Workshop co-ordinator: Beth Stafford,
Women's Studies and Women in International Development Library, University of Illinois, Urbana, Illinois, USA

Following an introduction by Mary Dunn (moderator), the representatives of participating libraries/documentation centres described the history of their library/documentation centres, with a focus on how each library/documentation centre started with small collections and grew to become major sources of information on women in their respective countries.

Annette Mevis and Marjet Douze addressed the library and archives of the IIAV. The IIAV started in 1935 as archive. The complete collection was taken away by the Germans in WW II. After the war there was a merge with the Information department and since then a more active collection on archives took place. The policy is to collect only Dutch archives from individual women and women's organizations. The enormous growth in information about women has had implications for collection policy. Choices had to be made, with sometimes information gaps as a result. A major point for collection policy is the inclusion of migrant women's information in the collection.

Maureen Castens of the Forsyth Library, London, United Kingdom. This library was formed in 1926 as a women's service library to take record of the suffrage movement. it is now developing into a national library of record on women in the UK. It has archives of organizations and of individuals. Major point is of what sort of organizations records should be kept.

Wendy Thomas and Barbara Haber described the Schlesinger Library on the History of Women in America, Radcliffe College, USA. The Schlesinger Library started in 1943. Four factors have been important for the growth of the Library:

1. the importance in committed leadership
2. the institutional position, being affiliated to Radcliffe College
3. the ability to be open to change and to grow,
4. the impact of technology

Another point made is the necessity to maintain a popular collection on women in addition to the academic works. We should be aware of the various kinds of groups of women and to be as inclusive as possible

Leopoldina Rendon Pineda from CIDHAL, Mexico. CIDHAL is an NGO which was formed in 1969 in Mexico. It is the oldest women's information centre in Mexico. CIDHAL provides assistance to documentation centres. A regional network project has started with financial support. Now they have the first database in Mexico which is accessible through internet. A major point made is the under-valuation of documentation activities.

After these presentations there was an introduction round of the other participants. These were all representing libraries and documentation centres in the USA, Tanzania, Botswana, Kurdistan, Israel, Mexico, Spain, Luxembourg, Italy, India, and United Kingdom.

Discussion In the discussion the following points were raised: Connections and networking are important channels for getting hold of unpublished material, so-called 'grey literature'. Another issue discussed is who are the users, because they influence what you collect. Users in turn can donate papers, which influences the collection. An exchange of material is important.
The lack of statistical data on women can be addressed by pressuring governments to collect data on women's issues.
Networking with other documentation centres within a nation can lead to collections that are complementary to each other. Such co-operation requires a certain culture in that nation that supports such an effort.
If governments are obliged to establish national libraries one issue to be considered is how to reconstruct the history of the women's movement, in addition to tracing the newest material. Saving women's traditional knowledge is another issue.
At the end of the discussion the following draft resolution was suggested:
Nations should make positive efforts and provide the necessary support to document the history of women in their nations. NGOs and feminist organizations should make an effort to complement these efforts. Women of all nations should work together to share information and support each others work to document the nations' women.