February is Black History Month, Women’s History Month, and of course, the month of valentines. We are debuting cryptic crosswords for all of you who love puzzles with our new column 793.73. This month, we are featuring eight clues that challenge readers to identify eight Black authors whose work is worth celebrating. And we are also featuring articles from women co-edit books, find more respectful ways to describe people and their work, want to live in good relationships on Turtle Island, and land the right job because they know how to make the most of the interview process.

What’s new in Open Shelf?: October 2019
Climate change, parliamentary change, changing career directions … important social and individual shifts seem to be a key theme for this issue of Open Shelf.
We welcome back contributors like Jennifer Dekker (who writes our High 5 column) and new contributors such as Chris Cluff (an Ontario-based podcaster) to keep up with current stories (climate change and the federal election) as well as perennial issues such as where our library knowledge and skills will take us in our careers.
We’ve also got a conversation with Wayne Jones and his co-author Matt Balaker on their new book, an overview of the Canadian Federation of Library Associations-Fédération canadienne des associations de bibliothèques from Todd Kyle, articles from OCULA contributors re the OCULA spring conference and new resources from the Accessible Content ePortal and a story from Deanna Nebenionquit about recently launched online resources from Ontario Library Service – North.
Plus, “calls to action” and our regular poll. This month, we’re asking you:
- Do we have an immediate climate crisis?
- Yes
- No
- What are you doing about it? I am (#1 priority):
- Driving less
- Changing my diet to include fewer animal products
- Thinking about population control
- Flying less
- Joining protest demonstrations
Here are our stories for this month, in the order in which they appear:
Yesterday, a book fell on my head. Well, I only have my shelf to blame.

- Change or else: Rallying for action on the world’s climate crisis
- High five: Information warfare
- It’s our vote: The 2019 federal election
- A writers’ story: Collaborating long-distance on a bio of Greg Giraldo
- Accessible Content ePortal launches companion staff portal and public website
- A road less travelled: A conversation with Margaret J. Tarpley
- Ontario Library Service – North launches two new First Nation websites
- Taking stock: CFLA-FCAB at four years
- Bridge between: The 2019 OCULA Spring Conference
- Chasing squirrels: Reflective practice and intentional noticing in the LLC
- Call for OLA councillors
- Call for Open Shelf story editor
Photo by Ross Findon on Unsplash
Joke by For reading addicts