Not all ELA news items, presentations, or statements are retained; however, these items are related to significant issues ELA has been engaged with over the years.

March 2, 2022 — With thanks to CILIP: the library and information association of the UK for the borrowed words.

Members of the Ex Libris Association, representing retired librarians, archivists and information professionals in Canada, wish to extend our solidarity and support for our professional colleagues in Ukraine during the current military action by Russia.

We are gravely concerned at the threat posed by this action to the safety of the Ukrainian people, their heritage and identity, as well as to the security of our professional colleagues.

Ukraine is a nation with a rich literary heritage and tradition. Its libraries and archives are home to great collections of works of literature, history and research, documenting the development of Ukrainian culture, identity and language. It is of vital importance to ensure that this body of knowledge, research and creativity is protected for future generations.

The integrity of the public record as well as the safety and intellectual freedom of the civilian population are pre-requisites of any nation state that aspires to legitimacy or credibility within the international community.

Librarians, archivists and information professionals play a vital role in promoting reading, literacy and access to information for the citizens and communities they serve. It is essential that they are permitted to continue this work in safety and free from coercion or threat.

We encourage our political leaders in the Canadian government and international community to work together in order to restore peace and security for Ukraine as a member of the international community in good standing and subject to the international agreements and accords already set in place to guarantee this security, including compliance with the international obligations under the 1954 Hague Convention for the Protection of Cultural Property, and its protocols.

The Ex Libris Association vows to work with our colleagues around the world to offer whatever support and solidarity we can to our professional colleagues in Ukraine.

CC: The Honourable Pedro Rodriguez, Minister of Heritage
The Right Honourable Justin Trudeau, Prime Minister
Lorisia MacLeod, Chair, CFLA-FCAB

Deb Thomas, President, Ex Libris Association

By Deb Thomas

In the wake of the murder of George Floyd by a police officer which some have called a public lynching, there have been protests and supportive statements around the world for an end of racism and to police brutality against people of colour. Some library associations have responded with statements to support those in Canada and elsewhere working toward a world where people are not discriminated against based on the colour of their skin. A list of Canadian library associations issuing such statements follows:

National Associations

o Association of Canadian Archivists (ACA)
o Canadian Association of Law Libraries (CALL)
o Canadian Association of Professional Academic Librarians (CAPAL)
o Canadian Federation of Library Associations (CFLA-FCAB) [requires Adobe PDF reader]
o Canadian Health Libraries Association
o Canadian Urban Libraries Council (CULC)

Provincial Associations (as of July 2020)

o British Columbia Library Association (BCLA)
o BCLA Academic Libraries Section (BCALS) [requires Adobe PDF reader]
o Library Association of Alberta (LAA)
o Nova Scotia Library Association (NSLA)
o Archives Association of Ontario (AAO) [requires Adobe PDF reader]
o Ontario Library Association (OLA)

It should be noted that provincial archival and library associations who have not issued statements in response to Black Lives Matter will often have statements in response to Truth and Reconciliation and/or committees responsible for inclusion and diversity.

School library associations do not have a national voice whose role it is to issue such statements. They may be represented by a provincial school library association that may or may not issue such statements and by, in various regions, a provincial teachers’ association who have issued statements.

See https://www.canadianschoollibraries.ca/school-library-associations/ for a full list of school library associations.
See https://www.ctf-fce.ca/ for a full list of teachers’ federations or associations.

The Librarianship.ca blog has a lengthier list of Canadian responses which includes American and international library, archives and museum statements.

The ELA statement is at this link

The ELA statement on a national library and archives that is proactive, transparent, and accountable for its policies and actions.

The statement is at this link.