Managing ocean information in the digital era--events in Canada open questions about the role of marine science libraries.
Information is the foundation of evidence-based policies for effective marine environmental protection and conservation. In Canada, the cutback of marine science libraries introduces key questions about the role of such institutions and the management of ocean information in the digital age. How vital are such libraries in the mission of studying and protecting the oceans? What is the fate and value of the massive grey literature holdings, including archival materials, much of which is not in digital form but which often contains vital data? How important is this literature generally in the marine environmental sciences? Are we likely to forget the history of the marine pollution field if our digital focus eclipses the need for and access to comprehensive collections and skilled information specialists? This paper explores these and other questions against the backdrop of unprecedented changes in the federal libraries, marine environmental science and legislation in Canada.
Faculty of Management and International Ocean Institute, Dalhousie University, 6414 Coburg Road, P.O. Box 15000, Halifax, NS B3H 4R2, Canada. Electronic address: Oceans2@ns.sympatico.ca.
Peter G
PG
Wells
D002170:Canada; D003247:Conservation of Natural Resources; D048088:Informatics; D007990:Libraries; D009791:Oceanography / Q000458:organization & administration*; D009792:Oceans and Seas; D054064:Transverse Sinuses
Canada; Evidence-based policies; Grey literature; Marine information; Marine libraries; Ocean management