Trick or treat, lots to eat …. In the drive-thru
Many families and communities changed up their Hallween fesitivites this year and went to the library drive-thru to show off their costumes and collect treats.
The joys of job hunting
My journey to a library technician position began five months before graduation. Starting so early helped me relax gave me the time to do the necessary research, refine and alter my approach, and face rejections.
Sabrina Saunders
Sabrina Saunders is the CEO of the Blue Mountains Public Library and the vice-president of the Ontario Library Association.
Transitions in uncertainty: a message from the InsideOCULA Editor-in-chief
Rob Makinson introduces the new editorial team, shares some magazine updates, and reflects on volunteerism during a pandemic.
Andrea Wheeldon
Andrea Wheeldon leads the Open Shelf social media team and works as a clerk at a public library. She has also managed social media for small…
What’s new in Open Shelf: October 2020
Pandemic: (Of a disease) prevalent over a whole country or the world…and a magazine. Again, we feature stories that capture our experiences during this “time of COVID-19”: articles about our resilience and capacity to be innovative while coping with the complete disruption of our work lives and services as well as stories that emphasize the real need for the public services that institutions such as libraries provide. The individual and collective benefits of these services are not only practical (e.g., access to printing) but also emotional and psychological.
LivingWorks: Suicide intervention training that works
The LivingWorks Start program for suicide intervention is worth doing because a greater understanding of how to support someone who is thinking of completing suicide might help save a life.
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.
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.
New interactive APA tutorial: Use it, adapt it!
A team at the University of Alberta (UAlberta) Library in Edmonton, Alberta has created an OER in Pressbooks to support students learning to use the American Psychological Association academic style.
Working from home: Printing is essential!
Working from home has been a necessity during the pandemic and it can be expensive. Maybe public policy makers need to think more carefully about how essential services are defined in a public health crisis.
Four RA strategies to promote new voices and inclusion
We can use Reader’s Advisory to both ensure that our communities feel seen and that they discover new voices and cultures by working on polices, merchandising, book lists, and handselling.
No screen sharing, no instruction?
Teaching in a virtual environment is challenging, particularly when we depend on others to provide basic support, such as screen sharing. Evan our love for technology cannot overcome some disruptions.