[Advisors] ltr to InCan policy advisor re: CAP/libraries

[Marie Prebushewski]

Hi Marita 
In Saskatchewan the CAP sites in two regions (West Central and East Central)
comprising 136 sites are involved in providing leadership and resources for
community and economic development. There have been major emphasis and
initiatives in First Nation communities (2.5 million dollar Centre of
Excellence, 3 Worker Co-operatives, development of small businesses on
reserve, Business training and skills development etc).  Libraries don't do
any of this stuff. Further  
few libraries are involved in providing internship opportunities through CAP
YI or other agencies - Our non library CAP sites have been providing
internships for 10 years. (204 sites approximately)

Please wordsmith to suit your letter but these are true facts. 

Marie 

-----Original Message-----
From: advisors-admin@tc.ca [mailto:advisors-admin@tc.ca] On Behalf Of Marita
Moll
Sent: January-03-12 8:48 AM
To: advisors@tc.ca
Subject: [Advisors] ltr to InCan policy advisor re: CAP/libraries


Hello folks and Happy New Year.  We have yet to 
reconnect with the policy advisor we met with in 
December and, given the rumours about CAP being 
absorbed by libraries, I thought it would be a 
good hook to hang this letter on.  So, below is a 
draft, with some explanation re: the library 
context and a request for a further meeting about 
new funding models.  I need your help with good 
specific examples about "libraries" that don't 
fit the common mould, with other points that could/should be made.


Dear Mr. Winchester

Please accept our best wishes for the New Year 
and our thanks for the extended meeting on 
December 8, 2011.  We appreciated your honest 
comments and probing questions about the current 
status of the CAP program.  We hope we were able 
to communicate some of the exciting innovations 
currently underway in this program which, we all 
agree, needs complete rebranding.

We know there is a feeling, in the policy 
community, that the CAP program is ready to be 
absorbed into the library community.  We would 
like to assure you that this is absolutely not 
the case. To begin with, in the context of CAP 
delivery, the term "library" has never been 
clearly defined. Libraries vary greatly across 
the country.  In very small communities they 
might consist of nothing more than a few shelves 
of books and the ability to order books from a 
distant main repository.  Some are only open a 
few hours per week and staffed by a single 
person.  They might be a small corner of a rural 
municipal building that serves multiple 
functions.  Here are a few reports describing the situation in various
areas:

.        In Nunavut, the libraries have no budget 
for computers or technical support.  The only 
support they receive for digital programs is through CAP.
.        In Saskatchewan, most of the rural 
libraries are open only 12 hours per week and many are not CAP sites.
.         First Nations communities have very 
large populations that depend on the CAP sites 
for basic tasks such as completing job 
applications and creating resumes.  First Nation 
communities rarely have public libraries.
.        None of the 38 CAP sites in PEI are in libraries.
.        In the Vancouver area, out of 102 sites, 
only 20 of them are in libraries.
.        Xxxx please send me a few more examples
.        xxxx

We hope you will be interested in taking some 
time in January to meet with some of us again to 
discuss different funding models that could 
preserve the program outside of the Industry Canada envelope.

Finally, further to the "living labs" project 
demonstrated at the December meeting, we would 
like to share with you the attached pictures of 
the Royal Couple visiting one of the "living lab" 
sites in Montreal.  Although this particular site 
is part of a medical program, community 
installations now being planned follow a similar model.

Sincerely
people at the meeting?


Marita












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