Progress Report Q3 2017-2018

Refer to the 2016-2019 Three-Year Plan for a full explanation of LAC's commitments.

Table of contents

Related

Commitment 1: Fully dedicated to serving all its clients

Digitize 40 million images in three years, including the 640,000 files of the Canadian Expeditionary Force (CEF) that will be available online

  • Proportion of the digitization target from the Three-Year Plan attained : 41% or 16,377,598 images
  • Total digitized images per fiscal year (in millions):
    • 2016-2017: 9.1
    • 2017-2018: 7.2
  • Proportion of CEF files available online: 82% (18% remaining)

LAC will achieve its digitization target of 640,000 CEF files by November 11, 2018.

Reach 10 million downloads annually from the Library and Archives Canada (LAC) website

  • Proportion attained to date: 7.12 million
  • Remaining: 2.88 million

Make one million pages of government records available each year through the block review process

  • Proportion attained to date: 740,000
  • Remaining: 260,000

Assess and process 10 additional kilometres of archives so that they are discoverable for users [three-year target]

Attainment of the Three-Year target (in km):

  • Annual cumulative target: 6.54 km
    • 2016–2017: 3.14 km
    • 2017-2018: 1.35 km

During the third quarter, an additional 750 m of backlogs were assessed and processed.

In addition, 3,205 specialized media items, such as audiovisual recordings and stamps, were processed.

Ensure that LAC's website continues to be one of the top ten most visited federal government sites

Our position: 13th place

In the third quarter, LAC moved up one position in the rankings, narrowing the gap with the 10th-most-visited website.

Optimize our tools so that 95% of traffic to our website results from a referral by a major search engine such as Google or from social media platforms [three-year target]

Proportion of referral by source of visit:

  • Search engines and Social media: 85%
  • Other sites: 15%

Implement a new integrated library management system for published documents

Table 1
Step leading to implementation of a new
integrated library system (OCLC)		 Deadline Progress to date

LAC sends records of library holdings to OCLC

 Q2
[Completed]		 n/a

OCLC incorporates records of library holdings from the Union Catalogue into the OCLC system

 Q3
[Completed]		 n/a

LAC launches the new National Union Catalogue, Voilà

 Q4
[On track to achieve objective]

The launch will take place in early February 2018.

Libraries contributing to the Union Catalogue contact OCLC to subscribe to its cataloguing service or apply to LAC to obtain funding for services

 Q4
[On track to achieve objective]

In fall 2017, LAC announced how small libraries could apply for financial support to subscribe to OCLC services. The applications received so far are being processed.

LAC launches the public catalogue of its collection

 Q3
2018–2019		 n/a

Commitment 2: At the leading edge of archival and library science and new technologies

Implement the Destination 2020 action plan

Table 2
Activity Update
LAC commits to fostering a transparent and open internal dialogue
  • On October 19, at the annual all-staff meeting, Management Board gave an update on key LAC initiatives.
LAC commits to continuing efforts with regard to recognition and engagement
  • In October and December, LAC specialists took part in the #AskAnArchivist, #AskALibrarian and #AskTheLAC Twitter chats, answering questions from the public.
  • In October, November and December, “Our Colleagues’ Discoveries” mini-conferences were held to showcase staff knowledge and expertise.
  • In October, November and December, LAC archivists appeared on the television shows “Traces” on MAtv and “Entre nous” on Rogers TV to talk about documentary heritage in the Outaouais region.
  • On December 7, at the eighth Francophone libraries’ Livres Hebdo Grand Prize in Paris, France, the jury awarded the 2017 prize for innovation to LAC’s Project Naming.
  • On December 19, in announcing the upcoming launch of the 2018 call for nominations for LAC’s nine competitive awards, LAC’s Recognition Champion noted the importance of recognizing employee achievements both formally and informally.
LAC commits to fostering employees' development and to providing them with innovative, reliable and efficient tools
  • On October 10, World Mental Health Day, LAC offered an information session on burnout prevention, to increase mental health awareness.
  • On October 16, employees could attend a discussion session about the international technical internship for archivists organized by the national archives of France and hear about the experiences of two interns from LAC.
  • On October 31, library science professionals could attend a professional development and networking session organized by LAC’s learning and professional development committee.
  • On November 14, to respond to Call to Action 57 of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada, LAC held an awareness session on the history and realities of Indigenous communities. These sessions help to develop positive relationships of co-operation based on respect, trust, integrity and the recognition of Indigenous rights.
  • On November 21, LAC organized a discussion session with Esther Olembe, director of the national archives of Cameroon, who was visiting Canada. Her presentation dealt with how archives are managed in Cameroon and elsewhere in Africa.

Review 10 key operational procedures per year

Table 3
Procedure Description of change and impact Deadline
1. Implementation of an electronic system to manage the circulation and physical control of the collection Ensure optimal management of material. [Completed]
2. Creation of a virtual workspace for social and Indigenous archives Allow for the creation and management of records associated with social and Indigenous archives. [Completed]
3. Implementation of a business capability model Ensure optimal alignment between LAC’s business operations, capabilities and technological systems, to improve prioritization related to the development and replacement of technological applications. [Completed]
4. Lean management process Review the process of information flow between sectors based on LEAN methods aimed at operational efficiency. Q4
5. Policy management framework Review and update the policy management framework, to support optimal management of Government of Canada and LAC policy instruments through the implementation of clearly established principles, roles and responsibilities. Postponed: Q4
6. Creation of a workspace for senior management approvals Provide a centralized virtual workspace for the approval process. Q4
7. Redesign of centralized and non-centralized contract management systems Provide more effective contract management, electronically. Q4

Hold six annual conferences with external experts

Table 4
Title Conference date Number of participants
1. Lowy Council event: 20th Century Genocide: Indigenous and Jewish Experiences June 21, 2017 72
2. Ottawa Architecture Week panel discussion (Carleton University) Sept. 26, 2017 85
3. Globe Talk – Fake News Oct. 16, 2017 150
4. Wallot-Sylvestre Seminar with Dr. Mercedes de Vega: “The Place and Role of Archives and Archivists in Mexico” Oct. 24, 2017 47
5. Forum with University Partners Nov. 6, 2017 150
6. Lecture by architect Douglas Cardinal Nov. 29, 2017 137

Start to build the new preservation facility by 2019

Table 5
Deliverable for the project planning phase Deadline Update
1. Renewal of Letter of Interest Q2
[Completed]		 In July 2017, an updated letter of interest was posted on Buyandsell.gc.ca
2. Launch of Request for Qualification (RFQ) Q3
[Completed]		 The RFQ, which is intended to pre-qualify three respondents for an invitation to tender in the potential Public-Private Partnership (P3), was launched on October 31, 2017.
3. Launch of Request for Proposals (RFP) Winter-Spring 2018 The RFP will enable LAC to choose the potential private partner for the construction and operation of the new facility.

Receive 22,000 visitors annually at 395 Wellington Street in Ottawa

Cumulative number of visits at 395 Wellington Street, Ottawa: 37,723.

The number of visits to 395 Wellington Street includes visitors who sign in on the second and third floors as well as visitors registered by the laser counter at the entrance to the exhibition hall.

LAC welcomed 12,881 additional visitors in the third quarter.

Preserve 100% of our digital acquisitions using a digital curation platform

Table 6
Development stage of the digital curation platform Deadline Update
Archiving of government records Postponed:
Q4
[Under way]		 LAC continues to work on developing a work plan to collect government records automatically from other departments.
Acquiring a digital content management system Q3
[Completed]		 Proposals have been evaluated according to the methods and criteria specified in the Request for Proposals.
Testing and configuring the digital content management system (2018–2019) A project charter for system testing and configuration has been prepared and is being validated.

Commitment 3: Proactively engaged in national and international networks

Set up a secretariat to manage implementation of the National Digitization Strategy

LAC completed its establishment of the secretariat in 2016-2017.

Reach 10 agreements with new partners by 2019

Although the three-year target was reached in 2016-2017, LAC continues to work on new agreements in 2017–2018. To date, LAC has entered into three additional agreements.

Table 7
Name of partner Date of signature Duration of partnership Description of partnership
Queen’s University May 25, 2017 5 years Collaborative agreement for acquiring and sharing skills and knowledge concerning technological development and research theories and methods, as well as for promoting Canada’s documentary heritage.
University of Toronto Nov. 6, 2017 5 years Collaborative agreement for acquiring and sharing skills and knowledge concerning technological development and research theories and methods, as well as for promoting Canada’s documentary heritage.
General Archive of the Nation of the United Mexican States Nov. 26, 2017 5 years Memorandum of understanding that defines a framework for collaboration in archival practices.

Allow the public to help enhance information related to two collections per year

In the fourth quarter, LAC will launch a new project that will enable the public to transcribe and describe one of its holdings: the Rosemary Gilliat archives held by LAC.

Provide $1.5M annually for community projects under the Documentary Heritage Communities Program (DHCP) [yearly target]

Distribution of contributions granted in June 2016 by size:

  • Major contributions (over $15,000): 62%
  • Small contributions ($15,000 or less): 38%

All of the funds available in 2017-2018 were assigned to program recipients in the first quarter.

Geographic distribution of grant recipients in the DHCP in 2017-2018

  • Yukon: 0 grant recipients
  • British Columbia: 11 grant recipients
  • Northwest Territories: 0 grant recipients
  • Alberta: 2 grant recipients
  • Saskatchewan: 2 grant recipients
  • Nunavut: 0 grant recipients
  • Manitoba: 2 grant recipients
  • Ontario: 8 grant recipients
  • Québec: 18 grant recipients
  • New Brunswick: 2 grant recipients
  • Prince Edward Island: 0 grant recipients
  • Nova Scotia: 2 grant recipients
  • Newfoundland and Labrador: 1 grant recipient

Adopt an international relations strategy

In 2016–2017, LAC achieved its goal by adopting an international relations strategy.

Have 10 Canadian representatives on the major international documentary heritage committees [three-year target]

Table 8
Name of Committee Number of Canadian members
International Council on Archives 7
International Federation of Library Associations and Institutions 6
International Internet Preservation Consortium 1
Total 14

This indicator focuses exclusively on three international organizations. The emphasis is on the steering committees of these organizations and on the Canadian members with leadership or committee chair positions. Canadian members include both LAC employees and other Canadians from the documentary heritage community. Individuals with multiple roles are counted once only.

Commitment 4: Greater public visibility

Hold a total of 21 exhibitions organized by or in collaboration with LAC [three-year target]

Table 9
Exhibition title Location Start End
1. Sir John A. Macdonald: Rare and Intriguing Treasures from the Vaults of Library and Archives Canada Dalnavert Museum and Visitors’ Centre, Winnipeg June 4, 2016 Sept. 2016
2. Alter Ego: Comics and Canadian Identity 395 Wellington, Ottawa, Ontario May 12, 2016 Sept. 14, 2016
3. A Sunny Legacy: Celebrating Sir Wilfrid Laurier Laurier House, Ottawa, Ontario June 1, 2016 Nov. 20, 2016
4. A Greater Sisterhood: The Women’s Rights Struggle in Canada Plaza Bridge, Ottawa July 1, 2016 Oct. 28, 2016
5. Icons of Knowledge: Architecture and Symbolism in National Libraries 395 Wellington Street, Ottawa, Ontario Sept. 22, 2016 Feb. 20, 2017
6. Open Books: International Artists Explore the Chinese Folding Book 395 Wellington Street, Ottawa, Ontario Sept. 28, 2016 Nov. 30, 2016
7. Hiding in Plain Sight: The Métis Nation UNESCO headquarters, Paris Feb. 1, 2017 Feb. 9, 2017
8. Foundations: The Words that Shaped Canada Library of Parliament, Ottawa March 9, 2017 Dec. 31, 2017
9. Canada: Who Do We Think We Are? 395 Wellington Street, Ottawa June 5, 2017 March 1, 2018
10. Shaping a Nation: 150 Years of Confederation Plaza Bridge, Ottawa July 27, 2017 Oct. 31, 2017
11. Building on History: Fifty Years of Preserving Memory at 395 Wellington Street 395 Wellington Street, Ottawa July 2017 Dec. 2017
12. Annual general meetings for the International ISBN Agency and the International ISMN Agency 395 Wellington Street, Ottawa Sept. 13, 2017 Sept. 13, 2017
13. Making Hope Visual 395 Wellington Street, Ottawa Sept. 27, 2017 Sept. 29, 2017
14. Three original treaties on display to mark Treaties Recognition Week:
  • Robinson-Huron et Robinson-Superior treaties
  • Selkirk Treaty, as part of the Canada: Who Do We Think We Are? exhibition
 395 Wellington Street, Ottawa

  • Nov. 6, 2017
  • June 5, 2017

  • Dec. 8, 2017
  • March 1, 2018

Create a designated space for LAC’s collections in two well-known exhibition venues [three-year target]

In the first quarter of 2017-2018, LAC reached its objective by creating designated spaces for its collection at the Canadian Museum of History in Gatineau, at the Glenbow Museum in Calgary, and at the National Gallery of Canada in Ottawa.

Double the number of subscribers to LAC’s social media pages [three-year target]

  • Three-year target: 100,000 subscribers
  • Total number of subscribers: 108,024
    • Facebook: 52,619
    • Twitter: 52,388
    • YouTube: 3,017

The initial three-year target of 70,000 subscribers was increased to 100,000 in April 2017.

Since April 2016, LAC has tripled the number of subscribers to its social media pages.

Reach 60 loan agreements for exhibitions [three-year target]

In 2016–2017, LAC entered into 12 loan agreements for exhibitions. LAC has entered into an additional 24 agreements since the start of 2017–2018.

Table 10
Exhibition title Location Time frame Size of loan
13. Expo 67: A World of Dreams Stewart Museum, Montréal April 26 to Oct. 8, 2017 3 items
14. Lester B. Pearson’s collection Old Mill Heritage Centre, Manitoulin Island May 5 to Oct. 7, 2017 54 items
15. Betwixt & Between: An Untold Tom Thomson Story Tom Thomson Art Gallery, Owen Sound May 28 to Sept. 10, 2017 2 items
16. Canadian and Indigenous Art National Gallery of Canada, Ottawa June 15 to Sept. 4, 2017 33 items
17. Romancing the Canoe Glenbow Museum, Calgary June 17 to Sept. 10, 2017 3 items
18. Franklin: Death in the ice

National Maritime Museum,
London,
United Kingdom

Canadian Museum of History, Gatineau

July 14, 2017, to Jan. 7, 2018

March 2 to Sept. 30, 2018

 6 items
19. Exhibition of the Original Treaty 7 Document Fort Calgary National Historic Site June 19 to Oct. 9, 2017 1 item
20. In Search of Expo 67 Musée d’art contemporain de Montréal June 21 to Oct. 1, 2017 2 items
21. Uncovering Artists' Books School of Art Gallery, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg Oct. 10 to Dec. 1, 2017 11 items
22. Trailblazing – Women in Canada since 1867 Waterloo Region Museum Sept. 21, 2017, to Jan. 7, 2018 6 items
23. Dreams and Schemes: Building the Welland Canals RiverBrink Art Museum, Queenston, Ontario Sept. 28, 2017, to Jan. 27, 2018 2 items
24. Exhibition on the works of Jacques Poulin Maison de la littérature, Québec Sept. 28 to Nov. 8, 2017 11 items
25. Gold and Silver: Images and Illusions of the Gold Rush National Gallery of Canada, Ottawa Nov. 3, 2017, to April 2, 2018 33 items
26. Betwixt and Between: An Untold Tom Thomson Story Robert McLaughlin Gallery, Oshawa Jan. 27 to March 18, 2018 3 items
27. Canada's Legal System (rotation of items) Canadian Museum for Human Rights, Winnipeg Feb. to Aug. 2018 6 items
28. Notes in the Night: Toronto Jazz Clubs, 1946–2010 Market Gallery, Toronto March 3 to June 23, 2018 8 items
29. Refuge Canada Canadian Museum of Immigration at Pier 21, Halifax March 10 to Nov. 11, 2018 4 items
30. Canadian and Indigenous Art (rotation of items) National Gallery of Canada, Ottawa March to Aug. 2018 17 items
31. Scotiabank Photography Award Ryerson Image Centre, Toronto May 2 to Aug. 5, 2018 5 items
32. Laurent Amiot, a Canadian gold- and silversmith National Gallery of Canada, Ottawa May 11 to Sept. 16, 2018 2 items
33. Obsession: Sir William Van Horne’s Japanese Ceramics

Gardiner Museum, Toronto

Montreal Museum of Fine Arts

Oct. 16, 2018, to Jan. 20, 2019

March to May 2019

 4 items
34. Rights of Passage: Canada at 150 Canadian Museum for Human Rights, Winnipeg Nov. 1, 2017, to Nov. 30, 2018 19 items
35. Carol Sawyer: The Natalie Brettschneider Archive Vancouver Art Gallery Oct. 28, 2017, to Feb. 4, 2018 7 items
36. Canadian and Indigenous Art (rotation of items) National Gallery of Canada, Ottawa Dec. 12, 2017 to June 15, 2018 33 items

Provide a renewed service offering in two Canadian cities

In 2017–2018, LAC implemented a renewed service offering in two Canadian cities. Its new point of service in the Canadian Museum of Immigration at Pier 21, in Halifax, opened in May 2017, while its new point of service in the main branch of the Vancouver Public Library opened on November 8, 2017.

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