by Cathy Chisholm — Cape Breton University’s librarians ask you to take a moment to read CAUT Executive Director Jim Turk’s observations regarding government cuts at Library and Archives Canada. Along with the LAC, many other government libraries are either losing staff or shutting down. Affected departments include: Agriculture Canada, Citizenship and Immigration, Industry Canada, Public Service Canada, and several others.
Emails have been swirling all week regarding reduced services and further cuts. Yesterday it was confirmed Interlibrary Loans services (which benefits all Canadian libraries) will be eliminated in February 2013. As academics and as Canadians, take a moment to consider how these cuts will impact your research and the ability for all Canadians to access information.
Voice your concern! Go to CAUT’s Save LAC Campaign page – read up on the issues and tell our government that Canadians’ access to information; your ability to research; and our heritage and culture, matter to you.
DOWNLOAD CAUT Executive Director Jim Turk’s summary of the situation.
A related topic (which seems to have not received as much media attention) are the cuts to archives/records at government departments such as those of public works. In my previous life as an archivist at 3 institutions, and in my role in the research office, it was clear to me that the archives of these departments hold immense resources. In fact, this side of the story is marginal in most of the coverage, although it is mentioned (http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/ottawa/story/2012/05/02/ottawa-libraries-archives-closing-budget-cuts.html) for example.