Frances Gao
Frances Gao has a BA in English and professional writing from York University and a MI from the University of Toronto. She works as…
To leave or not to leave: The case of Ex-Libris, the Remainders and the Library Union
In 2016, mayhem was unleashed when the Ontario Library Association (OLA) departed from the Canadian Federation of Library Associations (CFLA). The assumption was that the OLA would depart from the CFLA in an orderly and a swift fashion. That assumption was wrong.
The mid-career malaise of a library cat
Questions like “Why am I here?” “What are my future goals?” and “What the fluff am I doing with my life?” are all perfectly normal during your mid-career moment. Here are the top five ways that library cats can battle the mid-career blahs with cat-itude!
Staffless libraries: Have they been hacked, or worse, are they alive?
You may have heard that some libraries have removed staff members from the equation so automatic doors and machines can greet patrons. Artificial intelligence allows libraries to provide this staffless branches option to patrons. However, they may be causing a larger problem. We've learned that the machines in one public library may have developed a mind of their own!
Carmen Peters
Carmen Peters will complete her Masters of Information from the University of Toronto in the spring of 2019 and is a member of the…
Art in the University of Waterloo Library
By Carmen Peters On Friday, February 22, University of Waterloo Library launched its first art exhibition opening: Transforming Spaces. This is the first exhibition…
Joe Pateman
Joe Pateman is a PhD candidate studying politics at the University of Nottingham, with a specific interest in the disciplines of Marxist political theory…
The Library eResources Accessibility Project: How we learned to stop worrying and love the AODA
By Corinne Abba and Siobán Linnen Imagine you are a college student using the library databases for the first time. You type in your…
Claim this space
This particular blank space is waiting for members of the Ontario Library Association (OLA) community to fill it up, decorate it, contribute.
“Strat man” and advocacy
We are embarked on a strategic planning process that we hope will enable the Open Shelf editorial team and board to identify the "value add" of the publication to OLA members and align with OLA's strategic goals.
Navigating professional relationships
As library professionals working across a diverse field, we experience tensions and triumphs as we work together. From discord to discourse promotes our capacity to be effective collaborators and co-workers.