Information, Governance and Democracy: Challenges for the State of Law Sustainable Archives for a Sustainable and Effective Democracy – SAA Information, Governance and Democracy: Challenges for the State of Law Daniel J. Caron, Ph. D. Librarian and Archivist of Canada SAA 2009

Outline Introduction Environment Role of archives, libraries and knowledge institutions Some challenges Way forward: Modernization Conclusion

Introduction Information resources: cornerstone of our democratic systems Information technology development has transformed the landscape of information creation, sharing and management Need for good IM in order to support our democracies remains Recordkeeping is at the heart of the solution: a mean rather than an end

Environment Production: Beyond physicality Limitless information territory Networked multiple media Volume: Exponential growth of digital information Overabundance of documentation in organizations Digital: More volatile information resources Users generate published, consumed, merged and wide- spread digital information

Environment (cont’d) Social Practices: Creation and access Networked society Collaborative practices in organizations Democratization of creation and access No intermediaries or censors between creators and users Evolution of users behaviour: Redocumentation New ways to produce, acquire, distribute and use information

Role of archives, libraries and knowledge institutions Is it possible to fulfill our mandate in the same manner? Should the traditional functions be reproduced in the digital environment? How can archives and libraries integrate themselves into the knowledge networks of this new realm of communications? Must we re-evaluate our institutional roles and responsibilities?

Some challenges Make choices Overcome preservation issues Information value remains to be defined How to determine what information is to be kept? A value that is meaningful? A quantity that is sufficient and sustainable? Overcome preservation issues What is the future of paper records? Digital new records end up destroyed by their creators

Some challenges (cont’d) Competencies and abilities Connectivity is bringing various professions together: Over 50 different occupations Transformation of traditional information professions Access and resource discovery Instant expectations and new user needs Conceptual anachronisms Digital content is managed and make accessible

Way forward: Modernization Rethinking the structures of our knowledge institutions Revisiting our work processes Redefining skills and competencies

Continuing Memory Possible Approach: Mosaic Previous Approach Current Outcome