Canadian Library Associations Advocacy Initiatives

Partnership: The Canadian Journal of Library and Information Practice and Research has just published an article called Libraries On the Hill: An Exploratory Study of Canadian Library Associations Advocacy Initiatives.

It takes a look at the areas of advocacy of three major Canadian associations, the Canadian Association of Research Libraries, the Canadian Urban Libraries Council, and the Canadian Federation of Library Associations (CFLA):

"Data was collected from a variety of sources, including the associations’ websites, records of federal government consultations and lobbying activities. A thematic analysis was conducted using open coding and visual theme mapping, and the results analyzed using Schein’s model for understanding organizational culture. The results provide important insights into publicly available advocacy work by these associations since 2016. By providing the first step of quantifying advocacy work by Canadian library associations, this study lays the groundwork for further investigation to explore the impact of library association advocacy and to identify successful patterns and strategies for advocacy initiatives in the future."

The Canadian Association of Law Libraries is a member organization of the CFLA.

Canadian Library and Archives Community Expresses Solidarity With Ukraine

The Librarianship.ca website published a long list of solidarity statements by Canadian library, archives, and museum expressing support for professional colleagues and the people of Ukraine as they face a horrific and unprovoked assault by the Russian military.

It includes the Canadian Association of Research Libraries, the Canadian Federation of Library Associations, the Canadian Research Knowledge Network, the Ontario Library Association, and many others.

Statements from the Canadian Library World On Racism, Injustice, and Violence

The website Librarianship.ca has put together a list of statements made by the Canadian library, archives, and museum community on racism, injustice, and violence.

The statements and commitments come from local, regional and national groups.

There is also a list of statements from US and international library organizations.

Visible Minority Librarians of Canada Network Statement on Anti-Black Racism

In the wake of the recent murder of George Floyd by Minneapolis police officers, the Visible Minority Librarians of Canada Network has published a Statement of Solidarity to condemn violence and racism against Black people and People of Colour:

"We call on library and information services leaders, staff, and advocates of all races and backgrounds to acknowledge what is happening in their societies, to have open dialogues with their staff and institutional leaders, and to design and implement policies on equity, diversity and inclusion. We call on everyone to fight hatred and racism against Black people, against Indigenous peoples, and against all People of Colour and to continue to enforce that racism has no place in our institutions, our policies, our practices, our physical or virtual spaces, or our behaviours."

Statements From Libraries and Library Organizations Re: Racism and Increased Violence

Gary Price who runs the infoDOCKET website is compiling a list of Statements From Libraries and Library Organizations Re: Racism and Increased Violence in the context of the ongoing protests against anti-Black racism and police brutality in the US and other countries.

The list will be updated.

One of the libraries included is the Toronto Public Library.

Its statement, which explains the institution's "Commitment to Ending Structural Racism and Building a More Equitable Society", includes a Black Lives Matter reading list that suggests many Canadian and international materials for people who want to understand more.

Canadian Federation of Library Associations National Forum Paper on AI and Intellectual Freedom

The Canadian Federation of Library Associations to which the Canadian Association of Libraries is affiliated held its first ever National Forum in Regina, Saskatchewan on May 2, 2018.

Forum participants discussed and helped formulate recommendations for the library community on the two issues of artificial intelligence and intellectual freedom.

On AI, the National Forum Paper stated:

"A clear consensus among working groups was the need for education, AI literacy and awareness among MIS and MLIS students and library staff so that we may be leaders in our own education and the education of our patrons. There is a strong desire for education and a curriculum that includes information on the risks of sharing information, privacy concerns, informed consent, algorithmic literacy, skills training and basics such as incorporating how Facebook uses your information into ‘How to use Facebook’ sessions. Table discussions included calls for position statements and policy positions from CFLA-FCAB to start a conversation about the issues and articulate opportunities and limitations, risks and benefits to inform policy."

On intellectual freedom, the paper recommended:

"The common theme that arose from the table discussions was the need, at all levels from national to local, for all libraries as well as CFLA-FCAB member associations, for a toolkit to deal with both proactive and reactive action on this topic. The toolkit might comprise: 

• Templates for policy and procedure, going beyond traditional materials reconsideration requests and including programs, room bookings, etc.
• Media, communications and advocacy training and templates as well as access to expert advice
• Program and collection development tools to balance controversial expression by facilitating opposing sides and marginalized voices; this may include guidance on conversation programming, on displays, and on collection balance. 
• Tools for educating staff, public, governing boards, and administrators on libraries’ support intellectual freedom 
• Guidance and templates on responding to specific challenges, including a mechanism to express national library community support, and sample conversation talking points for acknowledging a complainant’s valid concerns
• If possible, a dedicated fund to support smaller institutions’ expenses in defending an intellectual freedom challenge."

Lawyer Moms of America Against Trump Immigration Policy

In news from south of our borders:

"A new group called Lawyer Moms of America, formed to oppose separation of immigrant families, has quickly grown to 10,000 members, thanks to social media. " 

"The group is planning a Day of Action on June 29, even though President Donald Trump signed an executive order Wednesday to end family separations."

"Lawyer Moms says the executive order is silent on the status of more than 2,345 immigrant children who are already separated from their families, and the group is urging they be reunited. And the group is concerned about families being held indefinitely in what could amount to internment camps."

Earlier this week, the American Library Association mentioned a whole list of other organizations fighting the Trump administration's cruel anti-immigrant policy:

“We express our sincere appreciation and stand in solidarity with those of like mind including ACLU, Al Otro Lado, Asylum Seeker Advocacy Project, Border Angels, CARA Family Detention Pro Bono Project, Immigrant Defender's Law Network , KIND (Kids in Need of Legal Defense), Pueblo Sin Fronteras, REFORMA: Children in Crisis, Refugee and Immigrant Center for Education and Legal Services, Texas Civil Rights Project, The Florence Project and Refugee Rights Project, The Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights, The Young Center of Children's Immigrant Rights, and Together Rising.”

Send them money.

The American Association of Law Libraries has also reacted this week.

Amnesty International has declared that it "considers intentionally inflicting severe mental suffering on families for coercive purposes a form of torture".

Canadian Library Association 2014 Advocacy Review

The Canadian Library Association (CLA) has published a short review of its advocacy initiatives for 2014.

These included:

• the promotion of Canadian Library Month
• statements on the funding of prison libraries, budgets cuts to Statistics Canada, the federal cybercrime bill, rural broadband access and on the Royal Society of Canada report on libraries
• continuing concerns relating to budget cuts at Library and Archives Canada
• the federal government's Open Government initiative
• copyright
• federal pre-budget consultations

Canadian Association of Law Libraries Response to Closure of University of Saskatchewan Law Library

This is a follow-up to the Library Boy post of May 8, 2014 called University of Saskatchewan Closing Its Law Library.

Annette Demers, President fo the Canadian Association of Law Libraries, has written a public letter to Ken Ladd, Acting Dean of Libraries at the University.

Here is the text of the letter:

Dear Acting Dean Ladd,
 

We write to you today with grave concerns and sadness about your future plans to consolidate the branch libraries, including the law library, at the University of Saskatchewan.

It is our opinion that any decision to close, or to dissociate qualified staff from the law library undermines the delivery of educational services to students within the College of Law JD program.  
 
According to the 2009 Report of the Federation of Law Societies on the Common Law Degree:
 
“The law school must maintain a law library in electronic and/or paper form that permits it to foster and attain its teaching, learning and research objectives.”   

Lawyers only do justice to their clients when their advice and actions are supported by the best information possible.  The Federation report recognizes the increasing need for legal research skills to be instilled in our law school graduates.  Accordingly some law schools have actually been improving their curriculum in this area.  A robust legal research and writing program can only be successful with dedicated law librarians selecting, organizing, and enabling access to the best information services and resources. 

As you are no doubt aware, Canada’s legal system is based on a common law system where precedent is foundational.  In other words, Canada’s legal system has historical underpinnings, evidenced by a complex array of primary historical legal materials.  Although a few collections of primary materials are available online, a substantial portion of these materials are not available online at all.  These are the collections that you are proposing to put into remote storage,  out of the direct reach of your law students, faculty and the local bar in Saskatchewan.
 
In most provinces, and in particular, in Saskatchewan, the university law library is the primary archive of provincial legal materials that are needed by not only faculty and students, but also by the local bar, judiciary and the public.  In other words, your law library is the provincial steward of legal materials that are essential to our democracy.  The ownership of vital print resources is enduring but once removed or destroyed, print resources can never be replaced.
 
It is important to understand that e-books are not generally widely available from law publishers as of now.  This means that both print and digital materials are still relevant, and will be for some time yet.  The bulk of historical primary materials for Canada are not yet digitized, and current secondary sources for law are by no means available for free online. Although online resources are very attractive as space savers and convenience searching, if their cost becomes prohibitive in future and licences not renewed, or if service providers disappear, all access to such resources is entirely lost, despite the fact that they are paid for each year. Some libraries in Saskatchewan may also have reduced their print collections based on the knowledge that your library holds those titles.
 
This shifting landscape of access to legal information makes the role of the law librarian more vital today than ever, as they are the only ones in our institutions charged with the task of staying abreast of these changes and helping users navigate the complexity of the subject matter.  Ultimately, they are most vital in ensuring that the next generation of lawyers have sufficient knowledge and skills to carry forward with them in to their professional careers.
 
A decision to consolidate services outside of the law library will have significant impact on access to justice in Saskatchewan, not just at your University. There are several law libraries in the country which have made modifications to their operations so as to withstand substantial and crippling budget cuts, while continuing to provide vital services, support and teaching to their faculty and students.  Closure of a library is a low value option.  Instead, budget cutbacks are an opportunity for us to think creatively about how best to align our services more closely with user needs.  Diverting money from collections (just in case) to services (just in time) is a viable alternative that should be explored.
 
We sincerely hope that you will consider these points in your deliberations.  Please understand that decisions such as these have far-reaching impacts on our profession as well.  As library leaders, we must be cognizant of the impact of our decisions on other libraries both now and into the future across the country.
 
Sincerely,
Annette Demers BA LLB MLIS
President, CALL/ACBD
 
AND
 
John Papadopoulos and Jeanne Maddix, Chairs
Canadian Council of Academic Law Library Directors

26 Canadian Library Associations Set the Foundations for Joint Advocacy Strategy

In late March, the Canadian Association of Law Libraries (CALL) called a meeting of library associations to come up with a joint advocacy strategy to raise the national public profile of the services and expertise offered by libraries, librarians, library technicians, archivists and information professionals.

13 associations were physically represented at the meeting at the University of Windsor. People from 13 other associations joined via conference call.

As CALL President Annette Demers explained:

"We all know what is happening to our libraries in this country; we know the challenges that libraries face in the 21st century. At the same time, we inherently know that the skill set of library professionals is very relevant to the needs of an information age. The question that we need to grapple with as library leaders, is, 'How can we work together to wake people up to this reality? What can we do to make sure those libraries, and all of the knowledge that library professionals bring, is optimized instead of abandoned - in today’s digital information explosion?' "

The next steps include organizing a working group whose mandate would begin with the following tasks:

• Compile a list of advocacy initiatives and tools that are currently available in partner associations, so as to avoid duplication and redundancy;
• Compile a list of resources that associations are able to contribute to the initiative;
• Prepare a collaboration plan for consideration;
• Prepare a memorandum of understanding for signature by like-minded associations.

December 2013 Issue of The National Voice (Canadian Library Association)

The December 2013 Issue of The National Voice, the advocacy newsletter of the Canadian Library Association (CLA), is available online.

It has news about:

• Canada Post's special library postal rates
• a University of Toronto MOOC on library advocacy
• the CLA's positions on the Canadian government's announcement it wants to monitor Canadians' social media activities, open access, open government, telecommunications privacy and the 2014 federal budget

Canadian Library Association Launches Advocacy Newsletter

The Canadian Library Association (CLA) has just published the first issue of The National Voice, a newsletter devoted to the association's national advocacy activities.

The first issue provides an overview of our activities for January to May 2013.

May 2013 Campaign Update of Save Library and Archives Canada

The Canadian Association of University Teachers (CAUT) launched a campaign last year called Save Library and Archives Canada (LAC) because of its fear that recent federal budget cuts would hamper the institution's many collections and activities.

The campaign recently published a May 2013 Campaign Update.

 The Canadian Association of Law Libraries voted at its annual general meeting in May 2012 to support the campaign.

Law Library Association Endorses Joint Statement on Next Library and Archives Canada Head

The Canadian Association of Law Libraries (CALL) has endorsed the joint statement of close to 20 provincial and national library and archival associations concerning the qualifications needed by the person who will be chosen as the next head of Library and Archives Canada.

Daniel Caron resigned as head of the institution last May.

In its cover letter to Wayne Wouters, Clerk of the Privy Council and Secretary to the Cabinet, CALL President Annette Demers writes:

"A country’s national library is the cornerstone of its documentary and literary history, and Library and Archives Canada (LAC) is a valuable institution for our professional communities, with a broad mandate to fulfill. While LAC is a department of the Government of Canada, with mandated responsibilities to government, it is also, and must continue to be, a functioning library and archive in the service of all Canadians and to our democracy. " 

"In order to meet its mandate under the Library and Archives of Canada Act, the institution must have a leader who believes in the fundamental services provided by libraries and archives, and a demonstrated ability to bring these communities together in support of LAC’s mandate. This requires credibility with the national community of library and archival professionals, as well as the internal support of a management team of talented and dedicated professionals from the library and archival communities who together can lead LAC into the 21st century."

Earlier Library Boy posts about the recent changes at LAC include:

• Canadian Library Association Dismayed by Federal Budget Impact (May 2, 2012): "The Canadian Library Association (CLA) today released a statement criticizing the 2012 federal budget which it believes will hit federal libraries and Libraries and Archives Canada very hard."
• September 2012 Campaign Update of Save Library and Archives Canada (September 27, 2012): "The Canadian Association of University Teachers (CAUT) launched a campaign this year called Save Library and Archives Canada (LAC) because of its fear that recent federal budget cuts would hamper the institution's many collections and activities. The campaign has just published a September 2012 Campaign Update (...)" 
• Library and Archives Canada Terminates Inter-Library Loan Service (October 31, 2012): "The CLA Govt Library & Professionals Network, part of the Canadian Library Association, has published an announcement from Library and Archives Canada (LAC) that the institution is putting an end to its inter-library loan service in the next few weeks. The LAC's service has been an indispensable tool nationwide for researchers and libraries. "
• CLA Member Advocacy Survey: The Impact of Federal Budget Cuts on Canada’s Libraries (December 15, 2012): "The Canadian Library Association (CLA) has released the results of its survey on the impact of federal budget cuts (...) More than 400 individuals provided detailed responses to the survey questions. They overwhelmingly agreed that the cuts will impact both local and national library services, with 98% of respondents indicating concern. Areas most likely to be affected were identified, and include: access to material/information, research, interlibrary loans, Community Access Program, preservation, staffing cuts, digital issues."
• Canadian Association of Law Libraries Urges Reconsideration of LAC Code of Conduct (March 27, 2013): "Earlier this month, it was revealed that Library and Archives Canada (LAC) management was proposing a new code of conduct, a move that sparked a lot of controversy and some apprehension that information professionals were perhaps being muzzled at one of Canada's most important national cultural heritage institutions at a time when it is facing cutbacks and a change in its service mix. In particular, many objections were made to the description of traditional public engagements such as teaching and going to librarian and archivist conferences as potentially 'high risk activities' that may pose a problem under the code's provisions."

Library and Archival Associations Issue Joint Statement on Qualities of New Head of Library and Archives Canada

Some 19 Canadian library and archival associations have issued a joint statement on the qualities the new head of Library and Archives Canada should have. Daniel Caron resigned earlier this month from that position:

"Over the past week, the Canadian Library Association has collaborated with other national and provincial associations to consider the qualities we believe are necessary for a successful candidate to the position of Librarian and Archivist of Canada."

"A broad spectrum of associations has collaborated to produce and endorse a Joint Statement on Qualities of a Successful Librarian and Archivist of Canada. This statement is being distributed today to the Clerk of the Privy Council, the Minister of Canadian Heritage, and other key MPs and stakeholders."

"CLA members are encouraged to draft their own cover letters and forward them with copies of the joint statement to their MPs and to the Minister of Canadian Heritage."

For further background, see the Library Boy post of May 16 entitled Daniel Caron Resigns as Head of Library and Archives Canada.

Canadian Library Association Response to 2013 Federal Budget

The Canadian Library Association (CLA) has published its response to the recent federal budget:

"In its written submission for the government’s pre-budget consultation, CLA called for re-investment in federal libraries including Library and Archives Canada, support for broadband connectivity, targeted policies to ensure that Canadians have both access to emerging and digital technology, a role for libraries in research and development, and support to national organizations for non-regulated professions to evaluate foreign-trained workers."

"CLA is pleased to see a number of these issues addressed in the budget, including support for broadband and connectivity, and assessment and recognition of foreign qualifications (though it is unclear whether the expanded list will include any LIS-related occupations). We are also pleased that funding has been allocated to support library services to persons with print disabilities. "

"However, CLA would like to see increased government investment and clearer, more open communication regarding modernization strategies at Library and Archives Canada. CLA continues to be very concerned about the 2012 federal budget cuts to Library and Archives Canada and its subsequent capacity to fulfill its legislated mandate to preserve the documentary heritage and memory of Canada for the benefit of present and future generations, especially as it adapts to the realities of the digital environment. Additionally, CLA will continue to appeal for policies that enable Canadians to access and use digital technologies made available through the investment in broadband."

Canadian Association of Law Libraries Urges Reconsideration of LAC Code of Conduct

Earlier this month, it was revealed that Library and Archives Canada (LAC) management was proposing a new code of conduct, a move that sparked a lot of controversy and some apprehension that information professionals were perhaps being muzzled at one of Canada's most important national cultural heritage institutions at a time when it is facing cutbacks and a change in its service mix.

In particular, many objections were made to the description of traditional public engagements such as teaching and going to librarian and archivist conferences as potentially "high risk activities" that may pose a problem under the code's provisions.

This week, the Canadian Association of Law Libraries (CALL) came out against the code:

"As Canada's National Library, LAC and its professionals are expected to provide leadership and vision in information management for our profession. The Code of Conduct diminishes this essential role.  By going above and beyond the normal requirements of the public service code Values and Ethics Code for the Public Sector, the LAC Code of Conduct restricts the free expression of LAC employees, and their ability to engage as leaders in our profession.  The Code in its current form categorizes teaching and speaking at conferences as 'high risk' and unreasonably restricts such activities. "

"The Code is particularly noteworthy in light of the fact that LAC has been under scrutiny in recent years for a series of decisions which has significantly eroded the services it provides.  Public scrutiny is essential in a democracy; taxpayers demand transparent and accountable decision-making.  If decisions cannot withstand public scrutiny, then they must be re-examined to ensure that they are meeting the expectations of stakeholders and taxpayers. Restricting the free expression of LAC librarians is not an appropriate solution."

This stand comes in the wake of criticism of the code by the Canadian Library Association (CLA), among other organizations.

The Code can be found on the site of the CLA Government Library & IM Professionals Network, a component of the CLA.

Earlier Library Boy posts about recent changes at LAC include: 

• Canadian Library Association Dismayed by Federal Budget Impact (May 2, 2012): "The Canadian Library Association (CLA) today released a statement criticizing the 2012 federal budget which it believes will hit federal libraries and Libraries and Archives Canada very hard."
• September 2012 Campaign Update of Save Library and Archives Canada (September 27, 2012): "The Canadian Association of University Teachers (CAUT) launched a campaign this year called Save Library and Archives Canada (LAC) because of its fear that recent federal budget cuts would hamper the institution's many collections and activities. The campaign has just published a September 2012 Campaign Update (...)" 
• Library and Archives Canada Terminates Inter-Library Loan Service (October 31, 2012): "The CLA Govt Library & Professionals Network, part of the Canadian Library Association, has published an announcement from Library and Archives Canada (LAC) that the institution is putting an end to its inter-library loan service in the next few weeks. The LAC's service has been an indispensable tool nationwide for researchers and libraries. "
• CLA Member Advocacy Survey: The Impact of Federal Budget Cuts on Canada’s Libraries (December 15, 2012): "The Canadian Library Association (CLA) has released the results of its survey on the impact of federal budget cuts (...) More than 400 individuals provided detailed responses to the survey questions. They overwhelmingly agreed that the cuts will impact both local and national library services, with 98% of respondents indicating concern. Areas most likely to be affected were identified, and include: access to material/information, research, interlibrary loans, Community Access Program, preservation, staffing cuts, digital issues."

September 2012 Campaign Update of Save Library and Archives Canada

The Canadian Association of University Teachers (CAUT) launched a campaign this year called Save Library and Archives Canada (LAC) because of its fear that recent federal budget cuts would hamper the institution's many collections and activities.

The campaign has just published a September 2012 Campaign Update. Among some of the items:

• Archival organizations across Canada withdraw from Library and Archives Canada’s Pan-Documentary Heritage Network
• LAC withdraws from the Association of Research Libraries
• The real scoop on digitization at LAC (based on an access to information request by CAUT
• and more

Earlier Library Boy posts on the topic:

• Canadian Library Association Dismayed by Federal Budget Impact (May 2, 2012): "The Canadian Library Association (CLA) today released a statement criticizing the 2012 federal budget which it believes will hit federal libraries and Libraries and Archives Canada very hard."
• Canadian Association of Law Libraries 2012 Conference Resolutions (May 10, 2012): "A number of resolutions were adopted yesterday at the Annual General Meeting ... of the Canadian Association of Law Libraries in Toronto (...) members also voted to support the Save Libraries and Archives Canada campaign ..."

Green Libraries Research Guide

At the most recent annual meeting of the Canadian Association of law Libraries in Calgary back in May, there was a session on Going Green at your Law Library.

So a news item on the Going Green @ Your Library blog caught my attention this morning.

Laura L. Barnes of the Illinois Sustainable Technology Center has created the Green Libraries research guide.

It includes an RSS feed for news about environmental initiatives by libraries, lists of handouts from green library workshops, and sections on green building/facility management (energy, cleaning, water), purchasing and collection development.

Earlier posts on Library Boy on the same topic include:

• Green Libraries 2.0 (January 20, 2009)
• AALL Spectrum May 2009 Issue on Law Library Architecture (April 29, 2009)
• Greener Inter-Library Loan Practices (February 1, 2010)
• Going Green in North American Libraries (July 21, 2010)
• Sustainable Librarians Group on LinkedIn (June 8, 2011)

Sustainable Librarians Group on LinkedIn

In May, at the annual conference in Calgary of the Canadian Association of Law Libraries, the Courthouse and Law Society Libraries group (of which I was co-chair until a few weeks ago) organized a session on "Going Green at your Law Library: Learning from Calgary Public Library's Eco Action Team".

So the following item from the blog Going Green @ Your Library attracted my attention: New Sustainable Librarians Group on LinkedIn :

During our research to write this book chapter Librarians as Sustainability Advocates, Educators and Entrepreneurs (part of The Entrepreneurial Librarian book to be published by McFarland & Company in late 2011 or early 2012, editors Mary Krautter, Mary Beth Lock and Mary Scanlon), we were looking for inspiring, entrepreneurial stories about green initiatives by librarians to include. We collected some fantastic stories and heard from some wonderful people, many of whom mentioned a need to better network connect with others. So we created a network on LinkedIn called Sustainability Librarians. where we hope people share stories and best practices, network and encourage others to join the movement.