Library and Archives Canada Announces National Heritage Digitization Strategy

Last week, Dr. Guy Berthiaume, the Librarian and Archivist of Canada, today announced the launch of a National Heritage Digitization Strategy (NHDS) that will identify potential digitization projects that could be realized over the next ten years:

"The strategy will ensure the long-term viability of documentary heritage records by encouraging quality, standards-based efforts. It will complement the strategies developed by Canadian memory institutions and assist them in fulfilling their goals, while ensuring that a national plan of action is in place."

"The NHDS will cover published and unpublished analogue material of national, regional and local significance and will draw from the collections of public and private archives, libraries, museums, galleries, associations and other memory institutions."

The following digitization goals have been identified as being achievable in the 10-year timeframe:

• 90% of all published heritage before 1917 and 50% of all monographs published before 1940;
• All scientific journals published by and theses accepted by Canadian universities before 2000;
• All microfilm from memory institutions;
• Selected audio and audio-visual recordings;
• Selected archival fonds and finding aids;
• All historical maps;
• All archival material of genealogical interest.