# CVHL / BVCS launch a huge success!

Patrick Ellis and Jennifer Bayne

The Canadian Virtual Health Library / Bibliothèque virtuelle canadienne de la santé “soft launched” its new website at the annual Canadian Health Libraries Association / Association des bibliothèque de la santé du Canada (CHLA / ABSC) conference in Calgary, Alberta. The CVHL / BVCS hosted a booth and shared presentation time with NRC-CISTI on 29 May 2011. Traffic to the booth was steady, with many delegates requesting a demonstration of the website and taking the opportunity to register on the site. In the presentation, Patrick Ellis, supported by Jim Henderson and Jennifer Bayne, provided a progress update and a look to the future of the CVHL / BVCS. The room was full – standing room only – and the presentation was well received, with insightful questions and comments from the attendees. Did we mention a fun celebratory cake? The many people who have helped bring the CVHL / BVCS to fruition were thanked and recognition certificates distributed. On Saturday, 28 May 2011, the inaugural Network Subscribers meeting was held. Confirmed network subscribers met to confirm the selection of initial licensed content that will be jointly purchased for the 2012 renewal year.

The new CVHL / BVCS website features a Virtual Library and information about the CVHL / BVCS. The Virtual Library contains indexed links to freely available health information in both English and French, which were selected by an expert panel of health librarians. Additional links are added on a regular basis; forms for suggesting sites are provided. These links will provide easy, integrated access to sources of high-quality health information. The Library Locator provides a directory of Canadian health libraries and will be improved with data recently provided by NRC-CISTI. The public announcement of the website will be made when licensed content becomes available and after an initial round of testing and assessment by CHLA / ABSC members and the CVHL / BVCS Board. Please visit the website at www.cvhl-bvcs.ca. Be sure to register and allow us to correspond regarding CVHL / BVCS initiatives and enable you to recommend content and provide input.

In other CVHL / BVCS news, there have been two Board of Directors meetings held during which Board members committed to fund-raising objectives to ensure the CVHL / BVCS's sustainability over the next year.

**P. Ellis.** Principal Investigator / Chercheur principal, Canadian Virtual Health Library / Bibliothèque virtuelle canadienne de la santé.
E-mail: Patrick.Ellis@dal.ca

**J. Bayne.** Executive Director (Acting) / Directrice générale intérimaire, Canadian Virtual Health Library / Bibliothèque virtuelle canadienne de la santé. E-mail: jennifer.bayne@knowledge-able.com