audio interviews – OPEN SHELF

Weeding as an anti-racist practice: A conversation with Dr. Monica Eileen Patterson

Collection management is an important component of library work in part because the materials on our shelves reflect our deepest cultural beliefs and experiences. I am learning from my colleague, Dr. Monica Eileen Patterson, withdrawing some of Dr. Seuss' books from publication is the right thing to do because children should not be exposed to racist imagery and stereotypes. And yet, there may be times when we might still need access to some of these texts in order to understand how racism operates in our communities.

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Drew Hayden Taylor: A contemporary storyteller

Ojibway playwright Drew Hayden Taylor visited Thunder Bay last March. In her last podcast of this series for Open Shelf, contributor Sam Bird took the chance to sit down with this celebrated Indigenous storyteller.

Features

Water, survivance, and erotica: A conversation with illustrator Chief Lady Bird

It’s hard to believe it was already six months ago, but back at the OLA Superconference in January, I sat down with Chief Lady Bird to talk about Nibi’s water song. This new children’s book is written by Sunshine Tenasco and illustrated by Chief Lady Bird.

Indigenous voices

Teacher with a press: Hands-on learning for arts and social science students

Larry Thompson is the master printer in the Carleton University Library Book Arts Lab—a professional doing non-traditional work in an academic library.

Road less travelled

“The lakes could teach me what the mountains could not”: A conversation with Ktunaxa poet Smokii Sumac

Smokii Sumac is a talented Ktunaxa poet, and recently, we talked about gender, the land and more.

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Leslie Weir: LAC moving forward

Leslie Weir is well-known to the Ontario Library Association (OLA) community. As the university librarian at the University of Ottawa from 2003 to 2018,…

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Same library, different roles

Beginning a new library position can often be a difficult endeavour; we are never sure what to fully expect when beginning a new role.

From discord to discourse

“Unapologetically Nêhiyaw”: A conversation with Max FineDay

Samantha Martin-Bird in conversation with Max FineDay about reconciliation, racism, Indigenous identity, and Indigenous revitalization.

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Unsettling the public library: A conversation on decolonization with anthropologist Kieran Way

Samantha Martin-Bird talks with anthropologist Kieran Way about making libraries safe and welcoming spaces for Indigenous Peoples.

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Privilege, reflection & intentional noticing

Chris Cluff is our guest podcaster this month. Host of Chasing Squirrels, his most recent podcast features OSLA president Jennifer Brown. Jennifer also writes…

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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.

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Public Library Leaders program: Making connections, creating future leaders

Now in its fourth year, the Public Library Leaders program is gaining a reputation for preparing library managers to successfully advance to higher levels of leadership within their institutions.

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Teamwork

Why do teams matter? How do we develop strong teams? What challenges do teams face? OLA President Richard Reid and Kasey (Mallen) Whalley tackle these issues and more.

From discord to discourse