About the Canadian Association of Research Libraries
The Canadian Association of Research Libraries (CARL) was established in 1976 and consists of 29 major Canadian academic libraries, as well as Library and Archives Canada, the National Research Council of Canada’s National Science Library, and the Library of Parliament.
CARL is incorporated as a non-profit charitable organization under the Canada Not-for-Profit Act. Its dedicated staff members support the association’s mission and ensure the effective implementation of its strategic initiatives.
Our Mission
CARL provides leadership on behalf of Canada’s research libraries and enhances capacity to advance research and higher education. It promotes effective and sustainable knowledge creation, dissemination, and preservation, and advocates for public policy that enables broad access to scholarly information.
Guided by our Strategic Focus, CARL advances the research enterprise, strengthens libraries’ collective resource capacity, ensures that the contributions of libraries are both evident and continually evolving, and articulates and advocates for a policy environment that fosters and preserves access to scholarship and knowledge.
Membership and Governance
Member institutions are represented by their respective university librarians or directors. Members benefit from being part of a collaborative network that provides opportunities for professional development, shared resources, and collective advocacy efforts. This network enables member libraries to enhance their services and support for research and learning.
CARL is governed by a Board of Directors comprised of directors from member libraries. The Board is responsible for setting strategic direction, overseeing financial management, and ensuring the organization’s policies align with its mission and vision. The governance structure is designed to ensure that CARL remains responsive to the needs of its members and the broader academic community.
Committees and Partnerships
CARL’s work is supported by several strategic committees, each focusing on specific areas such as policy advocacy, research support, teaching and learning enhancement, and capacity building. These committees consist of experts from member libraries who contribute their knowledge and expertise to advance CARL’s mission.
CARL maintains partnerships with various organizations to enhance impact and foster collaboration across the research and academic communities. These relationships result in additional resources and support for member libraries, enabling them to better serve their communities and fulfill their missions.