CARL at 50: The Founding of a National Voice for Research Libraries
September 8, 2026 – As the Canadian Association of Research Libraries (CARL) celebrates its 50th anniversary in 2026, we are taking the opportunity to reflect on the people, partnerships, and milestones that have shaped our association and Canada’s research library community.
The story of CARL began before its official launch. In 1972, the association’s roots were established through the Canadian Academic Research Libraries section of the Canadian Association of College and University Libraries (CACUL), itself a division of the Canadian Library Association.
On October 21, 1975, representatives from 29 founding member libraries gathered in Ottawa and voted to create “a Canadian association of academic research libraries independent of CACUL and funded directly by member institutions.” This decision reflected a shared vision: a dedicated national organization that could advocate for and advance the interests of Canada’s academic research libraries.
That vision became reality in 1976 when CARL was officially launched at its inaugural membership meeting in Regina.
Over the past five decades, CARL has grown and evolved alongside Canada’s research library community, supporting collaboration, leadership, advocacy, and innovation across the country. Yet the spirit that inspired its creation remains unchanged: a belief that research libraries can achieve more when they work together.
As we celebrate this milestone anniversary, we honour the foresight of those founding libraries and the generations of library leaders, staff, and community members who have contributed to CARL’s ongoing story.
Photographs taken at the CARL inaugural membership meeting in Regina – November 1, 1976.
