Editor's Letter

1998 is the year when FIAT/IFTA stepped up a gear. So much has been done this year, so much started last year has been consolidated: we have had a seminar in London, a regional seminar in Latin America, we have been involved in a seminar on radio, we are sponsoring the International Newsfilm Conference in September, the Award is into its second year of expansion (handing out two prizes), the Selections for Preservation document has been printed in English and Spanish, the Misuse Guidelines are ready for printing in English and Spanish, we have had two surveys (I hope you have all answered them?), and more.

It is no coincidence that so much has been done. The nature of FIAT/IFTA means that work must be done through personal initiative and nothing but the glory of a job well done as payment. The expansion of FIAT/IFTA is the key to the increase in work done. The larger FIAT/IFTA becomes, the more people with ideas, persistence and time we get. (Time is probably not true though; hardly anyone in our line of business has any spare time. It is more a case of taking time, using evenings, neglecting the family, forgetting to feed the hamster.)

Companies, organisations and individuals join our organisation in order to gain from it: technological knowledge, documentation expertise, make contacts etc. All of this would not be possible if it was not for those who volunteer their time to working for us. We rely on personal initiative, without it this organisation would die. Despite the evident success of this year, it counts for nothing towards next year's events. Maybe those who put in an effort this year will do so next year, but if not, who will? Well, it is up to you. You know what you want from FIAT/IFTA, you know what is needed. If you do not do anything about it, who will? It may seem like we are asking a lot, but the reward of accomplishing something that is to the benefit of audiovisual archives all over the world can easily become addictive.

The annual conference is soon upon us and rarely are so many ideas discussed as during that week. A different environment, meeting new and old friends, listening to experts lecturing - it all combines to make us think. Many of these thoughts will be discussed during coffee breaks, over a drink or dinner (or both) and evoke an enthusiastic response - and then we come home to real life and all of a sudden it is difficult to find the energy to do something about the ideas that earlier seemed so good. Do not let that happen; make sure to do something about your ideas, make sure to sign up for something while you are still excited about it. Get involved! Remember, 153 FIAT/IFTA members rely on you.

Gösta Johansson
Editor and Administrative
Secretary