What’s New in Open Shelf?

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. 

So we have come to the end of 2019 and we hope we are finishing with a blast of good cheer. This month, the last of 2019, our stories are seasonal (think 'Twas the night before Christmas [with a twist]), as we tackle topics such as finding that first great professional gig, volunteering, mandatory retirement, and changing roles in a single organization.

Climate change, parliamentary change, changing career directions … important social and individual shifts seem to be a key theme for this issue of Open Shelf. We welcome back a regular column that's been on hiatus, introduce a new one and share a number of feature articles including two from InsideOCULA contributors.

In this month's issue we have a list of reading suggestions in Library is... Murder!, and an update on the new rural libraries conference: Little Branches Rural Roots. Also, learn about: cultural diversity and inclusion in the workplace, the current landscape of ebooks in libraries, Whether librarianship is a profession, the RA core competencies & toolkit, the Library IT Crowd, and hear from a public library manager dealing with the recent budget cuts. Plus, we have an exciting opportunity at Open Shelf: call for a story editor.

It's that time again! This is our last issue before September and we are gearing up for two exciting opportunities. Plus, we have features on supporting medical research, working in a precarious job market, developing leadership skills ... and more hot summer reading.

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 of our regular column Open for all?

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

Continuing our tradition, we bring you a special issue. One that incorporates the bizarre and the silly and puts a spotlight on creativity. These articles are special because you won't find them in the mainstream news. Don't worry, they're not alternative facts, more like alternative realities.

We have an interesting issue that focuses on relationships—within the workplace, with our communities and with our users. Stereotypes, podcasts and new libraries are all featured along with some of our ongoing columns. Plus, Richard Reid (2019 OLA President) and Shelagh Paterson (OLA Executive Director) share the OLA priorities for 2019 in the annual Bird's eye podcast.

Happy New Year everyone! In our first issue of 2019, we've got topics ranging from Afrofuturism to telecom policy to game-based learning. And we're happy to welcome back some of regular contributors while introducing you to some new voices.