Open Shelf Editor – OPEN SHELF

Democracies need libraries

The American Library Association’s democracy statement reads, in part: “Democracies need libraries. An informed public constitutes the very foundation of a democracy; after all, democracies are about discourse—discourse among the people. ... It must ensure that citizens have the resources to develop the information literacy skills necessary to participate in the democratic process.” This might seem like some pretty big shoes to fill, but there is truth to it. Public libraries help us stay informed and keep us kind.

What’s new in Open Shelf?: June 2019

This month we hear from those impacted by recent cuts to library services and about technological inclusion in school libraries. As we start two new series, Genealogy 101 and Good news, we welcome back our series What is a library and From discord to discourse. Plus, we have a new installment from our regular column Open for all?.

Open call to OLA members

A blank canvas: Something that's empty or undecorated. A blank canvas hasn't been drawn or painted on yet—it's clean and unmarked. For now.

Richard Reid

Richard Reid is the 2019-2020 president of the Ontario Library Association and the library consultant for the Durham District School Board.

Teamwork

Why do teams matter? How do we develop strong teams? What challenges do teams face? OLA President Richard Reid and Kaseey (Mallen) Whalley tackle these issues are more.

A library is: Community

A library reflects the communities and the cultures in which it operates, and library collections and programs reflect the reading tastes, the history and the priorities of the residents.

Brittany Deakin

Brittany Deakin has been a teacher with the Grand Erie District School Board for the last nine years, and has worked at the Central…

Technological inclusion: New learning commons creates seats at the digital table

“If not us, then who?” At Central Public School, our principal gives us this daily challenge so that we balance community assets with any gaps or deficits we identify.

The shock doctrine: Cuts to OLS – N an onslaught on public services

The provincial government has made a 50% cut to the funding that it provides to Ontario Library Service – North (OLS – N). This loss of funding is already sending shock waves through our library infrastructure.

Krista Woltman

Krista Woltman is the Local History & Genealogy Librarian for the Nepean Centrepointe branch of the Ottawa Public Library. She has been a Subject…

Genealogy 101: Knowing your genealogy patron

Before I became a genealogy librarian, I was never really into tracing lines of ancestral descent or into knowing my family tree. Discovering family history seemed so abstract.

What’s new in Open Shelf?: May 2019

How to spread the word … via streaming, a new “tell-all” app or at via a podcast? This month, we have articles that feature different ways to communicate, and how more information can both simplify and complicates our lives.

Note to self: Schedule time for self-care

We schedule a lot to do or are scheduled to do a lot. One thing that may be missing from our agendas is self-care.

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