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Section II - Analysis of Program Activities by Strategic Outcome
For 2010-2011, there is a single Library and Archives Canada strategic outcome, which encompasses everything we do for
Canadians through our three business lines: acquisition, preservation, and resource discovery.
Current and future generations of Canadians have access to their documentary heritage
The operational and management priorities set out in Section I have implications for each of the three
LAC core program activities as well as our internal services. This
Section describes each of those program activities and the strategies, key initiatives, and expected results we intend to
achieve in 2010-2011 in line with the corporate priorities described in Section I. It shows the resources that our organizations
plans to dedicate to each program activity, the performance indicators and targets, as well as the benefits that Canadians
can expect to gain from our efforts.
The table below shows the broad relationships between our three business lines and the existing framework of program
activities.
Current LAC
Program Activities |
LAC business
lines |
Acquisition |
Preservation |
Resource Discovery |
Program Activity 1.1 - Managing the disposition of the Government of Canada records of
continuing value |
Co-lead |
Contribute |
Contribute |
Program Activity 1.2 - Managing the documentary heritage of interest to Canada |
Co-lead |
Lead |
Co-lead |
Program Activity 1.3 - Making the documentary heritage known and accessible for use |
Contribute |
Contribute |
Co-lead |
Program Activity 1.4 - Internal Services |
Support for all three
LAC business lines |
Program Activity 1.1 - Managing the disposition of the Government of Canada records of continuing
value
[D]
This program activity captures the Library and Archives Canada leadership roles and services in relation to Government
of Canada recordkeeping, including activities related to document retention and disposal. The primary ongoing functional
roles align with our responsibility for acquisition and contribute to our preservation and resource discovery business lines.
Those roles involve:
- Supporting the Treasury Board Secretariat in the development of policies and tools that enable federal institutions
to fulfill their recordkeeping obligations and that enable Treasury Board and those federal institutions to track adherence
to those obligations;
- Developing partnerships with federal institutions and issuing Records Disposition Authorities for records that a
federal institution must transfer to LAC;
- Offering federal institutions the advice, tools, and training that enable them to manage their information resources
effectively and aid them to meet their recordkeeping obligations;
- Supporting departments in eliminating legacy documents that are no longer being managed; and
- Administering the Regional Service Centres across Canada that hold documents of business and archival value.
Program Activity: Managing the disposition of the Government of Canada
records of continuing value.
Human Resources (FTEs)
and Planned Spending ($ thousands) |
2010-11 |
2011-12 |
2012-13 |
FTEs |
Planned Spending |
FTEs |
Planned Spending |
FTEs |
Planned Spending |
162 |
6,915.6 |
162 |
6,807.2 |
162 |
6,807.2 |
Note: Please refer to the Expenditure
Profile for explanations on spending trends. |
Program Activity Expected Results |
Performance Indicators |
Targets |
Relevant Government of Canada information is managed by Government of Canada institutions
in a manner that is coherent and demonstrates accountability to support the rights, obligations, and privileges
of Canadians |
Proportion of institutions that receive or maintain ratings of "acceptable" or "strong"
in the Information Management report card |
40 % |
Planning Highlights
Operational Priorities
- Implement a sound recordkeeping capacity among federal institutions to support their accountability and to preserve
their continuing memory.
- Implement the Documentary Heritage Management Framework.
This program activity demonstrates the kind of comprehensive analysis and integration that modernization is bringing
to all three LAC business lines and across all program activities.
The LAC approach to the new government recordkeeping regime implicitly
reflects all four guiding principles of the Documentary Heritage Management Framework (significance, sufficiency, sustainability,
society). Action under this program activity will take place through the ongoing activities listed above and through support
for the implementation of the new government-wide recordkeeping regime.
- During 2010-2011, our training and awareness-building activities will increase understanding of the new recordkeeping
regime and support effective implementation of its requirements by departments and agencies.
- The first phase of the LAC Trusted Digital Repository (TDR)
will become operational on April 1, 2010. With the TDR, we will
be able to acquire electronic materials directly from government departments and other creators. Our holdings of government
records in digital formats will expand to meet the requirements of the new recordkeeping regime.
LAC's Trusted Digital Repository Initiative
Digital records come in many formats and are based on many technologies. The challenge for
LAC and other memory institutions is to acquire and manage digital
records from many sources and in diverse formats-and to do so in ways that make those records accessible over the long
term, even as technologies continue to change. That challenge extends to ensuring that clients can be sure that each
digital record they access is authentic and unchanged since it was acquired.
The establishment and operation by LAC of a Trusted Digital
Repository (TDR) is a response to that challenge. A TDR provides
a framework, system, and tools to manage reliable, long-term access to digital resources, starting for
LAC with Government of Canada records and electronic publications
received under legal deposit. It is organized to address challenges such as the volatile nature of digital objects and
ongoing changes in the information technologies used to create and access them.
LAC is putting the elements in place to serve as a
TDR and is working with partners in government and outside such
as Canadian libraries, archives, museums, and public institutions to create a network of
TDRs. TDR
development by LAC and these partners is grounded in internationally
established models. It is positioning them to receive digital material from creators from all sectors of society in
efficient, automated ways.
What does this mean for Canadians?
- LAC can ensure that despite technological obsolescence,
Canadians will have perpetual access to their digital documentary heritage.
- LAC can be more proactive in engaging content creators
and providers in the digital realm.
- Researchers will have enhanced access to a richer resource of digital assets and can have confidence in the
integrity and authenticity of the documents.
Benefits for Canadians
- Implementation of the new recordkeeping regime across the Government of Canada will allow Canadians to exercise
their rights as citizens to have access to government records of business or archival value.
- A focus on retaining only records of business or archival value and the use of digital tools will facilitate preservation
and resource discovery of the records that are retained, enabling timely responses to access to information and privacy
requests under Program Activity 1.3.
- The commitment to store only records of ongoing business or archival value will enable federal institutions, including
LAC, to control document storage conditions and costs.
Program Activity 1.2 - Managing the documentary heritage of interest to Canada
[D]
This program activity includes or influences all three business lines of Library and Archives Canada. As currently structured
in the Program Activity Architecture and based on traditional LAC
roles, the program activity involves a range of contributions as shown below.
Acquisition
- LAC is the steward of a collection of published and unpublished
materials in a variety of formats acquired through legal deposit, agreements with government institutions, and selected
private materials purchased or received by donation.
- Our acquisition activities extend to items such as personal and political documents of national importance, theses
from Canadian universities and portraits for the Portrait Gallery of Canada program.
- Acquisition strategies seek to build a relevant collection that includes items reflecting many social, economic,
political, and other aspects of life in a country with significant linguistic and cultural diversity.
Preservation
- We manage materials entering the collection to ensure their long-term preservation and accessibility through policies,
procedures, and programs including storage, conservation, restoration, and copying.
- Our preservation activities are tailored to the needs and priorities arising from a diverse collection in formats
such as motion pictures, sound recordings, books, manuscripts, maps, philatelic items, documentary art, and photographs.
- We represent a centre of preservation expertise and advice in Canada, backed up by operation of critical infrastructure
needed for preservation of an extremely varied collection.
Description
- Effective description of items in the collection enables us to enhance Canadians' access to and understanding of
those items, in ways that meet their needs and preferences.
- This program activity includes key functions such as description, organization, and indexing. Our products, such
as databases and catalogues, are tools that enable people to find what they want in the collection, whether they are
searching in person or online.
- Our description responsibilities include the creation of standard bibliographic and metadata descriptions and standardized
archival classifications and descriptions that we and other Canadian memory institutions, such as specialized libraries
and provincial archives, use.
Program Activity: Managing the documentary heritage of interest to
Canada.
Human Resources (FTEs)
and Planned Spending ($ thousands) |
2010-11 |
2011-12 |
2012-13 |
FTEs |
Planned Spending |
FTEs |
Planned Spending |
FTEs |
Planned Spending |
492 |
64,370.2 |
492 |
62,286.0 |
492 |
44,058.7 |
Note: Please refer to the Expenditure
Profile for explanations on spending trends. |
Program Activity Expected Results |
Performance Indicators |
Targets |
The management of the LAC collection
is improved to enhance long-term access and to better reflect the Canadian experience. |
Effectiveness of the Collection Management Strategy as measured by: the extent of development
and implementation of a more strategic approach to our acquisition. |
100 % of the acquisitions excluding legislated acquisitions |
Indicators and targets are being modernized to focus
on acquisition goals, (such as the volume of documentary heritage acquired), on preservation goals, (such as the
percentage of the collection in acceptable storage conditions or at risk) and on resource discovery goals, (such
as the percentage of the collection with adequate descriptions and the extent to which clients are able to find
what they want.) |
Canada's Economic Action Plan (CEAP)
Canada's Economic Action Plan allocated $3 million to Library and Archives Canada ($1.4 million in 2009-2010; and $1.6
million in 2010-2011). This funding is supporting renovations and improvements to
LAC preservation and processing laboratories.
LAC Preservation Centre
Renovations are taking place to several preservation and digitization laboratories in our Preservation Centre to
respond to the preservation needs of digital media as well as to address our analogue media preservation needs. The
improvements range from the replacement of air conditioning systems to updating the electrical system. An improved telecommunications
system is being installed to meet digital media requirements. Other modifications are enabling us to make better structure
use of existing laboratories and to consolidate space. The work will enhance laboratory spaces for multiple preservation
purposes allowing for increased flexibility and efficiencies to position us to deal with new opportunities with partners
and to adapt to future requirements and needs.
Place de la Cité
We are adapting several archival processing laboratories in our Place de la Cité facility to improve their mechanical
and security systems. The modernization of these laboratories includes modifying the heating, ventilation, and air conditioning
systems in order to maintain the environmental levels required under international archival standards. The security
systems will be enhanced so that top-secret level government records can be received and processed. To date,
LAC has been unable to accept top-secret level records for permanent
storage resulting in a backlog.
Planning Highlights
Operational Priorities
- Implement the Documentary Heritage Management Framework
While ongoing activities continue during 2010-2011, we will further define and implement the directions set out in the
Documentary Heritage Management Framework as they relate to this program activity. In particular, the program activity will
be modernized through the creation of a model that ensures the acquisition of the most relevant materials, that guarantees
the preservation of both digital and analogue documents, and that helps to make our continuing memory accessible, both now
and in the future. Modernization acknowledges that these three business lines are interconnected, and that all program activities
must be integrated in order to achieve their optimum potential.
- Acquisition is largely about finding the most meaningful documentary heritage in a world of abundant information.
Modernization will take on the challenge by developing an acquisition strategy that allows the institution to develop
an integrated, representative, and collaborative collection of documentary heritage. The strategy will be based on the
four guiding principles described in Section I: significance, sufficiency, sustainability, and society. It will ask
the following questions: Does the material best represent the development of Canadian society and its identities, cultures,
values, and experiences? Does the material allow LAC to fulfill
its mandate by contributing to the adequate quantity and quality of a collection? Does
LAC have the capacity to preserve it and make it accessible over
time? And does the material reflect, serve, and benefit Canadian society?
- Library and Archives Canada holds a vast collection of materials in a wide variety of formats. The combination of
legacy materials in traditional formats as well as new and emerging media has put acute pressure on
LAC's existing capacity to preserve it. It challenges our current
organizational model, our skills, and our infrastructure. The development of the Documentary Heritage Management Framework
ensures that preservation is a key element in acquisition decisions, it supports digitization as a standard preservation
practice, and it enables LAC to play a key role in preservation
at the national level, in consultation with stakeholders. Modernization will ensure the sustainability of Canada's documentary
heritage.
- Citizens now expect to find information easily, immediately, and autonomously. Their behaviour and expectations
reflect the prominence and reach of increasingly sophisticated and democratic search engines and social networks. With
so many users tagging and describing their own material, it is vital that
LAC improves the visibility and usability of its resources on
the Web by focusing on user-generated descriptions as well as traditional ones. Through Modernization, the descriptive
aspect of resource discovery will increase the presence, visibility, and relevance of
LAC's collection. The access side of resource discovery is discussed
in Program Activity 1.3.
During 2010-2011, much of our work will draw on the results of a set of "Pathfinder projects" implemented in 2009-2010.
Those projects test the practical application of the four guiding principles for documentary heritage decision making at
LAC (significance, sufficiency, sustainability, and society).
For example, one Pathfinder explores the use of digital technology to preserve and improve access to archived newspapers.
Another Pathfinder considers the development of an integrated collection development/management plan for all Aboriginal
information resources across all acquisition streams. A third Pathfinder involves work with stakeholders to improve the
completeness, accuracy, and currency of National Union Catalogues for library and archival materials. The results of these
and other initiatives will guide us in moving forward. The Pathfinder projects also serve as mitigation measures to avoid
risks that Modernization may raise over time.
- The new acquisition orientation instrument will guide acquisition strategies and decisions beginning in 2010-2011
in line with the four guiding principles of significance, sufficiency, sustainability, and society.
- A new preservation orientation instrument will guide strategies and decisions related to all preservation functions
during 2010-2011. It also will support improved resource discovery.
Another element of work under this program activity will be our continued emphasis on building the digital capacity for
preservation and access. We will also continue some infrastructure initiatives that will enhance our preservation capacity.
- With the launch of the first phase of LAC's Trusted Digital
Repository (TDR), as described under Program Activity 1.1, publishers will be able to submit electronic material to
LAC online for long-term preservation and access to that material.
We also will consult with stakeholders on plans for future TDR
phases.
- Our ongoing commitment to digitizing items in our collection will continue. For example, the second year of a five-year
audio-visual strategy will bring us closer to our goal of copying up to 130,000 hours of audio and video material in
the collection from obsolete audio-visual formats to digital file formats.
- A new Collection Storage Facility will house the preservation collection and the newspaper collection in the environmental
conditions these fragile items require and enable us to use modern storage practices. The new facility will improve
our efficiency as we vacate five different buildings.
- Completion of our Nitrate Preservation Facility will provide a safe and specialized preservation environment required
for nitrate-based films and photo negatives, as recommended by the Auditor General.
Benefits for Canadians
- As we define and implement the Documentary Heritage Management Framework and pursue the key strategies and initiatives
described under this program activity, the collection will increasingly reflect the diverse Canadian experience and
respond to Canadians' broad variety of interests and needs in terms of documentary heritage.
- Canadians will enjoy online access to an expanded amount of items in the collection; whether those are items we
have digitized or are new digital items that we acquire.
- Canada's audio-visual heritage will be better preserved and more accessible to Canadians.
- Acquisition and preservation of Canadian documentary heritage will be better integrated and managed more efficiently
with clear strategies to identify and address the highest priorities facing that heritage.
Program Activity 1.3 - Making the documentary heritage known and accessible for use
[D]
Everything in the LAC collection is intended for use by those
interested in Canada, whether onsite, through collaboration with partners, or online through
LAC's website [www.collectionscanada.gc.ca/collection/index-e.html].
Activities under this program seek to meet the needs of users who want to find information easily, quickly, and autonomously.
It includes a diverse range of functions.
- Based on the needs of a diverse clientele, including researchers and other memory institutions across Canada and
internationally, LAC offers information and consultation services,
research services, and lends items from the collection. These services are accessible onsite or by telephone, mail,
e-mail, and Internet. One of the largest such areas of support relates to genealogical research by Canadians and people
with family roots in Canada.
- LAC makes archival documents of the Government of Canada
accessible to clients for research purposes. LAC also meets clients'
needs under the Access to Information Act and the Privacy Act.
- LAC develops and offers public programs to provide insights
into and context for items in the collection, enabling a deeper understanding of Canada and its stories. The programs
include exhibitions and publications, as well as the work of the Portrait Gallery of Canada program. These programs
encourage understanding, learning, creativity, and they are a celebration of Canadian history and cultural expression
through Canada's documentary heritage.
- LAC coordinates the library services in federal departments
and agencies and facilitates access to information. LAC encourages
the use of consistent and government-wide solutions to the operational challenges facing libraries.
- LAC also provides financial support to Canadian archives
and related organizations to build their preservation and resource discovery capacities through the National Archives
Development Program (NADP).
Program Activity: Making the documentary heritage known and accessible
for use.
Human Resources (FTEs)
and Planned Spending ($ thousands) |
2010-11 |
2011-12 |
2012-13 |
FTEs |
Planned Spending |
FTEs |
Planned Spending |
FTEs |
Planned Spending |
225 |
19,483.0 |
225 |
19,432.4 |
225 |
19,432.4 |
Note: Please refer to the Expenditure
Profile for explanations on spending trends. |
Program Activity Expected Results |
Performance Indicators |
Targets |
Canadians are aware of LAC as an
authoritative and innovative source for content and expertise related to Canada's documentary heritage. |
- Level of client satisfaction with responses to their inquiries
- Percentage of clients who report being able to find what they are looking for
|
75-80 % of clients who contact us online, by mail or through exhibitions are satisfied
with their responses.
Website 55-60 % |
Indicators and targets are being modernized to focus
on resource discovery goals as demonstrated through the revised performance indicators |
Planning Highlights
Operational Priorities
- Implement the Documentary Heritage Management Framework
While ongoing activities continue during 2010-2011, we will further define and implement the directions set out in the
Documentary Heritage Management Framework as they relate to this program activity. In particular, modernization will update
both the descriptive aspect of resource discovery, and access itself, by increasing the presence, visibility, and relevance
of Canada's documentary heritage to current and potential clients. While resource discovery lies at the core of this program
activity, both acquisition and preservation strategies are also integrated into the modernized approach to "making known."
- Client focus is the key to this program activity, making resource discovery a vital function in modernizing
LAC. We will develop a framework for resource discovery that
includes a new approach to description (described under Program Activity 1.2), as well as a number of interdependent
projects designed to improve the visibility of our resources and facilitate effective service delivery.
- Building on the new approach to description under modernization described under Program Activity 1.2, we will move
LAC descriptions (known technically as "metadata") from paper
to the Web, expose data to search engines and better understand and engage user communities.
- LAC will gain an enhanced capacity to share our holdings
with Canadians and improve their access to documentary heritage materials about Canada by modernizing our approach to
public programming, information and consultation services, research resources, digitization, federal library services,
and those activities that support the resource discovery capacities of other memory institutions. Taken together, they
will encourage understanding and learning of Canada's realities, history, diversity, and cultural expression as mirrored
in our documentary heritage.
During 2010-2011, we will make progress on Modernization or through actions consistent with it under this program activity
in many ways.
- We will begin to implement a resource discovery framework during 2010-2011 with the aim of delivering client-centred
services. Work will include a review of our service delivery model, enhanced national reach for
LAC through innovative use of new media and increased delivery
of services through collaboration and partnering.
- A new service strategy and related components will be implemented, and over a multi-year schedule, services will
be redesigned based on the direction set out in the Documentary Heritage Management Framework, ensuring appropriate
tracking and reporting on service results and outcomes.
- In 2010-2011, Library and Archives Canada will pursue implementation of the Portrait Gallery of Canada program's
three-year planning strategy, with the objective to bring the national portrait collection to Canadians across the country
through travelling exhibitions and online and public programming activities. Key initiatives will include two travelling
exhibitions to national venues (Karsh: Image Maker developed in partnership with Canada Science and Technology
Museum and Beyond Likeness: Contemporary Canadian Portraits), two Portraits in the Street installations, and
an exhibition of the Four Indian Kings-the earliest known oil portraits of Aboriginal people in North America, marking
the tercentennial of their historic visit to London in 1710.
- An Assistant Deputy Minister Task Force on the Future of Federal Library Service will support the development of
a pan-government approach to managing published information in support of departmental and government objectives.
Benefits for Canadians
- More Canadians will have improved access to our collection, whether online, through other digital delivery forms
or through LAC collaboration with partners.
- Canadians will receive services that are aligned with their identified needs and that are cost effective.
- Analysis of client feedback will enable us to improve service and responsiveness to client needs.
Program Activity 1.4 - Internal Services
[D]
Internal services make fundamental contributions to the achievement of the three
LAC business lines set out in Section I and through all three program
activities described previously in this section. They ensure compliance with Government of Canada legislation, regulations,
and policies. In 2009, LAC was reorganized to support Modernization
with impacts on internal services. Key internal service organizations now are:
- The Office of the Librarian and Archivist of Canada (including Internal Audit and the Chief Financial Officer)
- Corporate Management (including Finance and Accommodations, Human Resources and Organizational Innovation, Information
Technology, and the Strategic Office)
- Office of the Corporate Secretary (including Corporate Security Services)
- Communications Office
- Web Services
Program Activity: Internal Services.
Human Resources (FTEs)
and Planned Spending ($ thousands) |
2010-11 |
2011-12 |
2012-13 |
FTEs |
Planned Spending |
FTEs |
Planned Spending |
FTEs |
Planned Spending |
230 |
29,516.4 |
230 |
29,460.2 |
230 |
29,460.2 |
Note: Please refer to the Expenditure
Profile for explanations on spending trends. |
Planning Highlights
Management Priorities
- Manage the change within LAC needed to support our modernization
through the Documentary Heritage Management Framework.
Internal services groups such as human resources, information technology and Web services, infrastructure, communications
and other corporate support functions are specifically identified as "enablers" or as "enabling sectors." They ensure that
LAC has the people, infrastructure, technologies, and supports for
progress under the other program activities.
While the ongoing activities of the enabling sectors will continue during 2010-2011, this program activity will be the
focal point for the development and implementation of strategies to support Modernization of enabling activities. This will
include:
- Better coordination of internal services roles with LAC programs
and the use of service standards and service agreements will support Modernization. This will lead to initiatives such
as a long-term capital plan for LAC and the most effective use
of information technology and Web service resources.
- We will develop and pursue talent management strategies to ensure that we have the skilled expertise needed to carry
out our responsibilities in workplaces that are likely to evolve with Modernization.
- We intend to ensure that we meet government-wide commitments and standards for accountability in areas such as finance,
planning, and reporting through enhanced corporate approaches to critical processes, development of tools for
LAC managers to use to meet their accountability obligations
and the identification of ways to gain economies of scale in LAC
operations.
Benefits for Canadians
- Facilitation of programs and services that meet the needs and interests of Canadians.
- Effective, efficient management of LAC activities.