Canadian Library Association

The Canadian Library Association (CLA) is a national, predominantly English-language association which represents 57,000 library workers across the country. It also speaks for the interests of the 21 million Canadians who are members of libraries. CLA members work in all four types of libraries: academic (college and university), public, special (corporate, non-profit and government) and school libraries. Others sit on boards of public libraries, work for companies that provide goods and services to libraries, or are students in graduate level or community college programs.

CLA's Mission Statement is: "CLA is my advocate and public voice, educator and network. We build the Canadian library and information community and advance its information professionals." The statement reflects the Association's role as the national voice for the Canadian library and information community.

The Association's five constituent divisions are the:
 * Canadian Association for School Libraries (CASL)
 * Canadian Association of College and University Libraries (CACUL), including the Community and Technical College (CTCL) section
 * Canadian Association of Public Libraries (CAPL), including the Canadian Association of Children's Librarians (CACL) section
 * Canadian Association of Special Libraries and Information Services (CASLIS), with chapters in Calgary, Edmonton, Manitoba, Ottawa, Toronto and Atlantic Canada
 * Canadian Library Trustees Association

History
The Canadian Library Association (CLA) was founded in Hamilton, Ontario in 1946, and was incorporated under the Companies Act on November 26, 1947. CLA is a non-profit voluntary organization, governed by an elected Executive Council, which is advised by over forty interest groups and committees.

Student Chapters
Recognizing that there is a need for close association between the Canadian Library Association and students in library school, the Canadian Library Association has always encouraged students to join CLA, network and become involved active members of the library community.

In March 1999, CLA's first Student Chapter was officially launched at the University of Western Ontario.

Since that time, Student Chapters have been launched at the University of British Columbia, University of Toronto, University of Alberta, McGill University and Dalhousie University and in 2006 at the Nova Scotia Community College Institute of Technology Campus.

Student chapters of the Canadian Library Association allow for professional development and networking opportunities for students enrolled in library and information science programs.