What's New

What's New

The following does Not constitute a call for tender or request for proposal.

Scanning and indexing project with Library and Archives Canada

Background:

Library and Archives Canada (LAC) collects and preserves Canada's documentary heritage, and makes it accessible to all Canadians. This heritage includes publications, archival records, sound and audiovisual materials, photographs, artworks, and electronic documents such as websites. As part of its mandate, LAC works closely with other archives and libraries to acquire and share these materials as widely as possible.

LAC is committed to making as much of its collection as possible available online. LAC has determined that genealogical records are a priority.

The following URL provides additional information on LAC's programs:
www.collectionscanada.gc.ca/index-e.html

The Generations Network (TGN) is an American company based in Provo Utah, which specializes in the production of genealogical information for its subscribers. It is an expert in watermarking, digitization and indexing records related to genealogical information and skilled at displaying this information online through its various websites, including ancestry.ca, rootsweb.com, genealogy.com. They have a substantial infrastructure to support these efforts. This includes very fast web access, databases of information. Their experience with Archives includes the national archives of the National Archives and Records Administration Office of the United States and the National Archives of England and Wales. They have a demonstrated commitment to and experience in handling original fragile records for the purposes of digitization. They are capable of high quality scanning which can create a true copy of the original.

Objectives:

To achieve their mutual objectives, LAC and TGN have identified an opportunity for collaboration in the further enhancement of each other's ability to make genealogical information accessible. LAC is particularly interested in forming a collaborative arrangement with TGN, a company familiar with this environment and specialized in the scanning and indexing of original historical documents, microfiche copies and microfilm copies and dissemination of such information through a number of proprietary web sites.

This notice provides interested parties with an opportunity to comment on the proposed arrangement, including interest in similar projects.

The Scope of the Proposed Project Includes:

• Preparation of selected record sets (for example the Canadian National Census (CNC) 1861, CNC 1871, CNC 1881, and CNC 1891) for digitization.
• Digitization following LAC's standards, including any alterations to a digital copy to overcome problems in the original document (e.g. colour fading or water damage).
• Indexing of key terms to assist the searching for information by the general public, researchers and any other interested people adding to TGN's extensive international databases. These indices will be available on TGN and/or LAC websites.
• Watermarking which will clearly identify the source of the images without harming their integrity.
• Hosting of images by TGN and LAC on their respective websites. These will be available at no charge on the website(s) of LAC. Reflecting the importance that both TGN and LAC place on sharing the records that are digitized under the project, both LAC and TGN will have access and ability to display the digital images throughout the project.
• Shared marketing activities including:
  • joint public relations/communications
  • mutual recognition of the efforts of the other party
• Support to other institutions like archives and libraries wishing access to TGN's and/or LAC's websites (including collectionscanada.gc.ca; free access to Ancestry.ca).
• The initial time frame of the project for the first record sets is expected to be very short (e.g. 9-12 months to provide Internet access to the Census Records). It is anticipated that both TGN and LAC will have the ability to put the indices and images on their websites for a minimum of 20 years.
• The project could be continued beyond the initial record set into other areas. No record sets have yet been agreed to be part of LAC's and TGN's project.
• Record sets will not only be selected for their interest for Canadians but will be evaluated based on their physical condition and related operational requirements.

Outcomes:
Digital images of selected record sets
Indices of selected record sets
Internet Access to these images and indices

Estimated Cost:
This is a non-monetary project, both parties contributing expertise, knowledge and resources towards a shared and common objective. Both LAC and TGN are responsible for costs associated with their portions of the project.

Privacy Concerns:
Only records which are publicly available will be digitized under this project. TGN and LAC will fully respect the Privacy Act, including conducting appropriate privacy impact assessments.

For More Information:

Doug Rimmer
Library and Archives Canada
Programs and Services Sector
395 Wellington Street
Ottawa, Ontario
Canada K1A 0N4
Telephone: (613) 992-7059
Fax: (613) 947-2706
E-mail: webservices@bac-lac.gc.ca

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For historical information visit: Archived What's New