On the initiative of the Heritage Committee, the CASCA Board has passed the following motion.
a) That any institution holding such photographic plates take reasonable measures to ensure the long-term preservation and usefulness of these resources and their supporting documentation and
b) As opportunities arise, to arrange to preserve the information content in digital format to high standards.
The Board also recommends that any institution whose photographic plate resources are at risk of being damaged or destroyed should advise the CASCA Board and CODATA Canada at the earliest possible opportunity in order that a rescue plan may be implemented with the assistance of interested institutions and/or individuals.
In addition, CASCA President Jim Hesser is writing to Canadian observatories to ask that they put the forgoing on the photographic plate cabinets or storage facilities at their institution.
Peter Martin