Library and Archives Canada
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Federal Libraries Consortium
About the FLC
Terms of Reference
The Federal Libraries Consortium Advisory Committee operates within the strategic framework of the Federal Libraries Coordination Secretariat, based on the Library and Archives Canada mandate.
1. Objective
- The objective of the Federal Libraries Consortium Advisory Committee (CAC) is to provide Library and Archives Canada (LAC) with input from the federal library community on strategic issues related to the procurement and licensing of electronic information resources and to foster a dynamic model for library resource management and expertise sharing in order to:
- Improve access to information for research and decision-making, program development and policy making in the Government of Canada (GC);
- Develop solutions related to:
- Procurement;
- Licensing;
- Subscription/Contract negotiation;
- Vendor relations;
- Pricing models.
- Leverage federal libraries community expertise and other allied communities of practice on:
- Training;
- Marketing;
- E-resources management;
- Product and tool identification and evaluation.
2. Membership
- At least 6 members from the GC federal library community.
- The Federal Libraries Consortium (FLC) Coordinator and Electronic Resources Officer are ex officio members.
- Membership criteria:
- Members are a mix of federal library directors/ managers and electronic resources management experts.
- Members include representatives from the regions, from Crown Corporations/special operating agencies, from the various subject clusters and include representation from libraries of various sizes.
- Potential members self-identify; names are kept on a waiting list managed by the FLC until an opening occurs, either by the end of a member's term or by a member leaving the committee during his/her term.
- Potential members self-identify; names are kept on a waiting list managed by the FLC until an opening occurs, either by the end of a member's term or by a member leaving the committee during his/her term.
- Term:
- Committee membership is for 2 years.
- Committee membership may be renewed once.
- Members serve staggered two-year terms to provide continuity.
3. Committee Roles
- Chairperson:
- Selected from the members by the Committee, every 2 years.
- Sets meeting schedule in consultation with Committee membership.
- Sets meeting agenda in consultation with FLC Office.
- Convenes and chair meetings.
- Reviews and approves minutes
- Monitors progress against annual Consortium work plan.
- Serves as contact for the federal library community on other FLC and FLCS committees.
- Co-authors and co-presents the CAC annual report to the Federal Libraries Forum with the FLC Coordinator and submits a summary report to the LAC ADM responsible for the FLCS (Federal Libraries Consortium Secretariat).
- Members:
- Attend bi-monthly meetings. In some instances, more frequent meetings will be necessary.
- Provide advice and recommendations to the FLC Coordinator on strategic initiatives and pilot projects that support the needs and interests of the federal library community, including:
- reviewing work plans;
- identifying and prioritizing planned activities/pilots;
- negotiating with vendors;
- marketing and communications;
- policies.
- Identify gaps in Committee membership and fill them from the waiting list or by other means.
- Act as ambassadors for the FLC in the federal library community.
4. Federal Libraries Coordination Secretariat Role
- The FLC and FLCS is represented by the FLC Coordinator and the Electronic Information Officer.
- The FLC provides secretariat services for this Committee.
- The FLC Coordinator tables an annual work plan early in the fiscal year for Committee validation.
- With the CAC Chair, the FLC Coordinator co-authors the CAC annual report to the Federal Libraries Forum and the summary report to the LAC ADM responsible for the FLCS.
5. Relationship with Other FLCS Committees
- Federal Libraries Forum (FLF):
- The CAC Chair and FLC Coordinator report annually in the Spring to the FLF on the work of the CAC.
- Electronic Resources Interest Group (ERIG):
- CAC members take an active interest in ERIG events.
- FLC Pilot Project Steering Committees:
- One representative from the CAC participates on every pilot Steering Committee;
CAC members act as ambassadors for FLC pilots and participate as appropriate.
