News Release

2001-22

National Library of Canada Launches Online Guide to Electronic Publishing

Ottawa, October 5, 2001  -  Roch Carrier, National Librarian of Canada, today announced the release of Electronic Publishing: A Guide to Best Practices for Canadian Publishers.

Inspired by consultations held with the Canadian publishing community, the National Library of Canada’s new guide provides practical solutions, standards and resources for writers and publishers who are new to the universe of electronic publishing. This Web-based guide was created in collaboration with The Commons Group, acknowledged innovators in the e-publishing industry, and reflects broad consultation with key stakeholders.

M. Carrier said that "This new guide to electronic publishing is an example of the National Library of Canada’s commitment to the development of services that support growth and innovation in Canadian publishing. It is the latest of several National Library initiatives that complement the Department of Canadian Heritage program Bringing Authors to Readers in a Digital Age: Transitions in the Canadian Book Industry, and it is an excellent model of collaboration between public and private sector partners."

Electronic Publishing: A Guide to Best Practices for Canadian Publishers is designed to exist on the Web as a "living" document, one that will be regularly updated to reflect the rapid pace of change in this emerging discipline of the publishing industry. The first edition, now available at http://epe.lac-bac.gc.ca/100/200/301/lac-bac/e-publishing_guide-e/9/13/index-e.html examines the pros and cons of electronic publishing, looks at existing best practices and standards and the issues involved in the preservation of electronic publications. Case studies are included to showcase current Canadian experiments and innovation in this nascent field.

The National Library of Canada is a Canadian culture institution whose mandate is to protect, promote and make accessible Canada’s published heritage. Collaborations such as Electronic Publishing, provide the opportunity for the Library to work together with those involved in creating what is destined to become an integral part of Canada’s published heritage.

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For more information, contact:

John Stegenga
Project Leader, National Electronic Archive on Online Publications
National Library of Canada
Acquisitions and Bibliographic Services
395 Wellington Street
Ottawa, ON  K1A 0N4
CANADA
Telephone: 819-994-6870
Fax: 819-953-8508
E-mail: john.stegenga@lac-bac.gc.ca

or

Pauline Portelance
Media Relations Officer
Telephone: 613-996-6128