3.1 Historical Background

The NRC Library was established in 1924 with the aim of serving scientific workers across Canada. In 1959, a formal agreement between the National Research Council and the National Library of Canada (now Library and Archives Canada (LAC)) recognized the national responsibilities of the NRC's scientific and technical library. In 1967, the NRC Library was officially recognized as the National Science Library, which became the Canada Institute for Scientific and Technical Information (CISTI) in 1974. In 1994, NRC Research Press joined NRC-CISTI thereby creating a more powerful organization, one with a distinguished publishing capacity.

3.2 NRC-CISTI Today

As Canada's national science library, NRC-CISTI continues to ensure that Canadians have access to the STM information needed to support their research and innovation activities. As NRC's library, NRC-CISTI supports the specific information needs of NRC. These needs have evolved with the expansion of NRC from a research-focussed organization to one that takes an assertive, entrepreneurial approach to stimulate the innovation that Canada needs to succeed in the global knowledge economy.

While NRC-CISTI's focus is STM information, new research areas and multidisciplinary fields are increasingly blurring the lines between research and commercialization. To fuel the conversion of new knowledge into products and services, NRC-CISTI also serves as a gateway for Canadians to STM-related business information.

NRC-CISTI's vast collection contributes to NRC-CISTI's success as an internationally renowned document supplier in all areas of science, technology, engineering and medicine.

NRC-CISTI is also home to NRC Research Press, publisher of 16 Canadian peer-reviewed journals, monographs, conference proceedings and allied publications. With an ongoing focus on and investment in electronic publishing, the NRC Research Press continues to position itself as a cutting-edge provider of scientific and technical communications worldwide.

With the NRC-CISTI Strategic Plan 2005 - 2010, NRC-CISTI embarks on a transformational process that will see it become an increasingly technologically sophisticated library, publisher, and information provider. NRC-CISTI will focus on providing Canadian researchers and entrepreneurs with the STM and STM-related business information, services, and tools that meet their needs and enhance their ability to derive value for Canada.

3.3 Mandate

NRC-CISTI is mandated in the NRC Act to "establish, operate and maintain a national science library" and to "publish, sell and otherwise distribute scientific and technical information".

3.4 Vision

NRC-CISTI's vision is to be a leader in driving the exploitation of scientific information to create value for Canadians.

3.5 Mission

NRC-CISTI's mission is to advance research and innovation through high-value information and publishing services in science, technology, and medicine.

In order to achieve its mission, NRC-CISTI will provide universal, seamless and permanent access to information for Canadian research and development.

3.6 Collection Developed to Serve

NRC-CISTI's collection is developed to serve the STM and STM-related business needs of NRC, the Canadian government and Canadian researchers and entrepreneurs in the academic, industrial, health and public sectors.

3.7 Authority, Roles and Responsibilities

The Director-General, NRC-CISTI, is accountable to NRC for the development and maintenance of NRC-CISTI's collection.

The Director-General delegates the authority and assigns funds to develop NRC-CISTI's collections to the Director, Collection and Metadata Services (C&MS).

The Director-General delegates the authority to maintain the NRC-CISTI collection located at M-55 in Ottawa to the Director, Information Access and Delivery (IAD).

The Director-General delegates the authority to maintain the NRC-CISTI collection located at NRC Information Centres (NICs) across Canada, as well as the NRC Archives located at 100 Sussex in Ottawa, to the Director, NIS.

Input to develop NRC-CISTI's collection may come from a variety of sources, including suggestions for purchase from NRC staff and the general public. Input is assessed against the Collection Development Policy and considers such additional information as document delivery statistics and gap analysis.

3.8 Collection Development Policy Review Cycle

A formal review of this Policy will be undertaken at least every five years concurrent with NRC-CISTI's strategic planning and more frequently if necessary to respond to environmental changes.