief set of rules can be devised for newspaper cataloguing.
6. Explore opportunities for communication and exchange of information with organisations engaged in the production and preservation of newspapers.
Pillars: Society
ILFA Professional Priorities: (d) Providing unrestricted access to information)
Actions
6.1 To re-examine contacts that can be made with publishers' associations, other professional bodies and national libraries, to enhance the profile of libraries in providing access to newspapers.
