British Columbia
Library Association
February 13th, 2014
To: The Select Expert Panel on the Future of Canadian Libraries and Archives
The British Columbia Library Association (BCLA) is a non-profit, cross-sectorial, member association
that furthers the interests of libraries and represents the needs of individual and institutional
members. Established in 1911, BCLA currently represents over 850 individuals and institutions. The
Association is actively growing with an eight percent increase in membership since 2012. This increase
reflects BCLA’s commitment to Intellectual Freedom issues and Information Policy advocacy.
BCLA would like to thank the Royal Society for the opportunity to contribute to The Status and Future
of Canada’s Libraries and Archives Expert Panel Report. We reviewed the questions the Expert Panel
distributed for consultation and suggest that BCLA’s response is better articulated with the following
examination of select areas of thinking that, in our view, are crucial to the future of libraries and
archives in Canada.
The Expert Panel on the Future of Canadian Libraries and Archives’ mandate is framed by the
observation that “Libraries and archives throughout Canada have many overlapping obligations.”
These obligations include:
•
The collection, preservation and dissemination of knowledge
•
Providing access to information and intellectual resources for civic agreement
•
Meeting the challenges of unfolding digital technologies, changing cultural practices and society’s
expectations
The question BCLA would like to respond to is: if not libraries, then whom? Anne Herbert declared
“Libraries will get you through times of no money better than money will get you through times of no
libraries"1 yet funding to libraries is decreasing and libraries are being shuttered, their staff laid off and
their collections dispersed. The Expert Panel wanted to identify changes in resources, structures and
competencies to ensure libraries and archives serve the Canadian public good into the 21st century.
We suggest human resources in addition to collections—whether print or digital—need to be
emphasized. Library and archival collections and services are not developed in isolation but in
response to and in anticipation of the needs of Canadians whether they be research focused, rising
from a need toward self-exploration, civic engagement or a desire to read/see/hear/participate within
the cultural milieu. And, from a strictly pragmatic perspective, BC libraries have expanded to fill the
gaps when services formerly offered by government agencies have been cut—a recent example being
cuts to legal aid in this province. The Association is committed to analyze, support, and participate in
the ongoing evolution of libraries and library services. Members are supported to develop new skills,
to stay current on library issues, and to develop innovative approaches to advance library services and
thinking.
As a cross-sectorial association BCLA membership includes individual and institutional members from
public, academic, school, and special libraries as well as literacy organizations, students, trustees, and
other library stakeholders. BCLA represents members from urban and rural geographies. BCLA is

1

Herbert, Anne. “The Rising Sun Neighborhood Newsletter.” In The Next Whole Earth Catalog: Access to tools,
edited by Stewart Brand, (Sausalito, Calif. : Point , 1980), 331.
Suite 150 - 900 Howe Street, Vancouver BC, Canada V6Z 2M4
Tel: (604) 683-5354 Fax: (604)609-0707
office@bcla.bc.ca www.bcla.bc.ca

British Columbia
Library Association
proactive in building partnerships and developing relationships with libraries, governments, and
community organizations to advance the values of the Association and to promote a widespread
understanding of the benefits of library and information services. How are we able to do this?
Foundational to BCLA’s work in advocacy and information is the support around these goals from our
members. The Association believes that people, communities, and organizations need universal and
equitable access to information, ideas, and works of imagination for their social, cultural, educational,
democratic, and economic well-being. We are able to advocate for libraries and library services for all
British Columbians, including barrier-free facilities and resources, and open and equitable access to
library services because our members have come to rely on us to lead the way.
And, although a provincial association, BCLA has a national footprint and takes the lead on issues
ranging from Lawful Access to Net Neutrality to media concentration to the elimination of the
Mandatory Long Form Census and to the erosion of federal library services including the devastating
cuts to the National Library and Archives of Canada.
In regards to Net Neutrality, BCLA is on record as recognizing that libraries and librarians have a vested
interest in maintaining Net Neutrality, both as content providers and as a portal to content via the
Internet. We feel it is the responsibility of library administrators and librarians, as guardians of the
peoples' freedom to read, to contest encroachments upon that freedom and have resolved to affirm
the right of all in our communities to equitable access to and use of the internet, free from commercial
bias.2
Our membership overwhelmingly supports the Association’s efforts in raising awareness of these
issues through drafting the resolutions produced at the Association’s AGM each year, by volunteering
countless hours in educating fellow members and the public on issues affecting libraries by giving
workshops, organizing salons and through contributing articles to the Association’s open access journal
The BCLA Browser.
Education and advocacy requires a sustained effort—and not just by libraries, their representative
bodies and associations. The closure of the Department of Fisheries and Oceans Libraries was
announced more than 16 months ago, reported on briefly and then forgotten until those researchers
who relied on the collections showed up one day and found their libraries—and the materials they
needed to do their work--were gone. Is this how libraries will meet their obligations? By disappearing?
BCLA wishes to underscore the importance of advocacy as key to ensuring Canadians continue to have
access to the resources and services they have come to rely on as well as ensuring the development of
future services and resources.
Let us not demonstrate our value by disappearing.
Sincerely,

Gwen Bird
President, British Columbia Library Association
2

[British Columbia Library Association] Resolution on Network (Net) Neutrality. BCLA Annual General Meeting.
Richmond, BC. 2008.
Suite 150 - 900 Howe Street, Vancouver BC, Canada V6Z 2M4
Tel: (604) 683-5354 Fax: (604)609-0707
office@bcla.bc.ca www.bcla.bc.ca