Established in 1976, CHLA/ABSC grew out of the efforts of the Canadian Group of the Medical Library Association and the Canadian Association of Special Libraries and Information Services. An article by David S. Crawford "CHLA/ABSC 25 Years On" reproduced from the Winter 2000 issue of Bibliotheca Medica Canadiana, gives a historical look at the formation and first 25 years of the association.
CHLA/ABSC is a registered charity organization in Canada, #890673171RR0001. It is a professional organization of approximately 300 individuals in the health sciences library and information field. Through its programs and publications, CHLA/ABSC encourages the professional development of its members.
The Association aspires to build a community of Canadian Health Library and Information professionals who are valued partners in the improvement of health, health care, research, and education.
We promote and advocate for high quality health information and library services through education, funding opportunities, knowledge sharing, research, and collaboration.
This strategic plan provides guidance and direction across a wide range of topics from professional development, to knowledge transfer, enhancing the value of our professional services, responding to Calls to Action, completing organizational review of CHLA/ABSC, and finally, to improving further communications among our membership.
It is important to clarify that the goals span the next three years. The CHLA/ABSC Board has outlined the following priorities to be addressed in Year 1. This will lay a strong foundation on which to begin work on the remaining goals over the following two years.
The Canadian Health Libraries Association/Association des bibliothèques de la santé du Canada (CHLA/ABSC) promotes and advocates for health information and health library services, and this work is guided by our vision and mission. CHLA/ABSC is a registered charity, and the organization has to abide by the rules and regulations as set out by the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) and Charities Directorate in order to maintain the charitable registration. CHLA/ABSC is obligated to only engage in allowable activities that fulfill one of the CRA recognized charitable purposes. Non-compliance would risk sanction, penalty, and revocation of the registered charity status.
CHLA/ABSC members are encouraged to engage in any activities and worthwhile causes for societal benefits and improvement and to bring issues that match the CHLA/ABSC vision and mission to the attention of the board or to their chapter. The Board guided by the rules and regulations as set out by the CRA and Charities Directorate and in consultation with relevant members, experts, and the association management team, has the sole responsibility and authority to make decisions on, engage in, or issue any societal statement. We understand that the rules and regulations set by the CRA and Charities Directorate can change over time and CHLA/ABSC is subject to these changes.
