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Appendix: Report of Trip to Senegal, April 20-30, 1997

Revised October 1997

Dr. Joseph Caruso
African Studies Librarian
Columbia University

Contents
Archives Nationales du Sénégal
Senegalese Newspapers
Bibliothèque Centrale de l'Université Cheikh Anta Diop
CODESRIA

1. Archives Nationales du Sénégal (National Archives of Senegal) -- Pilot Project
   
   The microfilm project is proceeding at the National Archives of Senegal.
   
   In early August 1996, CAMP shipped the necessary equipment to Dakar. Shipping costs and customs duties on the equipment were paid by CAMP.
   
   In November 1996, a second sample reel was delivered to CAMP for full testing. The results showed that some procedures in the Archives film lab were unsatisfactory. Through correspondence, the correct measurements on density and legibility, etc. were conveyed to the Archives Staff. By the time Dr. Caruso was able to travel to Dakar in the spring of 1997, the Archives had produced only about 31 reels for the project. As you recall, we are filming well over 1/2 of the collection entitled: Justice indigène, 1838-1954, sous série 6M.
   
   In late April 1997, lengthy discussions took place with the Director, Dr. Saliou Mbaye, and with Faly Faty and his staff in the film lab.
   
   M. Faty and his staff explained(in French) that much of the delay in the filming between early August 1996 (when they received the CAMP equipment) and mid-November 1996 (when they produced the second sample for full testing) was due to the fact that the film supplies that they had ordered from France took long to arrive. They were shipped by boat. However, they currently have the supplies they need and can move forward towards completion.
   
   At the Archives, the CAMP equipment (densitometer and light meter) was inspected. The lab technicians are using the densitometer and seem to be running the appropriate tests as needed. The light meter was broken, but a replacement was delivered to the Archives in late May 1997. In addition, a written translation (from English to French) of the manual for the densitometer was sent to the Archives film staff to ensure continued good practice.
   
   In the film lab, several sample reels were inspected. Currently, the lab is following the basic guidelines for microfilming. The staff was supplied with their own copy of the RLG archives microfilming manual, edited by Nancy E. Elkington (Mountain View, California: The Research Libraries Group, Inc., April 1994.)
   
   With regard to the sample reels reviewed, the documents were legible and in proper order. They also showed me some examples of difficult-to-film documents: very light or blurred printing, etc. Various strategies for enhancing legibility were discussed.
   
   Prior to the completion of the pilot project, a formal agreement letter will be drawn up to be signed by the Center for Research Libraries and the National Archives of Senegal to safeguard the mutual concerns over access rights.
   
   The film being produced will result in a master negative (& a positive) for the National Archives of Senegal and a positive copy for interlibrary loan use at the Center for Research Libraries.
   
   
2. Senegalese Newspapers
   
   The visit to Dakar included collecting current Senegalese weekly and monthly newspapers from newstands and bookstores.
   
   Current subscriptions for two titles have thus far been secured: SOFAA, a monthly newspaper in two versions: Wolof and Pulaar; and, XAL WI, a monthly left-alternative newspaper. Back issues for SOFAA (both Wolof and Pulaar versions) and XAL WI have been secured and will go to CAMP for filming.
   
   Sample issues of other titles were collected:
   
   Dailies:
   
   -- Le Matin - a new daily newspaper from Dakar that Northwestern has ordered and will probably supply for filming at a later date.
   
   
   Weeklies:
   
   -- Le Débat - produced by the left wing of the Parti Socialiste, the dominant party in government
   -- La Vérité
   -- République
   -- Canal Sud
   -- Feu Vert
   
   
   Bi-Monthlies:
   
   -- Waar-Wi (Kaolack)
   -- Le Courier du Sud (Ziguinchor Kolda et Tambacounda)
   -- Le Reveil de l'Entreprise
   -- En Vedette
   
   
   Monthlies:
   
   -- Le Signal/The Signal
   -- Forum des Jeunes
   -- Saint Louis J (Saint Louis)
   -- Carrefour Républicain
   
   
   Notes: The search continues for a reliable, single vendor to handle a selected number of these titles on subscription for CAMP. Many of the weeklies and bi-monthlies are, in fact, irregular. A few are regional newspapers only.....CAMP/Title VI Librarians will have to decide if they are worth trying to collect.
   
   
3. Bibliothèque Centrale de l'Université Cheikh Anta Diop -- Future Project on Dissertations
   
   A meeting was held with Dr. Heni Sène, the Director of the UCAD Library. We discussed the new proposal for an exchange of doctoral dissertations. He thinks it is a wonderful idea. However, he suggested that it could be combined with periodical subscriptions for his institution.
   
   More specifically, UCAD Medical School has enough deposit copies to supply an exchange of disserations, but most of the other faculties would have to arrange for photocopies. Rather than send US dollars to pay for the cost of photocopying, Dr. Sène wonders if the program could pay in the form of periodical subscriptions. For example, a number of important serials titles from the US used to be received at UCAD through a special program under the auspices of the AAAS (American Association for the Advancement of Science). That program has ceased. At the moment, the library at UCAD is looking for an alternative.
   
   The newly proposed Title VI Library Cooperation Project on African Dissertations could be helpful in this regard.
   
   
4. Conseil pour le développement de la recherche en sciences sociales en Afrique / Council for the Development of Social Science Research in Africa (CODESRIA)
   
   On a visit to CODESRIA, the documentalists at CODESRIA library expressed great enthusiasm for the developments on the Internet. They remain equallly interested in cooperation with Africana librarians in the US. The prospects for cooperation with CODESRIA on dissertations is a possibility. Their library contains many African dissertations from all over West Africa and elsewhere (see the CODESRIA Library section in the 1995 report).
   
   A few purchases were made in the Publications department. Robert Faye is currently in charge of publications sales. African Books Collective (Oxford, England) and Editions Karthala (Paris) remain the principal distributors for English and French language publications of CODESRIA outside of Africa.
   
   Current mailing address: B.P. 3304, Dakar, Sénégal
   E-mail: codesria@sonatel.senet.net
   Tel: (221) 825-98-22
   Fax: (221) 824-12-89
   Web site: http://www.codesria.org/
   
   Northwestern and Michigan State Universities are already involved in providing some basic Internet training to two of CODESRIA's documentalists, but much more should be done on this front.