National Library has role to play in encouraging innovation in Canada

The National Libary of Canada submitted its views on how innovation in Canada could be furthered. Following is an excerpt from its brief on the innovation agenda. The full submission can be found here.The priorities outlined by the Government of Canada are a good first step towards achieving the goal of creating and getting new knowledge to the market more quickly, and an efficient Canadian knowledge infrastructure will be needed to support these processes. In this digital age, electronic channels are becoming the preferred means of creating, using and managing information. The National Library strongly advocates the development of a national infrastructure to sustain these digital initiatives. There is a need for investment in R&D into digital technologies. As well, Canada must develop a comprehensive national strategy to address the challenges that arise from managing digital resources, such as interoperability, long-term preservation and access; as well as the development and application of appropriate standards; copyright issues; technology; and staff and user training. Such investments are negligible compared to the resources invested in creating the information initially and insignificant compared to the cost if Canada were to lose this information.However, the development of a digital resource strategy must not mean that Canada ignores the maintenance of its physical research resources. The National Library of Canada houses a huge and unique collection of primary and secondary source research material-books, periodicals, newspapers, sound recordings, rare books, manuscripts, etc. This material, used by Canadians as well as international researchers, needs to be preserved and stored in facilities where it is protected and preserved. At the present time, an emergency situation exists. More than 20 per cent of the collection is stored off-site, in inadequate facilities that fail to protect the materials from water damage and extremes of humidity and temperature that cause rapid deterioration in the integrity and usability of items. There are also ongoing problems with water leaks and other damage in the National Library's 35-year-old headquarters building, which threaten the collections stored there...The National Library encourages the Government to support the preservation of these materials through appropriate resource levels and facilities.Another issue of national concern is ensuring the equitable access to information resources by all Canadians. Canadians have experienced the burgeoning growth of the Internet over the past few years. However, the levels of use of these new technologies and services are highly polarized along social class and generational lines, creating a digital divide. According to a study conducted from 1997 through 1999 by the Office of Learning Technologies (The Dual Digital Divide: The Information Highway in Canada - HRDC) (http://olt-bta.hrdc-drhc.gc.ca/resources/reports_e.html), higher-income households were three times more likely than lower-income households to have home access. By 1999, about two-thirds of upper-income households had access from home, as compared to about one in four low-income Canadians. Contrary to the widespread enthusiasm about the Internet, a significant number of Canadians will remain unconnected for many years to come.Similarly, the Task Force on Access to Information for Print-Disabled Canadians (www.nlc-bnc.ca/accessinfo) found that three million Canadians are print-disabled. Print disabilities prevent people from reading standard print due to a visual, perceptual or physical disability... The National Library recommends a Government increase in funding for materials for the print disabled that would substantially increase access to information and strengthen Canada's competitive position in a knowledge-based economy. The National Library also recommends that the Government address some of the recognized barriers to the use of the Internet, using its public policy role to facilitate access and technological literacy…

National Library has role to play in encouraging innovation in Canada

News | 10/16/2002 4:00 am EDT

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