Library and Information Commission Library and Information Commission (1999)



The LIC (Library and Information Commission) was set up in 1995 by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport. It was a national source of expertise, advising Government on all issues relating to the library and information sector. (In 2000 the LIC was replaced by Resource: The Council for Museums, Archives and Libraries. Resource was later renamed the Museums, Libraries and Archives Council (MLA) before being abolished in 2012, when its functions were transferred to the Arts Council England and the National Archives.)


UKOLN prepared the following documents for web access and hosts them on behalf of the Library and Information Commission.


Full Disclosure: Releasing the value of library and archive collections

Users of both libraries and archives are disadvantaged by the fact that some materials they wish to use are traceable only through manual catalogues. Recent studies in both library and archive domains have identified that several million items fall into this category. The solution is to retrospectively convert records in manual catalogues to machine-readable records.

A Pathfinding Group of the British Library, the Library and Information Commission and the Library and Information Co-operation Council  therefore commissioned a study to draw up a methodology for a national strategy for the retrospective conversion of library and archive catalogues. The Pathfinding Group included representatives from the Heritage Lottery Fund, the Research Support Libraries Programme and the National Council on Archives. The study was carried out by UKOLN and the National Council on Archives between January and May 1999.

The study included a review of developments and projects initiated since 1995. Three regional workshops, a telephone interview consultation, and a day conference were held as part of the  study process. The resulting recommendations outlined a methodology for a national strategy, and identified a coordinating body and possible sources of funding.

The report was submitted to the Pathfinding Group in May 1999.

The report is now available in electronic form at:
URL: <http://www.ukoln.ac.uk/services/lic/fulldisclosure/>

A print version of the report has been published and distributed to relevant government departments, funding agencies, professional organisations and delegates who attended the study conference in May 1999. A limited number of copies remain and are available on request. When these have been exhausted, copies will be available through the British Library Document Supply Centre. If you wish to obtain a copy, please contact Colin Day (Co-operation and Partnership Programme, the British Library, 96 Euston Road, London NW1 2DB or email colin.day@bl.uk).


Full Disclosure: Releasing the value of library and archive collections.
Ann Chapman, Nicholas Kingsley and Lorcan Dempsey.
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