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From 1997 to 2000 the Law Society of Upper Canada began to redesign the delivery of law library services to County and District law libraries. A working group chaired by E. Susan Elliott was established and produced “Beyond 2000: the Future Delivery of County Library Services to Ontario Lawyers”. These reports established the "blended system", a new structure for the delivery of library services. The new system was designed to create central management of library services, while allowing for local input and management of libraries.
Convocation approved the new structure and By-law 30 (County Law Libraries) on June 23, 2000. In April 2001 The Law Society and the County and District Law Presidents' Association (CDLPA) signed a Unanimous Shareholder Agreement establishing a Board structure and LibraryCo's framework for operation.
In 2004 the LibraryCo Board approved the establishment of the Integration Task Force. The members of the Integration Task Force included representatives from LibraryCo, the Law Society, CanLII, CDLPA and the Toronto Lawyers' Association (TLA). The members were responsible for exploring options for the effective delivery of information services to the lawyers of Ontario. The Task Force concluded that many of the issues for discussion related to a governance and operational model for LibraryCo.
Structural and governance discussions undertaken by representatives of the Law Society, CDLPA and TLA agreed that the framework and shareholder agreement for the delivery of library services in Ontario be revisited resulting in changes to the Unanimous Shareholders Agreement, amendment to By-law 30 and the adoption of an Administrative Services Agreement.
On February 28, 2007 the CDLPA Presidents voted in favour of moving forward with the execution of the Unanimous Shareholders Agreement and Administrative Services Agreement.
On March 29, 2007 Convocation approved the Unanimous Shareholder Agreement, amendment to By-law 30 and Administrative Services Agreement.
LibraryCo has accomplished a number of improvements to the delivery of library services in its first six years. Refining LibraryCo's structure will enable the Corporation to move forward in the coming years.
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