National Network of Libraries for Health, CHLA/ABSC Steering Group

The foundation laid by the NNLH Steering Group is now being followed up by the NNLH Task Force.

Membership

The Steering Group will be chaired by a Board member of CHLA/ABSC and will include members from that Association. Every effort will be made to include as well a representative from each of the following constituencies: ACMC, ASTED, CISTI and Health Canada.

• Louise Bourbonnais (ASTED)
• Bev Brown, Secretary (CISTI)
• Patrick Ellis, Co-Chair (CHLA/ABSC, Dalhousie University, Halifax, NS)
• Dorothy Fitzgerald (ACMC)
• Jim Henderson (CHLA/ABSC, McGill University, Montréal, PQ)
• Marty Lovelock (Health Canada)
• Merle McConnell (Health Canada)
• Jessie McGowan, Co-Chair (CHLA/ABSC Board)
• Teresa Prior (CHLA/ABSC, Royal Inland Hospital, Kamloops, B.C.)
• Cathy Rayment (CHLA/ABSC Board)
• Hélène Valin, Project Coordinator (Health Canada)

Former Steering Group Members:

• Liz Bayley, Co-Chair and Secretary (Co-Chair and Secretary, 2000-2001)

Mandate

The mandate of the Steering Group is to develop and present a business plan for a National Network of Libraries for Health (NNLH) in Canada.

Terms of Reference

In developing a plan for a national network, the Steering Group should:

• Seek input from representatives of appropriate user groups.
• Establish guiding principles which will position the network among existing networks and information and library services.
• Wherever appropriate, leverage or include existing knowledge-based resources or initiatives rather than duplicating them.
• Evaluate the potential contribution of the network to key federal and provincial government priorities.
• Evaluate the status of the current environment by:
  1. reviewing international models to draw on success factors;
  2. reviewing existing networks to ensure complementarity and establish partnership opportunities.
• Propose models for the network, with appropriate levels of service and evaluate advantages and limitations of each.
• Establish a financial plan and funding sources and mechanisms.
• Recommend a plan of action which illustrates how the national network would roll out at a provincial and local level.
• Develop a communications plan to ensure key partners are informed of the proposed network and kept up to date with ongoing developments.
• Seek opportunities to present as appropriate the developments of the network to key stakeholders.

Reporting

The Steering Group is a committee of CHLA/ABSC and will report to the Board through the Chair(s).

Minutes

• August 26, 2002: English ~ Français
• June 26, 2002: English ~ Français

Revised July 30, 2002