ACMLA Publications Committee
2002- 2003 Annual Report
The highlight of 2002 -2003 is, of course, the publication of the Catalogue of Canadian Fire Insurance Plans 1875 - 1975 (Occasional Paper #6) by Lorraine Dubreuil and Cheryl A. Woods.
Both authors deserve sincere congratulations and thanks for this massive publication (516 pages) which identifies and presents enhanced descriptions of fire insurance plans published in Canada from 1875 to 1975, held in 122 Canadian collections.
At a special open meeting at the 2002 ACMLA conference in Toronto, the report entitled Review of Monographic Publications Program with Recommendations for the Future was discussed and the members present supported the directions noted in the five recommendations in the report and approved further work in these directions. Briefly, the five recommendations dealt with :
a) electronic publications and the ACMLA web site;
b) pro-active and longer term planning for future publications;
c) investigation of possible partnerships, grants and sponsors;
d) the development of a bilingualism policy; and
e) reduction of inventory levels.
In the past year, the Board of Directors created a web site committee, of which the Chair, Publications Committee is a member; this new committee, in effect, is dealing in part with the first recommendation. Preliminary work has been undertaken on the second and third recommendations in that policies of other similar associations and societies have been reviewed and searches undertaken for sources of grant monies, etc. for Canadian projects. A proposed bilingual policy has been drafted and will be submitted to the Board in the fall, following consultation with a number of interested persons involved in the broad range of the Association’s publications. The fifth recommendation, which is administrative in nature, is partially implemented.
In retrospect, much more could have been accomplished in the past year. Additional members are required for this committee; if you are interested, please contact bkiddca@yahoo.ca or telephone (613) 445-2950. As well, more communication is required between this committee and other ACMLA committees and individuals with responsibilities for publications - that is, the Bulletin, the facsimile program, the web site, the Publications Officer, etc. A minimum of one meeting or conference call each year would facilitate publications work and policies within the ACMLA.