Canadian Council of Archives

CCA/LAC Joint Working Group on the National Catalogue (ARCHIVESCANADA.ca)

Introduction

The National Archival Development Program (NADP) identifies five national goals, which archives across Canada will work towards achieving in the next five years. One of these goals is “

to increase access to Canada’s archival holdings through the national catalogue.
The National Archival Development Program (NADP) identifies five national goals, which archives across Canada will work towards achieving in the next five years. One of these goals is “to increase access to Canada’s archival holdings through the national catalogue.”

Library and Archives Canada (LAC) and the Canadian Council of Archives (CCA) will establish a joint working group to assist in planning the further strategic development of the national catalogue.
Objective

To produce a strategic business plan that articulates the vision, objectives, strategies to achieve outcomes, specific targets and performance measures, risks, costs, and required resources in order to:

Increase the breadth and depth of archives described in the national catalogue / ARCHIVESCANADA.ca.
Engage more Canadians in using the national catalogue / ARCHIVESCANADA.ca and archival records.
Increase participation by archival institutions.

Terms of Reference

Purpose: To produce a strategic plan for the national catalogue / ARCHIVESCANADA.ca.

Accountability: To the Board of Directors of the CCA and the Strategic Office of Library and Archives Canada.

Responsibilities:
Prepare by May 15, 2006 an outline for the strategic business plan for the national catalogue. The plan itself will be produced in phased segments.

The plan will include, but not be limited to, the following segments:

Assessment of current state of national catalogue / ARCHIVESCANADA.ca

Collect data on current content, participation, use, costs, and delivery mechanism;
Review and consider previous user studies, reports and recommendations on the national catalogue / ARCHIVESCANADA.ca;
Consult with users to determine how national catalogue / ARCHIVESCANADA.ca can best serve their needs;
Assess the capacity of the archival community to make archival descriptions and content available online.

(Deadline: 15 May 2006)

A presentation of options for the future development of the national catalogue / ARCHIVESCANADA.ca. These options will include, but not be limited to:

Architecture and software for the delivery of the national catalogue / ARCHIVESCANADA.ca;
Strategy to increase the level of participation by archives across Canada;
Framework for regular reporting on all activities related the national catalogue / ARCHIVESCANADA.ca;
Financial and Human Resources plan and timeline for development options.

(Deadline: 1 November 2006)

Develop options for funding and marketing of the national catalogue / ARCHIVESCANADA.ca.

(To be determined.)

Membership: Six members, four drawn from the broad archival community and two from LAC, with a combination of technical and archival expertise.

Chair: To be appointed by the CCA Board of Directors and LAC.

Terms of Office: Each member should serve a minimum one or two year term, as determined by the Board of Directors and LAC to ensure continuity of the Working Group.

Frequency of Meetings: As required at the call of the Committee Chair, and as subject to budgetary resources.

Staff Liaison: CCA Executive Director.