April 9, 2010

Help us digitize the Canada Gazette!

Dear Sir/Madam:

As you may be aware, the Canada Gazette Directorate (CGD), in partnership with Library and Archives Canada (LAC), is in the process of digitizing all issues of the Canada Gazette dating from 1841 to 1997, in order to make them more accessible to the public at large as well as easily searchable by keyword. A large portion of these issues are available online but the project has now come to a standstill.

To quickly and efficiently digitize the Canada Gazette issues, LAC must take each issue apart but can only do so if it has two copies of the issue in question in its archives in order to guarantee continued accessibility of the printed copy of the Canada Gazette to the public. Recently, LAC has ascertained that it only has a single copy of certain issues in its archives, thus making the digitization of these issues more difficult, time-consuming and costly. LAC therefore solicited the help of the CGD in finding a second copy of those issues so that it can complete the project. Even though the CGD was successful in locating extra copies of some issues, there are still several that have yet to be found.

The CGD is now soliciting the assistance of all depository libraries in the quest to locate a second copy of the issues that LAC requires. The issues in question are listed in the following file.

Any donation will bring LAC one step closer to its goal of ensuring complete online access of this very important resource, from its beginning in 1841 until 1997, to both Canadians and the international community.

Should your library be able to provide LAC with a copy of any of the required issues, please contact Nicole Cloutier at nicole.c.cloutier@tpsgc-pwgsc.gc.ca. Bear in mind that the issue will be taken apart to be digitized and therefore not be returned to you. All donations will be greatly appreciated by LAC and the CGD who thank you in advance for your assistance.

Sincerely,

The Canada Gazette Directorate