12.1760, Qs: Libraries and Minority Languages

[The LINGUIST Network]

LINGUIST List:  Vol-12-1760. Sun Jul 8 2001. ISSN: 1068-4875.

Subject: 12.1760, Qs: Libraries and Minority Languages

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1)
Date:  Tue, 3 Jul 2001 15:36:50 +0100
From:  "Graham Cornish" <graham.cornish at bl.uk>
Subject:  Libraries and minority languages

-------------------------------- Message 1 -------------------------------

Date:  Tue, 3 Jul 2001 15:36:50 +0100
From:  "Graham Cornish" <graham.cornish at bl.uk>
Subject:  Libraries and minority languages



Dear Linguist colleagues


The reason for writing is that I am the director of the Programme for
Universal Availability of Publications (UAP) for the International
Federation of Library Associations (IFLA).  We have just been awarded a
contract by the European Bureau for Lesser Used Languages to research
into the role of libraries in the EU in promoting minority languages
(i.e. not merely conserving their past but promoting their future).
Below you will find a description of the project and wondered if there
were colleagues out there who could help with the project.  We need all
the information we can get about libraries and minority languages and
would be pleased to input the findings to Linguist (or any other
interested orlganisation) when complete early in 2002.


Yours sincerely

Graham P Cornish
Director, IFLA UAP Programme
graham.cornish at bl.uk

Contribution of libraries and archives to promoting and safeguarding
minority languages

Details of the proposed project

Context

Libraries and archives have always played a significant role in
PRESERVING local cultures and languages. However, two important changes
have taken place in recent years to make this mere collecting policy
inadequate.

  1.. there has been a significant increase in the amount of recorded
material (written and audio) produced in minority language throughout
Europe (and elsewhere).
  2.. Libraries and archives are moving from being merely collectors of
material to being proactive in the services they offer. This includes
not only bibliographic information but exhibitions, storytelling
sessions, promoting culture through websites and live events
These major changes in context and activity make it vital that we
understand properly the changing role of the library and archive, both
in terms of how it is changing and how it OUGHT to change.

There is no clear picture of these changes in Europe. Neither is there
any clear guidance on best practice or even an overall picture of what
those practices might be.20

Objectives

The major objectives of the project are:

  1.. to produce an overview of the current contribution of libraries
and archives to the promotion and safeguarding of minority languages.
This will include20

  1.. collecting policies of both national and regional libraries


  2.. catalogues of relevant material and their accessibility to the
public


  3.. publishing programmes of relevant libraries and archives


  4.. websites available in the minority languages


  5.. library contributions to websites and access provided to them by
libraries


  1.. to identify best practice in these areas by analysis of activities
and comparison with other areas of library and archive activity. This
would include, for example, comparison with library information services
in the fields of health, social security, disability or cultural
activity.
  2.. To produce a manual of best practice giving guidance and
suggestions for libraries serving minority language groups to help them
develop services in the future. This would include
  1.. establishing a collection management policy including co-operation
with other libraries either nationally or regionally
  2.. providing information on the collections held by libraries and
archives either in electronic form or by using publicity such as printed
analytical lists
  3.. ways in which libraries and archives can publish material in their
collections which has not previously been made available to the public
or re-publish older material in their collections which is inaccessible
because of administrative limitations, lack of space for readers or the
condition of the original material
  4.. establishment of websites by the library or archive itself to
promote the language concerned or the best ways to participate in the
development of regional or language-focused websites that are relevant
  5.. liaison with local radio and TV stations to make known the
contents of their collections and encourage their use in broadcasting
(use of local poems, little-known literary works, songs and music)
Workplan

(for timetable see the main application form)

  1.. Identify libraries and archives which (a) do or (b) should play a
major role in promoting minority languages. This will be done by
consultation with supporting organisations in France, Spain, Norway, the
United Kingdom and Germany, and others will be encouraged to assist as
the project progresses.
  2.. Develop a questionnaire to form the basis of detailed discussions
with appropriate libraries and archives. This would aim to discover what
activities are being carried out as described in "Objectives" (above)
1(a)-(e).
  3.. Carry out interviews with selected libraries and archives to gain
in-depth understanding of what they are doing or why they are not doing
certain things.20
  4.. Preparation of a narrative report describing the current situation
in Europe of library and archives services to minority language groups,
highlighting areas of good practice and also areas of weakness, either
in terms of services offered or geographically.
  5.. Prepare a best practice guide to give help to those wishing to
being offering services or improve existing ones.
  6.. All reports and final materials would be available both in paper
form and on an appropriate website. It is hoped that the documents would
be issued free of charge.
Anticipated results

The reports mentioned in "Workplan" above in section 6 would be a major
result. It is anticipated that these would lead to an overall
improvement in both the awareness and understanding of the necessity of
libraries and archives playing a major role in the promotion and
safeguarding of minority languages throughout Europe.20

Further details can be obtained from

Graham P Cornish

Director, IFLA UAP Programme

C/o British Library

Boston Spa

Wetherby

West Yorkshire LS23 7BQ

United Kingdom

Tel +44 1937 546123; fax +44 1937 546478; email Graham.Cornish at bl.uk

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