IMRC - Controlled Vocabularies Sub-Group: Terms of Reference

The Controlled Vocabularies Sub-group (CVSG), previously known as the Thesaurus Sub-group, reports to the Government of Canada Metadata Working Group (GCMWG). Members include the editor of the Government of Canada Core Subject Thesaurus, the Registrar of controlled vocabularies at Library and Archives Canada, and controlled vocabulary experts, implementers and users from government departments and agencies.

The main function of the CVSG is to explore issues related to the development, maintenance, implementation and use of controlled vocabularies in the Government of Canada (GC) to support GC goals to provide better access to online information and to improve government information management, retrieval and exchange. This is accomplished through feasibility and requirements studies, value analysis, evaluation of alternative options, processes and methods, and establishment of frameworks and guidelines based on recognized standards. The CVSG works to increase the visibility and usage of the GC Core Subject Thesaurus (CST) and similar tools and with Library and Archives Canada in making recommendations regarding the direction of the development and maintenance of the CST and other controlled vocabularies.

The Sub-group is chaired by Gerald Stone, from Library and Archives Canada.