Librarians silenced at CLA conference
Petition to Help save Canada’s National Archival Development Program.
The petition states:
On April 30, 2012 Library and Archives Canada (LAC) eliminated the National Archival Development Program (NADP), a $1.7 million contribution program administered by the not-for-profit Canadian Council of Archives (CCA) and distributed to Canada’s 13 archives councils to support archival activities locally. Through the councils, NADP funding is on the ground across the country ensuring that Canada’s documentary heritage is both preserved in local communities and made available to the broader researching public.
We believe that the elimination of this Program puts LAC in contravention of the Library and Archives of Canada Act which empowers and obliges the LAC to “7(f) to support the development of the library and archival communities”, as well as compromising the role of the Librarian and Archivist of Canada to “8 (i) provide professional, technical and financial support to those involved in the preservation and promotion of the documentary heritage and in providing access to it.”
The outright elimination of this funding will dramatically affect the archival community in Canada, in particular small and medium sized archives which rely on this funding to make information accessible to their local communities and beyond.
We call upon the Honourable Minister James Moore to reverse this decision now.
Laying flowers at the Archives and Research Collections Centre (D.B. Weldon Library, UWO)
Marching to UWO’s Law Library.
Words of mourning offered at the Law Library (UWO)
Archivists, librarians and students gathered to mourn the cuts to archival funding in Canada. This funeral was in solidarity with the May 28th Archivists’ Trek to Ottawa. Funeral marchers in London gathered at the main library and laid flowers before the archives. They then walked to other campus libraries and held remembrance ceremonies.
Here is the Flickr album:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/68684750@N07/sets/72157629943750954/with/7290785366/
PLG London
On Monday, May 28, there is going to be a Day of Action and funeral for archival funding in Canada at the Library and Archives Canada building in Ottawa. For those of you who can’t make it to Ottawa, we are bringing the funeral to you!
As you know, the Conservative government has cut the National Archives Development Program which provided funding and support to archives across Canada. As a result, most of the provincial archival councils, as well as our national professional organization, the Canadian Council on Archives, will no longer exist. The Conservative government has also made cuts which will reduce Library and Archives Canada staff by 20%, and which have already killed its interlibrary loan program.
We have a government that does not value organizations which collect, preserve, analyze and provide access to information. As a profession, we must speak out.
Please join us at the funeral for archival funding in Canada! Please wear black if you are able. Top hats are appreciated. We are in mourning!
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In April 2012, the National Archives Development Program was eliminated.
On Monday May 28th, the Progressive Librarians Guild (London Chapter) will protest the cuts in solidarity with the Archivists On to Ottawa Trek and hold a funeral procession to mourn the cancelation of the National Archives Development Program.
The funeral procession will meet at 10 am in the lobby of the DB Weldon library to lay a bouquet of flowers. Then, the procession will march across campus to the North Campus Building. At the North Campus Building, we will pay our respects and say our last words.
Please consult our position statement on the cancelation of the NADP here.
We would be happy to have you join us for the solemn occasion.
PLG (London Chapter)
The Progressive Librarians Guild – London Ontario Chapter:
Position Statement on the Cancellation of the National Archives Development Program
In the 2012 Federal Budget, the Federal Government significantly reduced funding to Libraries and Archives Canada (LAC). This budget reductions have led to a reduction in staffing at LAC and, significantly, the cancellation of the National Archives Development Program (NADP).
The National Archives Development Program has, for more than 25 years, supported the development of archives across Canada. The monies distributed from this program supported the operations of the Canada Council of Archives and the thirteen provincial and territorial archives associations.[1] Monies were distributed as grants to local archives institutions to fund a wide array of project that improved access and the preservation of Canada’s rich documentary history.
The cancellation of the National Archives Development Program is a threat to the long term preservation and access to Canada’s rich information history. Without the NADP or a successor program, the ability of Canadian archivist to preserve Canada’s documentary past will be limited significantly reduced. The fund distributed from the NADP were used to leverage financial and partnership opportunities for local archives across Canada. Archives will find it increasingly difficult to take advantage of these opportunities without Federal support. As a result, archives’ ability to preserve and provide access to Canada’s rich collection of historical documents, photographs, maps and audio-visual materials will be severely diminished.
The London Ontario Chapter of the Progressive Librarians Guild believes in the founding tenets of the the Guild and recognizes that libraries, and by extension archives, are foundation of an enlightened citizenry who can engage and participate in a independent democratic civil society. Further, the chapter is opposed to the commodification of information.
The decision of the Federal government led by Stephen Harper to cancel the National Archives Development Program threatens the ability of Canada’s archives to serve Canada’s citizens and help promote democracy in our country.
The Progressive Librarians Guild – London Ontario Chapter calls upon the Federal government to reinstate the National Archives Development Program so that Canadian archivists can continue their work, preserving and providing access to Canada’s rich documentary history.
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[1] Canadian Council of Archives. http://www.cdncouncilarchives.ca/CCA_FactSheet_EN.pdf. Retrieved May 15, 2012.
Lots of ways to support the protest of the elimination of Library and Archives Canada’s National Archival Development Program.
Sign the petition: http://www.change.org/petitions/make-it-better-write-a-letter-help-save-canada-s-national-archival-development-program?utm_medium=email&utm_source=share_petition
Join the Google Group: http://groups.google.com/group/archivists_ottawa_trek?pli=1
Follow the issue on Twitter (@ArchivistsTrek)
For more details, go to: http://archiviststrek2012.tumblr.com/statement
PLG London will be drafting a statement of support. Please let us know if you’d like to contribute.
Earlier this month, Access Copyright (AC) and the Association of Colleges and Universities Canada (AUCC) reached an agreement for a model copyright license. This model licence, which individual AUCC member institutions must choose whether to approve or not, covers the reproduction of copyrighted works on campuses across Canada.
The AUCC is an organization representing over 90 Canadian universities and colleges. A copy of the model license can be found here.
Drawing immediate condemnation, the model license has been strongly criticised by the Canadian Federation of Students (CFS) and the Canadian Association of University Teachers (CAUT) for the high fees it imposes, the damage it could do to academic freedoms, and the potentially coercive measures it includes. Both groups have called on institutions to reject the model license outright.
The agreement reached appears to be strikingly similar to the copyright licensing agreements signed in January by UWO and UT. It appears to feature many of same the inherent flaws described in PLG London’s objection to Western’s copyright agreement here. Featuring similar unjustified royalty increases, the model licence raises fees imposed on full time equivalent students to $26.00 and fails to provide little more than is already granted by existing user rights.
Replicating overbroad definitions from the UWO/UT agreement, this model license grants AC rights not set in the Copyright Act and includes posting a digital link within the definition of copy.
Featuring similar surveillance mechanisms, the model license mandates the creation of survey instruments to monitor use of copyrighted works on campuses. While the license suggests academic freedoms will be respected, the presence of this clause is highly troublesome. As with the UWO/UT agreement, many fear the license could require universities to monitor student and faculty email and course content.
As universities across Canada have walked away from their relationships with AC, innovative licensing alternatives to traditional copyright agreements have developed. As we make use of fair dealing and user rights, direct site licensed material, and the increasing amount of peer reviewed open access materials available, the academic community has begun to move away from the increasingly unnecessary AC licenses.
The decision made by AUCC, UWO, and UT to reach agreements with AC significantly harms the ongoing struggle at the copyright board.
To learn more about this model licence, please visit the following blogs I consulted while researching this post:
Alan Kilpatrick
PLG (London)
On March 29th, PLG London held a round table dicussion exploring the value of colloborating with community partners.
