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LIBRARY ASSOCIATION RESPONSE
Introduction
The Library Association is the professional body
representing librarians and information managers in the United Kingdom. Under the terms of
our Royal Charter we have a duty to promote high quality library and information services
and advise government, employers and others on all aspects of library and information
services. Many of our 26,000 members work in the public sector.
The Library Association welcomes the opportunity to comment
on this draft policy. The Library Association is committed to ensuring the widest possible
access to information resources of all kinds. To this end we are committed to promoting
the development of policies suitable for supporting such access.
Our comments to key points are as follows:
- Strategic objective for the Public Record Office's
acquisition policy
The Library Association supports this objective, but would draw attention to the
requirements of the Freedom of Information White Paper, and the Open Government
initiatives to make such information freely available. We would suggest that the objective
should include direct reference to the PRO's obligation to provide this access to their
records.
- Collection themes
The Library Association supports the definition of specific collection themes as a
necessary process to limiting acquisitions to a finite size, in order to maintain
collections which can be preserved, accessed and researched effectively. We would suggest
that the six themes need to define more clearly, for future reference, the nature of the
records they seek to preserve, in each of these themed areas, in order to make it clear to
supplying organisations exactly what records will be preserved. We would also suggest that
in section 2 vi) the definition includes 'health' as well as social and economic.
- Collection policies
The Library Association supports a clear definition of the collection policies of the PRO,
but would note in section 3:4. That should records previously held in a national
repository be transferred to other areas of deposit we would expect that where no
nominated place of deposit is available, an alternative place of deposit would meet the
highest possible standards of security, preservation, and continued access.
Conclusion
The Library Association welcomes the opportunity to make
these comments to the PRO on what we consider to be an area of importance both to society
in general and to our members in particular. We would be pleased to supply further
comments to clarify or amplify our position. We would also like to be fully involved in
any further consultation on this policy.
May 1998 |
