Middle East Microform Project
General Membership Business Meeting
22 Nov. 2002
Library of Congress, Washington, D.C.

Present: J Biella, M Deeb, J Simon, M Hopper, J Rodgers, F Undlandherm, C Galli, J Weinberger, M Gaston, D Straley, C Murphy, J Eilts, D Hirsch, S Khanaka, B Gray, S Samoeil, D Hyde, M St. Germain, Laila Mulgaokar, J Gentner, A Dianu, B Bickett, Brian Evans, Texas, F Tadros, M Abraham, G Youssef, R Van Laningham? ME Institute, Laura Wong,LC? Michael Albin, Peter Magierski, Saad Dagher U of A?,

Minutes read; corrections suggested and accepted; motion to accept minutes as amended made and seconded. Motion accepted.

CRL Report (J. Simon)

CRL has issued a new Strategic Plan . It places emphasis on the international collections at CRL, which is reflected in the creation of a new International Resources department (of which James Simon is the director).

CRL commissioned a Collections Assessment Task Force to assess CRL’s uncataloged collections and to recommend future actions for CRL. The CATF identified the Center's holdings of foreign dissertations as the single most important corpus of materials among CRL's uncataloged collections (with over 800,000 dissertations spanning the years 1738-2002). CRL received general funding from Mellon Foundation to begin the process of developing a methodology and workflow to gain access to this collection. The work has progressed quickly, with almost 70,000 dissertations cataloged at the time of this meeting.

Other materials, including modern Turkish, have been cataloged. More than 700 Turkish items are available (Simon will send list).

CRL has received a planning grant from Mellon to investigate the methodology of access and preservation of Web-based political communications. This is a coordinated approach by a number of participants, including NYU, Texas, Stanford, and Cornell. CRL is not creating an archive per se, but exploring the technical, curatorial, and long-term resource management issues relating to a distributed program for Web archiving. Not included yet is the Middle East, but the project could be expanded into the ME. There are copyright and accessibility preservation aspects to consider.

A Cooperative Collection Development conference in Atlanta GA just completed an assessment of the state of cooperative collection development in U.S. institutions. There is a significant international component in the assessment, and the papers will be posted online at the CRL web site.

The International Coalition on Newspapers (ICON) received another round of funding from NEH (2002-2004). The program includes preservation of international newspapers (titles outside of U.S. and Canada) and enhancements to the Database of International Newspapers. Several Middle East-related titles are included in the project.
See handout: Newspapers from Iran, Egypt, Turkey, Armenian language title from Cairo.

MEMP Financial statement (see handout budget statement): There is a large balance available of $22k available for projects (even after discounting current commitments of $24K). In the past year, MEMP received a number of Algerian titles and Beirut Times (Los Angeles) for 2001. Hürriyet (Istanbul) is being prepared for filming, and members should investigate their holdings to fill in missing issues.

Recent projects

Algerian Newspapers – Several current Algerian newspapers (1991-1995) filmed and catalogued. There remain only a few large titles to be filmed, plus several small runs we need to assemble for filming.

Arabic Pamphlet Project - Pamphlets from LC now being sorted and re-organized for filming and cataloguing.

Beirut Times (Los Angeles) – Receiving a standing order (1985- )

Chaqeri Project – Cataloging of the collection is 75% completed – 24 out of 31 reels (629 records of 900). Hope to complete by January.

Turkish newspapers – MEMP had approved more funds for 3 years (01-03) to continue filming.

MEMP cataloguing – Volunteers are working on their portions. Call to complete outstanding records.

Related Projects:

Middle East Journal Project - funded by IMLS to Amer. Institute of Yemeni Studies/ Council of American Overseas Research Centers (CAORC). Project will catalog, index, and preserve important journals in these overseas centers. Possible digitization. Microfilm will be available through CRL - sponsorship ideas for collection solicited from membership.

OACIS project update (S. Samoeil): The project includes Penn, Washington, Cornell, OSU, Michigan, and Texas initially. The OACIS project will record serials with holdings for electronic text delivery in a database of Middle Eastern-related serials and holdings. Builds on The Middle East in microform : a union list of Middle Eastern microforms in North American libraries compiled by Fawzi W. Khoury and Michele S. Bates. Other possible participants include the Assad Library in Damascus, American University in Beirut, Lebanon, AUC Cairo, etc.

Global Resources Program (John Eilts): J. Eilts and M. Abraham have proposed a potential GRP project for the Middle East. They are interested in Middle East representation and have approved a slot for ME. See email from J. Eilts:

* On our agenda for the coming meeting in Washington are background and a proposal for a Middle East project under the auspices of the ARLAAU Global Resources Program. For those of you not familiar with the program there is background reading in: Strategic Plan for Improving Access to Global Information Resources in U.S. and Canadian Research Libraries (http://www.arl.org/collect/grp/globalplan.html) and information on other projects at: http://www.arl.org/collect/grp/grp.html . I would recommend that you familiarize yourself with the projects and come prepared to discuss the possibility of starting a project for the Middle East. MESA is interested in the possibilities and Amy Newhall, MESA Executive Secretary is interested, and has been invited to attend the meeting if she can make it.

One possible model for a program is the Pittsburgh China Gateway Project . CRL is also interested in becoming involved.

MEMP White Paper (M. Hopper): The Board will disseminate a survey based on the discussions and possibilities in the White Paper. It will be distributed through the list to the general membership beyond the original scope of the Executive Board.

Proposals

Approved by Board – Iranian Opposition Newspapers (revised proposal from Harvard to film Tus, and Nishat; Ruznamah-i Zan will be dropped, as a facsimile is available). The Exec also approved two Tatar religious newspapers (Iman & Iman Nury). Hopper will check LC's holdings to fill in.

Previously, the Board had approved :
Aljadid – continue filming
Al-Balagh (Sana, Yemen)
Navid – Afghan-American newspaper
Opposition newspapers – Yemen, Iran
Subh-I Iran??

Four Iranian newspapers were proposed, but higher than the board is authorized to approve ($5450). The membership unanimously approved

New Proposals solicited from the membership in attendance:

J. Gentner reported that Jim Armstrong has prepared a bibliography of fiched titles from Afghanistan

S. Simon: al-Quds al-Arabi proposed. David Hirsch replied that he had checked with the publisher, who had no interest in this project. Yale is receiving, and Samoeil will submit proposal formally.

Election to Board (M. St. Germain): Ballots were distributed to replace D. Hirsch (who will still serve ex officio as MELA President), J. Weinberger, and M. Hopper. After tally, the new Executive Board members were Brenda Bickett and John Eilts. Michael Hopper was re-elected after James Weinberger graciously withdrew from a run-off.

Changes to By Laws, 2 points, see printed agenda verso for details motion to accept the changes; both changes are approved by the membership.

LC Report (C Murphy) Digitization projects: Arabic mss and leaves collection 305K microfilm exposures accomplished in last year list of filmed titles distributed disruption of mail service caused slow-down in filming activities see web page for New Delhi activities LC is committed to acquire all film collections on market currently

MEMP - Received
Since 11/2001

MF Neg. MF.
Alger républicain [microform].
Alger [Algiers, Algeria] : Alger Républicain,
Center has:
MF-13131 MEMP (4 reels)
Nov. 1992-Sept. 1993; LACKS: 1992: Dec. 9, 16, 23, 27; 1993: Jan. 10, 14, 17, Feb. 2, Mar. 12/13, 16, 24, Apr. 21, 30, June 17, July 4, Aug. 11, 25, Sept. 8.
Paid: $1,037.90 4 reels
OCLC# = 50903198.

MF.
Bayr¯ut taymz [microform] = Beirut times.
L¯us Angil¯us, K¯al¯if¯urniy¯a : [Beirut Times Pub.,
Microfilm. Burbank, Calif. : Data Microfilming Corp., [19--] microfilm reels ; 35 mm.
Center has:
MF-12272 MEMP (13 reels) v. 5, no. 188-v. 14, no. 644 (Aug. 31, 1985-Dec. 31, 1998/Jan. 7, 1999).
MF-12395 MEMP (5 reels) v. 14, no. 645 (Jan. 7/14, 1999)-
Last Received: reel #3 Jan-Dec, 2001
OCLC # = 44259842.

MF Neg. MF.
Evénement (Algiers, Algeria)
Alger, Algeria : L'Evénement,
Center has:
MF-12740 MEMP (1 reel) [no. 90-153]
1992: Oct. 10-Dec. 12;
1993: Jan. 2-16, Jan. 30-Feb. 13, Feb. 27-Mar. 6, Mar. 20-Apr. 24, May 8-29, Aug. 28, Dec. 4-18;
1994: Jan. 8, 22-29.
Paid: $179.12
OCLC # = 49039842.

A-44655 (CD-ROM)
Fahrasat majm¯u`at suhuf al-Ah¯al¯i [electronic resource] =
Article index to Ahali group newspapers, arranged by subject
[London, Eng. : Chadirji Research Centre, 1999]
CD-ROM version of article index of Ahali group newspapers
OCLC # 50276694

MF Neg. MF
al-Hayah al-'Arabiyah.
Algiers, Algeria.
Center has:
MF-13094 MEMP (5 reels)
1993: May 16-19, June 6-7, 9-10, 22, 24-29, July 5, 7-8, 11-27, Aug. 1-29, Aug. 31-Oct. 31, Nov. 4-7, 9, 11, 15-29;
1994: Jan. 2-4, 11-15, Jan. 18-Feb. 9, Feb. 12-14, 16-21, 24-27, Mar. 1, 3-15, 17, Mar. 20-Apr. 6, Apr. 11-21, May 3-4, 7-11, 14, 24-25, 28-29, May 31-June 12, June 14-16, 18-19, June 22-July 6, 10, 12-14, 17-18, 20, 24, 27-30, Aug. 2-8, 11-24, 27, 30-31, Sept. 3-22, 26, Sept. 28-Oct. 18.
Paid: $1,089.97 5 reels

MF Neg. MF.
al-Hiw¯ar : Yawmi¯yah Ikhb¯ar¯iyah Watan¯iyah [microform]
[Algiers, Algeria] : `Abd al-Ham¯id Mihr¯i,
Center has:
MF-12741 MEMP (2 reels) 1994: June 14-15, 18-19, June 21-July 18, July 20, 27, 30, Aug. 2-9, 11, 14, 16-24, Aug. 27-Sept. 4, Sept. 6-13, 15-23, Sept. 25-Oct. 19;
Paid: $286.90
OCLC # = 49039841.

MF Neg. MF.
al-Khabar [microform].
[Algiers, Algeria : al-Khabar],
Center has:
MF-12742 MEMP (11 reels) 1991: July 31/Aug. 1-2, Aug. 4-22, Aug. 25-Sept. 5, Sept. 9-11, 15-20, 23-29, Oct. 1-Nov. 16, Nov. 18-Dec. 1;
1992: Mar. 1-18, 14-18, 22-25, Mar. 28-Apr. 1, Apr. 6-May 26, May 28-June 4, June 7-July 2, July 5-15, 18-29, Aug. 1-12, Aug. 16-Sept. 3, Sept. 6-8, Sept. 12-Oct. 8, Oct. 11, Oct. 13-Dec. 14, Dec. 17, 27, 29-31;
1993: Jan. 2-4, 7-13, Jan. 16-Apr. 18, Apr. 20-May 10, 12, May 15-July 3, July 5-Sept. 2, Sept. 11-26, Sept. 28-Nov. 10, Nov. 13-24, Nov. 27-Dec. 6, Dec. 8-19, 21-30;
1994: Jan. 2-10, 12-23, Jan. 25-Mar. 15, Mar. 17-Apr. 17, Apr. 19-20, Apr. 25-May 18, May 23-31;
Paid: $2,339.37
OCLC # = 49039840.

MF Neg. MF.
Le soir d'Algerie [microform].
Alger : S.A.R.L.,
Microfilm. 23 juil.1991-30/31 oct.1992:[Gaps] Bethlehem, Pa. : Filmed by Preservation Resources for Middle East Microfilm Project at Center for Research Libraries, 2002. 2 microfilm reels ; 35 mm.
Center has:
MF-13093 MEMP (2 reels)
1991: July 23, Aug. 27, Oct. 3-7, 15, 18/19-30, Nov. 14-Dec. 2;
1992: May 31-June 1, Oct. 2-7, 11-27, 29-30/31.
Paid: $282.68 2 reels
OCLC# = 50704329.

Recently Cataloged

MF-12842 Neg. MF-at lab MEMP.
Arab Higher Committee, al-Hay'ah al-`Arab¯iyah al-`Uly¯a al-Mumathilah li-`Arab Filast¯in publications
Chicago, Ill. : Filmed by the University of Chicago Library Photoduplication Laboratory for the Middle Eastern Microfilm Project at the Center for Research Libraries, [1993].
[1] al-Jum¯ur¯iyah al-`Arab¯iyah al-Mutahhidah, Maslahat al-Isti`l¯am¯at / Qadiyat Filast¯in
[2] Qadiyat Filast¯in al-`Arab¯iyah, tawalat wad`ah¯a wa-nashrah¯a, al-Hay'ah al-`Arab¯iyah al-`Uly¯a, wah¯iya al-Hay'ah al-Mumathilah li-`Arab Filast¯in
Collection of 2 Arabic language publications published by Arab Higher Committee concerning Palestine, ca. 1940s-1950s.
OCLC# = 50039552.

MEMP On Order

Chaqeri collection of Iranian left-wing materials.
ODATE = 08-01-94.
RECORD # = b14042988.

Hürriyet (Istanbul, Turkey)
Istanbul : [s.n.,
In stages of preparation. MEMP to film 1948-Sept. 2, 1955.
(est. 17 reels)

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