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…
Things are not fine: Fines in the library
In the past, late fees were seen as a method of ensuring that our books were returned and that people were responsible when borrowing materials. It is, however, more complex than that—fines neither raise funds nor align with public libraries’ purpose. In fact, charging late fees for overdue materials is doing more harm than good.
Supporting communities through successful engagement
The pandemic has challenged the way libraries connect and engage with their local communities. Here are some of the exciting findings shared by presenters as part of the OPLA Community-Led Think Tank's Community Conversation and what they might mean for the future of community librarianship.
“Sliding” into a new approach to storytime
In the time of the coronavirus, library workers are having to learn new technologies. A good example of this need to adapt is storytime. I often lead storytimes in my work as a library technician at the Milton Public Library (MPL) and I’ve found by learning to “slide” (i.e., use slides) as part of my storytimes. I’ve not only improved my interactions with children and parents, I’ve also become more comfortable with adapting to new ways of doing my work.
Needs-based public libraries
The thinking of Comrade F. Dobler from the early 20th century remains relevant and even prescient: those who need open access to information may be those who are fundamentally excluded from public libraries.
Trois beaux choix de lecture pour le temps des fêtes
Quand l'hiver arrive enfin, c'est le meilleur moment de s'installer confortablement avec un bon livre et de lire ou même relire des livres dont les récits ont des intrigues mystérieuses!
Recovery phases for a new library—Weeks of moving, selling, and unpacking!
One of the challenges of working through a pandemic has been to complete activities that were well in the works prior to a transformative change in working conditions—like moving into a new library.
Trick or treat, lots to eat …. In the drive-thru
Many families and communities changed up their Hallween fesitivites this year and went to the library drive-thru to show off their costumes and collect treats.
Four RA strategies to promote new voices and inclusion
We can use Reader’s Advisory to both ensure that our communities feel seen and that they discover new voices and cultures by working on polices, merchandising, book lists, and handselling.
Library tech services are crucial to social well-being during a pandemic
Core tech services such as internet connectivity and access to computing devices are crucial to those people who do not have an alternate means of access in their local communities.
Not too fine a point: COVID-19 reveals the origins of public libraries as agents of social control
In Library Land, the pandemic has exposed inherent fragilities including discriminatory class and race based practices. In turn, these praxis reveal that public libraries have a history of being agents of social control and exclusion.
Care calls, PPE production and more: How Ontario public libraries have responded to COVID-19
To learn more about how public libraries were responding and adapting to physical buildings closures, OLA issued a survey in March 2020. Here are the summarized results of this survey.
Collecting and using data productively in a time of COVID-19
Data may not be coming up in library-related conversations very often at present, but perhaps it should because good data collection and use will help us by improve and showcase our services.