Canadian Health Libraries Association/Association des bibliothèques de la santé du Canada
The Canadian Health Libraries Association/Association des bibliothèques de la santé du Canada (CHLA/ABSC) is a registered Canadian nonprofit charity (Business Registration Number 890673171RR0001) established in 1976. It emerged from the dissolution of the Canadian Group of the Medical Library Association and the Health Sciences Section of the Canadian Association of Special Libraries and Information Services, consolidating efforts to represent health sciences librarians nationally[1][4][3].

Background and Mission

CHLA/ABSC was formed following a 1975 ad-hoc committee review, which emphasized the need for a unified organization to advocate for Canadian health library professionals and improve communication with government bodies[3][4]. Its mandate includes promoting professional development, advancing health information services, and fostering collaboration to enhance healthcare, research, and education[1][2].

Structure and Membership

The association comprises approximately 300 members and operates through 12 regional chapters, including the Health Libraries Association of British Columbia, Saskatchewan Health Libraries Association, and Ottawa Valley Health Libraries Association[2]. It is governed by an executive committee, historically led by figures such as David S. Crawford, its first president[1][3].

Activities

• Conferences: Hosts an annual peer-reviewed conference rotating across Canadian regions[2].
• Publications: Publishes the Journal of the Canadian Health Libraries Association (2004–present), succeeding Bibliotheca Medica Canadiana (1979–2003) and earlier newsletters[2][3].
• Advocacy: Represents members' interests to governments and health organizations, emphasizing equitable access to health information[1][2].

Historical Publications

Early communication included the CHLA/ABSC Newsletter (1977–1979), while Bibliotheca Medica Canadiana documented professional discourse until 2003[2][3]. The association’s strategic initiatives prioritize knowledge-sharing, research, and reconciliation efforts aligned with national Calls to Action[1].

[1] https://www.chla-absc.ca/about_chla-absc.php [2] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Canadian_Health_Libraries_Association [3] https://archivalcollections.library.mcgill.ca/index.php/chla-absc-canadian-health-libraries-association-association-des-bibliotheques-de-la-sante-du-canada [4] https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC209502/ [5] https://osler.library.mcgill.ca/media/pdf/p131.pdf