Section on Rare Books and Manuscripts

Medium Term Programme 1998-2001

Scope statement

Goals, 1998-2001

1. Promote the understanding of the significance of rare books and manuscripts for scholarly research, and as part of the heritage of civilization, in an international context.

2. Develop international standards in the field of rare book and manuscript librarianship, and publish directories and bibliographies which will assist rare book and manuscript librarians in their work.

Action Plans, 2000-2001

1. Continuation of existing projects:

   The following projects will continue during the period:
   The Annual bibliography of the History of the Printed Book and Libraries (ABHB) edited by Clemens de Wolf of the Royal Dutch Library. A Directory of Library Stamps, edited by David Pearson of the Wellcome Institute for the History of Medicine, London. (This project has already borne fruit in a book published by Annette Wehmeyer of the Staatsbibliothek, Berlin, culled from libraries across Germany, and in a circulated report on progress by David Pearson.)

2. Projects in contemplation:

   The following were considered at the August meeting of the section:
   A joint project to investigate the whereabouts of artists' archives, with the International Congress on Archives (ICA). A catalogue of book dealers' catalogues, to be edited by Richard Landon, of the Thomas Fisher Rare Book Library, University of Toronto.

3. Newsletter and Brochure:

   The section issues a newsletter edited by Annette Wehmeyer. We will also shortly be issuing a new brochure.

4. Programmes for IFLA conferences in Jerusalem and Boston:

   The Open Session arranged by the section for 2000 in Jerusalem will focus on The Management and Development of Manuscript Collections relating to the Middle East. Speakers are being invited from a number of countries including the UK, USA, Israel and Arab countries. The intention is to consider collections in both Hebrew and Arabic languages. Also planned for Jerusalem is a joint workshop with the Section on Preservation and Conservation, looking at the conservation of non paper and non codex materials; and a poster session on a collaborative British project to digitise Hebrew incunabula.

   Tentative plans for Boston include an Open Session focussing on rare books; and a joint workshop with the Section on Preservation and Conservation, which will consider the outcome of the Gutenberg digitisation project, and its implications for similar projects in the future.

5. Officers:

   The new Chair of the section is Dr Alice Prochaska of the British Library, London, and the new Secretary is Dr Wolfgang Undorf, of the National Library of Sweden.