Permanent accessibility of Blackwell's electronic publications assured
by national library's e-Depot.
 
At the congress of the International Publishers Association (IPA) in
Berlin on June 22nd, Robert Campbell, President of Blackwell Publishing
Ltd, and Wim van Drimmelen, Director General of the Koninklijke
Bibliotheek (KB), the National Library of the Netherlands, sign an
agreement on long-term digital archiving of the electronic publications
of Blackwell Publishing.  Under the terms of this agreement the
Koninklijke Bibliotheek will receive digital copies of all publications
made available on Blackwell Publishing's online platform
(http://www.blackwell-synergy.com/) which currently contains about
380,000 articles in 740 academic and medical journals.
 
"Blackwell is committed to providing exceptional publishing services to
all its customers and that includes perpetual digital archiving," says
Bob Campbell.  "With this agreement Blackwell is able to provide a solid
and secure long-time archiving solution for electronic publications."
 
In 1994, the KB decided to include electronic publications into its
depository collection. Since then, research and development on long-term
digital archiving has been top priority in the National Library of the
Netherlands. In close collaboration with IBM the KB developed the
electronic deposit system, which was implemented in December 2002. The
Koninklijke Bibliotheek was the first national library in the world to
own an operational system for the deposit and long-term preservation of
digital publications.
 
"For everybody involved in research and the communication of research
results - authors, researchers, librarians and publishers alike - the
agreement between the KB and society publisher, Blackwell Publishing, is
yet another step forward in keeping digital archives available in
perpetuity," commented Wim van Drimmelen.  The KB already signed similar
agreements with other major STM publishers and tries to enter into a
contract with all major scientific publishers.
 
The KB will provide on site access to the journals on a current basis to
all who come to the library and are permitted access to the library's
collections. The agreement covers new publications as well as digitized
backfiles. In addition, should there be a catastrophic disaster such
that Blackwell's online platform is inoperable for a long period of
time, the KB would be part of the interim service system.
 
**About Blackwell Publishing Ltd**
 
Blackwell Publishing is the world's leading society publisher.  The
company remains independent with over 923 staff members in offices in
the US, UK, Australia, Japan, Denmark, and Germany.  Blackwell publishes
over 700 journals in partnership with more than 550 academic and
professional societies.  This year alone, Blackwell will publish over
600 text and reference books across a wide range of academic and
professional subjects.  
Blackwell's mission as an expert publisher is to create long-term
partnerships with our clients that enhance learning, disseminate
research, and improve the quality of professional practice.  For more
information on Blackwell Publishing, please visit
http://www.blackwellpublishing.com/ or
http://www.blackwell-synergy.com/.
 
**About the Koninklijke Bibliotheek**
 
The Koninklijke Bibliotheek (KB) (http://www.kb.nl <http://www.kb.nl/> )
is the National Library of the Netherlands. The Library was founded in
1798. The KB is an autonomous administrative body financed by the Dutch
Ministry of Education, Culture and Science. The KB's mission statement
is to provide universal access to the knowledge and culture of the past
and present by providing high-quality services for research, study and
cultural enrichment.
 
Major tasks are:
 
Preservation, management, documentation and accessibility of the
national cultural heritage in written, printed and electronic form.
Deposit library for Dutch publications and National Bibliography.
Research library aimed at Dutch history, language and culture in a wide
international context. Rare and special collections like medieval
manuscripts and early printed books. Exhibitions and publications.
Knowledge center for digitization, preservation and restoration. Support
for co-operation between libraries, musea and archives. Co-ordinator of
national preservation and digitization programs Metamorphose and Memory
of the Netherlands.
 
###
 
Blackwell Publishing Media Contacts:
 
Dawn Peters
781-388-8334
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Emily Gillingham
+44 1865 476425
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For further technical information please contact:
 
Blackwell Publishing Ltd   
Pippa Scoones
Web Publishing Director
9600 Garsington Road
Oxford OX4 2DQ
Tel: +44 1865 776868
Fax: +44 1865 714591
Email: [log in to unmask]
 
 
**Link to this press release:
http://www.blackwellpublishing.com/press/pressitem.asp?ref=83&site=1