1. LAMI Latin American Microform Index A Proposal for LAMP SALALM 2005 Gainesville, FL

2. Acquisition, collection, preservation of cultural heritage. LAMP experts provide oversight, selection, prioritization LAMP experts provide oversight, selection, prioritization Cooperative efforts Cooperative efforts Micro-formats ensure preservation Micro-formats ensure preservation Next step: ACCESS? 50 years of success

3. Can we improve access to Latin American Microform Collections? A wealth of information untapped. Users want fast access Users want fast access Format difficult to use Format difficult to use Indexes hard to find, unexpected places Indexes hard to find, unexpected places Rigorous description desired, but costly Rigorous description desired, but costly

4. User’s expect standardized tools Catalog, Databases, Journal finding tools. Microform collections not represented in standard tools. Some analytic cataloging Electronic union lists of microforms Finding aids on library and publisher websites.

5. The stars are aligned We have the tools New descriptive technologies (EAD, Marc, XML) New descriptive technologies (EAD, Marc, XML) New linking technologies (link resolvers, SFX) New linking technologies (link resolvers, SFX) Harvesting techniques (federated searching) Harvesting techniques (federated searching) Microform readers with digitization capabilities Microform readers with digitization capabilities

6. We have (can have) the expertise LAMP expertise, bibliographers, publishers LAMP expertise, bibliographers, publishers Researchers (LASA and universities) Researchers (LASA and universities) Catalogers, digitization experts, information technologists Catalogers, digitization experts, information technologists We can find the funds to explore

7. Shall we explore?

8. What can we do? Research Gather experts Gather experts Plan, raise funds, organizational structure, goals Plan, raise funds, organizational structure, goals Selection criteria, descriptive standards Selection criteria, descriptive standards Design an e-index, hardware and software Design an e-index, hardware and software Prototype LAMI e-index and harvester, with holdings, link resolving. e-index and harvester, with holdings, link resolving. Add a utility to manage microform + digitization projects, inter-library cooperation. Add a utility to manage microform + digitization projects, inter-library cooperation.