Jean-Marie Arnoult, from the Bibliothèque National de France, was denied a visa to visit Baghdad in early May. Initially, he was chosen to be included in the UNESCO (United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization) team set out to inspect Iraqi libraries and archives. U.S. occupying forces denied him a visa because he is French and France had opposed the war on Iraq. The team went on with the inspection of libraries and archives, but without the expert they had enlisted to help them.
The CAB Newsletter, which is issued from the Istituto centrale per la patologia del libro, has resumed publication after a one-year hiatus. It was a difficult year, which included a change in directorship of the institute. The new director is Armida Batori.
The National Library and National Archives of Canada officially merged in October 2002, Minister of Canadian Heritage Sheila Copps announced, forming a new agency called the Library and Archives of Canada.
ICOM has secured funds from the US Department of State (Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs) to draft an emergency Red List of Iraqi Antiquities at Risk. This Red List will present the most representative categories of cultural property from Iraq. It will be a tool for customs officials, police officers, art dealers, and collectors to help them to recognize objects that could originate from Iraq, and will alert and raise awareness of professionals and the general public on the illicit traffic of Iraqi cultural property.
UT-Austin Graduate School of Library and Information Science has changed its name to the School of Information, to reflect the broadening of the profession in the 21st century and the diversity of faculty interests and research. The change does not affect degree offerings or the organizational structure of the School.
The School of Image Arts at Ryerson University, Toronto and The George Eastman House International Museum of Photography and Film, Rochester are pleased to announce a new graduate program in Photographic Preservation and Collections Management. This unique 2-year program will result in a Master of Arts degree. To find out more about the program go to <http://www.imagearts.ryerson.ca/photopreservation> or contact Robert Burley 416-979-5000 x6860, email <rburley@ryerson.ca>.
The Malta Centre for Restoration is launching a Master of Science in Conservation Science in October. This 2-year course aims to provide, primarily to graduates from the natural sciences, the backbone of Conservation Science within the broad field of chemistry, biology, physics and geology applied to conservation. This degree is considered to be the stepping stone for natural scientists interested in pursuing a Ph.D. in any of the multiple areas of expertise in Conservation Science. For further details consult <http://www.mcr.edu.mt> or email the course coordinator Dr. Christian Degrigny, cdegrigny@mcr.edu.mt.
Last November it was announced that the Dutch Ministry of Education and Culture would stop financing the education of conservator/restorers by ICN. As a result, ICN's staff will be reduced by 17 percent, and their four-year program in conservation, started in 1978, is going to be outplaced within an institution for higher education. The possibilities for outplacement are currently being investigated and a final decision is expected in the Fall of 2003. Students of the program are employed by national libraries, archives and museums in the Netherlands and abroad.
The National Library of the Netherlands, OCLC and OCLC PICA (the European library cooperative) announced in September 2002 the establishment of a center to digitize and preserve vulnerable and unique European library collections. The Strata Preservation Center's focus is on microfilming and digitizing historically valuable collections throughout Europe.
Due to a greater anticipated demand, Preservation: Issues and Planning by Paul Banks and Roberta Pilette has been re-issued. According to Catherine English, Marketing Manager for ALA Editions, "You'll be pleased to know that we have opted to reprint this title, and are also bringing down the retail cost to make it more affordable for students." The cost, originally $80, is now only $55. This title and others at the ALA Online Store can be ordered at <www.alastore.ala.org>.
GREENGUARD Environmental Institute, a nonprofit organization that has the only international testing program for low-emitting products used in building furnishings and construction, recently introduced their redesigned website at <www.greenguard.org>. Visitors can now access valuable information on low emitting products, emission standards and indoor air quality more easily.
DEMCO, Inc., a leading domestic and international direct marketer of library supplies and furniture, announced on May 15 that it has acquired the assets of Gaylord Direct, a division of Gaylord Bros., Inc. DEMCO, headquartered in Madison, Wisc., will continue to market both brands with separate catalogs, sales initiatives, and aggressive marketing support.
EBSCO Industries, the Birmingham, Alabama-based journal subscription agency, confirmed June 4 that it had finalized its acquisition of the U.S., European, Australian, and Canadian operations of the bankrupt RoweCom company.NARA's 2003