It appears as if user services are planned to take the major hit going forward. I’m only able to scan the newly tabled document while away.
Providing access to documentary heritage is bearing the brunt of cuts falling from a projected $95 million this year to $76 million in 2026-2027, $31 million (sic) the following year and $28 million in 2028-2029.
The new indicator “Amount of digital material newly available online through self-service access.” is projected to be 500,000 by 31 March 2027. Among those will be about 550 Killed in Action service records for Kores.
It’s unclear how the new indicator, of 500,000 images relates to the 10 million digitized images recorded last year.
It’s also unclear whether and to what extent LAC is harnessing AI. especially full text search, to facilitate access to existing and recently acquired datasets such as the 1940 National Registration.
These disproportionate cuts to services appear to represent a move toward hoarding the collection rather than access.
It’s extremely disheartening. And i would agree with you on the restricting access feel about this. So much for “public” archives.
This past week i attempted a search for an upper canada land petition for one of my ancestors. The old webpage has been replaced and the new search page gives reel # numbers but not the usual remaining numbers that would allow a person to find the documents on canadiana.heritage.
So. We’re going to have a fabulous new building. Less staff. Less funding. Less access. What does this tell you?