For Immediate
Release
(Ottawa, June 6, 2011)
– Karen Adams, Director of Libraries of the University of
Manitoba, began her term as President of the Canadian Library
Association at the 2011 CLA National Conference and Trade show in
Halifax, Nova Scotia on May 28. Karen assumes the role in a period of
transition for CLA, and will lead the Association for the next 18
months.
She grew up in
Manitoba’s Interlake region, and received her BA (Hons) in English
Literature from the University of Manitoba in 1967, and M.L.S. from the
University of Western Ontario in 1975.
During the period
1998-2008, she was the Director of Library Services and Information
Resources for the University of Alberta Libraries, serving as chief
operating officer of the library system. Prior to that, she served 7
years as Executive Director of the Ottawa-based Canadian Library
Association, a national organization representing the interests of
library workers and libraries of all types. Her research interest
continues to be information policy, with particular emphasis on
copyright, and she is co-editor with Dr. William Birdsall of
Understanding Telecommunications and Public Policy: A Guide for
Libraries (1998) and Access to Information in a Digital World
(2004). For the last eight years, she has written the Canadian chapter
in the Library and Book Trade Almanac, with emphasis on federal
information policy.
In a career that also
includes teaching and consulting, Karen has been Saskatchewan Provincial
Librarian (1984-1990) and Director of Public Library Services,
Government of Manitoba (1980-1984).
Karen currently serves on
the Canadian Association of Research Libraries Board and chairs its
Public Policy Committee. She has recently served on the Association of
Universities and Colleges of Canada’s advisory committee on
copyright, and the American Library Association’s Presidential
Task Force on Library Education. She was also the Canadian
representative on the ALA Committee on Accreditation from 2004 to
2008.
In her position at the
University of Manitoba, she is responsible for a $24 million budget and
280 academic and support staff, located in 19 libraries on the Fort
Garry and Bannatyne campuses, and in the City’s
hospitals.
The Canadian Library
Association is Canada’s largest national and broad-based library
association, representing the interests of public, academic, school and
special libraries, librarians, library workers, and library trustees and
all those concerned about enhancing the quality of life of Canadians
through information and literacy. Comprehensive information about CLA
and its programs and services is available on the CLA web site:
www.cla.ca.
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Media Contact:
Judy Green, (613) 232-9625 ext 322 or jgreen@cla.ca
