About the Collection

Collection Development Framework

Key Directions, 2005-2010

As LAC works towards achieving the important goals it has set for itself in the coming years, specific actions will be required to realize the vision of collection development outlined above. There is first of all the pressing requirement to make real the concept of "one LAC collection"-as the institution embarks on its new course, the work of integrating existing collections and developing consistent approaches to acquiring new documentary heritage materials is just beginning. In addition, there are specific areas in which the institutional objectives outlined in Directions for Change and the feedback from consultations with stakeholders have direct applicability to the collection development activity. Those areas are: digital materials, Aboriginal materials, multicultural materials, and the national collection. The ability to work in the digital realm will increasingly define the success of the new institution; Aboriginal and multicultural materials are areas in which LAC must make progress if it is to fulfill its stated goal of being a truly national institution; and a coordinated approach to building the national collection will be the concrete expression of both LAC's leadership role in the archival and library communities and its collaborative approach to working with Canadian heritage institutions.

These five key directions are discussed below.

One LAC Collection
Integration of approaches to collection development is essential if LAC is to expand on opportunities for growth and innovation and to make real the collecting principle that "there is one collection with component parts rather than multiple sub-collections that only nominally form one LAC collection."
This work will require:

• the sharing of information between different areas so as to develop a common understanding of LAC's holdings and of the nature of and challenges associated with LAC's various collection development methods;
• the identification and implementation of a coordinating and a planning mechanism for the collection development activity in order to optimize linkages between the different parts of the collection;
• the development of benchmarks, performance measures, and tools to monitor progress against objectives for the collection development activity;
• the development of corporate objectives for and collaborative approaches to common issues, such as the need to achieve a balance between continued acquisition of traditional materials and increased acquisition of materials in digital form; and
• the identification and removal of arbitrary barriers and distinctions between collection content in order to improve collaboration in collection development and support improved access to and preservation of the collection.

Digital Materials
Becoming a truly digital institution is one of the key objectives that the new institution has set for itself. As it relates to developing the collection, it means that LAC will become as adept in collecting documentary heritage materials in digital form as it has long been with analog media. In order to achieve this transformation, change will be required at multiple levels-policy, procedures, technology, and staff skills. In particular, the institution will:

• establish priorities, and identify and allocate available resources;
• resolve policy issues and establish policies relating to the development of the digital collection, for example, digital formats collected, and parameters for the acquisition of websites;
• review and update current LAC direction/guidance for creators of documentary heritage materials, in particular, federal government information;
• develop the necessary technical and procedural infrastructure for the acquisition of e-publications, GoC e-records, and websites;
• develop a policy and a strategy for the creation of digital collection content and the creation of tools to make this content known and accessible; and
• identify the skills needed by LAC staff, assess skills gaps and develop and deliver required training.

Aboriginal Materials
LAC recognizes the contributions of Aboriginal peoples to the documentary heritage of Canada, and realizes that, in building its collection of these materials, it must take into account the diversity of Aboriginal cultures, the relationship the Government of Canada has with Aboriginal peoples, and the unique needs and realities of Aboriginal communities. The development of a national strategy will be done in consultation and collaboration with Aboriginal communities and organizations, and will respect the ways in which indigenous knowledge and heritage is preserved or ought to be preserved and protected within or outside of Aboriginal communities. In order to develop its collection of Aboriginal materials, or to ensure their preservation by other means, LAC will:

• define or characterize "relationships," "consultations," and "partnerships" in the context of working with Aboriginal communities;
• develop an outreach strategy and a consultation framework;
• develop models guiding any "memorandum of understanding" or like document developed by LAC in collaboration with Aboriginal communities in order to support an approach or acquisition strategy;
• identify and develop relationships with outside institutions, including cultural centres;
• identify local, regional or territorial collections through research and through the development of a user needs study;
• conduct inventories of existing LAC collections to identify materials by or about Aboriginal peoples, and develop a global view of the existing collection;
• develop a baseline of information and further tracking mechanisms or tools to monitor collection development;
• review LAC programs, services and expertise that impact Aboriginal peoples or the documentary heritage of these communities; and
• prioritize collection development activities according to the results of the activities above.

Multicultural Materials
To ensure that Library and Archives Canada is truly a "national institution," its collection must reflect the diversity of the Canadian experience. LAC already has a unique collection of culturally diverse materials. To build on this, LAC needs to develop a strategic, broad and innovative approach to ensure that the collection is comprehensive, representative and accessible. The development of this collection will require the collaboration of numerous sectors in the institution. LAC will:

• conduct an inventory of existing multicultural materials at LAC;
• identify strong collections externally;
• develop partnerships with external institutions;
• investigate what materials exist in cultural communities and/or are published by cultural communities;
• consult with cultural communities, organizations and publishers;
• prioritize collection development activities by identifying key communities, etc.; and
• ensure that LAC staff have the skills and support to work with culturally sensitive and multilingual materials.

The National Collection
The development of a coordinated and cooperative approach to collection development at the national level will be a long-term undertaking, requiring the leadership of the Librarian and Archivist of Canada, the Assistant Deputy Minister of the Documentary Heritage Collection Sector, the Director General of the Strategic Office, and the Director of the Portrait Gallery of Canada. It will require LAC to:

• engage in extensive consultation with partners in the documentary heritage community to discuss and develop the concept of the "national collection" and to define the network of responsibilities;
• develop a partnership policy;
• build a partnership model that reflects existing relationships and agreements and emerging possibilities;
• understand the goals, objectives and plans of other institutions that collect documentary heritage materials;
• communicate to partner institutions how LAC understands its collecting mandate;
• develop national collaborative strategies and initiatives for collection development, especially for digital materials;
• develop understandings or agreements with members of the documentary heritage community regarding how Canada's documentary heritage can best be collected, preserved, and accessed in a way that respects the mandates of all members of the community;
• understand the goals, objectives, and needs of the communities of creators and the communities of consumers of documentary heritage materials; and
• determine the potential role to be played by LAC at the national level as an aggregator of resources produced by others, for example, online educational resources.

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