The Ontario Public Health Libraries Association (OPHLA) is a collaborative network of information professionals working across Ontario’s public health units and agencies. Together, members strengthen capacity for information services, facilitate evidence synthesis and knowledge exchange, and support effective public health practice in Ontario. 

The scope of public health practice is broad and multidisciplinary. Information needs within this discipline are extremely diverse and the field continues to evolve with an increasing variety of data sources, integration of artificial intelligence in research and practice and the prevalence of misinformation. With their knowledge of public health and strong information management expertise, OPHLA members help public health professionals adapt to these changes connecting them with innovative tools, reliable evidence and best practices. 

For clients in their home organizations, OPHLA members:

• Conduct comprehensive literature searching of key public health bibliographic databases and retrieval of grey literature on demand;
• Build comprehensive digital and print collections through the conscientious selection, evaluation, licensing and acquisition of public health information resources and technology;
• Supply cost-saving interlibrary loan and document delivery services through access to local and international library networks;
• Provide bibliographic control, editorial and publishing support;
• Manage organizational copyright compliance and intellectual property;
• Train public health professionals on best practices for information retrieval, management, and appraisal; and
• Appraise and selectively disseminate new and relevant public health research.

For the public health community in Ontario and beyond, OPHLA:

• Promotes and supports evidence-informed public health practice and policies; 
• Increases awareness and utilization of reliable evidence-based sources and tools among public health professionals; 
• Advocates for equitable access to and stable funding for information resources;
• Develops custom knowledge tools and products specifically designed for public health research;
• Promotes and facilitates a knowledge sharing culture among public health professionals at all levels of government and in the community;
• Maximizes return-on-investment for public health funding through resource sharing and consortial purchasing; and
• Contributes expertise to provincial, national, and international public health projects and initiatives related to information management and knowledge transfer.

Active since 1992, OPHLA continues to play a vital role in strengthening Ontario’s public health system. As health units adapt to new structures and technologies, OPHLA members bridge the gap between information and technology, collaborating to ensure reliable evidence and data are accessible to support decision-making and empower public health professionals to improve the health and well-being of communities across Ontario.