A Health Libraries Assistance Act A proposal for a national network of health libraries mandated by a Health Libraries Assistance Act was submitted to the Honourable Allan Rock in October 1997. Federal co-ordination and funding would encourage: adherence to high national standards evidence-based practice (health professional) and informed choices and decisions (patients, consumers, and administrators) universal access accommodating individual needs and learning styles wise and effective use of health care resources Key recommendations: changes to the Medical Research Council Act to improve transfer of research into practice national funding of libraries in post-secondary institutions and teaching hospitals in support of R & D and health professional education a database indexing publications on the Canadian health care system collaboration between health libraries, public libraries, and resource centres in patient organizations in support of consumer health and patient education training and research in health information science programs for remote and special populations and specific problems