Preservation Needs Survey (1992)
The National Diet Library conducted a "Library Preservation Needs Survey of National Libraries in Asia" as part of its activities as the PAC Regional Centre for Asia in August 1992. The survey was a joint project with the National Library of Australia (NLA), which is the PAC Centre for Asia and Oceania. A survey of the Southeast Asia and Pacific region is being conducted by the NLA.
The aim of the survey was to ascertain and evaluate preservation issues and needs in the Asia region, in the hopes that such information may prove useful in formulating policies for future activities at the IFLA PAC Asia Centre. More than 100 items were surveyed in a wide range of areas, chief among which were general information; national perspectives; national library's leadership rule; preservation policies; collections; preservation activities; exhibition programme; environment of storage area; national library building(s); storage location for collections; storage system for collections; storage system finishes; storage system material for collections; housekeeping; security; and the IFLA PAC Core Programme.
The NDL questionnaire was sent to 20 libraries in East and Southwest Asia that are responsible for collecting and preserving materials at the national level. Twelve libraries, including the NDL, responded. Here are some of the survey findings that were of particular interest.
* Most countries have a legal deposit system similar to that of Japan. The Regional Centre was also interested in whether or not a country has a national policy for preservation of library materials. Not many answered in the affirmative. The Republic of Korea, however, has a Library Promotion Law, which stipulates that the National Central Library has responsibility for collecting and preserving domestic and international materials.
* Only a few countries surveyed seem to have started a nationally coordinated cooperative preservation programme like the one at NDL.
* Although, from the standpoint of preservation and conservation, the national library's leadership in preservation matters is regarded as extremely important, few positive responses were received to the question on this subject. Six libraries including NDL responded that they were making efforts to raise national preservation awareness through publications, workshops and seminars.
* Whether or not the national library compiles a union catalogue of microfilms on a master negative was included among the questions on the national library's leadership role. The National Library of China compiles the union list and is coordinating a nationwide microfilming program. However, most responses were negative. Only three libraries have a microfilming program.
* Although most libraries responded that preservation conditions at their libraries were on the whole satisfactory, two or three are troubled with biological damage and brittle paper. As for measures to deal with acid paper, the National Library of India and the GPSH responded that they carried out deacidification treatment but did not go into details.
* Only two libraries answered "yes". Emergency preparedness is a very important part of a preservation program, there is a need to stimulate awareness about the importance of a written disaster plan.
* With regard to the PAC Core Programme, there were requests for the provision of up-to-date information on preservation; the need for manuals, guidelines, and standards; and educational materials for conservation treatment, repairing and bookbinding.
* With regard to the PAC Regional Centre, in addition to improving and expanding information services, there were requests for workshops / seminars, professional training programmes, and research and development.
* To the question about what topics would be appropriate for workshop / seminar held at the Regional Centre, some of the items cited were: an overall view of preservation; preservation management for national library administrators; conservation treatment, repairing and bookbinding; and environmental control for library materials.
* The above is a portion of what was contained in the needs survey. It has clearly provided important reference material for subsequent thinking about the activities of the PAC Regional Centre.