The National Heritage Digitization Strategy (NHDS) was established in 2016 as a national plan to ensure the long-term preservation of documentary heritage records by encouraging quality, standards-based efforts.
In the subsequent five years what has been accomplished?
In winter 2017, with $25K funding from the Salamander Foundation, issues of four indigenous newspapers were digitized — Windspeaker (1986-2015), Ha-Shilth-Sa (1974-2017), Turtle Island News (2001-2013) and Nunatsiaq News (1976-78).
Scan the NHDS website and you’ll find surveys and planning. If any other digitization actually occurred it’s not apparent. You’d think any other successes attributable to the NHDS would be shouted from the rooftops.
We are only what we do, not what we say we are.
Isadore Sharp
Now NHDS is embarking on strategic planning. The aim is to identify short-term and long-term projects and initiatives to be undertaken by the NHDS, understand community-driven priorities, and assist in shaping the organizational structure of NHDS going forward.
To that end, a survey that should take approximately 20 minutes to complete is at https://form.simplesurvey.com/f/l/nhds-strategic-planning-survey/.
Responses are due by Monday, 9 August 2021.
Is it worth responding?
In addition, NHDS will be holding a variety of engagement opportunities throughout the year, including an open community call planned for fall 2021. For more information visit: https://nhds.ca/nhds-strategic-planning-process-2021/.
Will ultimate clients, like researchers (academic, business and independent) and most archives’ largest client group, genealogists, be specifically invited.
I certainly totally agree with that Isadore Sharp quotation. Cheers, BT