A Brief Chronology of The Canadian National Site Licensing Project

1996

-	AUCC-CARL/ABRC Task Force on Academic Libraries and Scholarly Communication releases report calling for a national strategy for securing scholarly content in digital formats, as one means of addressing the chronic erosion of library collections supporting university research and teaching.
-	Association of Universities and Colleges of Canada (AUCC) and Canadian Association of Research Libraries /Association

1997

-	Federal Budget announces the creation of Canada Foundation for Innovation (CFI). "...significant financial support for the modernization of research infrastructure at Canadian universities and research hospitals in the areas of science, health, engineering and the environment." ( Feb 19, Press Release), with an investment of $800 million to be disbursed over 5 years; through matching funding this may increase to $2 billion, with the first competition expected in Fall 1997.
-	CARL organizes meeting with CFI to: clarify CFI’s mandate, timelines, eligibility criteria and general guidelines;present proposals for CFI funding (most as yet at the ‘concept stage’) for comments and preliminary evaluation and, determine the role of CARL in terms of coordinating/ facilitating; or in assessing the 'scalability' of a project.
-	CFI/CANARIE Steering Committee established "to explore ways of developing new information infrastructure for the support of research."

1998

-	CARL advocates that CFI consider eligibility of digital library projects
-	CFI approves Addendum to CFI Policy and Program Guide: “Research Libraries and Research Infrastructure... guidelines have been prepared following consultation with the research community and the Canadian Association of Research Libraries.”
-	Regional library consortia ( COPPUL, OCUL, CREPUQ, CAUL) submit proposals to CFI.
-	CFI announces: "In the case of digital libraries, the CFI will invite applicants to review their proposals with the goal of developing a single national proposal involving institutions in all regions focusing on a pilot program for site licensing."
-	CARL and the four regional library groups agree to collaborate on the development of a proposal to CFI for a three-year pilot implementation of national-scale licensing for scholarly e-journals and research databases.
-	CARL Board establishes CFI Steering Committee to establish a plan that will result in the submission of a proposal for national site licensing project to CFI by mid-April 1999, including the securing of $30 million in matching funds.
-	Deb deBruijn and Bill Birdsall appointed Project Managers for national site licensing project.

1999

-	Draft workplan and draft proposal prepared by Project Managers and approved by CARL CFI Steering Committee.
-	National Library of Canada (NLC) and Canadian Institute for Scientific and Technical Information (CISTI) invited to join with observer status.
-	Consultations held with Regional Groups, NLC, CISTI, Association of Universities and Colleges of Canada
-	Final CNSL Project proposal signed by lead institution ( University of Ottawa) and delivered to CFI April 15, 1999
-	CNSL panel defends proposal to CFI International Experts review panel.
-	Signatures for all CNSL participating institutions (64) presented to CFI.
-	CFI approves proposal
-	Interim Steering Committee established
-	Inter University Agreement developed

2000

-	Deb deBruijn is hired as Executive Director
-	Inter-University Agreement signed by Presidents of 64 participating universities.
-	Project is funded with a $20 million award from CFI, and matching funds totaling $30 million from 64 participating universities, 9 provincial governments, and ACOA.
-	Steering Committee and Negotiations Resource Team established.
-	Licensing principles and procurement strategies approved.
-	Pre-qualification bid announced, followed by Requests for Proposals.
-	Requests for Proposals evaluated.
-	Selected vendors announced.

2001

-	Access to 750 journals and citation indexes activated
-	Evaluation Task Group established and preliminary evaluation strategy approved
-	Accountability report issued and briefings held in each province
-	CNSLP wins First Prize, Quality and Productivity Awards Program, Canadian Association of University Business Officers (CAUBO)
-	National Launch and planning meeting
-	Communications Director and Technical Director recruitment and hiring takes place
-	Net gain survey launches evaluation process

2002

-	Usage data analysis begins
-	Library Directors survey underway
-	Accountability report issued and briefings held in each province
-	CNSLP hosts Cross Canada Checkup meeting for technical and collections contacts and vendors
-	Formal evaluation framework approved
-	CNSLP wins Innovation Achievement Award, Canadian Association of College and University Libraries (CACUL)
-	ACS archives content added to CNSLP suite of journals
-	Survey of impact on researchers underway