News Round-Up    

 
 
SEAPAVAA and IASA... from p. 1

      The Joint Conference proposed to adopt the resolutions as follows:

  • that it recognizes the urgent need to develop the Coordinating Council of Audiovisual Archival Associations or CCAAA as an effective coordinating body for the strategic development of the global audiovisual archiving sector;
  • that it supports the principle of adequate and equitable development of audiovisual archiving skills and infrastructure in all countries of the world; and
  • that it recognizes that the emerging profession of audiovisual archiving now requires the recognition and availability of formal professional training at both the undergraduate and postgraduate studies.
      At the end of the conference, both IASA and SEAPAVAA felt that the resolutions were appropriate and will incorporate the views and issues raised during the conference. The theme of the joint session was “A Future for the Past: AV Archiving in the Third Millennium”. As audiovisual archivists enter their second century, this theme embraces the idea that archivists must always project their thoughts in two directions -- backwards and forwards -- in order to ensure that the work of the past will remain intact for future generations.
      The five-day conference, hosted by the National Archives of Singapore, was the first international and regional gathering of audiovisual archivists in that country. It served as a forum for issues, concerns, and major developments in the audiovisual archive sector not only in the Asia-Pacific region, but also in the international arena.
      Lee Yock Suan, Minister of Information and the Arts and Minister for the Environment, was the guest of honor at the opening ceremony. He stated that the presence of some 180 participants representing 40 countries worldwide was an indication of the keen global interest in the systematic and purposeful application of modern methods and technology to preserve audiovisual records for posterity. Crispin Jewitt, in his opening remarks, expressed the need for international meetings where people from different backgrounds could discuss and share common concerns and professional interests. On the same note, Ray Edmondson said that SEAPAVAA has gained a level of global visibility since its establishment.
      The conference was attended by delegates representing audiovisual archives in Australia, Austria, Brunei Darussalam, Cambodia, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Hong Kong, Hungary, India, Indonesia, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Laos, Malaysia, Mozambique, Myanmar, the Netherlands, New Zealand, the Philippines, Sweden, Switzerland, Taiwan, Thailand, the United Kingdom, the United States, Vanuatu, Vietnam, and Zimbabwe. The conference consisted of the symposium, the general assembly meetings, film posters exhibit, institutional and museum visits, a trade show exhibit, and the launching of the SEAPAVAA-sponsored book: Film in Southeast Asia: Views from the Region.
      During the conference, a multitude of issues on preservation, copyright, application of new technologies, storage and retrieval of the audio materials, professional development of the AV archivists, and importance of regional and international cooperation were discussed and deliberated. 		Thailand to host... from p. 1

“Ethics, Values and Standards: Building Blocks of AV Archiving”.
      The conference consists of the general assembly, symposium, and visits to AV archiving institutions. During the three-day symposium, topics on issues crucial to the very foundation of the AV archiving profession will be discussed such as:

  • Ethics of Film, Video, and Audio Restoration
  • Content vs. Carrier: What are We Preserving?
  • FIAF Code of Ethics
  • Philosophy of AV Archiving: What it is and why it matters
  • Values and Ethics in Practice: Conflict of Interest, Fuzzy Logic, Temptations and Minefields
  • Keeping Archives Honest: The Role of Professional Societies and Federations
      FIAF vice-president Roger Smith, who was largely responsible for the FIAF code of ethics, will deliver the keynote address at the opening sessions. IASA president Crispin Jewitt, one of the symposium speakers, will talk about “Values and Ethics in Practice”, particularly on Ethical Quandaries: Do hard cases make bad laws?
      Other notable authorities from archive federations and organizations like the FIAF (International Federation of Film Archives) and IASA (International Association of Sound and Audiovisual Archives), as well as curators/keepers from archiving institutions have been invited as speakers. It is hoped that this conference will further heighten the level of awareness on the ethics, values, and philosophy of the profession by analyzing and focusing on the issues that form the basic foundation of AV archiving.
Internet course... from p. 1
Sturt University has a substantial Library and Information Management School, a good menu of other compatible courses, and a well developed capability in distance education. We are looking forward to the growth possibilities inherent in the new partnership” . The academic coordinator for the program, Professor Ross Harvey, is also the head of the school.
      Charles Sturt University is a multi-campus institution spread across rural New South Wales. It has a strong presence in South East Asia, including a permanent branch in Hong Kong.
      Ross, incidentally, is no stranger to SEAPAVAA. He is an individual member and was a keen participant in the IASA/SEAPAVAA conference in Singapore last year.

 
AV Archives Bulletin     11