Preserving American Print Resources

Abstract

PurposeAims to provide a background to the Center for Research Libraries (CRL)'s Preserving America's Print Resources (PAPR) initiative.Design/methodology/approachDescribes the CRL conference and planning event, entitled “Preserving America's print resources: toward a national strategic effort”, held in Chicago, July 2003 and highlights some of the programs on which the CRL are working.FindingsAffirms the CRL's role of “convening” and facilitating strategic action by the major North American research libraries and libraries of last resort to enable the community to move deliberatively and safely away from excessive redundancy in its print holdings. The goal is to enable North American libraries to act in concert, to make the best use of scarce resources, and to provide for scholars of the future the most rich and diverse pool of knowledge possible.Originality/valuePromoting the worthy goal of enabling North American libraries to act in concert, to make the best use of scarce resources, and to provide for scholars of the future the most rich and diverse pool of knowledge possible is central to the Center's mission. The PAPR conference reaffirmed the importance of this role for the years ahead.