CLA: Thumbs Up for Conference

Was the joint conference a success from the Canadian point of view? Incoming Canadian Library Association (CLA) president Madeleine Lefebvre (Saint Mary's Univ., Halifax, NS) and new executive director Don Butcher both think so.

Lefebvre stressed that the reinforcement of the "goodwill" between CLA and the American Library Association (ALA) outweighed any ill will caused by ALA hesitancy to come to Toronto in the face of SARS.

Butcher noted that this was their first and possibly only opportunity for many CLA members to interact with their ALA colleagues in a setting of over 17,000 delegates. While they certainly were disappointed by the number of exhibitors and ALA members who stayed home, CLA members were determined to enjoy their own and the joint CLA-ALA sessions plus take advantage of ALA offerings. At the CLA President's Program, author and broadcaster Rex Murphy reminded attendees of their role in preserving the words of civilization and making them available to all. The Local Arrangements Committee chaired by Josephine Bryant (Toronto PL) and its many volunteers drew kudos for four years of advance planning as well as for coping with last-minute changes.

CLA's annual General Meeting proceeded in a generally benign manner, presided over by President Wendy Newman (Brantford PL). Her presidential year included hiring Butcher and the upheaval of the conference itself. Delegates recognized her success by their lengthy applause at the end of the meeting.

Members adopted several resolutions with little discussion. One recommends that a national network of public and private sector constituents be established to provide a comprehensive library service to the over three million Canadians who cannot read print owing to a physical or perceptual disability. Another calls for CLA to solicit opinion from individuals and organizations on the question of adopting a bilingual (English/French) name. A third, in step with ALA movements in the same direction, states that CLA oppose government proposals that compromise privacy of email and Internet communication in order to strengthen law enforcement capabilities in the post-9/11 environment.

Also, CLA expressed support for Media Democracy Day (October 17–18, 2003). The only resolution that engendered some debate concerned Cuba (see p. 42).

In her inaugural address, incoming president Lefebvre looked back 30 years to when she arrived in Canada as a foreign student to study classics at the University of Alberta. Homesick for her native Yorkshire, she gravitated toward the familiar territory of the university library. She found community there and now seeks to engender a similar community as president. She also plans to advocate for libraries to university, company, and government officials.

The new VP and president-elect is Stephen Abram, VP for corporate development, Micromedia Ltd., IHS Canada, Toronto. He ran unopposed.

Ian Wilson, National Archivist, discussed the impending merger of the National Archives and the National Library. Six days before he spoke, Parliament's Standing Committee on Canadian Heritage adopted Bill C-36, which will create the new entity, after making some technical amendments regarding copyright. The amended bill is expected to be presented for its third reading in the House of Commons when Parliament reconvenes in September.

Meanwhile, Wilson and National Librarian Roch Carrier are moving ahead to shape the new Library and Archives of Canada (LAC). While preservation of the nation's heritage remains paramount, "access" and "partnerships" appear to be key as well. Virtual Reference Canada will offer knowledge and information services to Canadians and those interested in Canada through a national digital network of information providers, with one-stop access to 21,000 Canadian libraries and 800 Canadian archives. Also, a new digital strategy will bring together content and community on the Internet to facilitate access to Canada's heritage resources, and LAC will create new multicultural and aboriginal programs.

The Canada History Centre, established this year and to be located in the Government's Conference Centre in Ottawa, will draw upon the LAC as well as resources in institutions across the country. It will offer both digital and interactive services and will create traveling exhibits for those outside Ottawa.