Bibliothèque et Archives nationales du Québec (BAnQ) and McGill University signed a partnership agreement today that creates a formal framework for future collaborative projects involving the two institutions. The agreement was signed by Suzanne Fortier, Principal and Vice-Chancellor of McGill University, and Guy Berthiaume, President and CEO of BAnQ, during a ceremony at the Grande Bibliothèque.
“I am delighted by this collaboration with McGill University, an institution that has built some of the most important collections in Canada,” Mr. Berthiaume said. “We have often had the pleasure of working with the Rare Books and Special Collections Division of the McGill Library and with McGill’s School of Information Studies, and I am pleased that our relationship will grow stronger over the coming years. The signing of this agreement is a testimony to the role that libraries and archive centres play as essential pillars of the knowledge society, complementing the role of institutions of higher education.”
“We are happy to be signing this agreement, which will allow us to broaden our exchanges and cooperation with Bibliothèque et Archives nationales du Québec, a major player in the social and cultural development of Québec, added Prof. Fortier. Our two institutions share a common commitment to the dissemination of knowledge, and this partnership will enable us to share our respective collections and expertise with many more people.”
The agreement will see BAnQ and McGill collaborating on research and dissemination projects, internships, the creation of library science or archival projects, and the joint organization of activities such as seminars, exhibits and conferences.
In the last year, the ties between the two institutions led to the presentation of the major exhibit Raymond Klibansky (1905-2005) – The Library of a Philosopher (Grande Bibliothèque, November 2012 – August 2013). Planning is under way for the Society for the History of Authorship, Reading and Publishing (SHARP) conference, which will be held in Montréal in 2015. This conference, a joint project organized by BAnQ-McGill-Université de Sherbrooke, will bring together more than 300 participants from around the world. In addition, BAnQ collections specialists will deliver lectures in courses at McGill.
About Bibliothèque et Archives nationales du Québec
As the largest cultural institution in Québec in terms of its attendance and diversified missions, and an essential pillar of the knowledge society, Bibliothèque et Archives nationales du Québec (BAnQ) has the mandate to offer democratic access to culture and knowledge. To this end, it collects, preserves and highlights the Québec and Québec-related documentary heritage. It also provides the services of a major public library. BAnQ encompasses the Grande Bibliothèque, a preservation centre (Centre de conservation) and 10 archives centres in Montréal, Québec City, Gaspé, Gatineau, Rimouski, Rouyn-Noranda, Saguenay, Sept-Îles, Sherbrooke and Trois-Rivières.
About McGill University
Founded in Montreal, Quebec, in 1821, McGill is a leading Canadian post-secondary institution. It has two campuses, 11 faculties, 11 professional schools, 300 programs of study and some 39,000 students, including more than 9,300 graduate students. McGill attracts students from over 150 countries around the world, its 8,200 international students making up 21 per cent of the student body. Almost half of McGill students claim a first language other than English, including approximately 40 per cent whose first language is French or who speak it fluently.
News Release (English): http://www.mcgill.ca/newsroom/channels/news/banq-and-mcgill-sign-partnership-agreement-230806
News Release (French): http://www.mcgill.ca/newsroom/fr/channels/news/banq-et-mcgill-signent-une-entente-de-partenariat-230806
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