1 Daniel J. Caron, Ph. D. Librarian and Archivist of Canada Sustainable Archives for a Sustainable and Effective Democracy SAA Information, Governance and Democracy: Challenges for the State of Law SAA 2009 2 Outline Introduction Environment Role of archives, libraries and knowledge institutions Some challenges Way forward: Modernization Conclusion 3 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 4 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 5 Environment (contd) 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 6 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? 7 Some challenges Make choices 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 8 Some challenges (contd) 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 9 Way forward: Modernization Rethinking the structures of our knowledge institutions Revisiting our work processes Redefining skills and competencies 10 Previous Approach Current Outcome Possible Approach: Mosaic Continuing Memory