Front and centre on its website is the statement that “Library and Archives Canada (LAC) is a key resource for all Canadians who wish to gain a better understanding of who they are, individually and collectively. LAC acquires, processes, preserves and provides access to our documentary heritage and serves as the continuing memory of the Government of Canada and its institutions.”
So how would you react if you heard that LAC was considering stopping all public circulation of archival materials for 2-3 years? Incredulous?
I’m hearing that, with the exception of emergencies and ATIP formal requests, this closure is under consideration.
Over many years, through moves, ice storms and floods (remember water flowing into the lower levels at 395 Wellington) LAC maintained service with the briefest of interruption. Now there are already extraordinary delays in fulfilling ATIP orders, well beyond legislated deadlines. Delays are even longer for regular requests.
If true, and you won’t yet find any hint of the development from official LAC sources, who would such cuts impact? Historians of all types, researchers and writers — professionals, academics, and students as well as individuals looking to explore their ancestry. People who make their living based on LAC resources would be cut off from their livelihood for lack of authoritative sources for books, magazines, journal articles, and media of all types as well as access to historical materials that need to be consulted for developments. Cuts would be contrary to LAC’s declared intention in its Indigenous Heritage Action Plan to improve access to Indigenous-specific records.
It’s hard to believe that such action is even being contemplated, but my sources are credible enough to warrant raising concern. If this is being considered LAC, as a key resource for all Canadians, must consult so that the full impact of such unprecedented action to deny providing access to our documentary heritage is understood by all, LAC and its clients, allowing time for appropriate response.
Stay tuned.
Update
Despite a recent comment, I can confirm through another source that the restriction is, or maybe was at this stage, being considered. I make no apology for alerting the community to this news as in government, once a decision is made it’s very difficult to reverse. Even contemplating such an action, which is bound to leak, with consequences on those for whose livelihood depends on the use of LAC resources, causes stress. Let’s hope the notion is buried as deeply as nuclear waste in the Canadian shield.
It is wrong to spread unsubstantiated rumours and undermines the integrity of this newsletter.
How sad
More bureaucratic bungling from LAC. It is mind boggling to think that any high priced CEO of a government department required to provide a service would think that closing your doors for 2 years because you can’t deliver the service is an option. We need a CEO who can think creatively. In contrast to this nonsense, FamilySearch International just announced the completion of a massive project to digitize its entire collection of more than 2.4 million rolls of microfilm, containing more than 11.5 billion individuals, and it is now freely available to the public on FamilySearch.org. And they did it 30 years ahead of schedule. Get with the program LAC and think outside the box.
Not just current Canadians use the LAC services, but also descendants of Canadians now living elsewhere, such as myself!!
I am tracing back my ancestors to original Souliere-Carigan soldiers for a start… KMC
I’ve never had much ‘service’ from Library & Archives Canada either online or in person. It would be interesting to me to know the reasoning behind this proposed closure and exactly what they mean by ‘archival materials’. If this includes non-digitised paper records they are definitely way out of line IMHO.
This is false information. Did you even bother trying to check with anyone at LAC before you published these lies? Since you are so current on LAC’s business, you have surely heard of the new storage facility under construction? How do you suppose hundreds of thousands of boxes will be transferred there – magically, all at once, overnight? MY sources tell me that rotating sections of the collection will be unavailable for 2-3 months at a time over a period of 2-3 years. Makes sense! But of course the reality robs you of the opportunity to bloviate about LAC’s perceived failures on your website. Will you be publishing an erratum on your post, or will you continue to spread misinformation? I doubt you’ll even publish this comment. The outrage only flows in one direction.