Disappearing Digital Government Publications: will there be a tomorrow?

National Library of Canada

Bibliothèque nationale du Canada

Canada

Disappearing Digital Government Disappearing Digital Government Publications: will there be a Publications: will there be a

tomorrow?tomorrow?

Fay Hjartarson, National Library of Fay Hjartarson, National Library of CanadaCanada

CALL, VictoriaCALL, Victoria

28 May 200228 May 2002



Canada

OverviewOverview Vision statementVision statement

Federal government contextFederal government context

ChallengesChallenges

National Library initiativesNational Library initiatives

ConclusionsConclusions



Canada

VisionVision

Ensure long-term access to and Ensure long-term access to and preservation of Canada’s digital preservation of Canada’s digital heritage for current and future heritage for current and future generations generations



Canada

The Federal Government ContextThe Federal Government Context

National Library ActNational Library Act

Receive on legal deposit two copies of Receive on legal deposit two copies of all Canadian publications within one all Canadian publications within one week of their release week of their release

Create and maintain a national Create and maintain a national bibliographybibliography

Develop a national union catalogueDevelop a national union catalogue

Coordinate federal library servicesCoordinate federal library services



Canada


MGI and Communications Policies: NL RoleMGI and Communications Policies: NL Role Preserve the published heritage of the nation and of the Preserve the published heritage of the nation and of the

Government of Canada;Government of Canada;

Receive on deposit all newly published information, in all Receive on deposit all newly published information, in all formats, from federal government institutions and monitor formats, from federal government institutions and monitor its deposit with the institution’s library;its deposit with the institution’s library;

Assist federal government institutions to ensure all of their Assist federal government institutions to ensure all of their published information is easily accessible to decision-published information is easily accessible to decision-makers and available to the public;makers and available to the public;

Monitor the management of published information Monitor the management of published information produced by federal government institutions, and report produced by federal government institutions, and report and advise on its long-term access and preservation.and advise on its long-term access and preservation.



Canada


Access to Information ReviewAccess to Information Review

Deposit of publications: mechanism to Deposit of publications: mechanism to provide access to federal government provide access to federal government information through an established information through an established network of libraries, worldwidenetwork of libraries, worldwide

AMICUS Web – federal government AMICUS Web – federal government information available to allinformation available to all



Canada


Canadian government Canadian government committed to be fully online by committed to be fully online by December 2005December 2005

In a recent survey, 49% of In a recent survey, 49% of respondents report that respondents report that electronic publications are not electronic publications are not managed as effectively as are managed as effectively as are other publication formatsother publication formats



Canada

The Value of Federal Government The Value of Federal Government InformationInformation

““Information is an integral part of Information is an integral part of service delivery that must be managed service delivery that must be managed as a strategic business resource and as as a strategic business resource and as a public trust on behalf of Canadians”--a public trust on behalf of Canadians”--TBSTBS

““Few policies, standards and guidelines Few policies, standards and guidelines are in place for current and emerging are in place for current and emerging environments” -- TBSenvironments” -- TBS



Canada


Average life span of digital “publications” is Average life span of digital “publications” is between 44 days and 2 yearsbetween 44 days and 2 years

““The speed at which the digital world moves has The speed at which the digital world moves has upturned the order of all established upturned the order of all established preservation practices.”preservation practices.”

UNESCO, Preservation of the Digital Heritage, UNESCO, Preservation of the Digital Heritage, February 2002February 2002



Canada


Technology for preserving digital Technology for preserving digital materials requires substantial materials requires substantial investments in R&Dinvestments in R&D

Such investments are negligible Such investments are negligible compared to the resources compared to the resources invested in creating the information invested in creating the information initially, or the cost to Canada if the initially, or the cost to Canada if the information is lostinformation is lost



Canada

In the Interim?In the Interim?

Creators must be encouraged to Creators must be encouraged to use open standards and provide use open standards and provide adequate documentation of their adequate documentation of their filesfiles

““The first line of defense against The first line of defense against loss…rests with the creators, loss…rests with the creators, providers and owners of digital providers and owners of digital information.” – UNESCO, 2002information.” – UNESCO, 2002



Canada

NL Initiatives to Develop Best NL Initiatives to Develop Best Practices for E-PublishingPractices for E-Publishing

Consultation on Online Publications Consultation on Online Publications with the Canadian publishing with the Canadian publishing community, 2000community, 2000

Identify practical solutions, 2000-Identify practical solutions, 2000-20012001

Select and communicate best Select and communicate best practices, 2001-practices, 2001-



Canada

Best Practices are…Best Practices are…

Recognized by peersRecognized by peers

Applicable to a cross-section of Applicable to a cross-section of organizationsorganizations

Compliant with ethical, legal and Compliant with ethical, legal and moral requirementsmoral requirements



Canada

Electronic Publishing: Guide to Electronic Publishing: Guide to Best Practices for Canadian Best Practices for Canadian

PublishersPublishers Written by stakeholders: The Written by stakeholders: The

Commons Group and members of Commons Group and members of the academic and publishing the academic and publishing communitiescommunities

Written for writers and publishers, Written for writers and publishers, both new or experienced in both new or experienced in electronic publishing electronic publishing



Canada

Best Practice on Open StandardsBest Practice on Open Standards Use open standards (HTML, ASCII, Use open standards (HTML, ASCII,

JPEG, PNG, XML, etc.) JPEG, PNG, XML, etc.)

Makes information available to the widest Makes information available to the widest possible audiencepossible audience

Facilitates archiving and storageFacilitates archiving and storage

Facilitates server-to-server transfer, even Facilitates server-to-server transfer, even for the host publisher for the host publisher

Reduces the burden on heritage Reduces the burden on heritage institutionsinstitutions



Canada

Best Practice on MetadataBest Practice on Metadata

Apply metadata to ensure Apply metadata to ensure information about the document is information about the document is available to end-usersavailable to end-users

The starting point: TBITS 39.1 and The starting point: TBITS 39.1 and 39.2 ensure federal government 39.2 ensure federal government publishers use a common, publishers use a common, internationally recognized metadata internationally recognized metadata standardstandard



Canada

Best Practice on Assistive Best Practice on Assistive TechnologiesTechnologies

Ensure accessibility for people Ensure accessibility for people using assistive technologies and using assistive technologies and thereby deliver content to an even thereby deliver content to an even wider audiencewider audience



Canada

Best Practice on Storage and Best Practice on Storage and BackupBackup

Establish regular backup cycles of Establish regular backup cycles of publications on stable, mass publications on stable, mass storage media, and engage a storage media, and engage a second party, the National Library, second party, the National Library, to provide reliable long-term to provide reliable long-term archiving and storagearchiving and storage

““Digital media is notoriously fragile.”Digital media is notoriously fragile.”



Canada

Electronic Federal Publications at Electronic Federal Publications at the National Library: a viable the National Library: a viable

modelmodel Mandate to acquire and preserve CanadianaMandate to acquire and preserve Canadiana

NL Act to be updated for electronic NL Act to be updated for electronic environmentenvironment

In line with international developmentsIn line with international developments

Over 6000 e-titles, 80% of which are federal Over 6000 e-titles, 80% of which are federal government publicationsgovernment publications

Formal agreements with 37 federal Formal agreements with 37 federal government e-publishersgovernment e-publishers



Canada

Partners in AccessPartners in Access Atlantic Canada Opportunity Atlantic Canada Opportunity

Agency Agency

Bank of CanadaBank of Canada

Canada Council for the ArtsCanada Council for the Arts

Canada Deposit Insurance Canada Deposit Insurance CorporationCorporation

Canada Lands CompanyCanada Lands Company

Canadian Artists and Producers Canadian Artists and Producers Professional Relations TribunalProfessional Relations Tribunal

Canadian Centre for Canadian Centre for Management DevelopmentManagement Development

Canadian Centre on Substance Canadian Centre on Substance AbuseAbuse

Canadian Coast Guard College Canadian Coast Guard College

Canadian Grain CommissionCanadian Grain Commission

Canadian Heritage, Canadian Heritage, Games of Games of la francophoniela francophonie

Canadian International Trade Canadian International Trade TribunalTribunal

Canadian Polar CommissionCanadian Polar Commission

Canadian Police CollegeCanadian Police College

Communication CanadaCommunication Canada

Canadian Government Canadian Government PublishingPublishing

Depository Services ProgramDepository Services Program

Communications Security Communications Security EstablishmentEstablishment



Canada

Partners in Access, cont’dPartners in Access, cont’d Canadian Space AgencyCanadian Space Agency

Criminal Intelligence Service Criminal Intelligence Service CanadaCanada

Elections CanadaElections Canada

Environment CanadaEnvironment Canada

Department of Finance CanadaDepartment of Finance Canada

Federal Bridge Corporation Federal Bridge Corporation Limited (Canada)Limited (Canada)

Health CanadaHealth Canada

House of CommonsHouse of Commons

Human Resources Human Resources Development Canada, Development Canada, Workplace EquityWorkplace Equity

Indian and Northern Affairs Indian and Northern Affairs CanadaCanada

Industry CanadaIndustry Canada

Canada’s Digital CollectionsCanada’s Digital Collections

Canadian Intellectual Property Canadian Intellectual Property OfficeOffice

Competition BureauCompetition Bureau

Council of Science and Council of Science and Technology AdvisorsTechnology Advisors

Intellectual Property Policy Intellectual Property Policy DirectorateDirectorate

Micro-Economic Policy AnalysisMicro-Economic Policy Analysis

Information Management Information Management ForumForum

International Development International Development Research CentreResearch Centre



Canada

Partners in Access, cont’dPartners in Access, cont’d

Law Commission of CanadaLaw Commission of Canada

Millennium Bureau of CanadaMillennium Bureau of Canada

NAFTA SecretariatNAFTA Secretariat

NRC:NRC:

Canada Institute for Scientific Canada Institute for Scientific and Technical Information and Technical Information

NRC Research PressNRC Research Press

NRCan:NRCan:

Geological Survey of CanadaGeological Survey of Canada

Mineral and Metal SectorMineral and Metal Sector

Office of the Commissioner Office of the Commissioner of Official Languagesof Official Languages

Office of the Superintendent Office of the Superintendent of Financial Institutionsof Financial Institutions

Office of the Prime MinisterOffice of the Prime Minister

Public Works and Government Public Works and Government Services Canada:Services Canada:

Translation BureauTranslation Bureau

Receiver General for CanadaReceiver General for Canada

Statistics CanadaStatistics Canada

Status of Women CanadaStatus of Women Canada

Supreme Court of CanadaSupreme Court of Canada

Treasury Board of Canada Treasury Board of Canada SecretariatSecretariat



Canada

Other NLC InitiativesOther NLC Initiatives Continuous improvement of the Continuous improvement of the

Electronic Collection: additional subject Electronic Collection: additional subject access, active pursuit of partnershipsaccess, active pursuit of partnerships

AMICUS Web free for all CanadiansAMICUS Web free for all Canadians

Canadian Information by Subject, > Canadian Information by Subject, > 5000 links to Canadian Internet 5000 links to Canadian Internet resourcesresources

Controlled vocabularies web page and Controlled vocabularies web page and registryregistry



Canada

Other NLC Initiatives in ProgressOther NLC Initiatives in Progress

Management of Government Management of Government Publications Survey, 2002Publications Survey, 2002

Persistent Locators for Federal Persistent Locators for Federal Government Publications, 2002Government Publications, 2002

Federal Publication Locator Service Federal Publication Locator Service on AMICUS, 2002on AMICUS, 2002

Revision of the NL Act, in progressRevision of the NL Act, in progress



Canada

ConclusionsConclusions

NLC has established best practices NLC has established best practices with stakeholderswith stakeholders

NLC has a track record for NLC has a track record for managing federal government managing federal government publications in electronic formatpublications in electronic format

NLC is developing a growing NLC is developing a growing network of partnershipsnetwork of partnerships



Canada

National Library of Canada National Library of Canada Resource LinksResource Links

Amicus Web:Amicus Web:amicus.nlc-bnc.ca/aaweb/amilogine.htmamicus.nlc-bnc.ca/aaweb/amilogine.htm

Canadian Information by Subject:Canadian Information by Subject:www.nlc-bnc.ca/caninfo/ecaninfo.htmwww.nlc-bnc.ca/caninfo/ecaninfo.htm

Electronic Collection:Electronic Collection:collection.nlc-bnc.ca/e-coll-e/index-e.htmcollection.nlc-bnc.ca/e-coll-e/index-e.htm

Electronic Publishing: Guide to Best Practices for Electronic Publishing: Guide to Best Practices for Canadian Publishers:Canadian Publishers:www.nlc-bnc.ca/9/13/index-e.htmlwww.nlc-bnc.ca/9/13/index-e.html

Thesauri and controlled vocabularies:Thesauri and controlled vocabularies:www.nlc-bnc.ca/8/4/r4-280-e.htmlwww.nlc-bnc.ca/8/4/r4-280-e.html



Canada

Thank you!Thank you!

Fay HjartarsonFay Hjartarson

Strategic Policy and PlanningStrategic Policy and Planning

National LibraryNational Library

613-947-5887613-947-5887

[email protected]@nlc-bnc.ca

Disappearing Digital Government Publications: will there be a tomorrow?

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