1. Retrospective cataloguing, or, The ‘forgotten’ projects
The need for a national strategy

2. Retro challenges Perceptions Reluctance and disinterest
Missed opportunities
How much work had been done and why had it stopped?

3. The past. 1 Early 1990s, unknown mass 1994-1995 FIGIT study
BLRIC study
1997 Making the most of our libraries
548 libraries responded
50 million records awaiting retroconversion
calls for a national programme
5 year target
Nominates the LIC

4. The past. 2 1998 BL convenes a Pathfinding Group and funds a study.
1999 Full Disclosure
Supports national programme
10 years to complete 80% of the work
Nominates the new MLA
RSLP
£30 million for projects including retro
48 HEIs, 68% of these used the funds for retro work
? MLA
Britain in Print
Pre 1700s British printed books

5. The past. 3 2004 CURL survey following end of RSLP
Participants used RSLP funds
14 million items
“prepare the ground for future funding bids”
Copac Challenge Fund
Free or low cost access to CURL database
2007 RIN study
95 libraries responded (23% from HE)
200 researchers responded
50% of research collections still ‘hidden’
Repeats call for a national strategy

6. The present. 1 New Year’s resolution
Merged discussion list
Proposed a new survey
Joining forces with RLUK
Survey launch July with help from MIMAS

7. The present. 2 75 libraries responded (39% from HE)
15% not visible online at all
10.6 million items outstanding – 14%
1.2 million items requiring record enhancement
Most items from 16th to 20th century
Much of the backlog can be termed special collections
Non-book formats less likely to be catalogued at all

8. The present. 3
55% have ongoing projects – of these 7 libraries plan to end in 2020
16% plan to start in the next 2 years
12% have no immediate plans
10% have completed projects
7% have halted because of lack of funds
46% of these have no immediate plans to resume work

9. The future. 1 Now what? MLA? Desired outcomes of respondents
Funding, awareness, visibility, collaborative working, national strategy
Other comments
Funding, security, practical help, digitisation, value of historical colls., visibility, etc.

10. The future. 2 Online National Register
90% survey respondents in favour
Full Disclosure prioritisation matrix
RIN good practice guide

11. Dunia García-Ontiveros Head of Retrospective Cataloguing The London Library