CLA concerned about LAC-BAC cutbacks

Earlier this month the Canadian Library Association (CLA) send a letter to Ian E. Wilson, Librarian and Archivist of Canada, to express concern about the recent service cuts announced by Library and Archives Canada.

October 10, 2007

Ian E. Wilson,
Librarian & Archivist of Canada
Library and Archives Canada
395 Wellington Street Ottawa, ON K1A 0N4

Via e-mail: Ian.Wilson@lac-bac.gc.ca

Dear Dr. Wilson,

The Canadian Library Association is concerned about the recent reduction of direct service hours and staffing at Library and Archives Canada – Bibliothèque et archives Canada at 395 Wellington St. in Ottawa. We fear the reduced hours will reduce the valuable service to historians, genealogists, graduate students and others who depend on direct access to our documentary heritage for their research.

CLA understands and supports LAC-BAC’s goal of making Canada’s documentary heritage more widely available across the country through mechanisms such as exhibitions and the Internet. However, we suggest that more digital access does not replace the need for in-person access to original documents and artefacts.

We respectfully request that LAC-BAC re-examine the reduction in service hours at 395 Wellington with the view of returning them to the former levels of both number of hours and staffing by professional librarians and archivists.

If you require more information, I invite you or a member of your staff to contact me directly at aschrade@ualberta.ca, or CLA’s Executive Director Don Butcher at 613-232-9625 ext. 306, dbutcher@cla.ca.

Yours sincerely,



Alvin M. Schrader
President

c. Hon. Josée Verner, Minister of Canadian Heritage, Status of Women and Official Languages