ACRL News Issue (B) of College & Research Libraries


287

Editors Meet at IFLA
The editors of more than twenty-five docu­

mentation, library and archive journals met at 
the International Federation of Library Associa­
tion’s Conference in Grenoble, France, to dis­
cuss ways to foster greater cooperation among 
the world’s library journals. One specific objec­
tive of the meeting was to follow up the sym­
posium of editors, sponsored by UNESCO, 
which had been held May 16-19, 1972. Among 
the topics discussed at the IFLA meeting were 
international cooperation among editors of li­
brary journals, technical improvement, uniform­
ity of bibliographical references, formats of 
transliteration systems, the content of authors 
abstracts, and the feasibility of publishing news 
of IFLA activities in national periodicals.

There seemed to be general agreement 
among the attendees that most editors and au­
thors could benefit from the establishment of 
a clearinghouse. The clearinghouse would func­
tion as a communication link between authors 
and editors, as authors often do not know

where to submit their manuscripts for publica­
tion. (CRL receives annually as many as ten 
misdirected manuscripts.) Inquiries from au­
thors and publishers could be channeled 
through the clearinghouse to the most appropri­
ate publication. UNESCO officials indicated 
that they would move to implement the clear­
inghouse concept.

The current inadequacies of library abstract­
ing and indexing tools was also discussed. It is 
estimated by FID that over 700 journals in li­
brary science and documentation are not pub­
lished. However, many significant publications 
are still not included in any of th e . major ab­
stracting tools. UNESCO would like to encour­
age countries now lacking either an indexing 
or abstracting service to determine a way to 
cover the literature of their country. For some 
geographical areas, regional arrangements 
might prove to be more practical than a series 
of national plans. ■■

Tell It to the Times
Because of its interest to many academic li­ tives stated that to the best of their knowledge 

brarians, the editors are publishing the follow­ Kalvar was keeping its commitment to satisfy 
ing letter addressed to Robert Wedgeworth, Ex­ each aggrieved customer.
ecutive Director of ALA: Mr. Harsh read a lengthy paper in which he 

recounted relative merits and problems of Kal­
Because of your previously expressed interest var and silver halide films and told of the ef­

in the New York Times-Kalvar microfilm prob­ forts his company had made to educate and as­
lem, I have been directed by the members of sist the affected libraries relative to the diffi­
the Micropublishing Projects subcommittee to culties they were having with rusted cabinets 
report to you on recent developments in that and crumbling microfilm boxes.
matter. At the June 25 meeting of the subcom­ After these statements a dialogue ensued be­
mittee one of the members brought us up to tween guests and members of the subcommittee 
date and gave his view that the particular type on the one hand and the Times and Kalvar of­
of Kalvar microfilm which the New York Times ficials on the other. The former were primarily 
distributed to libraries for a time does not be­ concerned with these points:
long in the permanent collections of libraries 
since it is a continuing danger to other materi­ •  The categorical unwillingness of the 
als in its proximity. Times and MCA to deal with the ag­

This report was followed by statements by grieved libraries.
Mr. Benjamin Handelman and Mr. Karl Hor- •  The failure of the Times and MCA to ad­
witz of the New York Times and Mr. Harold vise libraries of the dangers of the Kalvar 
Harsh, President of Kalvar Corporation. Han­ film when they became known.
delman and Horwitz took the position that be­ •  The interpretation which Kalvar placed 
cause the Times subsidiary, Microfilming Cor­ on the oft repeated Times’ statement that 
poration of America (MCA), did not have per­ “Kalvar will satisfy the customer.” (It ap­
sonnel with sufficient technical knowledge of pears that Kalvar is not willing to go so far 
Kalvar film, it was only logical to leave it to as to provide silver halide copies as re­
Kalvar Corporation to correct the problems placement for Kalvar copies even if the 
which resulted from the sale of the film to sev­ complaining librarian insists that only that 
eral hundred libraries. The Times’ representa­ remedy will truly satisfy him. This despite