The IFLA UAP and UBC Programmes: A Lasting Impact on Information Services in the Global Society

Abstract

The paper describes the development and impact of two of IFLA's core programmes, Universal Bibliographic Control (UBC) and Universal Availability of Publications (UAP). Initiated in the 1970s, both programmes were brought to a close in 2003. UBC was built on the principle that each country was responsible for the identification and description of publications in its own territory, following an international standard for bibliographic description. The programme also played a key role in the development of a universal machine-readable format for the exchange of bibliographic information. UAP articulated the ideal that a publication should be available to anyone, at any time and in any place. To this end it initiated a series of practical activities to enhance access to publications, including the International Interlending Voucher Scheme. The paper considers the administrative and financial structures of the programmes, identifying their strengths and weaknesses. It concludes that both programmes have left a legacy of standards, programmes and publications that will stand the test of time.

The IFLA–UNESCO partnership 1947–2012

“…Both the UBCIM and UAP core programmes were terminated by IFLA in 2003, not only due to financial constraints but in the light of new priorities and the need for new models. Both had a major impact which endures to the present (Parent 2004). IFLA's remaining core programmes became core activities.…”

“…The need for compatible machine-readable bibliographic records gave rise to the development of the universal MARC format (UNIMARC), a MARC version designed for international exchange, under the aegis of IFLA's International MARC Programme. In 1987 the UBC Programme and the International MARC programme were merged to form the Universal Bibliographic Control and International MARC (UBCIM) programme, when its office was moved to the Deutsche Bibliothek in Frankfurt am Main (Parent 2004). UNIMARC was widely used as the basis for national bibliographic record formats.…”

“…The UBCIM programme was replaced by a new group formed by a partnership between IFLA and the Conference of Directors of National Libraries (CDNL) to form the IFLA CDNL Alliance for Bibliographic Standards (ICABS), subsequently renamed IFLA-CDNL Alliance for Digital Strategies (ICADS). The National Library of Portugal took over the UBCIM's UNIMARC activities (Parent 2004). ICADS was terminated in 2012.…”