AGIIG at CLA 2009 Interest Group Business Meeting

The AGIIG meeing at the CLA Interest Groups Breakfast Meeting at the CLA 2009 was helf from 7:30-9:00 am  on Sunday May 31, at the Palais des congrès de Montréal, Rooms 513 a – e. 

The meeting was attended by current members of AGIIC as well as new CLA members interested in joining, about a dozen people.  The business meeting was held in a large meeting room, as in past years, with tables set up for each interest group. The new CLA Executive Director, the Treasurer and the Councilors made the rounds, stopping at each IG table to meet members and hear concerns.  

Discussion at the meeting also concerned CLA’s members on the DSP Advisory Committee, and how to set up liasion by AGIIC with the CLA representatives.  We  asked that the Executive provide us with CLA’s representatives on the DSP Advisory Committee, as we would like to contact these reps.

Kevin Manual asked for volunters for the positions of Convenor and Co-Convenor.  Caron Rollins and Doug Kariel stepped forward, and those present had no objections.

Elizabeth Sanders and Barry Wood  from Publishing & Depository Services attended to answer questions about the new DSP agreement.  Thank-you for attending!  Key points: 

1. The new DSP agreement must be signed  (two signed copies!) and returned by July1, 2009. Reminders will be sent out on INFODEP, by Graham Campbell of DSP.   If the DSP does not receive the copies one warning will be sent.  If no response by Sept.1, the library’s DSP status will be cancelled.

2. DSP service standards will be posted to the DSP website.

3. The annual report requirement was dropped from the agreement, instead section 4.1.i asks for libraries to “provide, PDS, once a year, with feedback: . AGIIG members are interested in  sharing templates for this feedback. 

4. Continue, please, to report fugitive epubs to DSP.

5. DSP has applied to the Treasury Board for an excemption from the CLF2 xhtml requirement for all epubs.  Pdf formats are preferred.  AGIIG members also forwarded their concerns on this requirment to the meeting. AGIIC will follow-up.

6. The DSP conducted a number of site visits about the new agreement, to selected despository libraries.  Those present felt that more information about these visits could have been shared on INFODEP.

Communication with AGIIC members was another topic of our meeting dicussion.  Currently there are over 70 CLA members who also AGIIC members.  Some, but not all, subsribe to the AGIIC listserve (for instructions on joining this listserve, see our Committtee page on the CLA website ).  Others are members of GOVINF-L and / or INFODEP (the DSP listserve) and APLIC (Legislative libraries).  Volunteers stepped forward to post to GOVINFO-L notices from INFODEP and APLIC.

 Later that morning, the CLA Treasurer held an “Interest Group Information Meeting” for convenors (Caron attended).  Discussion focused on a new CLA Task Force set up to review the Interest Group guidelines (available on the CLA website).  Volunters were asked for the Task Force.

Submitted by Caron Rollins, Convenor.

 

 

Digitization of Publications relating to the Parliament of Canada

Subject: Digitization of Publications relating to the Parliament of Canada/Numérisation des publications se rapportant au Parlement du Canada

 A working paper on digitization of publications relating to the Parliament of Canada has been made available on the Parliamentary Internet. http://www2.parl.gc.ca/Sites/LOP/Digitization/index-e.asp

 

This document reviews the state of digitization of papers relating to the Parliament of Canada as of April 2009  in order to determine:

 

• which published papers relating to the operations of Parliament have been digitized
• by which organization;
• where the digitized works are housed;
• who is permitted access &
• plans for future digitization

 

The goal is to help inform the development of a coherent strategy amongst the various stakeholders to digitize, make available and preserve over the long term, the corpus of Canadian publications relating to the operations of Parliament since 1867.

 

Comments, updates and suggested revisions are welcomed. 

 

Please forward comments to Michèle Robichaud, Canadian Government Information Specialist, Library of Parliament at robicm@parl.gc.ca, or Ian McDonald, Government and Law Specialist, Library and Archives Canada at Ian.mcdonald@lac-bac.gc.ca.

 

 

William R. Young
Parliamentary Librarian

 

 

(posted by C.Rollins, Source Govinfo-L)

LAC Puts Moriturium on Print Items

According to a CBC report, Library and Archives Canada has put a moritorium on print items. Although this is a temporary move, one may wonder what this may mean for the future.

AGIIG at CLA Interest Groups Breakfast Meeting

Please join members of AGIIG for the CLA Interest Groups Breakfast Meeting at the CLA National Conference in Montreal!

Elizabeth Sander from Publishing & Depository Services will be there to answer questions about the new DSP agreement.

A new convener and co-convener are still needed, so if you would like to know more about either of these positions please attend or contact Kevin Manuel at kmanuel@brocku.ca

Date: 7:30 – 9:00am, May 31, 2009

Location: Palais des congrès de Montréal, Rooms 513 a – e

NRC Research Press Goes Fee

Canada’s National Research Council’s Research Press has decided to privatize their journals. A sad thing to see in this economic situation. Thanks to The Distant Librarian, who also points to the list of journals the NRC produces.

Government Transparency and the Internet

Canadians are finally getting passionate about government as our own government drama unfolds. While it’s great to see, one can’t help but compare ourselves to our neighbours once again. While Obama has moved towards transparency in government with things like change.gov, youtube addresses and soliciting feedback, Canadian government seems to be doing little for transparency. Many meetings are still closed door and the copyright bill seems like it will be created without feedback again once the government returns. CBC’s Spark program recently did a great podcast on the government and the Internet. How do you think the government is doing with transparency?

Government Twitters

Looks like there is now a directory being created for US government agencies who are twittering (also includes blogs). Anyone know of Canadian agencies who have entered the twitterverse?

Common Look and Feel

The Government of Canada is rolling out Common Look and Feel version 2. Websites are starting to change. StatCan has already started altering their site. I’m not sure I’m a fan yet and I’m afraid their maybe issues arising from the changes. Take a look and share how you feel about the new CLF2.

AGIIG co-convenor needed!

This is a call for people interested in becoming co-convenor of the Access to Government Information Interest Group. The co-convenor will have a 2 year position. The convenor will act as mentor to the co-convenor in their first year. In their second year, they will become the convenor and mentor the in-coming co-convenor. This mentor program helps new convenors learn the duties associated with the interest group while providing an extra hand to help with group activities.

If you are interested or want to know more about what is required by the position, please contact Kevin Manuel at kmanuel@brocku.ca

CBEC Closing

Closing of operations at the Canadian Book Exchange Centre

The Government of Canada has introduced a new expenditure management system as part of an ongoing commitment to sound management of government spending. The new system is focused on managing results and on the ongoing assessment of all direct program spending, or strategic review, to ensure efficiency, effectiveness and value for money.

Library and Archives Canada’s (LAC) strategic review concluded that the Canadian Book Exchange Centre (CBEC) program was not appropriately aligned with the priorities of Canadians and with core federal responsibilities.

LAC has come to the conclusion that it can no longer financially support the operations of CBEC. Consequently, effective immediately, CBEC will no longer accept publications from the private sector or from government and international organizations for redistribution among libraries. CBEC will shut its doors permanently effective June 30, 2008.

LAC recognizes that many libraries appreciated the services provided by CBEC. However, a review of the Centre’s activities showed a very high discard rate since many of the materials received were either in poor condition or did not fit the donation guidelines. It also confirmed that the amount of materials received and distributed has been steadily declining in recent years. Given the context, it was difficult to justify maintaining CBEC’s operation. LAC’s decision also reflects the trend in libraries towards online materials, including e-publications and periodicals that are becoming increasingly available.

To ensure the best possible use of the materials in inventory, libraries will continue to have access to the existing collection until June 30, 2008. Details will be announced shortly.

LAC continues to support and contribute to resource sharing activities both at a national and international level. Furthermore, the savings and realignment opportunities that LAC has identified through the strategic reviews will be reinvested in higher-priority programs related to core federal government business.

LAC will work with the federal library community over the coming months to put mechanisms in place which will facilitate the disposal of their surplus publications. A letter will be sent to the senior officials responsible for information management in federal departments and agencies.

For information, please contact:

Alison Bullock
Acting Director, Resource Sharing and Rights Management Programs and Services Library and Archives Canada
613-992-1752
cbecccel@lac-bac.gc.ca