• Introducing Incoming Board Members
• Kingston 2010 – Register now – the countdown is on!
• Deadline for Chapter Initiatives Fund Applications - May 1, 2010
• New CHLA/ABSC Continuing Education Course
• CISTI Committee on Health Sciences Information
• Final Request for CHLA/ABSC Conference Programs
• February Board Meeting via teleconference
• Next Board of Directors Meeting

Introducing Incoming Board Members

We are pleased to announce the incoming members of the Board of Directors for 2010/11. Miriam Ticoll is acclaimed to her position as Vice President/President Elect and Vivian Stieda is appointed as Development Officer for a two year term. Returning Board members are Lindsay Glynn who is acclaimed as Director, Continuing Education, and Shauna Lee Konrad who is elected as Secretary.

Vice President/President Elect: Miriam Ticoll obtained her MLS from the Universite de Montreal and a BA from York University. Miriam is the Executive Director of the Health Sciences Information Consortium of Toronto, a position she has held since 2008. Prior to that, she worked as a consultant for several years in the health-related not-for-profit sector, assisting organizations to develop practical approaches to knowledge and information management. Miriam was a member of the senior management team of the Canadian Health Network (CHN) from 1998-2001. Prior to that, she was Director of Information Services at the The Roeher Institute, where she managed a large special library on disability issues.

Development Officer: Vivian Stieda obtained her MLS and her BA degrees from the University of British Columbia (1994, 1983). Vivian is General Manager of the Health Knowledge Network (HKN) at the University of Calgary. She was the Research Director and Manager of the National Institute of Disability Management and Research in Port Alberni, B.C. where she managed the development and implementation of a national online allied health information system (REHADAT Canada) prior to joining HKN in 2001. The role of Development Officer at the national level is a natural extension of her work as Chair of the Sponsorship and Exhibits Committee for CHLA/ABSC 2011 in Calgary, and will be useful in establishing guidelines and policies for future CHLA/ABSC development endeavours.

Kingston 2010 – Register now – the countdown is on!

Registration is open and the countdown to Kingston 2010 is on! In addition to the impressive roster of invited plenary speakers, there was an outstanding response to the call for contributed papers and posters, resulting in a strong program that will inform and inspire. There is an excellent offering of continuing education courses on highly relevant topics. And you won’t want to miss the interactive panel, The Innovative Librarian. The Early Bird deadline is April 16.

The Welcome Reception will be held on Tuesday, June 8 at 6:00 in the historic Kingston City Hall. The Gala Banquet will be held in the Vimy Officer’s Mess at the Canadian Forces Base Kingston, overlooking the St. Lawrence River. If this is your first CHLA/ABSC conference, you will be invited to the complimentary First-Timers’ Breakfast on Wednesday morning at 7:30 in the Four Points Hotel. Our Board of Directors and the Conference Planning Committee will be there to greet you. Look forward to seeing you all in Kingston!

Deadline for Chapter Initiatives Fund Applications - May 1, 2010

The CHLA/ABSC Chapter Initiatives Fund is intended to support and recognize special initiatives, activities, programs or projects undertaken by CHLA/ABSC Chapters, which further the mission of CHLA/ABSC. The Board of Directors will review applications at each board meeting. Is there a research project, a continuing education activity or a promotional program that your Chapter would like to undertake? Check out the website for more information: http://www.chla-absc.ca/?q=en/node/122.

New CHLA/ABSC Continuing Education Course

CHLA/ABSC has recently accredited a new CE course: "Supporting Evidence-Based Clinical Practice: Appraising Therapy Studies”. Taught by Jeff Mason and accredited for 3.75 contact hours, this half-day course is designed for medical librarians who want to learn evidence-based concepts in order to support and teach evidence-based clinical practice at their institution. Through large and small group discussion, and hands-on, case-based learning, participants will learn how to critically appraise therapy studies. For more information, contact Jeff at jeff.mason@rqhealth.ca.

CISTI Committee on Health Sciences Information

The Nineteenth Meeting of the CISTI Committee on Health Sciences Information (CCHSI) was held via teleconference on January 28, 2010. Pam Bjornson, Director General of CISTI, presented an NRC-CISTI update, including a review of the key changes currently underway. The next Committee Meeting is scheduled for April 10, via teleconference. Please contact me if you have questions or concerns you would like me to take forward. CISTI will also present at the Kingston Conference on June 10.

Final Request for CHLA/ABSC Conference Programs

The following print programs for CHLA/ABSC Conferences are needed to complete the Archive: 1991, 1990, 1989, 1988, 1987, 1986, 1985, 1982, 1979, 1978, 1977. Please contact Shauna-Lee Konrad at secretary@chla-absc.ca if you can donate a program.

February Board Meeting via teleconference

For the first time, the Board of Directors held a Board meeting via teleconference over three days, two hours per day, on February 24, 25 26. It required considerable advance work, a carefully planned agenda, and reports written and distributed beforehand so members could prepare for key issues. Staying on schedule and focusing on the topic at hand was essential to this meeting format. While a teleconference does not replace an in-person meeting, this pilot proved to be a productive, cost-effective and successful initiative.

Next Board of Directors Meetings

The CHLA/ABSC Board will meet twice in Kingston on June 8 and June 11. We encourage and welcome input and feedback from our members. Please flag any items that you would like addressed by the Board, and send to my attention at president@chla-absc.ca.

Marlene Dorgan

CHLA/ABSC President