New Report on Information Management in the Government of Canada

April 29, 2013

A new report “Information Management in the Canadian Federal Government: Principles, Practices and the Role of Information Professionals“ by Isla Jordan and Ulla de Stricker is now available. A big thank you to all who participated and/or provided valuable advice!

The input received adds up to a picture that ought to give government leaders pause. We see the report as a postscript to David C.G. Brown’s “The Unfulfilled Promise of Information Management in the Government of Canada” (J. Parliamentary & Political Law 107, March 2012) yet still fondly desire that our contribution may keep the discussion going.

Isla and Ulla

Isla Jordan
Carleton University Library

Ulla de Stricker
de Stricker and Associates

Abstract

Information management (IM) in the Canadian public sector is a complex area involving many professions such as librarians, archivists, records managers and information technology professionals. This exploratory study looks at the literature and experiential (qualitative) evidence from IM professionals in order to paint a picture of information management principles and practice in the Canadian federal government. Personal interviews were conducted with 20 librarians, information managers, records managers and other information professionals. Responses indicated that although the public sector has made tremendous strides in IM, there is often a gap between IM policy and practice as shown by inconsistencies and confusion in day to day operations compounded by the decimation of federal libraries (which are repositories of external as well as government information). The study also looks at roles of librarians and other IM professionals now and in the future. These professionals are well positioned to help close the gap between information policy and practice, moving forward toward more coordinated and integrated practices in information management as well as making information accessible and usable for their clients. Such functions aid the Canadian public sector in becoming a more effective knowledge organization.