Final Report on Creation of National Shared Print Network in Canada.

A joint working group of the Canadian Association of Research Libraries (CARL) and Library and Archives Canada (LAC) has released its final report with recommendations on the creation of a collective shared print program across Canadian libraries.

The Canadian Collective Print Strategy Working Group made up of representatives from key academic, public, and government libraries, and from regional consortia makes thirteen recommendations for the successful establishment of a national shared print network in Canada:

Those recommendations include: 

• The formation of a national shared print network that coordinates the activities of existing regional shared print initiatives and provides a path to participation for other interested libraries not yet in a shared print program.
• The network to be governed by a national steering committee with representatives from the regional academic library consortia, existing shared print projects, Library and Archives Canada (LAC), Canadian Urban Libraries Council (CULC), and others.
• The formation of an operations working group with representatives from participating libraries and shared print programs, who bring relevant frontline expertise on collection management, metadata, holdings disclosure, and access.
• The Council of Pacific and Prairie University Libraries (COPPUL) act as the administrative host for the national network.
• An initial three-year commitment in order to allow time to secure further funding through grants and partnerships, to make initial progress, and to review and solidify the network.
• A Year 1 budget of $115,000 with cumulative cost of living increases of 3% in Years 2 and 3.
• Adherence to the current industry best practices for recording and exposing shared print commitments in local library management systems. Recording shared print commitments in the OCLC Shared Print Registry and CRL’s PAPR registry, as appropriate.
• Developing a more complete set of standardized metadata elements for future phases of the national network’s program.