[Okfn-ca] Fwd: [CivicAccess-discuss] Fwd: Save Library and Archives Canada - Update May 2013

Fri May 31 21:36:18 UTC 2013

Sauvons Bibliothèque et Archives Canada!

Diane

-------- Message original --------
Sujet: 	[CivicAccess-discuss] Fwd: Save Library and Archives Canada - 
Update May 2013
Date : 	Fri, 31 May 2013 11:40:19 -0400
De : 	Ted Strauss <ted.strauss at gmail.com>
Répondre à : 	civicaccess discuss <civicaccess-discuss at civicaccess.ca>
Pour : 	civicaccess discuss <civicaccess-discuss at civicaccess.ca>

*Le français suivra le plutôt possible*

**

*Save Library and Archives Canada ? Update May 2013*

*Librarian and Archivist of Canada Resigns*

**

On May 15, 2013 Daniel Caron, Chief Librarian and Archivist of Canada, 
resigned from his post. Caron?s leadership at LAC has been immensely 
unpopular. He oversaw the introduction of a ?modernization? process 
which led to the cessation of purchased acquisitions, a severe decline 
in on-site service, a 20% cut to staff, a punitive code of conduct for 
employees, and the elimination of both the National Archival Development 
Program and the Inter-Library Loans program at LAC.

On May 22^nd LAC employees were informed that Hervé Déry ? Assistant 
Deputy Minister and Corporate Secretary in Policy and Collaboration ? 
will be filling in as Interim Deputy Head of LAC. It is imperative that 
Monsieur Dery?s role is only interim and that the next Librarian and 
Archivist of Canada does not come from the ranks of current LAC 
management. LAC needs someone who is willing to reverse the damage that 
has been done at LAC over the past few years, as well as someone who 
will advocate for both LAC and libraries and archives across the country.

LAC has the opportunity to take up a new direction with a strong 
commitment to comprehensive collections and access for all Canadians 
both on-site and on-line.  However, the dismemberment of LAC must also 
be understood as part of a more systemic problem, that is the federal 
government?s disregard for scientific evidence, data and a comprehensive 
historical record that is also occurring, for example, through the 
decimation of archeological research at Parks Canada, and the 
elimination of key Statistics Canada surveys.

A coalition of professional associations representing librarians, 
archivists, and historians has written an open letter outlining the 
qualities they expect in the next Librarian and Archivist of Canada. 
Click here <http://cdncouncilarchives.ca/Joint_Statement_24May_EN.pdf>to 
read <http://cdncouncilarchives.ca/Joint_Statement_24May_EN.pdf>the letter.

Here also is a thoughtful op-ed 
<http://www.thestar.com/opinion/letters_to_the_editors/2013/05/27/destruction_of_our_archival_heritage.html>about 
the next leader of LAC.

CAUT`s statement on what it calls for in the next Librarian and 
Archivist of Canada can be found here 
<http://www.savelibraryarchives.ca/default.aspx>.__

*LAC ?not meant for public access?*

**

In a telling exchange on Twitter, Minister James Moore responded to 
questions about deteriorating funding and access at LAC by stating ?Is 
why (sic) we?re creating the History Museum: access. The LAC main 
building is not designed or meant for public access. History is.?

The subtext here couldn?t be clearer: While the government is actively 
thwarting access to resources that makes independent historical research 
possible, it is simultaneously eager to represent a version of Canada?s 
past that supports its own ideological vision in the present.

CAUT?s Executive Director wrote to Minister Moore requesting 
clarification about his statement.

*A violation of the charter: LAC?s Code of Conduct*

**

In March 2013, the LAC?s code of conduct restricting the activities of 
librarians and archivists was publicized 
<http://news.nationalpost.com/2013/03/15/library-and-archives-canada/>.

The NDP has since requested 
<http://pierrenantel.ndp.ca/post/npd-asks-information-commissionner-to-investigate-library-and-archives-canadas-code-of-conduct>that 
the Information Commissioner investigate the LAC Code of Conduct in the 
context of her investigation into the muzzling of government scientists 
and experts.

The Canadian Association of Professional Academic Librarians has issued 
a statement 
<http://capalibrarians.org/cacanadas-charter-of-rights-and-freedoms-vis-a-vis-library-archives-canadas-code-of-conduct/>condemning 
LAC?s new Code of Conduct and analyzing the ways in which the code 
contravenes the Charter of Rights and Freedoms.

*Specialist Archivists become generalists*

**

Although there has been no official announcement from LAC, it appears 
that all specialist archival portfolios at LAC have been eliminated. 
Specialist portfolios have been replaced by function-based portfolios 
such as arrangement, description, appraisal etc. Specialist archivists 
are vital to the accessibility of LAC collections to Canadians.

Research will be greatly impoverished without the specialist archivists 
to help guide researchers through the collections. In fact, some 
researchers have actually been told that certain fonds are not available 
to them because the archivist expert with knowledge of the particular 
collections-area is no longer in the position.

This is not simply an issue of access to specialized material for 
individual researchers; this is will affect all Canadians. Without 
access to the full range of our historical documentary materials, our 
ability to understand our history is seriously compromised.

*Canadian History on the Auction Block*

With the revelation that ?a huge cache of Canadian history? will be 
going to auction in the UK in June, LAC?s stalled acquisitions program 
is under public scrutiny. The key question is whether Library and 
Archives Canada will purchase these vital historical records or allow 
them to be acquired by a private collector.

Read more 
<http://www.canada.com/Huge+cache+Canadian+history+hits+auction+block+tests+Library+Archives/8436011/story.html#ixzz2UUyvpjvC>. 

*LAC: Lender of no resort*

In the wake of LAC?s elimination of the popular and effective 
Inter-library loans program at LAC, researchers are at a loss. While LAC 
officials have indicated that LAC will ultimately be developing a 
?Lender of Last Resort? policy, this policy will not be in place until 
September 2013.  In the meantime, researchers are being told they are 
simply out of luck.

*Royal Society of Canada Expert Panel*

**

The Royal Society of Canada is establishing an Expert Panel 
<http://rsc-src.ca/en/expert-panels/rsc-reports/status-and-future-canadas-libraries-and-archives>on 
?The Status and Future of Canada?s Libraries and Archives?.

For more information contact:

Rosa Barker (613-726-5166 <tel:%28613-726-5166>) barker at caut.ca 
<mailto:barker at caut.ca>

Rosa E. Barker

Professional Officer / Agente professionnelle

Canadian Association of University Teachers / Association canadienne des 
professeures et professeurs d'université

2705 promenade Queensview Drive

Ottawa ON, K2B 8K2

Tel / tél 613-726-5166 <tel:613-726-5166>

Fax/ télé 613-820-7244 <tel:613-820-7244>

barker at caut.ca <mailto:barker at caut.ca>

-- 
Ted Strauss
Co-founder of Trudat.co <http://Trudat.co>

I'm organizing Open Data Exchange <http://odx13.com> in Montreal, April 
6, 2013

------------------

--

Dre Diane Mercier
Ph.D. Sciences de l'information

Ambassadrice de l'Open Knowledge Foundation - Groupe local au Canada
http://ca.okfn.org
Twitter : @okfnca
Profil : http://okfn.org/members/dianemercier

Chargée de projet sur les données ouvertes de la Ville de Montréal
Blogue : http://dianemercier.com
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Google+ : diane.mercier at gmail.com
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« J'utilise une suite bureautique libre pour gérer les documents en 
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