About the IFLA-CDNL Alliance for Digital Strategies (ICADS)

Previously called: "IFLA-CDNL Alliance for Bibliographic Standards (ICABS)"

ICADS is a joint alliance of IFLA and the Conference of Directors of National Libraries (CDNL). The alliance was established in August 2008 as a successor to ICABS (IFLA CDNL Alliance for Bibliographic Standards.) which was established as a national libraries initiative in 2003. The ICABS work plan supported a number of goals relating to the development and use of bibliographic standards, resource access and managing electronic resources.  Since 2003 it has become increasingly clear that a major challenge for most national libraries is managing digital resources. In response to this development, IFLA and CDNL wanted to see a stronger focus by ICABS on digital library issues. Consequently, a new framework was developed by the ICABS Advisory Board to provide a more comprehensive view of the wide range of issues related to digital library management and within which to represent relevant innovative projects and initiatives. The new framework was renamed ICADS to reflect the increased concentration on digital library development and management.

The digital library focus

The ICADS alliance will focus on strategic and state-of-the-art digital library developments at national libraries. Through a coordinated web presence within the framework of PADI, the alliance provides the international library community with current information, documentation and links to a wide variety of information about innovative digital projects in which partners are involved.

There are 3 broad themes within the ICADS focus. These are:

  • Creating and building digital collections
  • Managing digital collections
  • Accessing digital collections

Under each of these themes, there are a number of topics which reflect the main areas ICADS partners are currently working in. (To explore the ICADS topics, use the links at the bottom of the page).

The ICADS topics (listed under corresponding theme) are:

Creating and building digital collections:

  • Digitisation
  • Web Archiving
  • Digital Archiving-legal deposit, collaborative and commercial models

Managing digital collections:

  • Digital ingest and storage
  • Digital preservation

Accessing digital collections:

  • Digital resource discovery
  • Digital rights management

Membership and governance


The national libraries contributing to the alliance in 2008 are:

An Advisory Board oversights the work of ICADS and meets annually at the IFLA conference. (This is the same Board that governed ICABS.)  It comprises representatives at the CEO and senior officer levels from each partner institution plus two members nominated by IFLA. The Board is chaired on a rotating basis with the chairing institution also providing secretarial support. Membership criteria Any national library can become a member of ICADS if they meet the eligibility requirements. To become a member libraries should:

  • be undertaking or have a lead role in innovative, leading edge projects that fit within the ICADS framework
  • provide information about the projects on their web sites
  • apply to the ICADS Administrator at the National Library of Australia for membership*
  • agree to contribute all required information themselves to the ICADS web site using the data contribution form
  • maintain the currency of that information on their institution and the ICADS web site.

*The Advisory Board will assess applications for membership as they are received.

The implications of an expanded membership for ICADS governance arrangements will be reviewed by the existing Advisory Board in 2010.  

ICADS relationship with IFLA

To further promote its focus of activity, the alliance also works with IFLA divisions and sections to present an annual programme of events at the IFLA conference.

For further information please contact:

Chair:
Ms. Caroline Brazier Associate Director, Operations & Services (North)
British Library
Boston Spa, Wetherby, WEST YORKSHIRE, LS23 7BQ, United Kingdom
Tel: +(44)(1937)546646
Fax: +(44) (1937)546979
Email: caroline.brazier@bl.uk

Secretary:
Ms. Mandy Stewart Resource Discovery Research and Projects Manager
British Library
Boston Spa, Wetherby, WEST YORKSHIRE, LS23 7BQ, United Kingdom
Tel:  +(44)(1937)546194 
Fax: +(44)(1937)546586
Email: mandy.stewart@bl.uk

Explore ICADS topics Details about the activities listed under topics are provided by partner libraries themselves using the ICADS contribution form.

Section Archive: IFLA-CDNL Alliance for Bibliographic Standards (ICABS)

Last update: 13 November 2009