“Federal librarians and archivists who set foot in classrooms, attend conferences or speak up at public meetings on their own time are engaging in “high risk” activities, according to the new code of conduct at Library and Archives Canada…The code, which stresses federal employees’ “duty of loyalty” to the “duly elected government,” also spells out how offenders can be reported. “It includes both a muzzle and a snitch line,” says James Turk, executive director of the Canadian Association of University Teachers…“Once you start picking on librarians and archivists, it’s pretty sad,” says Toni Samek, a professor of library and information studies at the University of Alberta. She specializes in intellectual freedom and describes several clauses in the code as  “severe” and “outrageous.” The code is already having a “chilling” effect on federal archivists and librarians, who used to be encouraged to actively engage and interact with groups interested in everything from genealogy to preserving historical documents, says archivist Loryl MacDonald at the University of Toronto.”

(Source: vancouversun.com)

The Harper-pocalyse gets worse - we’re trading libraries for prisons.

Go to this site to call on the Federal Government to Save Library and Archives Canada.

From CBC: “The federal government is eliminating a series of libraries and archives throughout different departments as part of the latest budget cuts. Library and Archives Canada alone has received or will still receive more than 400 affected notices and the department announced 20 per cent of its workforce would be let go.”

My favorite comment from the news item: “Of course the government will attempt to eliminate, and at the very least, curtail, libraries and archives. Without history or access to prior or even current knowledge, governments can create futures without any messy details. There can be no comparisons to the past, no references to people or things or instances that might encourage people to pause and think about the implications of a government plan.”

“Edmonton’s Historic Landmarks” - from the City of Edmonton Archives’ first virtual exhibit: “Ella May Walker (1892-1960) was an Edmonton musician, artist, author and advocate for Edmonton’s history. She had a wide variety of interests and was very active in the local cultural life. She was also a working mother of two sons which was rare for her time.”

CBC dismantling LP, CD archives

“The CBC is quietly dismantling its archives of LPs and CDs across Canada – a cultural treasure trove built over decades – even as it prepares to launch a major new music service online. With uncertainty over levels of funding from Ottawa, CBC management has told archivists to winnow the music collections at regional bureaus by the end of March. This could mean donating, selling or discarding thousands of records and CDs – a cost- and space-saving measure as recordings are increasingly digitized.”

This is a tragedy for so many reasons - Harper is slowly, but surely, undermining everything that makes Canada unique.

Bird’s eye view of Edmonton, Alberta, n.d.

thedailywhat:

From The Archives: A creepy-cute school essay about an abused tea kettle, penned by 9-year-old David Foster Wallace.

“As it informs us of abuses suffered at the hands of the Oomps…we can already recognize a Wallace archetype,” says Newsweek’s Seth Colter Walls, who had an “infinitely fascinating” time (ICWUDT) sifting through a treasure trove of the late author’s stuff, collected by University of Texas.

[blogtown.]

(Source: thedailywhat)