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Library and Archives Canada Business Plan 2007 - 2010

Message from the Librarian and Archivist of Canada

A country with a broad, deep, diverse collection of its documentary heritage has a fundamental resource for understanding its past and present - and a profound legacy for its future. Library and Archives Canada is constantly building that kind of collection, caring for it and making it known to Canadians and people interested in this country. We are constantly identifying how to achieve the best results possible.

This business plan sets out our priorities as we seek to become the kind of knowledge institution that Canada needs to know itself in the 21st century. We have already made important progress in that direction. The creation of Library and Archives Canada (LAC) as Canada's newest knowledge institution launched a period of transformation as the people of LAC came together to define and shape a new organization. In 2004, LAC articulated a comprehensive strategic vision, Directions for Change, which has brought sharper focus to our work.

Now, we are taking another step forward to seize the opportunities of a rapidly changing information environment and in the face of major issues requiring decisions by LAC. This business plan captures the factors influencing our path forward and the five strategic choices that we have chosen to guide our management priorities and resource allocations over the 2007-2010 period.

Quite simply, we want to be much farther down a path that sees us building and caring for a collection that not only reflects the shift to a digital information environment - but that is more accessible than ever to Canadians, regardless of where they live, so they can explore and learn from it. In a world where knowledge is in so many different places, we want to be a partner to others in gathering that knowledge and making it known to more people in more ways. In a time when accountability has become so important, we want to help ensure that the records of the Government of Canada are organized, accurate and accessible. In an era when Canada's population is extremely diverse, we want to build connections to all Canadians so they see us as the gateway to the rich documentary heritage of this land.

Achieving these goals takes time and commitment. It also takes resources. We have already begun that work and this business plan will guide us in deciding how to make the best use of the resources we have - and build a compelling case when we seek more support.

It is an exciting time to be pursuing this innovative path - and other national library and archival institutions are watching Canada with deep interest as we do. They want to learn from our experience in dealing with the major issues that all knowledge institutions face. They look forward to our success with this business plan and our commitment to an ambitious course of action that will generate results for Canadians today and for generations to come.

Ian E. Wilson

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