The National Heritage Digitization Strategy (NHDS) Steering Committee and the Canadian Research Knowledge Network (CRKN) Board of Directors have agreed to investigate the transfer of the NHDS secretariat to CRKN.
Both the NHDS and CRKN agree that the transition could increase funding opportunities, revitalize NHDS governance, and maintain and develop relationships between the NHDS and other organizations digitizing documentary heritage.
Launched in 2016, the NHDS is a coalition of memory institutions working together to leverage expertise and resources to support the digitization, preservation, and discovery of Canadian documentary heritage. Secretariat support for the NHDS is currently provided by Library and Archives Canada.
“It has been almost four years since the NHDS was announced, and I am extremely proud of what we have accomplished together. Now is a wonderful opportunity to reflect on achievements to date and plan for the future,” commented Paul Takala, Chief Librarian/CEO at Hamilton Public Library and Chair of the NHDS Steering Committee. “The support of Library and Archives Canada has been instrumental in the success of the NHDS, and in partnership with LAC, CRKN’s secretariat support would provide significant governance expertise to the NHDS, as well as the opportunity to further align the efforts of organizations digitizing and increasing the discoverability of Canadian documentary heritage.”
CRKN’s heritage content program, which includes the Canadiana collections and services for digitizing and preserving documentary heritage materials, has been closely informed by the work of the NHDS. CRKN’s Executive Director, Clare Appavoo, has been a member of the NHDS Steering Committee since its inception.
“I have been impressed by the dedication of the NHDS Steering Committee in advancing Canada’s digitization strategy. CRKN is a close partner of the NHDS, and we share the goal of expanding access to scholarly research and documentary heritage,” commented Clare Appavoo, Executive Director of CRKN. “I see great potential in the next phase of the NHDS, and it is a pleasure to have CRKN considered for providing secretariat support.”
CRKN currently provides administrative support for the ORCID-CA Consortium and, in partnership with CARL Portage, the DataCite Canada Consortium, both of which include members who are not members of CRKN. If CRKN provides Secretariat support to the NHDS, there would be no requirement for Steering Committee members or other supporters and collaborators of the NHDS to become a CRKN member.
CRKN and the NHDS invite feedback on the development of this initiative. For more information, or any questions or comments, please contact:
Rebecca Ross
Senior Director, Strategy and Engagement
rross@crkn.ca
Caitlin Horrall
Corporate Secretary of the NHDS
secretariat@nhds.ca