The Ex Libris Association, founded in 1986, is the Canadian national association of people who have spent an important part of their working life in libraries, archives, museums, publishing houses, and adjunct fields, and who are attracted to current or historical issues related to those institutions as well as to issues concerning the personal interests of their fellow members. Our objectives, our constitution, our executive and other committees, and our history all reflect our long-standing and ongoing concern for issues related to information services.
The Ex Libris Association's stated purpose is to provide a forum and serve as a voice for those interested in the history and current state of librarianship, Canadian libraries, and archives. ELA seeks to contribute to an understanding of Canadian libraries, archives, and publishing to support persons and initiatives that draw attention to significant issues affecting the provision and advancement of information services in Canada. The Association has more than 200 members from across Canada, from St. John's to Victoria.
ELA's Goals
ELA goals and objectives remain constant in their focus on the collection, preservation and dissemination of materials, particularly historical documents, about information institutions and their workers. However, as times change, our goals have broadened to include exploiting new technologies and recognizing new issues such as advocacy, an Indigenous bursary, and webinars.
Membership is open to all interested parties, but is primarily drawn from the ranks of retired.
Board and committee members are responsible for planning and managing activities to achieve the goals of the association. Because they share those association goals, other members may, with advance notice, attend or contribute to board meetings.
Members at Large: View their Biographies
Vivienne James, Donna Burton, Christina Wilson, Julia Schneider, Tom Eadie, Sally Press, Carole Moore, Elizabeth Ridler, Todd Kyle, Ralph Manning, Norma Gibson-MacDonald, Frances Davidson-Arnott, Lorne Bruce.
Committees
Advocacy -David Harvie (chair), Deb Thomas, Julia Schneider, Elizabeth Ridler, Tanis Fink, Chris Middlemass, Kelly Moore
Annual Conference– Deborah Thomas, Bob Henderson
Archives & Community Webs – Christina Wilson (pro-tem chair), Frances Davidson-Arnott, Bob Henderson, Carole Moore, Lorne Bruce
Biographical Project – Lorne Bruce (Chair), Barbara Clubb, Rick Ficek, Ross Gordon, Ralph Manning
Education – Deborah Thomas (chair), Todd Kyle
ELAN Newsletter– Frances Davidson-Arnott (chair), Jean Weihs, Suzette Giles, Wendy Newman, Vivienne James, Judy Dunn, Leslie McGrath, Julia Schneider, Sally Press. Julie Carl is ELAN editor
Finance– Bob Henderson (chair)
Indigenous Student Bursary – Deb Thomas (chair), Bob Henderson, Tom Eadie, Lorisia MacLeod
Library Tours – Vivienne James (chair), Frances Davidson-Arnott
Nominations – Deb Thomas (chair)
Recruitment and Membership Services– Norma Gibson MacDonald (chair), Tom Eadie, Bob Henderson (ex officio), Frances Davidson-Arnott, Carole Moore, Christina Wilson
Website, Facebook and Listserv – Lorne Bruce (website and listserv), Donna Burton (Facebook), Barbara Clubb (website)
W. Kaye Lamb Award – Christina Wilson (chair), Todd Kyle, Donna Burdon, Anne Smith (CFLA)
ELA is a charitable, non-profit organization that welcomes financial support so we may carry out our programs, advocacy, and meet our needs.
Ex Libris Association History 1986 – 2026
— Contributed by Diane Henderson
In 1985, Stanley Beacock, the former chief librarian at the London Public Library, thought it would be a good idea to establish an association focusing on the interests of retired librarians. Through Stan’s efforts, a $10,000 grant from the federal government’s New Horizons program for seniors was secured for two years. Then, the first annual meeting was held in November 1986 to establish a Board of Directors and draft a constitution for Ex Libris. Naturally, Stan was elected President, a position he held until he stepped down in 1989. Since those early days, ELA has grown from its original membership of fewer than 50 to more than 250.
Over the years, ELA’s directors have provided leadership and, in conjunction with members, fostered the growth of a dynamic association, as outlined in the following brief highlights of its progress.
1987: Publication of Ex Libris News (which became ELAN in 2003) on a semi-annual basis begins.
1992: A membership committee is formed with the specific objective of expanding ELA’s membership across Canada. ELA begins its practice of arranging promotional display tables at the CLA and OLA conferences.
1994: ELA adopts its distinctive logo fashioned from a woodcut originally created by Thoreau MacDonald for Bruce Pierce, the former editor of Ryerson Press.
1995: The Morton Years: The Canadian Library Association, 1946-1971, composed by Elizabeth Hulse with a foreword by W. Kaye Lamb, is published.
2002: The W. Kaye Lamb Award for Service to Seniors is established and continues today.
2006: The ELA Board of Directors approves the launch of a biographical database of Canadian librarians and information professionals under the direction of Nancy Williamson.
2007: ELA begins an active program of library tours (and luncheons) that continues today.
2012: ELA creates a Facebook site.
2015: ELA registers its own URL, exlibris.ca, and begins expanding its website, which had begun earlier in 2002.
2020: Due to COVID-19, there is no formal in-person gathering. A virtual meeting of 45 members is held in December via Zoom which begins to replace in-person conferences and attract members from across Canada.
2023: ELA raises funds to establish a 10-year plan to award an annual $2,500 bursary to an Indigenous student in library or archival studies programs in concert with Indspire.
2026: ELA membership reaches 250. ELA celebrates its 40th anniversary with a new logo.