The documents below were distributed as a postal survey earlier this year.
In order to include those who were not on available mailing lists, it is now
being circulated through lis-link, archives-nra and microlink. If you have
answered it already, you do not need to reply again! Replies should be
returned electronically (please address to John Pluse
[log in to unmask]). As this is a 'sweeping-up' exercise, there is
some urgency. Please reply by 8 March.


Feasibility Study on National Occupational Standards
& Qualifications for
Microfilming & Digitisation for Preservation

Background Note to the Employer Consultation 15th
January 2002

The information services National Training Organisation (isNTO) is the
Government-recognised body with a strategic overview of skills provision and
development throughout library & information services of all kinds, archives
and records services. isNTO is the Standards Setting Body for this Sector:
it is responsible for National Occupational Standards (NOS) and vocational
qualification frameworks.

It has been drawn to isNTO's attention by concerned organisations that there
are neither NOS nor qualifications for individuals engaged in microfilming
for preservation. The NTO is resolved to address this and is now embarked
upon a study to test the feasibility of creating such NOS, and the potential
demand for a qualification. We have added digitisation to the project,
although we accept that microfilming and digitisation serve different
purposes in the context of our Sector.

If the feasibility is proven, we will produce NOS and appropriate
qualification structures - separately for microfilming and digitisation - as
a follow-on project.

This work is being advised by a Steering Group comprising:
Gerry Bye, Cambridge University
Gary Flatman, Public Record Office
John Fletcher, British Library
Carla Harrison, Cultural Heritage NTO
Alison Horsburgh, National Archive of Scotland
Rab Jackson, National Library of Scotland
Helen Lindsay, London Metropolitan Archive
Alison Walker, National Preservation Office.

An essential part of this feasibility study is, of course, consultation with
employing organisations. To this end, we are sending a short questionnaire
with this note, in order to collect your views and other relevant data.
This questionnaire has been compiled in consultation with the Steering
Group. We very much hope that you will make time to complete this: your
views are fundamentally important to the success and comprehensiveness of
this exercise.

We look forward to your response.


John M Pluse
Chief Executive
information services National Training Organisation


information services National Training Organisation

TESTING THE FEASIBILITY OF STANDARDS & QUALIFICATIONS FOR
MICROFILMING & DIGITISATION FOR PRESERVATION

QUESTIONNAIRE

Part One: Microfilming
* Do you use microfilming for preservation purposes?
* And/or for access?
* If so, how much material do you film per annum?
* If not: did you ever do so?
* Or, are you considering doing so in the near future?
* If you have used microfilming in the past, why did you stop?
* Do you have in-house microfilming facilities?
* If so, how many cameras?
* If so, in what formats (16mm/35mm)
* And how many staff do you employ for microfilming? (include staff
supporting camera operators)
* Do any of your staff carry out both microfilming and digitisation
operations?
* Do you recruit staff with microfilming experience, or train
in-house?
* Do you have in-house processing facilities?
* Do you have a densitometer?
* Do you have a microscope?
* Do you have a duplicator?
* What training do you give relevant staff for microfilming
operations?
* Do you include document handling training for microfilming
operators?
* Do you use outside providers? (if so, please state formats - and it
would be helpful if you could say who you use)
* Do you use/specify standards for this work?
* If so, which?
* If not, why not?
* Do you check material as it goes out/comes in?
* Do you check each microfilm - both user and master copies?
* Do you set different standards for your in-house operations/outside
providers? (If so, please state why)
* If National Occupational Standards were available for this work:
* would you use them as a basis for practice?
* would you use them as a basis for staff training?
* If a qualification were available for this work, would you prefer:
          - a National (or Scottish) Vocational Qualification?
* a certificate recognised by employers in our Sector?
* something else? (please specify)


Part Two: Digitisation
* Do you use digitisation for preservation/access purposes?
* If not, have you ever done so?
* If so, why did you stop?
* Do you have in-house facilities for:
* digitisation from originals?
* digitisation from surrogates, eg microfilm? (if so, please state
formats rollfilm, fiche, etc)
* If so, on what scale?
* And how many staff do you employ for this purpose?
* What training do you give them for this work?
* Do you include document handling training for scanners?
* Do you use outside providers for:
* digitisation from originals?
* Digitisation from surrogates (as above)?
          (if so, it would be helpful if you could say who you use)
* Do you use/specify standards for this work?
* If so, which?
* If not, why not?
* Do you check material as it goes out/comes in?
* Do you set different standards for your in-house operation/outside
provider? (If so, please state why)
* If National Occupational Standards were available for this work:
* would you use them as a basis for practice?
* would you use them as a basis for staff training?
* If a qualification were available for this work, would you prefer:
* a National (or Scottish) Vocational Qualification?
* a certificate recognised by employers in our Sector?
* something else? (please specify)





*********************************************************************
The information contained in this e-mail is confidential and may be
legally privileged. It is intended for the addressee(s) only. If you
are not the intended recipient, please delete this e-mail and notify
the [log in to unmask] : The contents of this e-mail must not be
disclosed or copied without the sender's consent.

The statements and opinions expressed in this message are those of
the author and do not necessarily reflect those of the British
Library. The British Library does not take any responsibility for
the views of the author.
*********************************************************************