Features & columns – OPEN SHELF

Put your oxygen mask on first: 13 strategies to support your teams and yourself

Branch managers can feel pulled in all directions, have a need to work at all hours, and yet seem removed from their staff. How can they support staff when not physically working side-by-side and when they have the need to "put their own masks on first?"

Taking responsibility: Why state imposed governance for Indigenous Peoples?

This two-part article unpacks the supposed abrogation of responsibility of the federal government to Indigenous communities. In this first installment, we dive into the question of governance and the tensions between the Indian Act and rights created under both the Constitution of Canada and the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms.

Volunteer opportunity: Open Shelf editor-in-chief

The Ontario Library Association is seeking an editor-in-chief for Open Shelf, its online magazine. This two-year term will begin February 1, 2021.

Volunteer opportunity: Open Shelf deputy editor

The Ontario Library Association is seeking a deputy editor for Open Shelf, its online magazine. This two-year term will begin October 1, 2020.

Six “big” K-12 library questions in a pandemic world

Recently, members of the Ontario School Library Association (OSLA) council had "big questions" when they chatted online about the pandemic and its impact on K-12 school library learning commons.

The new model public library

Someone will have to pay for all the government money being used to get us through the COVID-19 crisis. This will usher in a newer, longer and deeper era of austerity and a new understanding of what defines a “model public library.”

Dr. Paul’s pandemic ponderings: Closure is a step towards the future

The University of Sudbury library closed on March 24, 2020. Now past the three-month mark of the closure, the chief librarian thinks that the "new virtual" reality will help him be anywhere, anytime and thus step into the future.

Water, survivance, and erotica: A conversation with illustrator Chief Lady Bird

It’s hard to believe it was already six months ago, but back at the OLA Superconference in January, I sat down with Chief Lady Bird to talk about Nibi’s water song. This new children’s book is written by Sunshine Tenasco and illustrated by Chief Lady Bird.

Clear guidance yes for LGBTQ+ support, but context matters

Are there hard-and-fast rules for libraries engaged with LGBTQ+ communities? While there are areas where there should be clear guidance, there are others where context is more important.

To be perfect or not

Many of us are busy making instructional videos so that we can teach or provide needed services online. But how do we battle our need for the perfect performance? And many times do we re-record before we think we've got our final product?

Black Lives Matter: Does silence signal complacence in public libraries?

I have been waiting for a statement from my local library on the recent protests aimed at confronting systemic anti-black racism in our North American society and across the Western world. It has been weeks and I am still waiting.

Amplifying the voices of school libraries: Summer lending programs

During the 2020 OLA Super Conference, the voices of Canadian school libraries came together to share, discuss and celebrate the incredible work in K-12 school library learning commons in Canada. In the upcoming months, It's elementary will highlight authors and papers from the conference.

Phone-a-friend: SOLS helps libraries (pandemic or not)

Remember the TV game show, Cash Cab? Contestants could try to answer questions on their own, but if they got stuck, they could phone a friend. The Southern Ontario Library Service (SOLS) is like that friend who you can call or turn to for an answer.