Cultural diversity and inclusion in the workplace
Suzanne Fernando works as a Services Specialist at the Toronto Public Library (TPL) in the Children’s Services Department.
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.
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.
Zoom, zoom . . .
This is how I imagine someone scheduled to host a meeting looks when they try to sneak quietly into an already started Zoom meeting…
The wrong side of the digital divide
COVID-19 has definitely created new access needs. Unfortunately, not everyone has a well-equipped home office that comes with internet access, which is where the public library can help.
Home-schooling and job seeking during a pandemic
Both the library closure and the closure of all publicly funded schools and child care centres after March break have left me curious to know which online resources will assist me and other parents like me who now find themselves with home-schooling responsibilities.
What’s happening at school?
The Ontario Ministry of Education has been releasing official announcements related to public schools in the province since the World Health Organization declared the COVID-19 pandemic on March 11, 2020. Each announcement has led to another phase in remote teaching and learning in Ontario.
Cultural diversity and inclusion in the workplace
Mai Lu works at the University of Toronto Mississauga (UTM) Library as the Head of Public Services.
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.
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.
Genealogy 101: Finding your roots to find your skill set
Helping others discover their familial roots had exposed an issue in my own family that I realized I needed to address: Finding my own roots.