Disturbing news on Canadian Fisheries/Oceans libraries
I was curious about the recent news of federal library closures in Canada and did some Googling last week to see if anything had been reported about the Department of Fisheries and Oceans libraries in particular, many of which are run by IAMSLIC members. I was shocked to run across these news releases, among many others:
CBC News story: CBC News Posted: May 18, 2012 1:03 PM AT
The Department of Fisheries and Oceans is planning to close two of its five regional offices, seven of its 11 libraries and some Coast Guard stations.
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The library at the St. Andrews Biological Station will close and library services will be consolidated on the west coast, in Halifax and in Ottawa.
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CBC News Posted: May 22, 2012 2:46 PM ET
Conservative MPs argue DFO cuts won’t hurt research – About 16 scientists and librarians at the St. Andrews Biological Station received layoff notices last week
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Concerned about these stories, I inquired of our IAMSLIC colleagues at DFO libraries and this is what they were able to tell me:
Here is the information as we have been told. Thanks for asking, Steve, et al.
DFO is planning on closing libraries.
Libraries that will remain will be 2 primary libraries:Institute of Ocean Sciences, Sidney BC – Vancouver Island, BC
Bedford Institute of Oceanography, Dartmouth, Nova ScotiaThere will be 2 other libraries for Coast Guard:
Ottawa, Ontario – Coast Guard Technical Library (1 staff)
Sydney, Nova Scotia – Coast Guard College Library
–Steve Watkins
