Library and Archives Canada - Critics of The Ian Wilson - Daniel Caron Policy of Modernization

Daniel Caron Policy of Modernization

The changes introduced first by Ian Wilson, then accelerated by Daniel Caron, are considered by many critics to be radical and not well thought out. The management counters that the critics are too traditional and that radical change is needed to cope with the influx of digital material and demand for digital material. At this point, it is still unclear to what extent these changes are driven by government cutbacks and/or by the management philosophy of the deputy heads Wilson and Caron. Is the lack of money making "modernization" a virtue of necessity?

• The Canadian Library Association (CLA) is concerned about cuts to libraries both in federal departments and at Library and Archives.
• The Canadian Association of University Teachers has launched the Save Library & Archives Canada campaign.
• The Association of Canadian Archivists (ACA), on May 31, 1012, withdrew its participation from LAC's forums for its proposed Pan-Canadian Documentary Heritage Network, stating that the PCDHN as it has been presented is an inadequate solution to meeting the needs of the 800 archives across Canada. The forums thus far have occurred sporadically and have tightly controlled agendas, lack transparency, clarity and room for discussion and collaboration.
• Historian Valerie Knowles outlines the impact of government cutbacks at LAC and federal government libraries in an article, "Closing doors on Canada's history" in ipolitics.ca (Aug 10, 2012)
• Bibliophile blogger Nigel Beale characterizes LAC as "Canada's national disgrace" in his blog Literary Tourist