15 September 2007

More on LAC informal discussion session

Fortunately I didn't have to join one of the increasingly long lines to see a consultant while at LAC doing some research recently. A warning for those visiting LAC -- be prepared for a wait in a line-up if you arrive when consultation hours open at 10 am.

The informal discussion session I blogged about previously is causing some buzz. LAC staff mentioned the item on the CASLIS blog. CASLIS is the Canadian Association of Special Libraries and Information Services, a division of the Canadian Library Association. Beware of riled librarians!

Also mentioned was the graduate students petition found at the following link: http://www.petitiononline.com/history8/petition.html.

At the Friday evening session of the BIFHSGO conference LAC Assistant Deputy Minister for Programs and Services acknowledged that the organization had received much adverse reaction to the cut in hours, and regretted that client consultation had not been possible owing to the need to shift resources quickly. It was ironic that the guest speaker that evening, while explaining the deliberate destruction of Irish census records, those not destroyed by fire in 1922, used the term "bureaucratic arrogance."

A reminder that the informal discussion session will be on Wednesday, September 19th from 2:30 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. in room "A" in 395 Wellington St., Ottawa.

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