About

The Greater Edmonton Library Association (GELA) facilitates meaningful interaction between librarians, library technicians, library staff, students and other interested parties.

GELA also promotes continuing education opportunities and assists members in their professional development endeavours.

Timeline:

• GELA began as ELA, the Edmonton Library Association.
• 1945,  January 3 – The first ELA meeting
• 1972 – Constitution developed
• 1976 – Handbook first created
• 1979 – First Logo was created
• 1980s – ELA’s first Membership Directory was created and the name was changed to the Greater Edmonton Library Association.
• 2007, the GELA Prison Libraries Project was founded
• 2009, December 4 – GELA celebrated its 65th Anniversary!
• 2019, GELA celebrated its 75th Anniversary!

Land Acknowledgement

We recognize the lands we meet on as the traditional homelands of Indigenous Peoples, including the Cree, Blackfoot, Métis, Nakoda, Tsuu T’ina, and Dene. We acknowledge that these peoples have cared for the land encompassed by the Greater Edmonton area, also called amiskwaciy-wâskahikan by the Cree, and which form part of the Treaty 6 territory. We respect and honour their cultures, languages, traditions and their deep connection to the land.