LAC Partnership with the University of Ottawa

OTTAWA, June 23, 2015  —  Library and Archives Canada (LAC) and the University of Ottawa will collaborate in several key areas over the next five years to share expertise, knowledge and technology as well as support research and outreach initiatives.

This unique agreement—the first of its kind signed with a Canadian university—was announced today by Librarian and Archivist of Canada Guy Berthiaume, University of Ottawa President Allan Rock and University Librarian Leslie Weir.

“I’m extremely pleased that Library and Archives Canada has shown a willingness to work together by signing this first memorandum of understanding with the University. And I’m doubly happy it’s with the University of Ottawa,” says Berthiaume. “The innovation and the skill level at the Library and the University’s School of Information Studies are well known across the country. I’m convinced this new partnership will position both our institutions at the cutting edge in library and archival sciences.”

“Being a bilingual, research-intensive university makes us a natural fit with Library and Archives Canada,” says Rock. “Our researchers and graduate students will enjoy greater access to the LAC’s wealth of indispensable resources and staff to support their research efforts—especially in the social sciences and humanities.”

As an example of the collaborations to be made possible by this partnership, LAC will work with students and staff at the University, providing advice and expertise to ensure the preservation of one of the University of Ottawa Library’s oldest and rarest books—Platonis Opera, a collection of Plato’s works, published in 1517.

“This unique collaboration will allow both Library and Archives Canada and the University of Ottawa to leverage the complimentary expertise and resources that exist at both of our great institutions,” says Weir. “I want to sincerely thank our partners at LAC for choosing the University of Ottawa as their first partner for this unique type of agreement.”

A coordination committee composed of four members from the University and four from LAC will recommend and evaluate possible projects to collaborate on.