About the Weekly Checklist of Canadian Government Publications

The Weekly Checklist of Canadian Government Publications is a catalogue of publications produced by organisations of the Government of Canada that are made available to the Depository Services Program for distribution to a network of Depository Libraries in Canada and abroad. It is used by Depository Libraries to order copies of publications, for notification of new releases and for access to electronic government publications. While only Depository Libraries may order from the Weekly Checklist, other organisations and the general public may also find it a useful source of information about government publications and access to them.

The Weekly Checklist has been in continuous publication since 1978 and is published by Publishing and Depository Services, PWGSC, 51 times a year, beginning in January, with the last two weeks of the calendar year combined as a single issue. Issue numbering includes the date of issue, year and issue number (example: January 8, 2010; 2010, No. 1) and is, in certain contexts, abbreviated to the last 2 digits of the year followed by the issue number (example: 10-01).

The Weekly Checklist is published in print and electronic formats and is available online on the Government of Canada Publications website. The print edition is produced in a bilingual format, printed on pink paper and therefore, often referred to as the "Pink list". The print edition includes a printed order form that may be used by Depository Libraries wishing to submit orders by mail or fax.

The electronic edition is published in separate English and French editions that also include filtered views that list only electronic publications appearing on the list or, only orderable items. Electronic editions of the Weekly Checklists are archived online from February 24, 1995 (95-08) onwards.

Since April 2006 (issue 06-15), each online edition of the Weekly Checklist has included Marc 21 files as a single downloadable batch file containing Marc 21 bibliographic records supplied by Library and Archives Canada for publications listed in that particular issue. These files are freely available to all libraries for inclusion in their library catalogues.