libraries – OPEN SHELF

OCULA President’s Message – Spring 2026

Shelby Thaysen introduces herself as the 2026 OCULA President and outlines her guiding values and excitement for the role, as well as introduces changes to OLA and reflects on the challenges facing libraries and those who work in them.

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.

InsideOCULA

Have you heard? Spreading the word about Misinformation March

Generative AI have sparked debates in higher education, especially after ChatGPT’s release in November 2022. However, an often-overlooked aspect is the emotional weight LIS professionals have noticed about this emergent technology.

Features, InsideOCULA

ChatGPT chronicles: Navigating the emotional landscape of generative AI in higher education

Generative AI have sparked debates in higher education, especially after ChatGPT’s release in November 2022. However, an often-overlooked aspect is the emotional weight LIS professionals have noticed about this emergent technology.

Features, InsideOCULA

Meaford’s New Main Library Branch – Creating a Village Library

This month, Trevor Deck walks us through the library’s collection development mandates, scope and goals.

What's New in Open Shelf?

A library is: MURDER

What’s the connection between libraries and murder? Have you ever noticed how often murders are solved by library staff, are committed by librarians or occur in a library? Rudi Denham offers a selection of books from the crime genre that involve libraries/librarians.

What is a library?

Call for innovative stories

Is your library thinking outside the box to help your community? We want to hear ALL about it!

Features

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.

What is a library?

A library is: PEOPLE

A library is clearly “place” in the sense of a physical space filled with books, posters, signs and desks. But just as obviously, a library is also people.

What is a library?

IFLA/UNESCO manifesto & toolkit: Creating multicultural libraries

As the out-going chair of the IFLA Library Services for Multicultural Populations Section, I shared this manifesto with participants at the IFLA 2017 conference, held…

Features

Universal Design: One Size Does Not Fit All

By Rachel Caldwell When the Conestoga Library (Doon Campus) underwent renovations in 2015, MMMC Architects were tasked to create a vibrant space that supports…

InsideOCULA

Connect, converse & unite: IFLA’s Global Vision

We can find it challenging to have a meaningful conversation with a colleague who sits in an adjacent cubicle—life is full of everyday responsibilities that take our time and attention. So the idea of talking with library folk from around the world about our collective future seems daunting.

Features

Editorial: Reflecting on Canada 150

1967—I was nine years old and sang “Canada, one little, two little, three Canadians, we love thee” over, and over, and over again. My…

From the Editor