Ever Heard of CRKN? You’ve Probably Used Our Work Without Knowing It
By: Mélanie Plante, Communications Coordinator
If you have ever read a Canadian research article online or stumbled across an old Canadian newspaper from the 1800s, chances are CRKN helped make that happen.
Maybe you are at a Canadian university trying to read about the latest research, a genealogist tracing your roots, or a historian chasing down historical records. In one way or another, you have probably crossed paths with us without realizing it.
CRKN, short for the Canadian Research Knowledge Network, is a not-for-profit organization that works with Canadian universities, libraries, and partners to make knowledge accessible to everyone. Think of us as the behind-the-scenes crew making sure research in Canada is not locked away behind a paywall.
What We Actually Do (In Plain English)
At our core, we connect people and organizations. We help libraries, researchers, and institutions work together so Canadians can access knowledge affordably and openly. We believe information should be a shared resource, not a luxury item.
CRKN negotiates national licensing agreements with publishers so that students and researchers can read and publish work without hitting paywalls. By uniting the collective strength of more than 80 member institutions, we help libraries get better deals and stronger access to research materials.
We also take pride in preserving Canadian history through Canadiana, our free digital collection of books, newspapers, government publications, and other historical treasures. From vintage cookbooks to handwritten journals and early maps by Canadians, Canadiana keeps Canada’s heritage online and open to all.
And if that were not enough, we are also leading the way with our Persistent Identifiers program, or PIDs for short. It might sound futuristic, but the idea is simple. PIDs act like digital name tags that make it easier to find, track, and connect research outputs across the web. The adoption of PIDs helps create a more organized and connected research world, so that finding the information you need feels less like detective work and more like a direct route to discovery.
Why It Matters
Here is the simple version: Our work helps keep knowledge open!
- Researchers and students get access to research materials without barriers
- Libraries save money and resources
- Researchers can share their discoveries more widely
- And the public can explore Canada’s past for free
So the next time you decide to browse a 1910 Canadian cookbook or are looking into Indigenous land rights, you can thank the collective effort of CRKN and our members for making that possible.
The People Behind the Work
CRKN is powered by a dedicated team of staff, volunteers, and more than 80 university libraries across the country. Our member libraries not only guide our work but they fund and sustain the programs, platforms, and services that make nationwide access possible. We are the backstage crew making sure the spotlight shines on the knowledge itself.
Be Part of the Story
Curious to explore? Visit Canadiana to dive into Canada’s digital heritage or follow CRKN on social media or through our newsletter In the Know to see how we are keeping research open, connected, and accessible.
We may work quietly, but our mission is loud and clear: making knowledge in Canada open to all.
Mélanie Plante
Mélanie Plante joined CRKN in 2024 and holds an Honours Bachelor's degree in the Arts, specializing in English from the University of Ottawa. You can contact her at mplante@crkn.ca.