Call for Content Fall 2026 Issue

InsideOCULA is currently accepting submissions for the upcoming Fall 2026 issue.

An official publication of the Ontario College and University Library Association, InsideOCULA is proud to provide a forum for the exchange of perspectives and innovation across Ontario university and college libraries.

To say the last few years in the academic library sector have been difficult would be an understatement. In the last 6 years, the sector has weathered a global pandemic, inflationary pressures that have shrunk budgets and resources, unfair labour practices and difficult collective bargaining negotiations, and new technologies not only disrupting the field, but threatening to replace and undervalue the expertise of human staff. In times like these, it can be difficult to remember what makes this work appealing and rewarding in the first place. The InsideOCULA editorial team was inspired by this year’s OCULA’s Rediscovering Joy in Academic Librarianship event, and want to amplify the call to focus on the positive as we head into a new academic year.

The theme for the Fall 2026 issue is: rediscovering joy. We invite submissions that reflect on the spark that attracted professionals to libraries and the various kinds of roles within, celebrate the wins— big or small — still happening across the province, and meditate on what still remains to look forward to despite the setbacks so many academic libraries have faced recently. We also highly encourage students enrolled in library programs to write about their reasons for starting their programs, the opportunities they see in the field, what topics excite them and motivate them to contribute to the profession.

Themes the InsideOCULA editorial team is looking to explore in Fall 2026:

• Projects, programs, services, or partnerships that helped spark joy in your library
• Reflective or introspective pieces that take you back to the experiences, values, or inspiration that drew you to a career in academic libraries
• How do you find meaning or joy in your everyday routines? What ordinary moments create purpose, fulfillment, or connection?
• Suggestions for building and celebrating positive work cultures that foster collaboration, sense of belonging, and a more joyful work environment
• Strategies, mindsets, or resource recommendations to help maintain an optimistic outlook during challenging times
• What are the small wins that keep your love for the work alive?
• What opportunities do you see on the horizon for experimentation, creativity, or risk-taking that would help re-energize the academic library sector?

Have an idea not mentioned above? Please get in touch with the editorial team. InsideOCULA welcomes new ideas and can support you in sharing your experience with the larger community. Furthermore, we welcome submissions that share the varied and diverse experiences of library staff across the province; for more information on our approach to inclusion and equity, please visit our Statement & actions against anti-Black racism . InsideOCULA also accepts submissions of all formats (E.g., articles, videos, interviews etc.). Please see the guidelines on submission requirements.

Submissions are accepted on an ongoing basis, but for Fall 2026 publication, please get in touch by August 31, 2026. Send all submissions to insideocula@gmail.com.

Looking forward to hearing from you,

The InsideOCULA Team