- Introductions & Announcements
- Approval of Minutes
The minutes from the CAMP Business meeting in Fall 2005 (Washington DC) were approved as written.
- Election of CAMP Representatives
Malanchuk announced that the past-due elections for the three positions of secretary, at-large, and faculty representative will be carried out by e-mail balloting directly after the Business meeting; Miner will chair the nominating committee. Further, Malanchuk will convene a two person nominating committee for upcoming elections in summer for vice-chair and the other faculty representative position.
- Reports and Discussions
CRL Report: Berenz reported that as of January 1, the administration of the Global Resources Network had officially moved to CRL. There are now 450,000 foreign dissertations cataloged and in the OPAC, and they are about halfway through cataloging dissertations that they have. CRL organized a workshop with LC on Area Studies, for which they brought in representatives of GRN projects.
CAMP Financial Report & Project Update: Berenz distributed the CAMP Financial Report with final figures for FY 2005 and year to date figures for FY 2006 (through 1/31/06). For FY 2005, the beginning fund balance was $47,892.13. Membership fees and sales brought in revenues of $33,522.50. Total general expenses were $31,774.54. Ending fund balance was $49,640.09.
For FY 2006 (through 1/31/06), the beginning fund balance was $49,640.09. Membership fees and sales have brought in revenues of $32,005. Total general expenses have been $10,084.40. Outstanding commitments total $50,332.12, which includes items on order, materials approved for purchase, and non-material expenses. Available funds at present are $21,228.57.
Filming of the Eastern Nigerian Guardian and Courrier d'Afrique will begin as soon materials come in.
CAMP Subcommittee Reports
African & Africa-related Archives: Malanchuk reported that Caruso (not present) said that no money will be forthcoming from the Senegalese government for the proposed regional conference. Using the funds allocated by CAMP, however, Caruso will try to organize a regional conference to take place in about March 2007. Olsen asked whether there is a chance we can get the West Africa Research Center in Dakar to participate? Could the meeting be held on their premises?
Bibliographic Access: Harper reported an idea about LC serials (seek clarification)???
Grant Preparation: Frank-Wilson reported that they are pulling together stock language to be used in proposals, which will be ready by early July. Also in progress is a list of potential funders and deadlines – which will also be ready in the summer. Limb pointed out that the Danes gave a half million dollars to Afrobarometer, so European agencies can also be added to the list.
Digitization and Newer Technologies: Miner reported that the subcommittee intends to work with CRL to determine what kinds of CAMP materials there are for which we currently hold digitization rights. Such materials could form the basis for meaningful membership benefits that could be extended to African institutions. Berenz reported that the CRL/LC workshop documentation on the GRN website has guidelines for the minimal acquisition of rights for digitization. Limb reported conversations about the TICFIA grant for Tolerance in Islam – could CAMP make available for digitization some materials for that project – James Simon is looking into that. Maybe we could apply for a small digitization grant around that.
Membership Recruitment & Outreach: Ogedengbe is new convener. She reported that they are thinking about names of candidate European institutions. Malanchuk reminded the group that institutions can join CAMP without joining CRL – for $1,000 per year. Limb asked whether there is anyway that we can offer newly joining libraries a discounted initial membership? CRL is currently doing this. Miner reminded everyone to use Intraspect so that there is a record of all subcommittee communications. Limb commented that listservs are much easier to use than password protected sites. Ogedengbe requested the group to give the subcommittee advice about what to do with the $5 membership and borrowing privileges for African institutions. Limb said that we can start looking at digital delivery in conjunction with CRL's strategic plan. Limb thinks that the great majority of CAMP materials – archival materials – will require permissions for digitization. Bell-Gam responded that for material that CRL has microfilmed for fair use access, additional reproduction digitally for single use, fair use access is not really a problem. Digitization and Newer Technologies (DANT) is the subcommittee charged with figuring out what fair use rights might mean when delivering digital copies to countries where fair use laws are different. The Membership subcommittee is going to wait for DANT to come up with policy recommendations. Gentner says that it is the copyright laws of the country in which the microfilming is done that applies.
Newspapers: Easterbrook reported on behalf of Woodson, subcommittee convener. An agency in Abidjan contacted the Public Affairs Officer at the US embassy about large collections of newspapers that need to be preserved – nothing is known about titles, but Harper will get the details.
Cooperative Archives Projects
Liberian Presidential Papers: Frank-Wilson reported that work on the Tubman papers is on schedule. Conservation work has been done and an archivist is organizing them. The other two sets of papers are in process of conservation treatment. Verlon Stone's most recent report will be posted soon.
Senegal / West Africa preservation program: As Caruso is not present, discussion is deferred.
Arquivo Histórico de Moçambique: What was said?????
DATAD: Bell-Gam has a couple of concerns – people haven't been able to contact anyone there and subscription renewals are coming due. A reliable contact person is needed. Also, after using DATAD, we need to start making recommendations. She just found out recently that it isn't possible to keyword search the abstracts field -- only titles and descriptors. LaFond asked about obtaining copies – Bell-Gam replied that you have to contact the particular institution for a copy – DATAD hasn't yet worked out a central clearinghouse for delivery. Kagan said that he remembered they are looking at a copyright agreement that would resolve those issues continent- wide. Bell-Gam says they have added member (contributing) institutions and the annual subscription is $400. Easterbrook pointed out that while the CRL had a role in helping development the business model, that relationship is now over. Olsen said that he and Bell-Gam need to work together to reestablish a renewed communication channel with DATAD through ALC.
- New Proposals Under Consideration
Corruption and Governance in South Africa: The proposal from Woodson (absent) appears to call for two copies? Is that indeed the case? Howard-Reguindin suggested approving one copy, and to revisit with Woodson why a second copy is necessary. It was moved that we in principle undertake original microfilming for one copy, seconded, and approved.
Hadas Eretra: Berenz reported that as this proposal entailed a cost of only $494, it was just approved by the Executive Committee. Six reels have already been filmed by LC Photoduplication. Not sure if it is being filmed currently.
Izwi La Kiti: Limb reported that Feinberg (absent) said that he has a reel which he will make available to CAMP for filming, but Simon wants to check its provenance.
Malawi Newspapers 1998-2005: Howard-Reguindin reported that LC-Nairobi has stacks up to the ceiling; New Delhi has agreed to film 50 more titles, but can't deal with ceased titles. Steere had shipped Malawi newspapers to CRL before making a CAMP proposal, and Howard-Reguindin is suggesting that we start with those. -Nairobi would ship additional issues that have accumulated of those Malawi newspaper titles to CRL to complete the runs. Limb moved that the proposal be accepted; it was seconded and approved.
Vanguard: Kale said that Northwestern is receiving this title, has 72 reels, and is wondering if CAMP would like to purchase microfilm of past issues and have a current subscription. There was a motion to approve this proposal, which was seconded and passed.
Liberian newspapers: Lauer put forward a proposal for Liberian newspapers – Enquirer and the News. Moved to approve in spirit. ?????
- Pending / Developing Projects
German Colonial Archives: Baumann reported that CRL has received the first set. The proposal was submitted as a 3-part purchase spread over those number of years. Berenz will find out if other parts have to be approved for purchase.
O.R. Tambo Papers: Bell-Gam says that we still don't have official permission for making a duplicate for CAMP from the original microfilm. It still needs official ANC permission, and there is an indication that they will ask for another copy to be made for deposit at Fort Hare. There is no estimate of cost yet.
- Updates on Approved Projects
Courrier d’Afrique: Berenz reported this is in progress.
Eastern Nigeria Guardian: Berenz reported that this is in progress.
Friend: Baumann reported that the purchase is completed, and CRL is awaiting shipment.
Nigerian State Documents: Easterbrook reported that Northwestern and Berkeley are collaborating on this, starting with Anambra and Plateau states first. Progress has been slowed by relevant staff positions being vacant at both schools for some time.
Timbuktu Manuscripts: Easterbrook and Berenz reported that the website is now live and linked from CRL website.
- Other Reports
Library of Congress Preservation efforts: Howard-Reguindin reported that they are sending 50 more newspaper titles to New Delhi for microfilming. There is a United Nations unit for strengthening parliamentary libraries, which is now interested in digitizing official gazettes of each country. It has requested that LC microfilm the Kenya official gazette for this purpose. Howard-Reguindin is also thinking about microfilming the LC Africana pamphlet collection. She is also wondering about whether the microfilming of African conference proceedings is a priority – and is asking for advice on this. Limb pointed out the with ephemera collections, thematic or periodic coherence makes them more useful. Howard-Reguindin responded that they would need some fairly broad themes to work with – not as narrow as political party manifestoes, for example. Gentner raised the example of how New Delhi organizes its pamphlet microfilming. Page mentioned that there have been conversations about the microfilming or digitization of Africana pamphlet collection at LC-Washington. They are organized by broad regions and then broad subject headings. The head of AMED just wants to get something done. The idea is to start chipping away at it piece by piece, with individual area librarians working on it. LC- Nairobi indexing of conference papers has slowed down for lack of staff – but Northwestern continues to maintain their index. So if a second copy always goes to Northwestern, indexing will be ensured.
AFRINUL Update: Easterbrook and Berenz reported that they have tested the batch upload tool and it is working with minor glitches. They have some records from Harvard. They can do tutorials over the phone. Northwestern has requested of its IT unit the batch loading of its newspaper records.
German-North American Resources Partnership conference in Frankfurt. October 5-8. CRL will be participating. There will be a breakout session on African Studies.
World Digital Library: Google gave LC $3 million to conduct a feasibility study, with no strings attached. It is being run out of the LC Office of Strategic Initiatives, and may follow on the model of the Global Gateway. There is interest in involving the National Library of Egypt, possibly digitizing scientific manuscripts from the 6th century, but they are really at the stage of getting the major ideas down. The individual to contact is John Van Odenaren <jvan@loc.gov>. Page wondered whether CAMP could ask that this project focus on capacity building? Can we make sure it looks in Africa outside of South Africa? How can we use the opportunity to open up new areas? Page will report to the head of AMED, and hope to coordinate feedback to Van Odenaren.
CAMP moved, seconded and passed a vote of thanks to Gretchen Walsh and Boston University Library for hosting the meeting.
