AMIA CONFERENCE

This came to mind when I decided to make some comments on the AMIA Conference for the benefit of FIAT/IFTA members. We have among us people who really love the work of making film and television programmes and who love to make these programmes available to future generations through preservation. In this context I would like to mention Paul Spehr, who received the AMIA Silver Award for his work in the field of film and video preservation. Paul Spehr was also an active member of FIAT/IFTA and he participated at many of our conferences. Paul has now retired from the Library of Congress. Congratulations Paul, we miss you at the conferences.

AMIA had put together a very interesting programme this year. My priorities at the Conference were the lectures given in the field of digital video libraries and new information in digital archive work. I was impressed by the lecture by Howard Wactlar from Carnegie Mellon University about documentation issues and digital technology, and also Karen Weber, from Silicon Graphics, who asked the right questions about the problems in connection with digital archive work. (Silicon Graphics is now a member of FIAT/IFTA - Welcome.)

Finally I will mention the interesting lectures given the title: Cataloguing Under the Influence. A group of archivists gave interesting lectures about cataloguing systems and approaches and what influenced the decisions they make. A collection from an institution was evaluated and the re-use of the material for TV purposes was discussed. Because the Program Commission of AMIA has decided to let more than one lecture be given at the same time, you have to make a choice.

The programme was good. I think every delegate could find some issues of interest. AMIA is making progress in every field. Because the members are individual members you get in contact with people who are working with everyday problems. Besides, the members are open for communication and AMIA does not have a language problem (I was the only problem). I wish AMIA good luck. If you have had any doubt of joining AMIA, drop that doubt and join. I promise you a good time, especially at their conferences, because they have not forgotten the noble art of hospitality and how to treat foreigners.

Finally, I must add that I did find the work in one of their new committees very interesting, the Access Committee, and I have decided to be part of this group.

The AMIA Conference was hosted by CNN. A thank you to the local arrangement co-chair Kathy Christensen for a good job and thank you to Maxine Fleckner Ducey, former President of AMIA, for a well organised Conference.

Tedd.Johansen@nrk.no