June 3, 2016 – Ottawa – Library and Archives Canada (LAC)
Dr. Guy Berthiaume, the Librarian and Archivist of Canada, today announced the launch of the National Heritage Digitization Strategy (NHDS) at the Canadian Library Association Forum in Ottawa.
The strategy will reposition Canada and provide a cohesive path toward the digitization of Canadian memory institutions’ collections, thus ensuring the institutions remain relevant in the digital age by making their collections easily accessible.
The strategy will ensure the long-term viability of documentary heritage records by encouraging quality, standards-based efforts. It will complement the strategies developed by Canadian memory institutions and assist them in fulfilling their goals, while ensuring that a national plan of action is in place.
The NHDS will cover published and unpublished analogue material of national, regional and local significance and will draw from the collections of public and private archives, libraries, museums, galleries, associations and other memory institutions.
A National Steering Committee will be created in the fall to develop digitization initiatives and will include creators, writers, cultural communities and end users as well as representatives from libraries, archives, museums, galleries and universities. Library and Archives Canada has established a secretariat to support the work of the National Steering Committee.
Quick Facts
- Several organizations collaborated to develop the strategy and will be among the early adopters when it is implemented. These early adopters include the Toronto Public Library, Vancouver Public Library, University of Toronto libraries, the Ottawa Public Library, and the Bibliothèque de l’Université Laval.
- Funding will come from different sources, both governmental and non-governmental. The Salamander Foundation, which donates funds to programs related to Arts and Culture and the Environment, has already pledged to support the Strategy.