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Thanks to all delegates, see you next year in Kuala Lumpur!

2007 ICA ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING

RESOLUTIONS

The national archivists, the presidents of national professional associations and the elected and professional officers of the International Council on Archives (ICA), meeting in Quebec on the occasion of the 40th International Conference of the Round Table on Archives (CITRA)

1. Relations between archives, libraries and museums

In view of the necessity for documentary heritage institutions to work more closely together, and of the advantages which follow in terms of investment, cost-effectiveness and quality of services to users

Request ICA to encourage archival institutions and associations to cooperate with libraries and museums and to reinforce existing relations with for example IFLA and ICOM in common areas of activity while respecting the specificities of the disciplines and institutions concerned

2. The World Digital Library

Considering that the European Digital Library launched by the European Union includes archives

Considering the initiative of the Library of Congress (USA) aiming at universal access to multicultural documentary heritage

ICA invites the managers of the World Digital Library project

to consider archives as an integral part of the world documentary heritage;
to give priority to archival fonds inscribed in the Memory of the World Registers (UNESCO).

3. Archival holdings in libraries and museums

Underline the necessity of handling those fonds in accordance with archives management practices and standards.

4. Sale of private archives

Preoccupied by the increasing market value of documents of heritage importance and the growing interest of manuscripts and archives dealers for those types of records

Encourage owners of these documents to ensure their proper preservation and access including where necessary their transfer to archives institutions.

5. Competencies

Considering that co-operation among records and archives professionals, librarians and museum curators is essential in the XXIst century, we must understand the exact identity of each profession

Considering that a strong profession must have a clear set of core competencies

Encourage the professional associations and archival institutions of individual countries to develop their own competency models,

Encourage the working group recently formed by ICA/SPA, EURBICA and ARMA International to pursue efforts towards defining a set of core competencies for the archival profession.

6. Disaster preparedness for archival holdings

Gravely concerned by the risk of losing unique and irreplaceable records as result of natural or man made disasters

Considering that, in many countries, the existing legislation does not usually provide for comprehensive strategies for post-disaster recovery

Ask ICA to encourage member countries to create a legal and policy framework to protect these records within or outside their respective territories,

Encourage archives to develop and implement strategies and procedures to ensure the proper preservation of these records including surrogate means such as microforms, digitization, etc.

7. Measures to counter thefts

Whereas the increasing commercial value of archival records and the increasing risks of thefts which ensue, in archival institutions as well as by users in reading rooms

Request ICA

to create a working group on issues relating to security and to support projects developed in this area, in cooperation with all concerned professions, including IFLA and ICOM;
to work with libraries, museums, art galleries and other relevant institutions to create standards of good practice likely to prevent thefts of archives;

to cooperate with national and international organizations and projects likely to contribute to prevent thefts of archives;

to encourage governments and the judiciary and police services to consider the theft of archival records is as serious as that of art works.

8. Long term preservation of digital records

Considering that digital records are becoming commonplace both in the public and private sectors

Considering the need for long term preservation of these records

Urge the creators of such records and the industry to join with ICA to find solutions.

9. A Universal Declaration on Archives

Considering the relevance of the initiatives that led to the formulation and publicizing of the “Québec Declaration on Archives”

Propose that ICA mandates ICA/SPA to prepare a “Universal Declaration on Archives” that follows this model.

10. Thanks

Thank the speakers for the quality of their contributions, and the delegates who actively participated in debates and discussion groups,

Express their deep gratitude to the heads of Library and Archives Canada, and Bibliothèque et Archives nationales du Québec, and their staff for the excellent organization of the Conference and their welcome and hospitality.

Thanks to all delegates, see you next year in Kuala Lumpur!
	2007 ICA ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING RESOLUTIONS The national archivists, the presidents of national professional associations and the elected and professional officers of the International Council on Archives (ICA), meeting in Quebec on the occasion of the 40th International Conference of the Round Table on Archives (CITRA) 1. Relations between archives, libraries and museums In view of the necessity for documentary heritage institutions to work more closely together, and of the advantages which follow in terms of investment, cost-effectiveness and quality of services to users Request ICA to encourage archival institutions and associations to cooperate with libraries and museums and to reinforce existing relations with for example IFLA and ICOM in common areas of activity while respecting the specificities of the disciplines and institutions concerned 2. The World Digital Library Considering that the European Digital Library launched by the European Union includes archives Considering the initiative of the Library of Congress (USA) aiming at universal access to multicultural documentary heritage ICA invites the managers of the World Digital Library project to consider archives as an integral part of the world documentary heritage; to give priority to archival fonds inscribed in the Memory of the World Registers (UNESCO). 3. Archival holdings in libraries and museums Underline the necessity of handling those fonds in accordance with archives management practices and standards. 4. Sale of private archives Preoccupied by the increasing market value of documents of heritage importance and the growing interest of manuscripts and archives dealers for those types of records Encourage owners of these documents to ensure their proper preservation and access including where necessary their transfer to archives institutions. 5. Competencies Considering that co-operation among records and archives professionals, librarians and museum curators is essential in the XXIst century, we must understand the exact identity of each profession Considering that a strong profession must have a clear set of core competencies Encourage the professional associations and archival institutions of individual countries to develop their own competency models, Encourage the working group recently formed by ICA/SPA, EURBICA and ARMA International to pursue efforts towards defining a set of core competencies for the archival profession. 6. Disaster preparedness for archival holdings Gravely concerned by the risk of losing unique and irreplaceable records as result of natural or man made disasters Considering that, in many countries, the existing legislation does not usually provide for comprehensive strategies for post-disaster recovery Ask ICA to encourage member countries to create a legal and policy framework to protect these records within or outside their respective territories, Encourage archives to develop and implement strategies and procedures to ensure the proper preservation of these records including surrogate means such as microforms, digitization, etc. 7. Measures to counter thefts Whereas the increasing commercial value of archival records and the increasing risks of thefts which ensue, in archival institutions as well as by users in reading rooms Request ICA to create a working group on issues relating to security and to support projects developed in this area, in cooperation with all concerned professions, including IFLA and ICOM; to work with libraries, museums, art galleries and other relevant institutions to create standards of good practice likely to prevent thefts of archives; to cooperate with national and international organizations and projects likely to contribute to prevent thefts of archives; to encourage governments and the judiciary and police services to consider the theft of archival records is as serious as that of art works. 8. Long term preservation of digital records Considering that digital records are becoming commonplace both in the public and private sectors Considering the need for long term preservation of these records Urge the creators of such records and the industry to join with ICA to find solutions. 9. A Universal Declaration on Archives Considering the relevance of the initiatives that led to the formulation and publicizing of the “Québec Declaration on Archives” Propose that ICA mandates ICA/SPA to prepare a “Universal Declaration on Archives” that follows this model. 10. Thanks Thank the speakers for the quality of their contributions, and the delegates who actively participated in debates and discussion groups, Express their deep gratitude to the heads of Library and Archives Canada, and Bibliothèque et Archives nationales du Québec, and their staff for the excellent organization of the Conference and their welcome and hospitality.