Retrospective cataloguing, or, The

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Retrospective cataloguing, or, The forgotten
projects

• The need for a national strategy

2
Retro challenges

• Perceptions
• Reluctance and disinterest
• Missed opportunities
• How much work had been done and why had it
  stopped?

3
The past. 1

• Early 1990s, unknown mass
• 1994-1995 FIGIT study
• 1996-1997 BLRIC study
• 1997 Making the most of our libraries
• 548 libraries responded
• 50 million records awaiting retroconversion
• calls for a national programme
• 5 year target
• Nominates the LIC

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The past. 2

• 1998 BL convenes a Pathfinding Group and funds a
  study.
• 1999 Full Disclosure
• Supports national programme
• 10 years to complete 80 of the work
• Nominates the new MLA
• 1999-2002 RSLP
• 30 million for projects including retro
• 48 HEIs, 68 of these used the funds for retro
  work
• 2000-2012? MLA
• 2003-2007 Britain in Print
• Pre 1700s British printed books

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The past. 3

• 2004 CURL survey following end of RSLP
• Participants used RSLP funds
• 14 million items
• prepare the ground for future funding bids
• 2006-2009 Copac Challenge Fund
• Free or low cost access to CURL database
• 2007 RIN study
• 95 libraries responded (23 from HE)
• 200 researchers responded
• 50 of research collections still hidden
• Repeats call for a national strategy

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The present. 1

• New Years resolution
• Merged discussion list retro_at_jiscmail.ac.uk
• Proposed a new survey
• Joining forces with RLUK
• Survey launch July with help from MIMAS
  http//www.surveygizmo.com/s3/322159/RLUK-Retrospe
  ctive-Cataloguing-Survey-in-association-with-the-L
  ondon-Library

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The present. 2

• 75 libraries responded (39 from HE)
• 15 not visible online at all
• 10.6 million items outstanding 14
• 1.2 million items requiring record enhancement
• Most items from 16th to 20th century
• Much of the backlog can be termed special
  collections
• Non-book formats less likely to be catalogued at
  all

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The present. 3

• 55 have ongoing projects of these 7 libraries
  plan to end in 2020
• 16 plan to start in the next 2 years
• 12 have no immediate plans
• 10 have completed projects
• 7 have halted because of lack of funds
• 46 of these have no immediate plans to resume
  work

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The future. 1

• Now what?
• MLA?
• Desired outcomes of respondents
• Funding, awareness, visibility, collaborative
  working, national strategy
• Other comments
• Funding, security, practical help, digitisation,
  value of historical colls., visibility, etc.

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The future. 2

• Online National Register
• 90 survey respondents in favour
• Full Disclosure prioritisation matrix
• RIN good practice guide

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Dunia García-OntiverosHead of Retrospective
CataloguingThe London Librarydunia.garcia-ontive
ros_at_londonlibrary.co.uk