Newfoundland Libraries To Be Closed As Part Of New Regional Model

First it became Canada's only province to tax books, and now Newfoundland and Labrador is closing a whole lot of libraries.

The province's library resources board announced on Wednesday it was adopting a new "regional library model," which would shut down 54 branches over two years, leaving 41 open. The list of affected libraries will be released once employees have been notified.

Auditor General Fall Report Points To Shortcomings At Library and Archives Canada

OTTAWA - Future generations may not be able to enjoy Canada's recorded heritage — including photos, maps and important documents — because Library and Archives Canada is not collecting all of the material it should from federal agencies, the auditor general says.

In a report tabled Tuesday, Michael Ferguson says Library and Archives doesn't even know what it already has due to a backlog of 98,000 boxes of records — almost one-quarter of them military files, some dating to 1890.

Library cuts in more than a dozen government departments trigger fears of lost knowledge

OTTAWA — When Canada’s Citizenship and Immigration library closed its doors in the fall of 2012, head librarian Charlene Elgee wasn’t just worried about the loss of her job. She also feared that important documents she had immersed herself in for more than a decade would become unattainable to researchers.

“There’s a loss of accessibility,” Elgee said. “This material belongs to Canadians and I’m so afraid that some of this stuff will be lost forever if we don’t look after it.”

Elizabeth May Questions Legality of Science Library Cullings

The controversial culling of seven federal science libraries operated by the Department of Fisheries and Oceans sparked a brief debate in Parliament on Monday.

Elizabeth May, Green Party leader and MP for Saanich-Gulf Islands, accused the Harper government of culling and closing the libraries illegally.

"Under the Library and Archives of Canada Act, these materials are protected as the documentary heritage of Canadians," argued May.

Health Canada library changes leave scientists scrambling

Health Canada scientists are so concerned about losing access to their research library that they're finding workarounds, with one squirrelling away journals and books in his basement for colleagues to consult, says a report obtained by CBC News.

The draft report from a consultant hired by the department warned it not to close its library, but the report was rejected as flawed and the advice went unheeded.

Librarians Say Cullings Signify Harper's New Info Policy

Librarians who witnessed an unprecedented federal library downsizing as well as the closures of seven world famous science libraries at the Department of Fisheries and Oceans (DFO) say the cullings indicate a major shift to "minimalist government."

One describes the mishandling of major collections as "vandalism."

Both librarians, who requested anonymity, also believe the Canadian public has no real idea how the dismantling of the federal library system, together with the closing of scientific research stations and the gutting of environmental federal legislation, represents a qualitative change of governance for the country.

Question! What is really happening at the DFO libraries?

The recent Department of Fisheries and Oceans (DFO) science library consolidation from 11 locations to four is a well publicized story, one that probably doesn't need to be recapped in extensive detail. Basically, the government is taking all the collections from all of the locations and consolidating them into four locations, supposedly making sure all unique items are saved. They are also disposing duplicates as well as materials that aren’t core to their mission and letting go of the equivalent of 9.7 staff members.

This is more or less what we know for sure. But there is a lot we don’t know for sure and there certainly are a lot of questions. I, especially as a librarian, would like to know those answers.

Eric Marshall 'Disturbed' by Dismantling of Namesake Science Library

Eric Marshall says he's more than a bit upset. Distressed, even.

For nearly three decades, between 1967 and 1992, the now-retired scientist built from scratch one of the world's finest collections on freshwater science at the University of Manitoba.

The 200,000-book collection, owned by the Department of Fisheries and Oceans (DFO), contained old fishery reports, rare accounts on Arctic expeditions, research on fisheries in Lake Winnipeg and four shelves worth of records and reports from the Berger Commission on Arctic gas drilling, as well as a comprehensive collection of some of the oldest journals on freshwater ecology.

New Democrats Press DFO Minister on Library Closures

The federal NDP has written a letter to Fisheries and Oceans Minister Gail Shea expressing concerns about the culling of seven world famous libraries and seeks clarification on what happened to their collections.

"Recent media reports have indicated that valuable and irreplaceable research was permanently destroyed, including being thrown into the dumpster," reads the letter by Kennedy Stewart (MP Burnaby-Douglas) and Robert Chisholm (Dartmouth-Cole Harbour), which can be viewed here.

Nation's Library Advocate Raises Questions about Federal 'Culling'

The Canadian Library Association (CLA), a voice for the nation's 3,000 public libraries, will soon issue a policy statement on its growing concerns about the dismantling of over a dozen federal libraries, including seven world class facilities operated by the Department of Fishery and Oceans (DFO).

"Our greatest concern is whether there was consultation with the communities these libraries served as well as the impact on service and access to content," said Marie DeYoung, president of the CLA and a librarian at Saint Mary's University in Halifax.

Dismantling of DFO libraries a blow to democracy

The Harper government penchant for suppressing science and information has had a numbing effect over time. There’s just been too much. You may recall a few: abolition of the long-form census, making it hard to know what’s going on and thus formulate sensible policy. Or barring scientists from the Experimental Lakes Area so they couldn’t collect data to help preserve freshwater lakes. That one struck a chord, maybe due to all those beer ads set at the cottage. But the net was cast too wide: fisheries, crime, food safety, public health, the climate. For a depressing refresher, visit the Muzzling Science Timeline.

Some of it’s been overtly about shutting scientists up. A recent Environics survey found 24 per cent in the public service “had been directly asked to exclude or alter information for non-scientific reasons.” A half knew of cases where their department “suppressed information” with the effect of “misleading” the public.

Experts want next LAC boss to have archive experience, headed in "disastrous direction" in last four years

Canada's librarian and archivist communities say they want the next leader of the Library and Archives Canada to have more professional knowledge than former head Daniel Caron, who resigned this spring after it was revealed he made inappropriate personal charges to taxpayers, but interest groups have little hope that the policies they say are destroying the library will be reversed under Mr. Caron’s successor.

“They should be looking for someone who has substantial and senior experience as a librarian, or archivist, or as an historian,” said James Turk, executive director at the Canadian Association of University Teachers, and a former Canadian Studies professor at the University of Toronto.

Former Library and Archives Canada boss criticizes private digitizing deal

OTTAWA — Canada’s former chief librarian and archivist is harshly critical of the deal to have a private company digitize our public documents and photos.

Ian Wilson says it smack of “desperation” by the federal government.

Further, he says the contents of our archives are “a public good” like historic sites and national parks, and shouldn’t be sold back to us.

Anger greets secret private Library and Archives Canada deal

OTTAWA — Confusion and anger over a major, secretly brokered deal between Library and Archives Canada and a private high-tech consortium heightened Wednesday amid damage-control efforts by archive officials who say the deal is a good one.

Details of the project, revealed late Tuesday by the Ottawa Citizen, would see Library and Archives hand over millions of publicly-owned books and documents to Canadiana.com which, in exchange, will get a 10-year exclusive licence to sell it in sophisticated digital format.

Prison library closed at Saskatchewan Penitentiary

Inmates at the Saskatchewan Penitentiary in Prince Albert will no longer have access to a regional library service, after federal funding was abruptly cut on a contract that had been going for years.

"It was actually a very unique library," Jon Murray, director of the Wapiti Regional library, told CBC News Friday. "It had been operating for over 25 years."

Closure of fisheries’ libraries called a ‘disaster’ for science

The libraries are home to the 50 illustrated volumes from Britain’s Challenger expedition that sailed the seas in the late 1800s exploring the mysteries of the deep.

The shelves heave with reports detailing the DDT pollution that wiped out young salmon in New Brunswick’s “rivers of death” in the 1950s. And they contain vivid reminders of native fisheries, Canada’s once vast cod stocks and the U.S. submarines that prowled the quiet fjords along the B.C. coast in the 1940s — history that is being packed into boxes as the Department of Fisheries and Oceans “consolidates” its world-class library collection.

Freedom of expression for federal librarians and archivists under attack

Although federal public servants have always had a limited right to freedom of expression (as compared to private sector employees), certain government employees have recently been subjected to increasingly strict policies, or codes of conduct, which govern their behaviour both in and out of the workplace. Two recent policies effectively restrict access to the media and participation in forums for intellectual debate -- such as conferences or teaching engagements. Contrary to what you might expect, these policies do not target employees in the justice, immigration or national defence departments, but rather scientists, librarians and archivists associated with the Department of Fisheries and Oceans and the Department of Canadian Heritage. There are two reasons why Canadians should be concerned: 1) this continues a trend of the Harper government to restrict the public's timely access to valuable information from our experts on issues of national importance (which in turn negatively impacts the quality of our public discourse and ability to make informed decisions); and 2) some of these policies are unnecessarily restrictive and arguably in breach of section 2(b) of the Charter of Rights and Freedoms ‑- the right to freedom of expression.

Public Library Inc.

In the heady days of 2011, it looked as though Rob Ford really, really wanted to close libraries. Or at least that library branch closures were a very real possibility, given budget reduction targets.

But other than the Urban Affairs branch – which had the misfortune of serving as a spectacular metaphor – the Toronto Public Library system remained pretty much as it was.

Except that, as of earlier this month, the library website now directs patrons to Indigo.ca.

Andrew Cash: Harper Conservatives Are Afraid Of Librarians

New Democrat Andrew Cash wants to know why Heritage Minister James Moore and other Harper Conservatives are so terrified.. of librarians.

The Toronto MP rose in Question Period on Monday afternoon to shine a light on a controversial new code of conduct at Library and Archives Canada that some fear will muzzle federal librarians.

“According to the Conservatives, there is a new threat: librarians,” he said to some laughs. “And their ‘high risk activities.’ Activities like teaching and conferences.”

Ottawa MP Paul Dewar slams Library and Archives fees

OTTAWA — Ottawa Centre MP Paul Dewar has slammed the federal government for imposing ‘cost recovery’ fees for use of Library and Archives Canada facilities, saying the decision goes against everything the public institution stands for.

Dozens of community groups and individuals use the space, including the theatre, for everything from meetings, lectures, symposiums, to fundraising shows and screening of films, but under a new Public Works and Government Services Canada policy, many groups would face a $300 a day charge for space that once used to be free. The Ottawa Jazz Festival for instance, which rents the auditorium to showcase Canadian jazz artists, says the new fees could cost it up to $10,000 it doesn’t have.