A new paper:
The impact on libraries and archives in Iraq of war and looting in 2003
- a preliminary assessment of the damage and subsequent reconstruction
efforts
by
Ian M. Johnson
Professor and Associate Dean, Aberdeen Business School, The Robert
Gordon University, Garthdee Road, Aberdeen AB10 7QE, Great Britain
is now available as a Corrected proof amongst the Articles in Press to
be published shortly in International Information and Library Review at
http://www.sciencedirect.com/
Abstract
The early reports that appeared during and immediately after the 2003
war and subsequent civil disorder in Iraq provoked public and
professional concern about the impact on libraries and archives
services. However, many of the early reports were later proved to be
unreliable, and subsequent reports correcting that information have been
less well publicised. Moreover the mass media have focused on a few
well known institutions, and paid little attention to the post-war
reconstruction efforts. This paper aims to provide a more rounded and
reliable picture, based on a critical reading of a wide range of
official and unofficial media, and summarises the scattered information
in the public domain about the overall situation up to the end of 2004.
A brief note of the main reconstruction programmes is followed by an
outline of some of the contextual issues relating to the rehabilitation
of Iraq's library and information services. An extended review of what
has been reported about the impact on individual elements of the
professional panorama in Iraq covers not only the National Library and
Archives, but also the university libraries and significant special
libraries, as well as noting the limited information available about
college, school, and public libraries. The state of the main archival
collections is outlined, and an appendix lists the minor collections and
their reported condition. It concludes with an examination of the human
resource issues. Finally, the paper discusses the problems that have
arisen through the lack of quality information about events during the
conflict and continuing civil disorder in Iraq, and some issues relating
to current and future reconstruction efforts. The paper points to the
need not only to repair damaged buildings, replace looted equipment and
make good the deficiencies in collections, but also to mobilise and
modernise the indigenous professional workforce to implement the
reconstruction.
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