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Audits and Evaluations

Evaluation Framework for Modernization

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2.0 Profile

This section describes the context, objectives, key stakeholders and beneficiaries and resources associated with the initiative.

2.1 Context

The mandate of Library and Archives Canada contained in the preamble of the Act to establish the Library and Archives of Canada is:

• WHEREAS it is necessary that
• (a) the documentary heritage of Canada be preserved for the benefit of present and future generations;
• (b) Canada be served by an institution that is a source of enduring knowledge accessible to all, contributing to the cultural, social and economic advancement of Canada as a free and democratic society;
• (c) that institution facilitate in Canada cooperation among the communities involved in the acquisition, preservation and diffusion of knowledge; and
• (d) that institution serve as the continuing memory of the government of Canada and its institutions;

The overwhelming growth in digital material in recent years has created an overabundance of information. At the same time changing user behaviors and expectations have created considerable challenges for documentary heritage institutions. Although most of the new materials are digital there remains a significant amount of analogue materials which have been collected in the past. Increasingly it is becoming apparent that there is too much content for one institution like LAC to manage alone and that collaboration among like-minded institutions is essential.

To respond to these challenges LAC has developed a new framework based on three pillars of documentary heritage: acquisition, preservation and resource discovery. The guiding principles are significance, sufficiency, sustainability and society. LAC is in the process of consulting with stakeholders regarding the framework.

While there are other actors in other jurisdictions LAC remains the only federal institution with a direct mandate in this area. Thus it contributes directly to the advancement of Canada as a free and democratic society.

2.2 Objectives

The overall objective of the modernization initiative is to ensure that LAC continues to serve the public good and remains relevant to Canadians. To do so LAC must continue to deliver on its mandate while adapting to the new environment within its envelope of allocated resources.

2.3 Key Stakeholders and Beneficiaries

Key stakeholders include; other cultural institutions, publishers and creators of cultural content, libraries and archives, federal government departments and agencies including federal libraries, provincial and territorial governments, and private sector firms including specialized book dealers.

Beneficiaries include to a certain extent all of the above plus current and potential users of the LAC collections.

2.4 Resources

By 2011-12 LAC will have to operate within a budget envelope of approximately $100 million. It is anticipated that approximately 75% of this total will be made up of salaries paid to approximately 1100 employees. This budget envelope is unlikely to increase over the next five years; in fact, within current and short term economic conditions it is more likely to decline.

Table 1: Resources
Year	Planned Spending (000's)	FTEs
2009-10	121,338.9	1132
2010-11	128,359.9	1109
2011-12	102,421.9	1109

Source: Library and Archives Canada, Report on Plans and Priorities, 2009-10

Note: The above figures include capital spending of $12,531.7 in 2009-10 and $25,677.6 in 2010-11. The figures above also include a special contribution of $21,700 over the three years beginning in 2008-09 to replace obsolete systems and provide the capacity for managing electronic publications and the digital records of the Government of Canada.

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