International Conference of Repository Libraries

Citation

(1999), "International Conference of Repository Libraries", Interlending & Document Supply, Vol. 27 No. 4. https://doi.org/10.1108/ilds.1999.12227dab.011

International Conference of Repository Libraries

Keywords Preservation, Storage, Library materials

The first international conference of repository libraries took place in Kuopio, Finland, on 9-11 May 1999. The conference was organised by the National Repository Library of Finland in co-operation with the International Federation of Library Associations and Institutions' (IFLA) Universal Availability of Publications (UAP) core programme, the Center for Research Libraries (Chicago, USA) and the Kuopio University Library. The theme of the conference was "solving collection problems through repository strategies".

A repository is a storage facility to which libraries can transfer books and periodicals which are no longer required by their readers. By transferring such materials to a repository the libraries can reduce their storage costs and the pressure to expand library buildings, while the transferred materials can still be retrieved if required by library users.

The purpose of the conference was to discuss how repository strategies can contribute to managing collections and the availability of less used materials on a regional, national or local level. More than 50 delegates from Europe, Africa, Asia, and America, representing different library types, had a chance to listen to 21 papers.

Universal Availability of Publications (UAP) Programme of IFLA has undertaken a survey on repository solutions in different countries. The results indicate that there is a need for a research agenda that starts by defining what a repository library is today and how it will change in the electronic era. There is also a need for standard methods of measuring the efficiency of differing repository solutions along with a list of best work practices with comparable cost data.

The first conference showed that there is interest in sharing experiences and planning co-operation. It was agreed to continue co-operation between repository libraries and other interested parties. The next conference is scheduled for the year 2001 as a satellite conference to the Boston IFLA conference.

For further information contact Pentti Vattulainen, National Repository Library of Finland at: Vattulainen@nrl.fi

The proceedings of the conference are available from: IFLA Offices for UAP,c/o The British Library, Boston Spa, Wetherby, West Yorkshire LS23 7BQ, UK. Fax: +44 (0)1937 546478; E-mail richard.ebdon@bl.uk

Source: Press release