23 January 2008

Recent changes at LAC

Visitors to Library and Archives Canada will notice an addition at the front of the building at 395 Wellington. While walking past the landmark Secret Bench of Knowledge an employee, well known genealogist Sylvie Tremblay, tripped on uneven paving stones. Her arm was in a cast since before Christmas which is now removed. The area in front of the steps is now covered with a wooden frame and matting (the matting has subsequently been removed). The bench is off to one side.

You will also find a new security station on the 3rd floor. It was staffed but not fully operational when I was there on Monday.

This change is announced on the LAC web site:

Clients of Library and Archives Canada who use our public research/consultation facilities at 395 Wellington will notice the presence of a new security desk on the third floor of this building as of January 21, 2008

This is one of several new security measures which were approved by Library and Archives Canada's Management Board in 2007 and is intended to enhance the security for our collections, employees and visitors.

What's new?

Full-time security presence on the third floor, the security post in the foyer is operational from:

  • 8 a.m. to 11 p.m. on weekdays
  • 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. on weekends

Increased rounds on the second floor by security personnel.

What changes are being implemented?

  • Inspection of bags on entry and exit from the third floor
  • More frequent rounds in consultation rooms by security personnel
  • Enforcement of the requirement for clients and visitors to wear their identification cards at all times, as per the Regulations Governing the Use of Research Materials and Facilities
  • Revised sign-out procedures and random inspection of bags at the ground floor security desk.
This does not change the hours of operation of the Textual Documents Consultation Room (3rd floor), including the Restricted Documents Consultation Room, Audiovisual Documents Consultation Room, Microforms Consultation Room, Self-Serve Digital Copying Room and the Canadian Genealogy Centre. Staff assistance is only available from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

at 7:20 am

1 comment:

M. Diane Rogers said...

Were the reasons for, and the financial consequences of, these stricter security measures not discussed at the Services Advisory Board meeting? Seems odd, if not.

Some information about the public consultation meetings planned now for February is now up on the site - not under 'What's New' but accessible only from the home page which says
"New Services Advisory Board and ongoing public consultations.
Two new ways to comment on LAC services!"

Perhaps the 2 sessions are the two ways? As yet no info on alternative ways to comment or discuss issues,if one isn't in Ottawa, just an e-mail address to 'click' "For more information on LAC public consultations".

I don't see anything about this on the Canadian Genealogy Centre.

As an aside, when I went to the LAC website I was asked to participate in a survey. Of course, I said yes, but alas the next page was a '403' - no survey?

23 January, 2008 16:16

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