Save the date!
The inaugural Little Branches, Rural Roots Library Conference will take place at the Arnprior Public Library on October 4 and 5, 2019: Join us!
Open call for applications
Would you like to work as a member of a creative team that shares stories about libraries in Ontario? Then consider volunteering as the Open Shelf story editor.
At the centre: A conversation with Nêhiyaw educator Amanda Moosemay
Listen to a conversation between Samantha Martin-Bird and Amanda Moosemay about treaties, community hub libraries and a First Nation school library.
Podcasts for book lovers
With podcasts covering pretty much every conceivable thought, notion or idea, it makes sense that there would be countless podcasts for readers and book lovers ... and for readers' advisory as well!
Call for innovative stories
Is your library thinking outside the box to help your community? We want to hear ALL about it!
Introducing OLA’s Advocacy Toolkit
We are working to organize networking and communication opportunities and to make resources related to advocacy available to libraries. To fulfill our mandate, we officially launched the OLA Advocacy Toolkit in May 2019.
Sarah Roberts
Sarah Roberts is the Advocacy & Research Officer of the Ontario Library Association.
Democracies need libraries
The American Library Association’s democracy statement reads, in part: “Democracies need libraries. An informed public constitutes the very foundation of a democracy; after all, democracies are about discourse—discourse among the people. ... It must ensure that citizens have the resources to develop the information literacy skills necessary to participate in the democratic process.” This might seem like some pretty big shoes to fill, but there is truth to it. Public libraries help us stay informed and keep us kind.
What’s new in Open Shelf?: June 2019
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?
Send us your news
We know that our role in school libraries is to serve our students and to support student achievement across all grades and curriculum areas. As long as there are still staff members available to offer this support, we need to share and to celebrate the amazing work happening every day in school libraries.
Open call to OLA members
A blank canvas: Something that's empty or undecorated. A blank canvas hasn't been drawn or painted on yet—it's clean and unmarked. For now.
Richard Reid
Richard Reid is the 2019-2020 president of the Ontario Library Association and the library consultant for the Durham District School Board.