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Annual Report 2 0 0 9 – 2 0 1 0 LIBRARY OF PARLIAMENT | ANNUAL REPORT 2 0 0 9 – 2 0 1 0 ANNUAL REPORT 2009–2010 i TABle OF ContentS MESSAGE FROM THE PARLIAMENTARY LIBRARIAN 1 Section 1: RAISON D’ÊTRE 3 SECTION 2: OVERVIEW OF THE ORGANIZATION 5 SECTION 3: OPERATING ENVIRONMENT 7 SECTION 4: STRATEGIC PRIORITIES AND KEY ACCOMPLISHMENTS FOR 2009–2010 9 SECTION 5: YEAR IN REVIEW 13 SECTION 6: SUMMARY OF RESOURCE INFORMATION 19 SENIOR Management TEAM 21 In 2009–2010, the Library remained guided by its defining vision: to be Parliament’s preferred and trusted source of information and knowledge. ANNUAL REPORT 2009–2010 1 MESSage From the Parliamentary LIBrarian The Library of Parliament’s This year also saw the negotiation of an important roots reach back to the agreement with Library and Archives Canada to digitize 1700s, in the collections historical debates of both the Senate and House of created for the legislative Commons. This will significantly increase access to libraries of Upper and parliamentary records and provide a treasure trove of Lower Canada. Since information to parliamentary clients, historians and the Confederation in 1867, research community, as well as the public. the Library has grown and These modernized Library services flow from the evolved with the nation it systematic organizational renewal project that I initiated serves and today is a modern after my appointment as Parliamentary Librarian. While organization responding to this undertaking has been challenging, it has enabled us the needs of a 21st century to focus on rebuilding our corporate infrastructure and William R. Young Parliament. restructure our research services to more effectively In 2009–2010, the Library remained guided by its defining fulfill our responsibilities to Parliament. vision: to be Parliament’s preferred and trusted source The Library encourages public understanding of Parliament of information and knowledge. Central to realizing that through a variety of outreach programs, including guided vision is the capacity to provide parliamentarians and tours featuring the Senate and the House of Commons. our other clients with the information they need, in the This year, Ottawa Tourism recognized our Parliamentary form they want, using the technology they prefer. During Tour Program with the Innovation of the Year Award for its the past year, the Library made significant progress on new online booking system. The system was well-received this front. It launched the first stage of the web-based by the public: approximately one-third of all bookings were Parliamentary Newsroom with NewsDesk, a media being made online within a few months of its launch. monitoring service that opens new channels for providing novel products, including customized information filtering. This new service is available on parliamentarians’ desktops and handheld devices, delivering immediate service improvements. In addition, the ongoing development of internal blogs and wikis is increasing the Library’s analytical capacity and improving our ability to identify both hot topics and ongoing issues in order to provide value-added services to parliamentarians. 2 LIBRARY OF PARLIAMENT This year, the Library again performed its role as a Despite the challenging circumstances, Library staff continue trusted broker of neutral and non-partisan information to provide the same seamless and effective services that with the publication of Our Country, Our Parliament. This clients expect – and do so with professionalism, high educational booklet and corresponding online teacher levels of personal attention and responsiveness. guide serve as a comprehensive introduction to Canada’s In those efforts, our staff deserve special recognition. Parliament for English-as-a-second-language and French- Last year, they supported over 50 parliamentary as-a-second-language high school students. committees and 12 parliamentary associations, To enhance its services to parliamentarians, the Library responded to more than 38,000 client requests continues to undertake an ambitious agenda including: and almost 45,000 information requests from the modernizing its information architecture; enhancing public, and guided close to 340,000 visitors through its ability to support parliamentarians on emerging Canada’s Parliament Buildings. It is their ongoing public policy issues; investing in its research services; dedication that is responsible for the successful year modernizing governance and management practices; reported in these pages. developing innovative virtual library services; and investing in its people. All of this is taking place against a backdrop of significant financial constraints. William R. Young Parliamentary Librarian ANNUAL REPORT 2009–2010 3 SECTION 1 RaiSon D’être | Mission | Vision | STRAteGic OUtcome The Library contributes to Canadian To be Parliament’s preferred and trusted An informed and accessible Parliament parliamentary democracy by creating, source of information and knowledge managing and delivering authoritative, reliable and relevant information and knowledge for Parliament. Like any dynamic organization, the Library has evolved over the years to meet the changing needs and expectations of its stakeholders. ANNUAL REPORT 2009–2010 5 SECTION 2 OVERVIEW OF THE ORGANIZATION Like any dynamic organization, the Library has evolved over Our Services the years to meet the changing needs and expectations of its stakeholders. It has adopted new technologies, changed • Provide customized research and analysis to the way it does business and found new ways to collaborate parliamentarians and their staff with like-minded organizations. • Keep parliamentarians informed and up to date, and Our Clients deliver news on demand • Support legislators and committees with the information • Parliament they need to examine the issues of the day, consider • Individual parliamentarians and their staff legislation, and hold the government accountable • Parliamentary committees and associations • Organizations that support Parliament • Preserve Parliament’s documentary heritage and ensure • The Canadian public, on behalf of parliamentarians access to collections • Help parliamentarians inform Canadians about Parliament and the issues before it Our Structure LIBRARY OF PARLIAMENT SPEAKERS OF THE SENATE AND THE HOUSE OF PARLIAMENTARY LIBRARIAN: Exercises control COMMONS: Vested with the direction and control and management of the Library, and has the status of the Library of Parliament in accordance with the of a Deputy Head, reporting to the two Speakers Parliament of Canada Act STANDING JOINT COMMITTEE ON THE PARLIAMENTARY INFORMATION AND LIBRARY OF PARLIAMENT: Composed of RESEARCH SERVICES: Provides parliamentarians Senators and MPs, is responsible for advising with news, reference, research and analysis the Speakers on the operations of the Library services and processes requests for information from parliamentarians and the public PARLIAMENTARY BUDGET OFFICER SERVICES: An offi cer of the Library of Parliament who provides analysis to Parliament about the state of the nation’s fi nances, government estimates and trends in the national economy INFORMATION AND DOCUMENT RESOURCE SERVICES: Manages and provides access to the Library’s paper, electronic resources and collections LEARNING AND ACCESS SERVICES: Provides the Library’s learning and centralized outreach services to parliamentary clients; encourages public understanding and teaching about Parliament through a variety of programs and products; and acts as steward for the Parliamentary Poet Laureate CORPORATE SERVICES: Provides business support and services to the Library of Parliament As the Library continues its institutional renewal, it regularly assesses the challenges and risks affecting its ability to serve a 21st century Parliament. ANNUAL REPORT 2009–2010 7 SECTION 3 Operating Environment This year, the Library faced a prorogation of Parliament questions. To be effective, this training must be better December 2009 to March 2010, resulting in a shorter than integrated into a comprehensive learning program for usual sitting period for both the Senate and the House of parliamentarians and their staff. Commons. This, in turn, affected the type of requests for • Proposed amendments to copyright legislation (Bill C-32) products and services for parliamentarians and their staff, will affect the daily operations of the Library. Six in-depth as well as the distribution of products. More generally, training sessions were offered to all staff and a customized with a succession of minority governments, additional copyright manual prepared. A standard copyright notice is requests have been received for detailed analytical being prepared to accompany documents sent in response work and renewed efforts are required to advise new to clients’ requests for information and the Library is parliamentarians of the Library’s services. studying terms of use of licenses with a view to adopting redistribution clauses that favour service to clients. Challenges and Risks As a result, copyright compliance may require the As the Library continues its institutional renewal, it purchase of multiple broadcast clips and transcripts. regularly assesses the challenges and risks affecting • The specialized skills, knowledge, judgment and discretion its ability to serve a 21st century Parliament. required to work effectively within the parliamentary • To better serve parliamentarians, the Library is providing environment is not easily replaced, and the impact of enhanced monitoring and synthesis
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