The National Library and the National Archives of Canada should be more accessible to the public and federal government departments, according to a study being reviewed this month by Canadian Heritage Minister Sheila Copps.
Commissioned last March, the report was written by John English, a University of Waterloo history professor who consulted dozens of librarians, archivists, historians, and bureaucrats before composing the more than 20 recommendations contained in the report.
According to the February 5 London (Ontario) Free Press, English said “digitization is going to have a huge impact on libraries and archives not only here but throughout the world, and it's important Canada be at the forefront of those kinds of activities.” Tom Delsey, director general of the National Library's corporate policy branch, said the institution is having a difficult time keeping up with technology on a budget that has been hit with major cuts over the past five years.
Posted February 15, 1999.