OCULA President’s Message – Fall 2024
Matt Rohweder introduces himself as the 2024 OCULA President and outlines his priorities for this year, as well as what OCULA has accomplished, and keeps working towards.
Bienvenue à la bibliothèque: Barriers to providing French-language library services
By: Katherine van der Linden and Claire Dionne This article is the first in a three-part series exploring the challenges of offering French-language library…
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.
Theory in practice II: Moving from systemic racism to anti-racism in Ontario public libraries
There is a strong need to explicitly acknowledge deeply embedded racist thinking in order to move towards systemic change in public libraries.
Genealogy 101: So you’re a genealogy librarian. Now what?
I used to feel frustrated when assisting patrons with their genealogical queries, partly because I lacked adequate training. But this subject can be mastered with formal and informal training.
Cultural diversity and inclusion in the workplace
Valentina Ly has two part-time jobs in the Sinai Health System.
Preparing surgical professionals and students to be culturally sensitive
This column features professionals who have traditional library and information training but have taken a “road less travelled” by applying their knowledge and skills in unexpected ways or places.
Is librarianship a profession?
Open for all? offers a “think piece” rather than an intellectual analysis. Columnist John Pateman shares his personal observations on issues, and his columns…
Cultural diversity and inclusion in the workplace
Rhea Smith is the Chair of the OLA Cultural Diversity and Inclusion Task Force.
Librarians on a “Leave for Change”
Leave for Change is a programme that sends volunteers on three-week assignments to developing countries. Juliene McLaughlin tells Wayne Johnston about her first overseas assignment.
Two views on inclusivity
A conversation between Rashed Ahmad and Todd Kyle that offers two perspectives on inclusivity as it relates to the library world.
Cultural diversity and inclusion in the workplace
Arvind Singh is the chair of the OLA Cultural Diversity and Inclusion Committee and works at the Hamilton Public Library.
Political correctness and society—have we really gone mad?
It seems entirely proper that people about whom the words are used can also have a say in how they like to be described and referred to.