Old Wine In New Bottles: The Traditional Public Library
The Traditional Public Library has not changed fundamentally from when it was first introduced in the mid-nineteenth century. While many people continue to believe…
Partnering to Provide Accessible Reading Packs
The Accessibility Services team at the Ottawa Public Library (OPL) is committed to supporting the OPL mission to “inspire learning, spark curiosity, and connect…
The Guelph Library Project: Final Report
Eighteen first year university students walk into a classroom and are told they have to decide the future of the Guelph Public Library. Yikes.…
Privacy Concerns & Access to Information in Homebound Services
Homebound Services is a department within the Ottawa Public Library that selects and delivers library materials to customers who are unable to access a…
Time-bombs, Technology and Training
The challenges of managing archival material in small public libraries
Public Libraries: the Original Community Hubs
As public libraries struggle to reinvent themselves, the role many are zeroing in on is that of a “community hub”. While some new roles,…
Public Libraries and Participation
The Canadian Index of Well-being has tracked participation in leisure and cultural activities and identified a number of important trends: "Leisure and culture make…
The Guelph Library Project: An Update
The project continues. For the students, the issues have become more complex and vexing. Differing perspectives have been put in stark relief. Initial perspectives…
Aaron DeVries
Meet one of OLA’s 5,000 members. An interview with random OLA member #27: Aaron DeVries. I spoke to Aaron DeVries, branch manager at Innisfil Public…
Program Turnout Without Resource Burnout: A Case for Community Hubs
We were in a no-win situation. It was time to be pro-active instead of reactive.
Public Libraries and Happiness
Can public libraries make people happier and healthier? There is close link between equality and happiness. The people who live in more equal countries…
A Library in the Place of Many Fish
My 2014 travels through Nunavut have brought me to appreciate the symbiosis between the people and the library. There are 11 public libraries in…
Public Libraries and Well-being
Can public libraries contribute to individual and community well-being? The research suggests this is so. As a result libraries should embed this within their strategic objectives.