ELAN is the Ex Libris Association official publication that is published twice a year in the spring and fall. The title is an acronym for the Ex Libris Association Newsletter.
Each ELAN issue provides news of interest that keeps our members informed about ELA activities with current reports and the people, places, services, milestones and events, and resources that impact libraries and related organizations across Canada.
All individual Ex Libris Newsletter back issues, including the special summer 2004 issue on library education and Ross Gordon's 2020 history of the School of Information Studies/Ecole des sciences de I'information at Ottawa, are available in PDF format for reading and downloading at no charge.
There is a master index, created by Jean Wheeler and Agatha Barc, for Ex Libris newsletters from 1987 to 2016, issues no 1 to 59 (PDF download). There are also searchable ELAN issues from fall 2016 to fall 2025, no. 60 to 78 (PDF download). Searches can be performed by using the Control-F command or by using the PDF search box beside the search icon.
NEWSLETTERS FROM SPRING 1987 TO PRESENT
History of Education for Library and Information Studies in Canada (2004)
Update: School of Information Studies / École des sciences de l'information University of Ottawa / Université d'Ottawa (2020)
Good Reads is a listing of reviews compiled by Judy Dunn that have appeared in ELAN
Just a few months after the founding of the Association in 1986, the first issue of the biannual Ex Libris Newsletter was mailed to members and others in the spring of 1987. This issue and more than a dozen to follow were edited and produced by founding president Stan Beacock. As with most issues, the inaugural one included news about the Association, articles on topics of interest, particularly in library history, and news about libraries and people in the library community.
Following issue 16, Stan was succeeded as editor by Wendy Scott. She took on the editorial and production responsibilities, introducing changes in format that included the display of our new distinctive logo on the title page. Since 1999, ELA has contracted a professional editor, who, under the direction of the Newsletter Committee, ensures style consistency, fact-checks, and manages the layout and proofreading. Other innovations in recent years include regional columnists who report on library news across the country.
With the spring 2003 issue, the newsletter had a new title: ELAN, both an acronym for Ex Libris Association Newsletter, and an expression of 'joie de vivre'. Issues typically include a report from ELA's President, a write-up of the program at the Annual Conference, long and short book reviews, articles on a variety of topics, 'milestones' recording awards and honours, retirements, and obituaries (longer tributes and reminisces are posted on our memories and celebration section).
The year 2004 marked the 100th anniversary of formal education for library and information studies in Canadian universities and colleges. To celebrate, the Ex Libris Association published a special issue of ELAN, A History of Education for Library and Information Studies in Canada. This history charts the rise of university-level education, beginning at McGill University in 1904. As well, in 1962, library technician diploma programs began in Manitoba and are recorded to 2015. Go to the chronologies of LIS education page for more information.