Profile of the Canadian Association of Research Libraries (CARL)
There are many issues facing libraries today, notably making vast amounts of knowledge accessible, sharing resources, enforcing and improving information policies, as well as preserving all forms of information for future generations. It is difficult for libraries locally, let alone nationally, to agree on policies to adopt. Therefore, non-profit organizations like the Canadian Association of Research Libraries (CARL) are extremely important (Canadian Association of Research Libraries [CARL], 2005b).
Originating in 1976, CARL currently has 30 member institutions, including the University of Toronto, York University and Canada’s most prominent research libraries (CARL, 2005b). CARL aims “to promote the role of the research library,” (CARL, 2004c) by influencing legislation, encouraging scholarly communication and promoting resource-sharing between institutions. The three goals of CARL are:
1. To provide organized leadership for the Canadian research library community in the development of policies and programs which maintain and improve the cycle of scholarly communication;
2. To work toward the realization of a national research library resource-sharing network in the areas of collection development, preservation and access; and
3. To increase the capacity of individual member libraries to provide effective support and encouragement to postgraduate study and research at national, regional, and local levels
(CARL, 2005b).
CARL assumes a leadership role by working with other associations, including Canadian, American and International groups, on a variety of projects and by evaluating other projects and making recommendations for improvement (CARL, 2004b). It also provides leadership to these and other organizations by annually announcing the Award for Distinguished Service to Research Librarianship and the Award of Merit, which is given to deserving candidates (CARL, 2004a).
Carl is affiliated with the Scholarly Publishing and Academic Resources Coalition (SPARC), the Association of Research Libraries (ARL), the Association of College and Research Libraries (ACRL) and the Canadian Consortium for Research (CCR), among others. CARL is involved with these organizations in a variety of projects.
In 1997, the Federal Government created the Canada Foundation for Innovation (CFI), for the purpose of determining what form of infrastructure was necessary to stimulate research and creativity among Canadians (Groen, 2000). This study was known as the Canadian National Site Licensing Project (Groen). In addition, the CFI provided grants to organizations practicing inter-institutional collaboration (Groen). At first, CFI did not believe that research libraries would be appropriate candidates for the grant (Groen). Consequently, Librarians initiated discussions with CFI, in order to convince them that libraries were suitable candidates for the grant (Groen). During these discussions, CARL “played a major role in encouraging dialogue and in transforming the situation to the benefit of libraries” (Groen, ¶ 11). CARL essentially played the role of a facilitator, to settle any disagreements between the groups and influence the discussions.
Upon finalizing their research, CFI concluded that a lead institution, which could award the grant, should be identified (Groen, 2000). Again, CARL “played a leadership role in galvanizing the support of the 28 University research library members and other smaller libraries to a total of 64 participating institutions” (Groen, ¶ 22). Each of these institutions donated one thousand dollars and along with a grant from a private organization, the required funding for the grant was reached (Groen).
In addition, the ARL offers assistance, guidance and funding to many of these associations, when required. CARL developed the Federal Relations and Information Policy program to examine and influence legislation relative to research libraries (Association of Research Libraries [ARL], 2005). It also “monitors Canadian information policies such as copyright and intellectual property and access to government information” (ARL, ¶ 2) by volunteering members for this program.
Between 2002 and 2005, CARL conducted a study entitled, “Optimizing the Transformation of Knowledge Dissemination: Towards a Canadian Research Strategy” (K. Shearer & Birdsall, 2005). CARL “provided administrative, logistical and funding support” (K. Shearer & Birdsall, p. 192) for this study and also received funding from the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada (SSHRC). In return, when the SSHRC was going through the difficult process of evolving from a Granting Council to a Knowledge Council, CARL sent a letter commending them on their initiative in attempting this transformation (CARL, 2004b). Along with the letter, CARL included a Brief containing recommendations that members agreed would assist the SSHRC in the transformation process (CARL). In this way, CARL was able to come to the aid of the SSHRC when they required expertise and guidance, while at the same time receive monetary assistance from the same organization.
CARL is involved with many ongoing projects including an Information Literacy Working Group, which promotes information literacy in libraries, resource-sharing (CARL, 2005c) and E-Learning, which is focused on online learning (CARL, 2002).
Currently, CARL is involved in the Institutional Repositories Pilot Project and the collection and preservation of web-based publications. Institutional Repositories (IRs) “are digital collections that capture and preserve the intellectual output of a single or multi-university community” (M. K. Shearer, 2003, p. 91). IRs are believed to be the new way to share global research, particularly with developing countries (M. K. Shearer). The project will study the implementation of IRs and the lessons learned from the development of these new repositories at research libraries across Canada (CARL, 2005a). The findings from this project will help initiate the development of future IRs.
On their website, CARL has published a Draft Report, entitled, “Collection and Preservation of Web-Based Provincial/Territorial Government Publications: An Action Plan for CARL” (Hubbertz, 2005). This report examines how complete collections of government web-based publications are needed in every Canadian province and territory (Hubbertz). CARL believes that materials should be downloaded to a local server, following the current cataloguing practice used in Canada (Hubbertz). These records will then be made available on the Amicus database at Library and Archives Canada (Hubbertz). However, CARL realizes this will be no easy task as each province and territory is “different in size, wealth, population, and infrastructure” (Hubbertz, p. 15). By initiating talks with the Association of Parliamentary Libraries in Canada (APLIC), CARL will be able to assist legislative libraries to collect and preserve these government documents (Hubbertz). Besides opening discussions, CARL volunteers to raise public awareness on this issue and involve other interested associations in the cause (Hubbertz). As a final recommendation, CARL will meet six months after the acceptance of the Draft Report, to review what has been accomplished and decide on the next steps (Hubbertz).
Through its involvement with these various organizations and projects, CARL is accomplishing its goals of providing leadership, promoting resource-sharing, preserving documents, accessing knowledge and increasing the ability of research libraries to provide support to post graduate research nationally, regionally and locally (CARL, 2005b). Currently, CARL has moved into exploring how the internet and online databases can assist in the collection and preservation of scholarly documents. The internet also plays an important role in preserving and collecting Canadian government publications, and in facilitating the research of current and future scholars. CARL feels that by promoting E-Learning and Institutional Repositories, research will be made accessible around the world (M. K. Shearer, 2003).
There are many issues facing libraries today, notably making vast amounts of knowledge accessible, sharing resources, enforcing and improving information policies, as well as preserving all forms of information for future generations. It is difficult for libraries locally, let alone nationally, to agree on policies to adopt. Therefore, non-profit organizations like the Canadian Association of Research Libraries (CARL) are extremely important (Canadian Association of Research Libraries [CARL], 2005b).
Originating in 1976, CARL currently has 30 member institutions, including the University of Toronto, York University and Canada’s most prominent research libraries (CARL, 2005b). CARL aims “to promote the role of the research library,” (CARL, 2004c) by influencing legislation, encouraging scholarly communication and promoting resource-sharing between institutions. The three goals of CARL are:
1. To provide organized leadership for the Canadian research library community in the development of policies and programs which maintain and improve the cycle of scholarly communication;
2. To work toward the realization of a national research library resource-sharing network in the areas of collection development, preservation and access; and
3. To increase the capacity of individual member libraries to provide effective support and encouragement to postgraduate study and research at national, regional, and local levels
(CARL, 2005b).
CARL assumes a leadership role by working with other associations, including Canadian, American and International groups, on a variety of projects and by evaluating other projects and making recommendations for improvement (CARL, 2004b). It also provides leadership to these and other organizations by annually announcing the Award for Distinguished Service to Research Librarianship and the Award of Merit, which is given to deserving candidates (CARL, 2004a).
Carl is affiliated with the Scholarly Publishing and Academic Resources Coalition (SPARC), the Association of Research Libraries (ARL), the Association of College and Research Libraries (ACRL) and the Canadian Consortium for Research (CCR), among others. CARL is involved with these organizations in a variety of projects.
In 1997, the Federal Government created the Canada Foundation for Innovation (CFI), for the purpose of determining what form of infrastructure was necessary to stimulate research and creativity among Canadians (Groen, 2000). This study was known as the Canadian National Site Licensing Project (Groen). In addition, the CFI provided grants to organizations practicing inter-institutional collaboration (Groen). At first, CFI did not believe that research libraries would be appropriate candidates for the grant (Groen). Consequently, Librarians initiated discussions with CFI, in order to convince them that libraries were suitable candidates for the grant (Groen). During these discussions, CARL “played a major role in encouraging dialogue and in transforming the situation to the benefit of libraries” (Groen, ¶ 11). CARL essentially played the role of a facilitator, to settle any disagreements between the groups and influence the discussions.
Upon finalizing their research, CFI concluded that a lead institution, which could award the grant, should be identified (Groen, 2000). Again, CARL “played a leadership role in galvanizing the support of the 28 University research library members and other smaller libraries to a total of 64 participating institutions” (Groen, ¶ 22). Each of these institutions donated one thousand dollars and along with a grant from a private organization, the required funding for the grant was reached (Groen).
In addition, the ARL offers assistance, guidance and funding to many of these associations, when required. CARL developed the Federal Relations and Information Policy program to examine and influence legislation relative to research libraries (Association of Research Libraries [ARL], 2005). It also “monitors Canadian information policies such as copyright and intellectual property and access to government information” (ARL, ¶ 2) by volunteering members for this program.
Between 2002 and 2005, CARL conducted a study entitled, “Optimizing the Transformation of Knowledge Dissemination: Towards a Canadian Research Strategy” (K. Shearer & Birdsall, 2005). CARL “provided administrative, logistical and funding support” (K. Shearer & Birdsall, p. 192) for this study and also received funding from the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada (SSHRC). In return, when the SSHRC was going through the difficult process of evolving from a Granting Council to a Knowledge Council, CARL sent a letter commending them on their initiative in attempting this transformation (CARL, 2004b). Along with the letter, CARL included a Brief containing recommendations that members agreed would assist the SSHRC in the transformation process (CARL). In this way, CARL was able to come to the aid of the SSHRC when they required expertise and guidance, while at the same time receive monetary assistance from the same organization.
CARL is involved with many ongoing projects including an Information Literacy Working Group, which promotes information literacy in libraries, resource-sharing (CARL, 2005c) and E-Learning, which is focused on online learning (CARL, 2002).
Currently, CARL is involved in the Institutional Repositories Pilot Project and the collection and preservation of web-based publications. Institutional Repositories (IRs) “are digital collections that capture and preserve the intellectual output of a single or multi-university community” (M. K. Shearer, 2003, p. 91). IRs are believed to be the new way to share global research, particularly with developing countries (M. K. Shearer). The project will study the implementation of IRs and the lessons learned from the development of these new repositories at research libraries across Canada (CARL, 2005a). The findings from this project will help initiate the development of future IRs.
On their website, CARL has published a Draft Report, entitled, “Collection and Preservation of Web-Based Provincial/Territorial Government Publications: An Action Plan for CARL” (Hubbertz, 2005). This report examines how complete collections of government web-based publications are needed in every Canadian province and territory (Hubbertz). CARL believes that materials should be downloaded to a local server, following the current cataloguing practice used in Canada (Hubbertz). These records will then be made available on the Amicus database at Library and Archives Canada (Hubbertz). However, CARL realizes this will be no easy task as each province and territory is “different in size, wealth, population, and infrastructure” (Hubbertz, p. 15). By initiating talks with the Association of Parliamentary Libraries in Canada (APLIC), CARL will be able to assist legislative libraries to collect and preserve these government documents (Hubbertz). Besides opening discussions, CARL volunteers to raise public awareness on this issue and involve other interested associations in the cause (Hubbertz). As a final recommendation, CARL will meet six months after the acceptance of the Draft Report, to review what has been accomplished and decide on the next steps (Hubbertz).
Through its involvement with these various organizations and projects, CARL is accomplishing its goals of providing leadership, promoting resource-sharing, preserving documents, accessing knowledge and increasing the ability of research libraries to provide support to post graduate research nationally, regionally and locally (CARL, 2005b). Currently, CARL has moved into exploring how the internet and online databases can assist in the collection and preservation of scholarly documents. The internet also plays an important role in preserving and collecting Canadian government publications, and in facilitating the research of current and future scholars. CARL feels that by promoting E-Learning and Institutional Repositories, research will be made accessible around the world (M. K. Shearer, 2003).
Reference List
Association of Research Libraries. (2005). Federal relations and information policy. Retrieved September 25, 2005 from http://www.arl.org/info/
Canadian Association of Research Libraries. (2005a). CARL institutional repository project: Online resource portal. Retrieved September 15, 2005 from http://www.carl-abrc.ca/projects/institutional_repositories/
institutional_repositories-e.html
Canadian Association of Research Libraries. (2005b). Fact sheet. Retrieved September 15, 2005 from http://www.carl-abrc.ca/about/factsheet-e.html
Canadian Association of Research Libraries. (2005c). Information literacy working group. Retrieved September 15, 2005 from http://www.carl-abrc.ca/about/working_groups/info_lit_mandate-e.html
Canadian Association of Research Libraries. (2004a). CARL members' handbook. Ottawa: Author. Retrieved September 15, 2005, from http://www.carl-abrc.ca/about/pdf/handbook-e.pdf
Canadian Association of Research Libraries. (2004b). Social sciences and humanities research council of Canada. Retrieved September 15, 2005 from http://www.carl-abrc.ca/projects/sshrc/transformation_brief-e.html
Canadian Association of Research Libraries. (2004c). Strategic directions for the period 2004-2006. Ottawa: Author. Retrieved September 27, 2005, from http://www.carl-abrc.ca/about/pdf/sd2004-2006-e.pdf
Canadian Association of Research Libraries. (2002). E-learning. Retrieved September 15, 2005 from http://www.carl-abrc.ca/projects/e_learning/e_learning-e.html
Groen, F. (2000). Canada's national initiative to advance access to electronic journals. Health Libraries Review, 17(4), 189-193.
Hubbertz, A. (2005). Collection and preservation of web-based Provincial/Territorial government publications: An action plan for CARL. Ottawa: Canadian Association of Research Libraries. Retrieved September 27, 2005, from http://www.carl-abrc.ca/projects/preservation/pdf/provincial_web-pubs_report.pdf
Shearer, K., & Birdsall, W. F. (2005). A Canadian strategy for the dissemination of research knowledge. Feliciter, 51(4), 192-194.
Shearer, M. K. (2003). Institutional repositories: Towards the identification of critical success factors. Canadian Journal of Information and Library Science, 27(3), 89-108.
posted by Erin @ 7:26 p.m.
3 Comments:
Hi!
Yes the members do pay to be a part of CARL and this is where their funding comes from. They have meetings where they decide what their organization will take part in and review progress with current projects. However, some organizations do come to CARL and ask for assistance, and as far as I know CARL has always been willing to lend assistance and guidance to other organizations. Thanks for posting!
Your profile is an excellent summary of CARL’s interests and activities. I was wondering through, how or if CARL is related to the ARL? One aspect of your report that particularly caught my attention was the CARL IR pilot project, since my profile was on DSpace, another IR project from MIT. Do you know what kind of platform was used and if it was bought from a vendor or developed independently? Another thing that interested me was reading that SSHRC has been evolving from a “granting council” to a “knowledge council”. I’m not sure what the latter means and am curious to find out why the group decided to take this step and on what grounds CARL applauded their choice. If you could comment on either of these points, that would be great!—hdc.
CARL and ARL are both trying to attain similar goals for the academic world, so they have worked together on many projects but they are separate associations and are loosely affiliated with each other.
I was unable to find any information regarding the IR project platform and if it was independent or purchased, but the IR itself will be an "Open Access" resource, with no subscription or licensing fees.
At first SSHRC was a granting program giving standard research grants and doctoral fellowships to researchers and students, however, as time passed they became more involved and created new programs. They felt they could offer more by becoming increasingly involved in the information world. They proposed to become involved in the dissemination, mobilization and transfer of knowledge outside of universities, while improving current programs and creating institutes for various topics such as, Aboriginal issues, language acquisition, future of cities, globalization, sustainability and environment. CARL applauded their choice to become more involved and for trying to increase knowledge mobilization.
I hope this clarifies your questions! :)
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