What's New

What's New

Closure of the Canadian Book Exchange Centre
A Program of Library and Archives Canada

As of March 6, 2008, the Canadian Book Exchange Centre (CBEC) a program of Library and Archives Canada will no longer accept publications from the private sector or from government and international organizations for redistribution among libraries. The Centre will shut its doors permanently effective June 30, 2008.

Over the past 10 years, the number of incoming publications to the Centre has declined by more than 60 percent. In addition, nearly 70 percent of the material received must be destroyed and recycled. Library and Archives Canada (LAC) maintains that there are more efficient and economical ways to support libraries in their resource sharing activities. LAC will continue to support such an initiative at the national and international levels, and work with federal institutions to encourage the adoption of "greener" publication policies, such as expanding the usage of online publications. LAC will also continue to offer inter-library loans services to ensure access to its collections.

To ensure the best possible use of materials on deposit at the Centre, libraries will continue to have access to the collection until its final closure on June 30, 2008. LAC staff will carefully examine the remaining materials and recommend whether or not they require conservation or digitization.

Over the course of the next few months, LAC will work with federal libraries to put mechanisms in place to facilitate the disposal of their surplus publications. A letter will soon be sent to the senior officials responsible for information management in the federal departments and agencies.

For information, please contact:

Alison Bullock
Acting Director, Resource Sharing and Rights Management
Programs and Services Sector
Library and Archives Canada
613-992-1752
cbecccel@lac-bac.gc.ca

For historical information visit: Archived What's New