Free to read and share (or not): “What are you reading?”
Asking somebody what they are reading is a simple but loaded question, particularly when responding to an adult: We have the right to different tastes and reading choices.
Taking responsibility: An information-seeking journey to understanding Indigenous-federal relations
Unpacking an "abrogation of responsibility" by looking at governance and into the tensions between the Indian Act and rights created under both the Constitution of Canada and the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms.
Solving the child care riddle
A friend and I are both looking for work in libraries and expect to work evening and weekend shifts. We both have children who need adequate child care while we're at work.
Finnish public libraries integrate diverse services to support equity & inclusion
Finnish public libraries are mandated to provide equal access to materials and services for all citizens, and staff are pushing the boundaries of how access is defined, by widening the scope of service offerings.
What’s new in Open Shelf: March 2020
We’re trying something new this month: An online panel discussion on the need for the MLIS. In addition to this foray into a new way to talk with each other, we also have a number of features that look at Finnish library programs, Indigenous-federal relations, being a new manager, and creative card-making for students, which is an InsideOCULA article. Plus, Readers’ advisory is back along with the latest installment of Wildcard*, a new grad’s journey in the job market.
Andrew Gemmell
Andrew Gemmell (MA Philosophy, NSSR; PhD student, SICS and Institute of Political Economy, Carleton University) brings a background in philosophy and critical theory to…
Samphe Bellamingie
Samphe Ballamingie is a senior undergraduate student at Carleton University, majoring in Sociology and minoring in Environmental Studies. Her research interests lie in the…
Jennifer La Chapelle
Jennifer La Chapelle has worked in the library field for over 30 years, 29 of them as a public library CEO. She has smoothed…
Dana Vanzanten
Dana Vanzanten is Manager, Programming and Community Development at St. Thomas Public Library (STPL). Prior to taking on this role, she worked for eight…
James Zhan
James Zhan is a soon-to-graduate MLIS candidate with work experience in multiple academic libraries, and skills in instruction, web accessibility, UI/UX design, reference services,…
What’s new in Open Shelf: February 2020
Happy 2020! Yes, it’s a bit late to offer this greeting except for the Open Shelf editorial team, given that we took our annual hiatus in January. This month, we are presenting articles in both official languages, along with stories from northern, southern, and eastern corners of the province, while featuring the voices of those who work in rural and urban libraries, both new grads and seasoned professionals.
Valuing social institutions: Northern libraries have bang for their buck
Quantifying the social value of public institutions can be challenging and contentious given that standard business metrics may not capture the value of intangible social rewards.