Ex Libris History Projects

Presenting historical information in factual text or image formats (such as the 1945 University of Toronto recruitment poster) is a goal of ELA. Because past events have changed the nature of libraries and archives and their users, we know that knowledge of the past can allow us to better understand current issues impacting libraries and how people may change things for the better.

1945-books and people U of T recruitment poster

1945-books and people University of Toronto recruitment poster

ELA Projects

Learning about the history of libraries and archives and the people who worked in them is about understanding not just what happened or who was involved, but why. Ex Libris explores history with the thought that a deeper, more lasting perspective of what happened or who participated in change can help us engage more actively with current issues and problems.

W. Kaye Lamb portrait by Lawren Harris, c.1967. Credit Library and Archives Canada

Biographies of Canadian Librarians and Archivists

Ex Libris members are developing a collection of biographies about people whose lives were spent in libraries, archives, publishing, or related information fields. Currently, there are about 150 biographies.

An In Memoriam page on former Ex Libris members is also an ongoing project.

ELAN

ELAN, the association's biannual newsletter, contains articles and news items of historical interest in almost every issue. Of special interest is the series “Libraries Named after Librarians” authored by Suzette Giles

A History of Education for Library and Information Studies in Canada, 2004

A special issue of ELAN published in Summer 2004, edited and prepared by Brian Land, records 100 hundred years of library education in Canadian universities, colleges, and other post-secondary institutions from 1904 to 2004. This issue was originally printed, and a download version is available at this link.

A supplementary section of ELA's website, Chronologies of LIS Education in Canada, 1904–2004, was created to support this education issue of ELAN. In 2020, another special issue outlining the development of library and information studies at the University of Ottawa/Université d’Ottawa was published.

The Morton Years

In 1995, ELA published a history of the Canadian Library Association during the tenure of Elizabeth Homer Morton, the CLA executive director from 1946 to 1968. The Morton Years: the Canadian Library Association, 1946–1971 by Elizabeth Hulse, with a foreword by W. Kaye Lamb. 141 pages, bibliography, index, photographs The book is available for $10.00, which includes mailing. Send your order, including your postal information and payment to: Ex Libris Association, c/o Faculty of Information, 140 St. George St., Toronto, ON M5S 3G6

For ease of payment, please copy this email and make an e-transfer payment to bob.exlibris@gmail.com