September / October 2001 Vol. 33, no. 5

Inventory of Canadian Digital Initiatives Promotes Digital Collections

Ann Guthrie and Jennifer Trower
Digital Library of Canada Task Force

In 1999, the National Library of Canada developed the Inventory of Canadian Digital Initiatives. Since that time, the Inventory has grown to include over 115 entries from across Canada and to cover a wide range of subjects, genres and types of materials.

The Inventory of Canadian Digital Initiatives is a Web-accessible database that describes Canadian resources created for the Web. The searchable database includes digital information products that are currently planned, in progress or that have been completed by institutions, organizations or individuals. The centralized database helps to reduce potential duplication and to promote resource and information sharing among institutions, organizations and individuals. The Canadian Initiative on Digital Libraries (CIDL) is currently administering the site, with technical support being provided by the National Library of Canada.

The Inventory includes digitization projects that convert substantial collections into Web-accessible digital versions; create original Web resources, such as virtual exhibitions; or develop Web-based access to reference sources and databases. Current submissions to the Inventory cover a wide range of topics and address a number of different audiences. For example, the University of Guelph has contributed a site entitled Canada’s Aquatic Environments (www.aquatic.uoguelph.ca). This site provides background information on aquatic plants and animals and their habitats as well as access to information on Canadian researchers and research in the field of aquatic environments.

The War Veterans Club, Royal Canadian Legion, Wellington Branch 17, (under contract with Industry Canada’s Canada's Digital Collections Program) has created the site They Served for Freedom, which pays tribute to Canadian veterans of the First and Second World Wars and of the Korean Conflict (collections.ic.gc.ca/veterans). The site includes photographs and brief biographies in its "parade of veterans," a tribute to individual soldiers. Consideration is given to the Ladies Auxiliary, and background information on the Canadian Legion is provided.

Another noteworthy project is the Doukhobor Collection, 1898-1930, created by the Simon Fraser University Library (edocs.lib.sfu.ca/projects/Doukhobor-Collection). This project provides access to primary documents (manuscripts, photographs, financial documents) that have been scanned and then mounted on the Web, thereby providing a first hand look at the history of the Doukhobors in Canada.

Also worth pointing out is Les relations France-Québec depuis 1760  -  Inventaire bibliographique (www.biblinat.gouv.qc.ca/rfq/vindex.htm), a bibliographic database covering materials that illustrate the events and influences that have been significant in defining the special relationship that exists between France and Quebec. The bibliography includes materials covering such topics as political and diplomatic exchanges; cultural and artistic associations; family histories; travelogues and educational exchange programs. The site also provides a time line of events that have been significant in reinforcing the relations between these two nations.

Each of these projects is unique and illustrates the range of resources available in the Inventory  -  from the scientific to the historical. Clearly, the Inventory provides access to a rich and varied collection of resources, many of which contribute to the preservation of Canada’s heritage and history. It is encouraging to see that such a variety of interests are being represented on the Web and that such a diverse population is involved in the production of these materials.

The Inventory has been set up in such a way as to facilitate access for inexperienced users and to allow visitors to browse the collection. Each entry provides a description of the project, its Web address, status, genre of resource, subject, keywords, type of material, language of material, contact name, and location. The database allows for full-text searching by keywords and has the ability to limit the search to specific fields, such as language, status of the project, or genre. Users may also browse the Inventory using categories such as subject (based on broad Dewey decimal classes), type of material (e.g. full-text, images, numerical/statistical, organized links), type of organization (e.g. library, school, archive, publisher, government), or location. Brief and detailed records are provided with links to the projects, to contacts and, in some cases, to the funding sources.

The Inventory relies on submissions by organizations and individuals. To register your collection, please complete the online submission form available at www.nlc-bnc.ca/initiatives-bin/cindi. Entries may be submitted in English, French, or both languages.

For more information, please visit the Inventory of Canadian Digital Initiatives Web site at: www.nlc-bnc.ca/initiatives/erella.htm.