Minutes

Steering Committee

January 8, 2001
Teleconference

Notes

Present

Brian Bell, Oakville Public Library
Pam Bjorenson, Canadian Institute for Historical Microreproductions
Claude Bonnelly (Chair), Université Laval, Bibliothèque
Aldyth Holmes, Canadian Institute for Scientific and Technical Information (CISTI)
Ernie Ingles, University of Alberta Library (President)
Alan Burk for John Teskey, University of New Brunswick, Harriet Irving Library
Karen Turko for Carole Moore, University of Toronto Libraries

Secretariat

Gwynneth Evans, National Library of Canada
Ralph Manning, National Library of Canada
Jennifer Trower, National Library of Canada

Notes:

During the October 3rd meeting of the Steering Committee, the members discussed a number of proposals concerning the role of CIDL in relation to the Canadian Digital Cultural Content Initiative, which René Bouchard had described on October 2nd. The purpose of the teleconference was to review the Steering Committee decisions in light of more current information on the Initiative. A status report by Gwynneth Evans had been sent out in December.

It was reported that the initiatives proposed by René Bouchard (Canadian Heritage) on October 2nd, are moving ahead and a number of agencies have received funding from this program.

Canadian Heritage has indicated that they are not seeking input from the broader community (in this case CIDL) in terms of developing standards for the creation of digital projects, as there is work being done at the federal level.

The main question to be answered dealt with CIDL's future role in the context defined by Canadian Heritage. Two models were proposed and discussed:

1) CIDL as a producer of content:
Where CIDL, on behalf of its constituents, will apply for funding from Canadian Heritage, in order to develop a nationally co-coordinated project, where roles and responsibilities have been defined in a business case.

2) CIDL as an administrative board:
Where CIDL will play the role of intermediary, by administering and allocating funds awarded by Canadian Heritage. Option #2 was unanimously chosen; however, a number of questions and provisos were voiced:

• It is necessary to identify the resources available prior to selection of board members

• the composition of the board would have to be carefully selected (with particular attention paid to conflicts of interest)

• the role of the administrative board should be viewed as a first step to building the infrastructure which would allow CIDL to function on a broader scale in the future

The proposed ideas are to be presented to Canadian Heritage, with the hopes of getting definite feedback with respect to CIDL's role and the opportunities it can offer its members.

In the case that Canadian Heritage agrees with this role for CIDL, a model must be developed in order to specify the process by which CIDL would act as a "broker" between Canadian Heritage and its members (and other libraries?) In the case that Canadian Heritage rejects this proposal, CIDL will default into applicant status and then request funding, as an organizing body, from Canadian Heritage.

Ernie Ingles will contact Canadian Heritage on behalf of CIDL to put forward this proposal, and the goals CIDL hopes to realize over the next few months.