HKLIS @HKBU Library facilitates free public access
The Hong Kong Baptist University Library through HKLIS has made several collections about Hong Kong easier to access. Dissertations, law library collections, a library science database featuring the writings of local librarians, and an index of digitization projects underway in Hong Kong libraries, are just a few of the gems offered on HKLIS.
Here tells you how to connect.
Strike a light: SPARC in Japan. Southeast Asia next?
Six hundred university libraries have got together to support SPARC Japan. Led by NII, it will encourage improved access to Japanese research and support better control over the scholarly communication process. SPARC Japan will also facilitate worldwide access to Japanese research by digitizing journals and developing intellectual property and licensing policies which benefit local authors. Herehas the story.
Useless information bamboozles managers
At one time it was easier to make overseas calls from India than it was to call Jaipur from Delhi. So ACCESS appreciates the finding of a recent survey of managers in the USA and UK who spend a quarter of their time searching for their company information but find it much easier to quickly locate information about their competitors. The survey found that managers spend two hours daily searching for information only to find 50 percent of it is useless. Sounds like company information providers, the IT folks and employees need a refresher course in information management. MoreHere.
Devout Catholic hires drug dealing children's librarian
Frances O'Brien, a believer and head librarian has been forced to employ her ex-best friend as a children's librarian. The shock horror news is that she's a drug dealer, which probably accounts for the severed bonds of friendship. Even worse, this potent cocktail of religion, drugs, kids and novels is conspiring to upset the biggest date in the library calendar - Book Week. What is going to happen? Here probably doesn't have the answer.
Farewell then, cataloguers…
The new word on the block is TOCRoSS. It does what was previously unachievable: the automated cataloguing of journal articles. And although this acronym resides on the other side of the globe, at its heart is a service that we all know and use: RSS. Table of content data is fed into library catalogues without the need for cataloguing, classification or data entry. TOCRoSS is revealed Here
…adios serial librarians
In the wilds of Michigan, something unthinkable has happened: a university has done away with its periodicals department. The university, GVSU, had grown at a pace which outstripped the facilities in the library. Hiring a new Dean to provide bold new leadership resulted in a new organizational structure, which didn't include a separate serials department. The GVSU Humanities Librarian tells us what happened next Here..
Live Search Books avoids the Google imbroglio
Joining the ebook bandwagon is Microsoft. But unlike Google's massive digitisation of in- and out-of copyright works, Bill and friends have stuck to out of copyright titles. And although the books aren't tagged with the name of library of origin, eagle-eyed Greg Notess reports that many have the originating library stamp. The long term vision is to integrate book records into the LSR core search. Greg tells us more Here.
World Digital Library gets an airing…
Inspired by the Librarian of Congress, James H. Billington, with funding from Google (who else?) the WDL welcomes partners to make available on the web, important cultural materials from around the world. If you want to become a WDL partner, contact the planning team. Here has more.
…while BL and DOE collaborate on a global science gateway
Their aim is to make science information of many nations accessible via a single internet portal. Science.world (its name) will search vast collections scattered across the globe bringing to our attention, smaller, little known but valuable science collections. The result should be that the sharing of knowledge on a global scale will speed up science. Details Here.
NLB and AFA preserve films from Singapore and Asia
Singapore's National Library Board (NLB) and the Asian Film Archive (AFA) also in Singapore, have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to set up a reference library collection of films made by Singaporean and Asian filmmakers. A tripartite collaborative agreement between NLB, AFA and the Singapore Film Commission (SFC) intends to preserve and promote Singapore's film heritage.
Under the NLB-AFA MOU, NLB will facilitate access to the public and film researchers with reference copies of the AFA Collection. AFA will undertake to collect, evaluate, document and catalogue films for research or viewing by library users. The collection will be housed at the library@esplanade and will consist of culturally important films from the region. NLB and AFA will host a series of film literacy seminars, film screenings and workshops on the film heritage of Singapore and Asia to encourage the community to access the collection.
Further to the MOU, a tripartite collaborative agreement between NLB, AFA and SFC will ensure that SFC's existing and future collection of short and feature films will be documented, catalogued, preserved and promoted. The National Archives of Singapore (NAS), one of AFA's earliest partners, will also provide the expertise in film and video preservation and climate controlled vaults to archive the original and master copies of the films and related materials.
Ms Ngian Lek Choh, Deputy Chief Executive of NLB and Director of the National Library said, "As Singapore aims to be an arts hub, media literacy of local and Asian cinema would no doubt play an important role in equipping our community with critical viewing skills. With the MOU in place, NLB will continue in its vision to bolster our audio-visual collection for our patrons while preserving local film heritage with our strategic partners. The collaboration will also ensure that unpublished local films as well as rare and significant Asian-centric films can now be archived, preserved and shared among the community where it was not available commercially before."
Films are part of Singapore's cultural history and identity
The Singapore filmmaking community and in particular the young filmmakers of today will benefit greatly from this initiative as it streamlines efforts to preserve and promote local films. [See our interview with Filmmaker Rajendra Gaur ~ ed.] It will also ensure that local film heritage, both published and unpublished films, which is an integral part of Singapore's cultural history and identity, will be protected and made available for present and future generations.
Chair of AFA, Assistant Professor Kenneth Paul Tan said, "We look forward to a wonderfully synergistic partnership with the Singapore Film Commission and the National Library Board. This partnership will bring great benefit to the film community and the public. The work of film makers will be properly preserved for years to come; and members of the public will be able to access these films in a reference library. We at the Asian Film Archive aim to be a living archive that not only preserves films but proactively makes them widely available as a lively part of our cultural landscape."
This partnership will bolster the role of the SFC in nurturing the development of high quality Singapore films for both local and international consumption. It recognises that there is an increasing awareness of Singapore-made productions and will help preserve Singapore's unique storytelling for the film fraternity and for Singaporeans.
Rajendra Gour, Singaporean Pioneer Writer, Director and Producer and Volunteer at the Asian Film Archive, has six films to his name as an Independent Film Producer including Sunshine Singapore (1966-72) and Labour of Love (1974-78). He spoke to ACCESS about having his films archived.
"My films have been saved from deteriorating and becoming extinct. It is the greatest satisfaction any creator can derive and hope for. I tried to preserve my films sometimes keeping them in sealed film cans, sometimes wrapping them in newspapers in a cool place. I also wind and rewound them to avoid stickiness. But 35 years is a long time. I had almost given up as the films were emitting a foul smell. But I had no heart to throw them away. Thanks are due to the Asian Film Archive for taking over the task of preserving them.
Labour of Love and My Child My Child were candidly filmed. My whole family (wife, two children and I) was the cast. It is a matter of great pride for us that future generations will be able to see how we lived and cared for each other. It will be an example and inspiration for them. For present and future
filmmakers these films will be a reference of lifestyles in the 60s and 70s and the kind of films produced by independent producers in Singapore.
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There are no censorship issues. My films were meant for telecast. They could be seen by all when they were made and now they can be viewed by all who are interested in my art."
Still from 'Mr. Tender Heart' was featured on cover page of Kine Weekly, London.
Picture of Mr. Tender Heart (Rajendra Gour) is in the centre.
Cinematic style captured and shared through the archives
Commenting on this collaboration Mr Man Shu Sum, Director of SFC said, "Our partnership with the National Library Board and the Asian Film Archive complements the Singapore Film Commission's objective to promote Singapore filmmakers and films. It is crucial for the development of our nascent film industry as young filmmakers can draw on the influence of our own culture and cinematic style captured and shared through the archives. The archival of SFC's extensive collection of local films will allow for these films to be shared and made available for education, research, inspiration and recognition."
The Asian Film Archive (AFA) is a global non-governmental organisation, founded to preserve the rich film heritage of Singapore and Asian Cinema, to encourage scholarly research on film, and to promote a wider critical appreciation of this art form. As an important nexus, it brings together the various segments of the Asian film community in order to open and enrich new intellectual, educational and creative spaces. The Archive is a registered charity based in Singapore and an Institution of Public Character through its membership with the National Heritage Fund-Central Fund.
The Singapore Film Commission (SFC) is an agency under the Media Development Authority (MDA) that facilitates and assists film development for Singapore. The SFC's key areas of focus are: Funding, Facilitation and Promotion. Its mission is to nurture, support, and promote Singapore talent in film making, the production of Singapore films, and a film industry in Singapore.
HKLIS @HKBU Library facilitates free public access
The Hong Kong Baptist University Library through HKLIS has made several collections about Hong Kong easier to access. Dissertations, law library collections, a library science database featuring the writings of local librarians, and an index of digitization projects underway in Hong Kong libraries, are just a few of the gems offered on HKLIS.
Films are part of Singapore's cultural history and identity
The Singapore filmmaking community and in particular the young filmmakers of today will benefit greatly from this initiative as it streamlines efforts to preserve and promote local films. [See our interview with Filmmaker Rajendra Gaur ~ ed.] It will also ensure that local film heritage, both published and unpublished films, which is an integral part of Singapore's cultural history and identity, will be protected and made available for present and future generations.
Chair of AFA, Assistant Professor Kenneth Paul Tan said, "We look forward to a wonderfully synergistic partnership with the Singapore Film Commission and the National Library Board. This partnership will bring great benefit to the film community and the public. The work of film makers will be properly preserved for years to come; and members of the public will be able to access these films in a reference library. We at the Asian Film Archive aim to be a living archive that not only preserves films but proactively makes them widely available as a lively part of our cultural landscape."
This partnership will bolster the role of the SFC in nurturing the development of high quality Singapore films for both local and international consumption. It recognises that there is an increasing awareness of Singapore-made productions and will help preserve Singapore's unique storytelling for the film fraternity and for Singaporeans.
