Unesco Awards IFLA US$ 10,000 For New Legal Deposit Guidelines

PRESS RELEASE : for immediate release
August 22, 1999

Sjoerd Koopman
IFLA Headquarters

UNESCO has granted an amount of US$ 10,000 to IFLA, with the aim of updating the "Guidelines for Legal Deposit", prepared by Jean Lunn and published by UNESCO in 1981. This revision will incorporate new forms of publishing, including audiovisual material and networked electronic publications.

The project is a direct follow-up to one of the recommendations adopted at the successful IFLA International Conference on National Bibliographic Services, held in Copenhagen, November 1998.

The programme will be coordinated and carried out on behalf of IFLA by the National Library of Canada in close consultation with the Conference of Directors of National Libraries (CDNL). It is expected to be completed before the end of 1999.

IFLA's Secretary General, Ross Shimmon, commenting today on the grant, said: "IFLA is delighted to receive this award from UNESCO. It is proof positive that IFLA conferences lead to direct action. Legal Deposit is an essential tool to ensure the survival of the record of human intellectual endeavour for posterity. These new guidelines will enable that tool to be sharpened up for the digital age".

Further information from:

Sjoerd Koopman
International Federation of Library Associations and Institutions (IFLA)
Prins Willem Alexanderhof 5
2595 BE The Hague
Netherlands

Tel: 31-70-3140884
Fax: 31-70-3834827
E-mail: sjoerd.koopman@ifla.org