Research libraries can best support researchers in a public policy environment that facilitates the generation, sharing, and management of scholarly information through supportive laws, infrastructure, and institutions. The work of the Public Policy Committee will strengthen CARL’s influence on federal level public policy in Canada, around various themes.

This Committee was established on November 12, 2009, in Ottawa.

Through the Public Policy Committee , CARL will achieve the following:

• CARL will advocate copyright legislation that is fair to users and workable for libraries. It will also make known to decision-makers the needs of research libraries in the context of copyright-related agreements that may affect libraries or their users;
• CARL will monitor federal research policy, encouraging funding for research, which should address both direct and indirect costs;
• CARL will promote broadband network development in Canada and seek an Internet regime that respects user privacy and ensures fair traffic management practices;
• CARL will work to ensure that necessary services provided by Canada’s national libraries are maintained, even in a difficult funding environment;

The Committee reports regularly to the Board and to the membership at General Meetings.

Membership

The Public Policy Committee will normally be staffed by eight to twelve CARL library directors. The President and the Executive Director are ex officio members of the Committee. Normally at least one member of the Committee will also be a Board member. The Chair of the Committee, as recommended by Committee members, will be approved by the Board.

Subcommittees and Working Groups

The Committee will strike subcommittees or working groups as needed. The members of these groups need not all be members of the Public Policy Committee, but the Chair of the subgroup normally will be. Subcommittee and working group mandates, chairs, members, and project budgeting will be approved by the Public Policy Committee. Current subcommittees and working groups of the Public Policy Committee are as follows:

2010-01-28