I've been discussing this very issue in another forum earlier this
afternoon. The following is very much a personal view, not informed
by inside knowledge of the reason behind the closure.
Rather than issue a statement, the ARA could more usefully mobilise the
sector to find a way to fund the PAC. It seems that the PAC is widely
valued and I know that it and its predecessor did much that I am sure
has saved the sector money overall. I'm fairly sure that the PAC itself
is not expensive and if the cost were to be distributed that it should
not be difficult to support it. Yet this doesn't happen.
I can understand that the BL is unable to sustain the PAC alone with
pressures on its own budget. Other organisations have contributed
some funds to the PAC at different times, often in support of particular
programmes. The statement on the 'about' page (http://www.bl.uk/blpac/about.html)
makes clear that Caroline Peach was exploring alternatives last summer
before her departure. I don't know what the outcome of this was but
it seems unfortunate that the strength of feeling that is clearly
out there could not be translated into funding. My guess is that it might
only be a few hundreds of pounds per institution to keep BLPAC alive.
Whether it is now too late to do so I'm not sure.
On 13/01/14 16:35, GARY HAINES wrote:
> The Preservation Advisory Centre is an incredible and invaluable resource. I
> hope this is not true but if it is will the Archives and Records Association be
> issuing a statement?
> best wishes
> Gary Haines
>
>
> On 13 January 2014 16:24, Charlotte Berry <[log in to unmask]
> <mailto:[log in to unmask]>> wrote:
>
> Dear NRA-ers,
> This has just been circulated on the rare books' list and might be of
> interest. It is the first that I have heard of this.
> Charlotte Berry
> Alfred Gillett Trust
>
> ----- Forwarded Message -----
> *From:* Katie Birkwood <[log in to unmask]
> <mailto:[log in to unmask]>>
> *To:* [log in to unmask] <mailto:[log in to unmask]>
> *Sent:* Monday, 13 January 2014, 15:56
> *Subject:* Closure of the Preservation Advisory Centre at the British Library
>
>
> Dear all,
> This has only just come to my attention. I don’t think I’ve seen anything
> about it on the list, so I’m sharing the news.
> Quoted from the PAC website, http://www.bl.uk/blpac:
> “We are sorry to announce that the Preservation Advisory Centre will be
> closing at the end of March 2014. We are currently in discussion with other
> stakeholders in the heritage sector, with a view to sustaining services in
> some form.”
> I’m sure that many will agree with me that the PAC has been an invaluable
> resource, and its loss will be a very great shame. I’m not sure what can be
> done to aid “sustaining services in some form” in the future.
> Best wishes,
> Katie
> *Katie Birkwood | Rare Books and Special Collections Librarian*
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