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.
A library is: COMMUNITY
A library reflects the communities and the cultures in which it operates, and library collections and programs reflect the reading tastes, the history and the priorities of the residents.
Brittany Deakin
Brittany Deakin has been a teacher with the Grand Erie District School Board for the last nine years, and has worked at the Central…
Technological inclusion: New learning commons creates seats at the digital table
“If not us, then who?” At Central Public School, our principal gives us this daily challenge so that we balance community assets with any gaps or deficits we identify.
The shock doctrine: Cuts to OLS – N an onslaught on public services
The provincial government has made a 50% cut to the funding that it provides to Ontario Library Service – North (OLS – N). This loss of funding is already sending shock waves through our library infrastructure.
Krista Woltman
Krista Woltman is the Local History & Genealogy Librarian for the Nepean Centrepointe branch of the Ottawa Public Library. She has been a Subject…