OLA Super Conference!

Welcome to the OLA Super Conference!

The Ontario Library Association is Canada’s largest library organization and OLA’s Super Conference is Canada’s largest continuing education event in librarianship. The program is built brick-by-brick, time slot by time slot, by some twenty co-ordinators working with dozens more to identify the needs to be addressed in this time and this place. With expert speakers, engaging workshops, and valuable networking opportunities, you'll gain valuable insights and skills to enhance your personal and professional growth. OLA Super Conference 2025 will take place from January 29th to February 1st, 2025 and is the perfect opportunity to connect with fellow library people and expand your knowledge in a fun and immersive environment. Don't miss out on this transformational experience!

Conference Schedule

Agenda

time iconJanuary 29, 2025 08:30 am to
11:45 am

CFLA National Forum

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Andrea Cecchetto
Markham Public Library, Canadian Federation of Library Associations/ Fédération canadienne des associations de bibliothèques, International Federation of Library Associations, North American Division

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Laura Winton
Library Association of Alberta

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Leslie Weir
Library and Archives Canada

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Joseph Jeffery
Canadian School Libraries

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Michelle Arbuckle
Ontario Library Association

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Rina Hadziev
British Columbia Library Association

This is a Pre-Conference workshop. Space is limited and pre-registration is required.

The CFLA National Forum is an opportunity for library people from across Canada to gather and discuss library advocacy at a national level. The morning's schedule is as follows:

  • 8:30 AM: Light Refreshments
  • 9 AM: Welcome and Opening Remarks
  • 9:15 AM: Panel Discussion on Trends, Challenges, and Opportunities for Library Associations 
  • 10:00 AM: CFLA Advocacy
  • 10:45 AM: Workshop: Issues of National Importance in Libraries with CFLA-FCAB Committees
time iconJanuary 29, 2025 09:00 am to
04:00 pm

Application Profiles: Your Map Through RDA, Your Bridge to the Official RDA Toolkit

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May Chan
University of Toronto Libraries

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Thomas Brenndorfer
Guelph Public Library

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Elisa Sze
University of Toronto Libraries

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Susie Jones
Vancouver Public Library

This is a Pre-Conference workshop and has an additional fee of $50 per participant to cover the cost of workshop materials and light refreshments. Space is limited and pre-registration is required. This pre-conference workshop will be taking place offsite at the University of Toronto, St. George campus. Attendees will be responsible for their transportation to and from this offsite pre-conference workshop.  

Resource Description and Access (RDA) is an international cataloguing standard. With its 3000+ elements, the official RDA Toolkit supports many applications. Application profiles specify which elements to record in your catalogue. This workshop teaches participants about RDA through constructing an application profile. This “learning by creating” approach will deepen participants’ knowledge of RDA and strengthen appreciation for existing application profiles. Designed for cataloguing educators, supervisors, and trainers familiar with the official RDA Toolkit, this workshop is led by Canadian librarians connected with the RDA Steering Committee and Program for Cooperative Cataloging. With the original RDA Toolkit set to be decommissioned in May 2027, this workshop provides a timely bridge to the official RDA Toolkit. This is a full day, in-person workshop located at the University of Toronto downtown campus. Attendance is capped at 25 participants.

time iconJanuary 29, 2025 09:00 am to
04:00 pm

Amplify Your Voice, Secure Your Seat and Influence What Matters: Advocacy for Libraries

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Vicki Whitmell
Library Leaders Institute

This is a Pre-Conference workshop. Space is limited and pre-registration is required.

This session will help you to gain the advocacy skills that you need to craft persuasive messages and strategies that will influence politicians, decision-makers, colleagues and partners. You will learn to identify key issues and connect them to the priorities of others to ensure that your voice and your solutions are heard and acted upon.

time iconJanuary 29, 2025 09:30 am to
02:00 pm

Traffic'n'Tours: A Super Conference Public Library Bus Tour

This tour requires pre-registration and has an additional cost of $60 per participant. 

This tour will leave from the Metro Toronto Convention Centre at 10:00AM and will return by 2:00PM. The tour will include two Toronto Public Library branches that are thriving in malls: Bridlewood and Maryvale. Please ensure that you bring some snacks with you as we will be not stopping for lunch. Some refreshments will be provided during the tour.

time iconJanuary 29, 2025 09:30 am to
12:30 pm

Developing Executive Presence for Impactful and Inclusive Leadership

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Erika Steffer
Steffer & Partners

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Rani Pooran
International Finance Corporation, World Bank Group

This is a Pre-Conference workshop. Space is limited and pre-registration is required.

Through facilitator presentation, individual reflection, dyads, small and large group interactions, participants will learn and practice strategies to strengthen their presence and impact in order to develop trust and bridge confidently with stakeholders inside their organizations and beyond.

time iconJanuary 29, 2025 10:00 am to
11:00 am

TIFF Library Walking Tour

Please note that this tour requires pre-registration.

Always wanted to see what happens at the Toronto International Film Festival library? Well, now is the time! TIFF is offering several opportunities for attendees of the OLA Super Conference to tour the TIFF Library. Please note that the TIFF Library is approximately 10 minutes' walk away from the conference centre.

For those unable to attend an official OLA Super Conference tour, you may still visit the TIFF Library during your time in Toronto. Library hours are from 10am-5pm Monday to Friday. 

time iconJanuary 29, 2025 10:00 am to
12:00 pm

An Open Space Conversation Hosted by OLA's Community-Led Libraries Committee

This is a Pre-Conference meetup. Pre-registration is required.

Join OLA's Community-Led Libraries Committee for an Open Space Conversation focused on the wins and challenges of community-led library work from across the Province. In this pre-conference workshop, attendees will be able to connect, network, learn, and share information about community-led practices, collaboratively arriving at areas of discussion that have importance for them and their communities in a supportive and dynamic environment. By using an open space conversation method of engagement in the workshop itself, pre-conference attendees will be exposed to a community-led tool while engaging in the process of co-design and leadership.

time iconJanuary 29, 2025 10:00 am to
12:00 pm

Aligning Library Strategy with OKRs: A New Approach to Annual Planning

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Brock Hart
Overlap Associates

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Steve Krysak
Overlap

This is a Pre-Conference workshop. Space is limited and pre-registration is required.

Is your library's strategic plan gathering dust on a shelf? Transform your annual planning process by integrating the OKR (Objectives and Key Results) framework—a dynamic approach used by leading organizations to bridge the gap between lofty goals and day-to-day operations. In this engaging, two-hour workshop, we'll demystify OKRs and demonstrate how they can revolutionize the way libraries set goals, track progress, and achieve strategic alignment. Through interactive activities and real-world examples tailored to the library sector, you'll learn how to create meaningful OKRs that energize your team, foster accountability, and drive measurable results. Join us to discover how OKRs can make your strategic plan a living document that inspires action and delivers impact.

time iconJanuary 29, 2025 10:00 am to
12:00 pm

Assistive and Accessible Reading Technologies: Demonstrations and Hands-on Learning

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Winona McMorrow
Toronto Public Library

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Daniella Levy-Pinto
National Network for Equitable Library Service

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Laurie Davidson
Centre for Equitable Library Access

This is a Pre-Conference workshop. Space is limited and pre-registration is required. This pre-conference workshop will be taking place offsite at the Toronto Reference Library. Attendees will be responsible for their transportation to and from this offsite pre-conference workshop. 

Join us for a practical and hands-on workshop on assistive and accessible reading technologies. This workshop will provide an overview of some key assistive and mainstream technologies that people with lived experience with various print disabilities use to access and read the content and resources that libraries offer. Led by people with lived experience of a disability, the workshop will offer demonstrations and hands-on learning of the sometimes complicated and confusing landscape of assistive and accessible reading technologies, including screen readers, switches, magnifiers, refreshable braille displays, ebook and audiobook readers and more. The workshop will also highlight some of the common accessibility barriers that exist to reading in both the digital and physical landscapes. This workshop aims to provide library staff with practical knowledge that they can take back to their library to better meet the reading needs of people with print disabilities in their own communities.

time iconJanuary 29, 2025 12:00 pm to
04:00 pm

Activating Communities Through Social Programming and The ArQuives Zine Library

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Jade Nelson
The ArQuives

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Roxy Moon
The ArQuives

This is a Pre-Conference workshop. Space is limited and pre-registration is required. 

The main goal of this workshop is to instruct attendees on how The ArQuives, Canada’s 2SLBTQIA+ Archive, plans and conducts engaging workshops and events for their patrons. This workshop will use past successful Zine workshops as a framework, with participants of this workshop will be able to create their own zines and take home a workshop toolkit zine. The demonstration will inform attendees why tailored programming that activates an organization’s collections is essential in strengthening community bonds. As a supplemental item, the zine offers an inclusive and adjustable toolkit for attendees to begin planning and implementing programming which activates their library collections and is tailored to the communities they serve.

time iconJanuary 29, 2025 01:00 pm to
05:00 pm

Books as Bridges: Build-a-Book for Teaching, Learning, and Connecting

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Cristina Pietropaolo

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Colleen Thumlert
colleen.thumlert@mail.utoronto.ca

This is a Pre-Conference workshop. Space is limited and pre-registration is required. 

Learning through making develops a creative practice that stimulates the mind-body connection, while also building bridges to engage in creative ways to learn and teach. In this workshop for beginners, participants will make a commonplace notebook and a flagbook (materials provided). Commonplace books are collaged DIY notebooks, put together quickly with paper and glue, designed to be a customized place for brainstorming, note-taking, observations, ice-breakers, etc. Flagbooks are interactive and adaptable for a variety of purposes including creating a personal archive, a tool for teaching vocabulary, geography, and math, or an abstract piece of art. Taking time to step away from our screens and use our hands and minds in different ways allows us to build connections between materiality and content while also importantly, build connections/bridges to others as we work by ourselves but together; the process of bookmaking invites quiet reflection as well as conversation between makers.

time iconJanuary 29, 2025 01:00 pm to
04:00 pm

Public Library Collections Meetup

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Lisa Radha Vohra

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Geoffrey Allen
Regina Public Library

This is a Pre-Conference meetup. Space is limited and pre-registration is required. 

This session is open to staff who work in collections departments in public libraries. It is an opportunity for us to come together and discuss the many topics and issues common to our work. Come learn from your peers on many important theses that we deal with regularly: digital collections, staffing, processing, self/AI published works, non-print formats, and everything else we can fit into the time.

time iconJanuary 29, 2025 02:00 pm to
04:00 pm

Engaging Your Audience Through Story Drama

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Michelle Gram Giesen
Story Drama Suite

This is a Pre-Conference workshop. Space is limited and pre-registration is required. 

In this interactive workshop, participants are guided through a Story Drama, or immersive storytelling experience, where they dramatize a picture book. The book “Dark Cloud” by Anna Lazowski, will be read in segments, where the storyteller stops periodically to use drama, movement, writing, and music exercises to investigate character perspectives and choices, build environments, and explore present themes. Participants will use movement, tableau, writing in role, role play, improvisation, poetry, large and small group collaboration, and more to experience the story rather than listen to it as passive audience members. The drama unfolds as the story unfolds. This workshop offers step-by-step guidance to successfully implement Story Drama into regular storytelling sessions for groups of all ages. Additionally, participants will be provided a collection of 15+ Story Drama exercises that elevate and activate storytelling using rich picture books, and a sample unit plan with Ontario Curriculum connections.

time iconJanuary 29, 2025 02:00 pm to
03:00 pm

TIFF Library Walking Tour

Please note that this tour requires pre-registration.

Always wanted to see what happens at the Toronto International Film Festival library? Well, now is the time! TIFF is offering several opportunities for attendees of the OLA Super Conference to tour the TIFF Library. Please note that the TIFF Library is approximately 10 minutes' walk away from the conference centre.

For those unable to attend an official OLA Super Conference tour, you may still visit the TIFF Library during your time in Toronto. Library hours are from 10am-5pm Monday to Friday. 

time iconJanuary 29, 2025 01:00 pm to
04:00 pm

Put Your Library On the Map: An SDG Storytelling Workshop with IFLA’s North American Regional Division

This is a pre-conference workshop and requires pre-registration.

Every library has an amazing story to tell about their contribution to the UN Sustainable Development Goals. Whether you are a small public library or a large consortium of academic libraries, your library is contributing. By telling your story, you are advocating and marketing the work that is making an impact on your community and inspiring others.  

In this workshop, participants will learn how libraries can demonstrate progress on the UN Sustainable Development Goals through storytelling. We will begin with an explanation of the SDGs, followed by a description of the International Federation of Library Associations (IFLA) Library Map of the World. Next, three librarians will tell the story of how their library’s work advances the SDGs. Finally, IFLA Impact Trainer Kimberly Silk will guide participants in how they can tell their library’s story. Participants will receive resources for librarians who are interested in their story being curated for the Library Map of the World. Bring a draft or even a kernel of an idea to the workshop in order to work with others to flesh out the story.

time iconJanuary 29, 2025 04:00 pm to
06:00 pm

Maggie Weaver Sparking Forum: Sparking Ideas, Networks & Paths

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Sarah Downey
Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH)

This is a pre-conference workshop and space is limited. Please pre-register through this link to save your seat.

New to the library and information sector? Or in a technician, IT, HR, or policy role and finding your way through the library sector? Connect with sector leaders and others at the Sparking Forum, generously funded by the Maggie Weaver Legacy Fund. Gain leadership insights from the Fire-side Chat with Sarah Downey, President & CEO at Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH). 

time iconJanuary 29, 2025 06:30 pm to
08:30 pm

Wednesday Keynote: Leslie Weir in Conversation with Sarah Downey and Vickery Bowles

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Leslie Weir
Library and Archives Canada

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Sarah Downey
Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH)

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Vickery Bowles
Toronto Public Library

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Candice Dahl
University of Saskatchewan

Join us for the opening evening of the OLA Super Conference, where Librarian and Archivist of Canada Leslie Weir will interview Sarah Downey, Executive Director of the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH) and Vickery Bowles, City Librarian, Toronto Public Library (TPL). 

time iconJanuary 30, 2025 08:15 am to
09:00 am

Reshaping Physical Library Space: A Peer Conversation on Value in a Hybrid World

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Zack Osborne
Unity Health Toronto

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Jessica Babineau
University Health Network

As hybrid and remote work reshape organizations, what value do physical library spaces in special libraries still offer? This interactive peer-to-peer conversation invites professionals from special libraries (e.g. corporate, health and hospital, government, museum, law, and nonprofit education sectors) to explore the reshaping and redefining of their spaces. Facilitators will lead a discussion on how physical libraries can continue to support collaboration, creativity, and innovation, during a time of evolving user needs. Attendees will be invited to share experiences and strategies for restructuring these spaces to complement virtual services and resources, and adapt to the changing organizational demands and needs of our communities.
time iconJanuary 30, 2025 08:15 am to
09:00 am

Academic Makerspaces: Where Are We Now?

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Ewan Gibson
Humber Polytechnic

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Valerie Benigno
Humber Polytechnic

With many Canadian post-secondary libraries running makerspaces or media labs (and some more than a decade into that journey), we thought it might be a good time to gather, reflect, and discuss how far we have come, where we are right now, and what the future might hold for us all. Whether you have years of experience working in experiential learning spaces, are thinking about starting one at your institution, or are a student exploring a future in academic library makerspaces, we believe you have something to bring to this conversation. You, the attendees will lead the direction of the discussion, but potential talking points could include: staffing models, institutional support, EDIB initiatives, emerging technologies, the impact of AI, the role of library-education in preparing makerspace employees. Through open conversation and the utilization of audience feedback tools, we hope this session will be a chance to explore, reflect, and connect.
time iconJanuary 30, 2025 08:15 am to
09:00 am

Two in One: Shop Talks on Connection, Partnership, and Reconciliation

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Shannon McGrady
Orangeville Public Library

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Rachel Tkachuk
Port Colborne Public Library

Join us for two special Shop Talks:

  • Community Connect: Creating Effective Library Partnerships with Local Support Agencies
  • Discover how the Community Connect program creates impactful partnerships between libraries and local community support agencies to better serve underserved populations. This session will showcase how we leveraged existing library resources to offer five flexible, customizable options for community agencies--allowing them to extend their services within the library. You'll learn how this low-cost, high-impact model can increase community engagement, foster meaningful collaborations, and position your library as a central resource for local services. Attendees will leave with actionable steps and a replicable blueprint to implement similar partnerships in their own libraries, enhancing outreach and making a real difference in their communities.

  • Learning Hard Truths: Building a Bridge to Reconciliation One Book at a Time
  • Library professionals are often sought for support in guiding communities through their Truth and Reconciliation journeys. For those still uncovering these truths, this can be a daunting responsibility. Discover why, in response to Call to Action #57, the leadership team at Orangeville Public Library developed a book club for staff as a form of professional development. Learn how this initiative, along with Indigenous-led training and workshops, empowered staff and built the bridges needed to walk alongside their community on the collective journey towards truth and reconciliation.
time iconJanuary 30, 2025 08:15 am to
09:00 am

Let’s Talk Tech Toys! STEM Learning in Libraries

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Lindsey Krabbenhoft
Vancouver Public Library

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Delia Filipescu
Greater Victoria Public Library

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Allison Jones
Greater Victoria Public Library

Libraries everywhere recognize that play is vital to children’s learning. During play children build communication skills, expand their knowledge of the world, and learn to problem solve. STEM play is a valuable experience libraries can offer, especially for families who face barriers and do not have access to enriched play opportunities. Early exposure to STEM toys that spark interest in science and technology inspire today’s children, engaged in play, to become tomorrow’s passionate technologists. Both Greater Victoria Public Library and Vancouver Public Library provide low-barrier, in-branch STEM kits, toys, and programs that explore concepts such as coding, basic electricity, engineering, math and science. In this session, participants will share challenges and successes with STEM play at the library and STEM toy recommendations for kids and teens. Let’s chat about low-barrier models that help families discover new ways for their children to learn!
time iconJanuary 30, 2025 08:15 am to
09:00 am

Petite équipe, grande collection

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Jérémie LeBlanc
Université Saint-Paul

Venez découvrir les défis d’avoir une petite équipe avec une très grande collection dans la bibliothèque Jean-Léon-Allie. Depuis la pandémie, l’université Saint-Paul, est passé d’une semaine de travail de 28h pour les employées à temps plein sauf que notre bibliothèque est ouverte 7 jours par semaine pendant les sessions d’automne et hiver. De plus, notre collection qui a plus d’un demi-million de volumes circule plus que jamais avec le partenariat entre bibliothèque de l’Ontario (Collaborative Futures) et les demandes de numérisations. Cette présentation s’inclinera sur les défis et les réajustements que nous avons dû faire pour continuer nos services avec le moins d’interruptions possible.

time iconJanuary 30, 2025 08:15 am to
09:00 am

Bridging Transitions: Stepping into Interim Leadership in Libraries

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Beth Côté
Saskatoon Public Library

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Chris Cooper
Saskatoon Public Library

You are ready to take on a leadership role. Everything you’ve learned in your career has brought you to this point. But what if it’s only temporary? Interim leaders work to maintaining stability and fostering resilience while continuing growth in a time of uncertainty – all this while preparing to support the transition to a permanent leader. Chris Cooper and Beth Côté have served in interim leadership positions at Saskatoon Public Library before returning to their previous roles. Chris moved into his first library management position and Beth took on the CEO role temporarily. They will gather a panel of 3-5 people who will share what they have learned through temporary leadership positions in libraries. They will share strategies for leading during times of uncertainty, balancing short-term decision-making with long-term vision, and preparing for the handoff to permanent leadership while taking what they’ve learned back to permanent positions.
time iconJanuary 30, 2025 08:15 am to
09:00 am

Cultivating Community: A Collaborative Approach to Black Studies

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Amal Hussien
University of Toronto

Join me for an engaging conversation aimed at empowering librarians to build meaningful connections with their Black community members. As a Black Studies Librarian at a university without a dedicated Black Studies department, I will share my experiences in mapping and defining Black Studies within a large institution. This journey includes building robust relationships across various departments, student groups, and external organizations. Participants will engage in interactive discussions on best practices for fostering relationships, creating welcoming spaces, and establishing collaborations that support Black Studies initiatives. We will explore strategies for balancing outreach efforts with other responsibilities and personal wellbeing. This conversation is recommended for those interested in fostering inclusivity and ensuring that Black Studies and community engagement are prioritized within academic institutions. Through these discussions, participants will gain practical insights and actionable steps to enhance their outreach and support for Black communities.
time iconJanuary 30, 2025 08:15 am to
09:00 am

Pro-Palestine, Pro-Israel, or NSFW? A Conversation with OCULA’s Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion Community of Practice

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Benjamin Walsh
University of Toronto

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Selena Mann
Markham Public Library

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Jessica Shiers
Algonquin College

Library workers are invited to a two-part discussion (Thursday morning and Friday morning) about how you and your institution respond to world shaping events like Israel’s military actions in the occupied Palestinian territories. As libraries deliver core services - information literacy, collections development, library space, etc. - should library workers be free to reflect on troubling global realities in their work product and speak to these concerns in their day-to-day work lives?

The following themes will be used as discussion prompts:  

  • Neutrality - Do personal beliefs have a place in library work? Is neutrality ever possible? 
  • Avoidance - Do contentious conversations take place where you work? Should they? 
  • Assumptions - Do you fill in the blanks about how your colleagues and students feel based on their identities?
  • Actions - How do you respond to global conflict in your work? What do you wish you or your institution were doing?

This conversation will be governed by the Chatham House Rule.

Learning Objectives

  • 1. Participants will leave the session able to compare their response to global conflict with those of other library workers.
  • 2. Participants will leave the session able to compare their institution’s response to global conflict with those of other institutions.
  • 3. Participants will leave the session able to describe how the OCULA EDI Community of Practice provides an opportunity to engage in topics of critical importance to library professions.
time iconJanuary 30, 2025 08:15 am to
09:00 am

Mastering Work Opportunities for Graduate Students: How Can Libraries and Graduate Students Get the Most Out of Each Other?

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Katia Oltmann
katia.oltmann@gmail.com

“Mastering Work Opportunities for Graduate Students” will explore various aspects of graduate student work in libraries. I will draw on my experience as a Digital Scholarship Reference Assistant at the University of Toronto Mississauga and a Student Library Assistant at Scholars Portal to talk about both what I gained and what I would have done differently from my experience working in libraries as a graduate student. The aim of this session is to provide a forum where graduate students and established information professionals can come together to consider how job opportunities for graduate students can be optimized.
time iconJanuary 30, 2025 08:15 am to
09:00 am

Heart Berry Bling: Acknowledging First Nations Women's History and Celebrating Indigenous Joy Through Children's Literature

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Jenny Kay Dupuis
Author, Published with High Water Press

In this talk, Jenny Kay Dupuis shares her personal journey of using literature and art to break the silence and shed light on important topics related to Indigenous experiences that have impacted her life. She reflects on her latest children’s book, Heart Berry Bling, which reveals the injustices faced by First Nations women and their children under the Indian Act. Despite being a work of fiction, Heart Berry Bling captures the lived experiences of thousands of First Nations women and children, including her own grandmother’s and her own experiences. Jenny Kay also uses this book to share teachings about the strawberry and express her views on the world and the concept of Indigenous joy. Throughout her presentation, Jenny Kay emphasizes the importance of teaching, telling, and hearing difficult stories, and explores how unlocking barriers can create a culture of empowerment, respect, trust, and innovation.
time iconJanuary 30, 2025 08:15 am to
09:00 am

Peer Support Teams - Let’s Talk About Them

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Kelly Nielsen
Brantford Public Library

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Sarah Waddell
Brantford Public Library

Do you have a Peer Support Team? Do you want one but don't know where to start? Neither did we! In 2023, BPL library staff brought forward the idea of a Peer Support Team to enhance organizational wellness. Since starting this process, we’ve had other libraries reach out asking about our process. It turns out, we weren't the only ones struggling to implement this type of idea. We did the research and with trial and error built a functioning Peer Support Team. We will share a bit of our experience to get the conversation started. Then we will facilitate a conversation where YOU share your experiences with peer support...the good and bad. Then we all leave with something to ponder. Spoiler Alert: We capitalized on what we were already doing...it was easier than we thought!
time iconJanuary 30, 2025 08:15 am to
09:00 am

Inclusive Language in Libraries: Distinguishing Librarians from “Library Staff”

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Jo-Anne Petropoulos

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Elizabeth Obermeyer
McMaster University

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Laura Banfield
McMaster University

Libraries employ numerous types of employees. Often the tendency is to divide these employees into two groups: librarians and library staff, which conflicts with the goals of expanding the diversity of library employees and building bridges to create more inclusive workplaces. We seek to explore the need to find a balance between grouping individuals collectively and recognizing their unique role differences.

time iconJanuary 30, 2025 08:15 am to
09:00 am

Annual Update: Canadian Federation of Library Associations

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Laura Winton
Canadian Federation of Library Associations/ Fédération canadienne des associations de bibliothèques

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Andrea Cecchetto
Markham Public Library, Canadian Federation of Library Associations/ Fédération canadienne des associations de bibliothèques, International Federation of Library Associations, North American Division

At this session, the Chair and Vice-Chair of CFLA will provide updates to the broader library sector on work underway at CFLA throughout 2024. CFLA engaged in a transformative program of stakeholder engagement to improve its impact to the Canadian Library sector - this session will provide updates on how work in the area of governance transformation, enhanced communications and stakeholder engagement have progresses since last year. Additionally, CFLA will share its accomplishments and activities in the area of advocacy and talk about how members of the sector can support this important work. Learn more about the 2025 Board priorities and opportunities for involvement.
time iconJanuary 30, 2025 08:15 am to
09:00 am

À la recherche de ressources FLS pour jeunes adultes (âges 12-18)

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Nathalie Soini
Queen's University Library

Trouver des ressources intéressantes pour les adolescents en immersion, core et extended French n'est pas facile. Cette session nous donnera la chance de partager les ressources pour les enseignants de la 7e à la 12e année et les bibliothécaires/bibliotechniciens.nes, alors apportez vos idées!!
time iconJanuary 30, 2025 08:15 am to
09:00 am

Almost 30 - Crafty Queer Connections

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Audrey Kennington
Barrie Public Library

Discover how we grew our monthly Queer Craft Circle from zero attendees to almost 30. We’ll share our strategies for connecting with local community groups and cultivating library champions.
time iconJanuary 30, 2025 08:15 am to
09:00 am

Cybersecurity Isn't a Scary Word: How to Access Materials and Develop Essential Cyber Skills in Your Library

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Timothy King
ICTC-CTIC

Cybersecurity is an oft-forgotten multidisciplinary field of study that lurks within digital skills, but this potentially scary subject is much easier to approach than you might imagine. Canada offers many funded programs that support public facing institutions like libraries and schools that support you in developing this essential 21st Century media literacy. The vast majority of cyber breaches depend on user illiteracy to succeed, and Canada’s democracy depends on media literate citizens capable of identifying foreign interference in our diverse mediascape. Timothy King is an Ontario educator who has been working on cyber education and active research provincially, nationally and internationally over the past seven years. Travel with me as we explore the many tools available to you that will help you begin to integrate essential cyberskills into your programming. Together we can make Canada digitally safer while enjoying the benefits of secure digital transformation.
time iconJanuary 30, 2025 08:15 am to
09:00 am

Let’s Talk About Us – Conversation Space for Neurodivergent Library Workers

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Alison Pitcher
MacEwan University

Join a semi-structured conversation about our experiences as neurodivergent library workers. We’ll focus on sharing and hearing on several topics, including how we’ve found our neurodivergence impacts our work experiences and some of the workarounds, techniques, supports, and tools we’ve found help us work around barriers we find we face as neurodivergent library workers. Please note that anyone who identifies as neurodivergent (whether self- or professionally identified) is welcome to join; people just starting to question their own neurodiversity are also welcome. Please come ready to talk in groups using prompts. There will also be a digital document for optional sharing with the larger group.
time iconJanuary 30, 2025 08:15 am to
09:00 am

Creating Connections: Fostering Inclusive Workplaces for 2SLGBTQ+ Staff

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Adele Lamphier
Toronto Public Library

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Max Hare
Toronto Public Library

Join TPL's staff resource group Pride Alliance as well as staff from library systems across Ontario to network and learn from each other around staff-facing initiatives and building inclusive workplace culture in your libraries. At the end of this session, we hope attendees will have made valuable connections with other library staff and feel inspired to make their libraries more welcoming for 2SLGBTQ+ customers and staff.
time iconJanuary 30, 2025 09:15 am to
10:30 am

Creating a Change-Friendly Culture at Your Library

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Anne O'Shea
Craft Strategic

Libraries are changing in small and profound ways, and we are surrounded by changing communities with changing needs. One of the greatest challenges for leaders is leading teams through change. This workshop will provide an overview of good change management principles and provide tips on how to foster openness to change and confidently lead your team. The session will include case studies and interactive discussions.
time iconJanuary 30, 2025 09:15 am to
10:30 am

Not Sure Whether You Should Pursue a Leadership Role in an Academic Library? Let’s Chat!

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Joy Muller
Seneca Polytechnic Libraries

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Catie Sahadath
Ontario Tech University

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Mindy Thuna
University of Toronto Libraries

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Jacqueline Kreller-Vanderkooy
University of Guelph Library

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Jennifer Peters
Seneca Polytechnic

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Talia Chung
University of Ottawa

Are you contemplating a leadership role in an academic library but unsure if it’s the right path for you? Join us for a discussion where we will explore the opportunities and challenges of leadership in academic libraries. This session aims to provide insights, share experiences, and offer practical advice to help you make an informed decision about pursuing a leadership role.

Academic library leaders from the University of Ottawa, University of Guelph, Seneca Polytechnic, Ontario Tech, and University of Toronto will share their diverse experiences—both positive and challenging—to provide you with a glimpse into leadership in an academic library.

This session will include a panel of current academic library leaders and group discussion.

time iconJanuary 30, 2025 09:15 am to
10:30 am

From Exclusion to Inclusion: A Reformative Approach to Teen Services

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Ky Graham
Pickering Public Library

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Joel Sutherland
Pickering Public Library

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Shahin Dashtkian
Pickering Public Library

Teen behavior in public libraries has been challenging post-pandemic with a rise in youth-related incidents leading to more excluded teens. When traditional approaches to teen services weren’t helping address these challenges, Pickering Public Library reimagined its strategy. The Youth Specialist role was redesigned to require a social services background and relevant lived experience. Teen Town Halls were held with community partners to understand the root causes of behavioural challenges and explore new ways of engaging teens. One solution was a pilot program for excluded teens that incorporated volunteer work into the return-to-the-library process. With these new tactics, youth-related incidents were reduced by more than 50%. Additionally, staff noted better engagement with teens, increased attendance in programs, and a more active Teen Advisory Group. This new model is proving that when libraries invest in understanding and supporting our teens, the entire community benefits.
time iconJanuary 30, 2025 09:15 am to
10:30 am

Beyond the Buzz: Development and Delivery of AI Literacy Programs in Healthcare

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Taylor Moore
Centre for Effective Practice

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Anne Dabrowski
Centre for Effective Practice

The healthcare human resource crisis continues to put immense pressure on practitioners who are already overworked, overwhelmed, and burned out. At a time when healthcare is desperately in need of solutions to reduce the burden on clinicians, the flood of solutions offered by AI products are enticing. However, without the ability to distinguish between truth and hype, the risks of unsafe AI use in healthcare are profound. In this presentation, medical librarians from the Centre for Effective Practice will discuss lessons learned from developing the AI Learning Centre, an AI literacy platform for primary care clinicians. Part one will provide an overview of our process in scoping, framing, delivering, and iterating on a targeted AI literacy resource. Part two will delve into the difficult task of assessing and articulating risk of specific types of AI product in primary care, given the challenges in the current healthcare AI landscape.
time iconJanuary 30, 2025 09:15 am to
10:30 am

CULC/CBUC Safety & Security Toolkit – A Year Later… | Part 1

Drawing on insights from CULC’s member libraries, CULC’s Safety and Security Toolkit provides practical strategies to help public libraries large and small more effectively manage and respond to safety and security incidents.

Part 1: In the first half of this session, members of CULC’s Safety & Security team will provide an overview and update of the toolkit since the launch in February 2024 as well as highlight examples of how libraries have implemented various strategies in their efforts to manage safety and security. 

Part 2: The second half of the session will invite participants to further engage in interactive, small group, discussions to learn, share, and network on topics such as tools and strategies, staffing and staff development, space layout and design, advocacy, and cultivating community partnerships.

Participants are encouraged to come prepared to share their own strategies and experiences in managing safety and security within their libraries, as well as feedback and ideas on how to further build out the content of the toolkit to ensure it remains a "living document", that is relevant to public libraries across the country.

time iconJanuary 30, 2025 09:15 am to
10:30 am

Bridging Accessibility Gaps in Audiobooks with Evidence from the Reader Experience

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Daniella Levy-Pinto
NNELS

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Jessica Albert
ECW Press

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Lindsay Tyler
Centre for Equitable Library Access

Audiobooks as a format choice are growing in popularity and abundance on the market and they are often considered an inherently accessible format, making books available to people who can’t read print. However, for readers who rely on audiobooks there’s a gap between the promise of audiobooks and their need to access the full content of the book. Likewise, publishers and producers also face a gap in standards and information about the user experience with audiobooks. An current research project led by CELA along with partners from across the accessible reading landscape seeks to address these gaps by inviting readers with and without print disabilities to experience a variety of ways of presenting information in commercial audiobook, and sharing their feedback to advance accessibility.
time iconJanuary 30, 2025 09:15 am to
10:30 am

Unlocking the Power of APIs in Library Data Integration

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Carl Thompson
CEO

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Ryan Patrick
Director of Customer Service

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Lindsay Thompson
Director of Customer Service

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Frank Biss
Counting Opinions

APIs (Application Programming Interfaces) are crucial for libraries seeking to optimize their data integration and improve operational efficiency. By enabling seamless communication between disparate systems, APIs streamline workflows and automate data sharing. This program teaches participants about the benefits of implementing an API-first architecture, using case studies to show how this modular approach to development can lead to low-code, rapid application development. Moreover, adopting an API-first architecture enables libraries to remain flexible and scalable, allowing them to integrate new tools and technologies as they arise. This adaptability not only future-proofs library systems but also fosters innovation, enabling libraries to respond quickly to changing user demands and technological advancements. By leveraging APIs, libraries can unlock their full potential and create a more cohesive, efficient, and responsive environment for users.
time iconJanuary 30, 2025 09:15 am to
10:30 am

From Print to Pixels: Supercharging Strand A

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Colin Calhoun
Durham District School Board

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Chris Lee
Durham District School Board

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Jason Himsl
Ministry of Education

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Debbie Vert Vert
Durham District School Board

How can teacher-librarians and classroom educators work together to unlock the full potential of Strand A across Language/English, Math, Science and Technology, and Geography? We’ll focus on how to create meaningful, fun inquiry-based learning experiences that help students develop the transferable skills that sit at the heart of Strand A expectations. Participants will explore innovative strategies for integrating cross-curricular learning opportunities, maximizing the impact of library resources in elementary and secondary destreamed subjects. We will delve into the importance of co-creation, highlighting how collaborative planning can enhance the educational experience for educators and students alike. Participants will discover new and novel ways to partner with classroom educators, facilitating purposeful use of library services and resources. By the end of the workshop, attendees will leave with strategies to enhance the collaborative efforts needed to make teacher-librarians and school libraries critical partners in all subject areas.
time iconJanuary 30, 2025 09:15 am to
10:30 am

Careers Spotlight: Passion and Expectations

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Marie Henein
Henein Hutchison Robitallle LLP

In this session, Marie Henein will offer practical advice on how to build a meaningful career on your own terms. This session is designed for individuals at any stage of their career, and will offer valuable takeaways on maintaining professional integrity, building confidence, and growing your career with purpose.

time iconJanuary 30, 2025 09:15 am to
10:30 am

Bridge the Gap Between Open Access Discovery and Availability: Insights and Strategies for Library Staff

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Ixchel Faniel
OCLC

Open science policies and funding agency requirements have accelerated the transition to scholarly, peer-reviewed open access (OA) publications in many countries. Although academic libraries have been instrumental in the growth of OA publications, there may be a gap between being freely available and discoverable. Libraries have invested heavily in the discovery, authentication, and access infrastructure for paywalled content they subscribe to. What can they do to improve the discoverability of OA publications for their communities? Join us to learn how seven Dutch academic libraries integrate OA publications into user workflows and their users’ experiences in discovering OA publications. This research can provide libraries insights and strategies on ways toward selecting and adding OA publications to library collections; increasing OA awareness, knowledge, and engagement; improving metadata to support OA discovery; and measuring the effects of library efforts. Learn about library staff efforts that successfully supported user needs and opportunities for further work.
time iconJanuary 30, 2025 09:15 am to
10:30 am

Book Tasting with the OLA Best Bets

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Katie Vlanich
Windsor Public Library

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Emily Anderson
Essex County Library

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Linda Ludke
London Public Library

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Meagan Wilkinson
Orillia Public Library

Check out our “menus” of the best 2024 Canadian books for kids and teens. We read all the books so you don’t have to! Come build your knowledge of Canadian books. And since we seek everything out, from publishers big and small, there are hidden gems for you to savour!
time iconJanuary 30, 2025 09:15 am to
10:30 am

Bridging Gaps in Gender, Queer, and Indigenous Studies with the Gale Digital Scholar Lab

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Vanessa Lewis
Gale

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Elspeth Brown
University of Toronto

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Nick Field
University of Toronto

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Elio Colavito
University of Toronto

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Carly Ziegler
Gale

This session aims to empower academic librarians to harness digital tools to build bridges to often overlooked, yet important, historical narratives. The purpose is to guide attendees through the process of using the Gale Digital Scholar Lab to uncover hidden histories in Gender, Queer, and Indigenous Studies. Participants will learn how to apply digital scholarship tools in their own library systems to support faculty and enhance curriculum development. The session will demonstrate practical applications and collaborative strategies for integrating digital humanities into higher education libraries.
time iconJanuary 30, 2025 09:15 am to
10:30 am

Educating the Community on Why Intellectual Freedom Is Essential for Society

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Pilar Martinez
Edmonton Public Library

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James Turk
Centre for Free Expression

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Vickery Bowles
Toronto Public Library

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Sonia Bebbington
Ottawa Public Library

With the growth in the number and public nature of challenges facing libraries in our increasingly polarized time, it is vital that we do more to talk with the public about the importance of intellectual freedom in a genuinely democratic society. In this session, three leaders of public libraries in Canada will share their experiences and ideas of what can be done to move beyond discussions with staff and library boards about intellectual freedom to effective engagement on the issue with the whole of our communities.
time iconJanuary 30, 2025 09:15 am to
10:30 am

A Not-So-Typical Week Survey

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Claire Li
Mississauga Library

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Fawzia Raja
Mississauga Library

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Sandra Tang
Mississauga Library

The annual Typical Week Survey, affectionately known as Count Week, can be an onerous task for many library staff across Ontario. With staff movement and turnover, it can also be difficult to maintain data integrity, with reasonable turnaround times for reporting. With a goal of continuous improvement, Mississauga Library staff embarked on a Lean project to find efficiencies with Count Week reporting for both front line staff, and administration through use of existing library software and technology. This cross-departmental project led to an 83 per cent decrease in turnaround time for reporting, and a 94 per cent decrease in paper used. In this session, the Lean project will be presented, along with details on how the new process can be scaled based on resources available. Considerations for change management will also be discussed, along with staff feedback, benefits, and next steps.
time iconJanuary 30, 2025 09:15 am to
10:30 am

The Role of AI in Student Research

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Diana Maliszewski

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Kim Davidson
Toronto District School Board (and CIVIX)

AI / LLM programs are either lionized or vilified in education. What if the answer is neither? What if we use teacher-librarians and other school library professionals to accept both the flaws and fortunes of AI? Discover how to use AI tools for enhancing instead of avoiding learning and for critical thinking instead of indiscriminate accepting. Two teacher-librarians with extra experience in media literacy and civic education will lead some lessons on ways to use AI in the inquiry research project at all four stages. The latest school board policies on the use of AI will be shared, analyzed, and compared with the current Ontario Ministry of Education curricula.
time iconJanuary 30, 2025 09:15 am to
10:30 am

Dollars and Stories: Leveraging the Social Return on Investment for Public Libraries

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Steven Kraus
Ontario Library Service

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Sean Meades
NORDIK Institute

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Jesse Roberts
Ontario Library Service

As the Valuing Ontario Libraries Toolkit (VOLT) is used by more and more Ontario public libraries, its developers (NORDIK Institute) and support team (Ontario Library Service) want to share perspective and insight gained so far. We will highlight recent updates and notes for the future of VOLT, with emphasis on how libraries are using the toolkit, and how the materials work to strongly position your library in advocacy efforts. Join us to learn more about social return on investment (SROI) and how to make it work for your library all year round. If your library is looking for new ways to celebrate its impact in the community, and influence stakeholders or partners, this is a session not to miss!
time iconJanuary 30, 2025 09:15 am to
10:30 am

Beyond Degrees: Building Bridges with Diverse Library Skill Sets

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Leah Perron
Bra

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Crystal Bergstrome
Bracebridge Library

In the evolving landscape of library services, success is not solely determined by advanced degrees but by the richness of individual skills, community fit, and workplace culture. This session will explore how libraries, particularly those in northern and rural Ontario, can leverage diverse talents and experiences to enhance their services. We'll break down misconceptions about formal qualifications versus practical skills, and highlight how non-traditional library professionals can significantly impact their communities. Join us for an engaging discussion with real-life examples and practical strategies that challenge the norms and showcase the power of varied expertise.
time iconJanuary 30, 2025 09:15 am to
10:30 am

Teen Nights That Work: Strategies from a Successful Multi-Organization Partnership

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Kathleen Atkinson
YMCA of Simcoe Muskoka

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Amy Eastwood
Innisfil ideaLAB & Library

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Jennifer Lloyd
Town of Innisfil

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Shelley Brook
Town of Innisfil

Unlock new ways to engage teens in meaningful library programming. This session will explore how a multi-organizational partnership brought over 50 teens to a weekly library event, creating a space for them to connect, learn, and thrive. We’ll cover everything from building strong partnerships and aligning goals to effective promotion and sharing resources exploring the key elements that keep teens returning week after week. Discover how collaboration can amplify impact. Whether you're launching a new teen program or looking to enhance an existing one, this session will provide you with actionable insights and inspiration for driving success through collaboration.
time iconJanuary 30, 2025 09:15 am to
10:30 am

Bridging the First Gap: Strategies for Early Library Engagement at the University of Regina

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Michael Shires
University of Regina

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Kate Cushon
University of Regina

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Gillian van der Ven
University of Regina

This presentation outlines the ways librarians at the University of Regina have developed systematic cohort-based approaches to first- and early-years information literacy instruction. Rather than take a one-size-fits-all approach, these strategies reflect a wide and ever-changing array of instructional design, delivery methodologies, and outcomes. Appealing both to academic faculty and students, these approaches provide students with a robust start to their academic research practices. From an information literacy toolkit developed for teachers in the K-12 sector to prepare their students for postsecondary research; to graded first-year library assignments designed and delivered by librarians; to team-based library skills instruction embedded in a required first-year class; to developing online information literacy modules for use in programs delivered by other units on campus; these approaches to information literacy instruction are success stories that can be imported to attendees’ home libraries.
time iconJanuary 30, 2025 09:15 am to
10:30 am

CI CoP: Building Sustainable Bridges Within Your Continuous Improvement Network

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Kenneth Leung
City of Mississauga

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Amanda French
Toronto Public Library

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Rima Hasan
City of Mississauga

Implementing Lean continuous improvement in libraries can feel overwhelming, but you don’t have to navigate this journey alone! Join us for an engaging session that highlights the power of Lean Communities of Practice (CoP). We’ll explore inspiring success stories from Library-involved Lean Roundtables, showcasing how collaboration can break down silos and embed Lean practices across all processes. Discover practical strategies to sustain your Lean initiatives and learn how to foster a culture of continuous improvement within your institution. Together, we’ll tackle the barriers of institutional isolation, empowering you to connect with fellow practitioners both in-person and virtually. Don’t miss this opportunity to share insights, celebrate achievements, and leave with actionable tools to enhance your library’s Lean journey. Let’s build a vibrant community that drives lasting change in our organizations!
time iconJanuary 30, 2025 09:15 am to
10:30 am

Imaginative Connections: Engage your Audience with Innovative and Dynamic Story Time Tools

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Brittany Dunk
Oshawa Public Libraries

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Margaret LaTour
Oshawa Public Libraries

In celebration of this year’s theme of “Building Bridges”, we propose sharing new storytelling tools and ideas to enhance engagement and foster a deeper curiosity with reading. Libraries excel at connecting tools like apps, technology, and other non-traditional resources with storytelling so children and families can discover new ways of reading and learning that are exciting and that help to build critical early literacy skills. Our presentation will demonstrate new ways of connecting children and families with storytelling through movement, music, and story building activities while blending in resources like Novel Effect, Magna Tiles and robotics into Story Time. We believe this combination of traditional story telling with innovative technology and out of the box activities is the perfect formula for modern day Story Times.
time iconJanuary 30, 2025 10:45 am to
12:00 pm

How to Harness the Power of Data Analysis to Boost Member Engagement and Retention

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Carmen Ho
Toronto Public Library

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Michelle Siddiqui
Toronto Public Library

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Jeannette Fong-Lim
Membership Services Analyst

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Joel Babcock
Business Intelligence Lead

Join us for an interactive workshop designed to demonstrate how to collect actionable data to boost member engagement and retention. This session will focus on effective data practices for collecting and analyzing data to understand your members' needs better, strengthen relationships, and enhance program and service delivery. The workshop is suitable for libraries of all sizes. It will provide participants at all levels with the tools and resources needed to bridge the gap from beginner to advanced analysis. Participants will gain valuable insights into your library members and discover how to build stronger, more connected communities.
time iconJanuary 30, 2025 10:45 am to
12:00 pm

Prospect Research: An Exciting Career Path for Information Professionals

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Katherine Scott
Toronto Metropolitan University

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Sarah Marcotte
SickKids Foundation

Prospect research is a field within the philanthropic sector that relies on highly skilled information professionals. This is a growing, exciting pathway for librarians looking to develop their careers in the non-profit, charitable, or higher education sectors. In this session, two seasoned prospect development professionals and librarians will guide you through this exciting field and provide helpful insight that will ensure success in the field.
time iconJanuary 30, 2025 10:45 am to
12:00 pm

Can I Ask You a Question? : Creating a Culture of Proactive Student Consultation

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Karen Munro
University of Victoria Libraries

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Courtney Lundrigan
University of Victoria Libraries

What can you learn from your users by asking only one or two questions? The Engagement and Learning unit at UVic Libraries sought to find out by using a two-question survey repeatedly with different groups. Our approach offered students a low-stakes method of providing feedback. In the process, we found an accessible, sustainable way to collect qualitative user data, which can be especially useful for those who are not assessment specialists. Though we work in an academic library, this approach can be replicated in almost any type of library. Our first year of surveying yielded a rich dataset that has allowed us to further collaborate with library colleagues and generated opportunities to connect with other academic and administrative partners at the university. Our session will share our process and outcomes to date. We will use Liberating Structures to facilitate discussion and reflection in this session.
time iconJanuary 30, 2025 10:45 am to
12:00 pm

Enhancing the Experience: Remodeling and Revitalizing Onboarding Processes for New Employees

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Janice Parker
Calgary Public Library

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Evette Berry
Calgary Public Library

Onboarding is far more than just signing paperwork, reading library policies, and learning day-to-day duties. In an ever-changing library landscape, organizations need to provide new employees with the tools that will allow them to adapt to their roles quickly and effectively. Calgary Public Library created a Project Team to assess their current onboarding practices, connecting with key stakeholders (managers, supervisors, IT, HR) to create a streamlined process for onboarding new staff. This helps ensure that all new employees receive cohesive and consistent training and fosters an understanding of library culture and their organization’s mission and values. We will share our process and the benefits resulting from this project, as well as some specific tools and tips that other organizations can use to enhance their own onboarding processes.
time iconJanuary 30, 2025 10:45 am to
12:00 pm

Technology Spotlight

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Navneet Alang
Toronto Star

time iconJanuary 30, 2025 10:45 am to
12:00 pm

What's Up, LAC?

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Leslie Weir
Library and Archives Canada

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Jasmine Bouchard
Library and Archives Canada

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Jennifer Schofield
Library and Archives Canada

It’s an exciting time at LAC! Join Leslie Weir, Librarian and Archivist of Canada, and her colleagues to learn more about exciting initiatives such as the landmark Ādisōke facility that will open next year in the heart of Ottawa, our innovative work with artificial intelligence, and everything else we’re doing to improve access to our collections.

time iconJanuary 30, 2025 10:45 am to
12:00 pm

Special Libraries Spotlight with Dr. Jada Watson

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Jada Watson
University of Ottawa

In May 2015, a radio consultant referred to women as the “tomatoes” of the otherwise all-male country music salad when he advocated a practice of limiting their songs on country radio playlists. This statement sparked immediate debate in the country music industry and planted the seed of an idea to study representation in the country music industry in the mind of musicologist Dr. Jada Watson. Drawing on skills developed in her Master of Information Studies degree, Watson embarked on a journey to investigate this so-called “tomato theory” that has led her to study radio programming, popularity charts, algorithmic recommender systems, award eligibility criteria and the cyclic relationship that emerges between of these systems. Through her public-facing research program SongData, Watson centers her work on addressing systemic inequity and working with industry partners to advocate for meaningful change in the US and Canadian industries. In this talk, Watson will bring us on a journey from MIS to SongData and share how she uses her information degree to hold the industry accountable.

time iconJanuary 30, 2025 10:45 am to
12:00 pm

CULC/CBUC Safety & Security Toolkit – A Year Later… | Part 2

time iconJanuary 30, 2025 10:45 am to
12:00 pm

Climate and Wellbeing in Your Children’s Collection

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Tanya Kyi
School of Creative Writing, University of British Columbia

How do we provide reliable climate resources for children, without prompting anxiety or despair? In this interactive session, we’ll examine fiction and non-fiction titles that combine facts and information with hope and engagement. We’ll look at children’s resources for a variety of age groups, with an eye for these vital ingredients: individual and community-based ideas for how kids can make a difference; Indigenous knowledge about land stewardship and leadership; current activism and scientific research; and a resilient kind of hope. Screening and sorting resources in this area can be intimidating. But focusing on the themes of optimism and agency can do more than encourage young readers to become active and informed citizens. It can also inspire us — as librarians, teachers, parents, and book creators — to see new possibilities for ourselves.
time iconJanuary 30, 2025 10:45 am to
12:00 pm

Growing Strong Community Connections with a Seed Library Program

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Stephen Wood
Bruce County Public Library

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Lori Ledingham
Bruce County Public Library

Seed libraries help communities increase biodiversity, promote sustainable food systems, increase pollination services, and provide community engagement and educational opportunities. This session will discuss the many community benefits of starting your own seed library, and how to get your community involved. This “how-to” session will cover everything from the ground up – including gathering seed donations, promoting your collections, partnering with community groups, and providing educational opportunities to your patrons. From partnering with local community groups to fostering a culture of sustainable gardening, a seed library helps a community grow.
time iconJanuary 30, 2025 10:45 am to
12:00 pm

Building Connections and Creating Community Through Library Collections

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Lindsay Bontje
Humber Polytechnic

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Kimberly Daniels
Humber Polytechnic

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Aliya Dalfen
Humber Polytechnic

Four years ago, Humber Polytechnic and the University of Guelph-Humber Library established the Community Outreach and Building Fund. Biannually, this equity driven initiative partners with a student department, leveraging their lived experience and unique expertise, to purchase books that reflect the diversity of our student body. Together, we choose a local specialty bookstore, and collaboratively purchase books to add to the library collection. The Community Outreach and Building Fund supports Humber’s new EDIB (Equity, Diversity, Inclusion, and Belonging) Action Plan, “Building Connections,” aimed at fostering a more inclusive and equitable community. Learn how the library intentionally weaves EDIB practices into collection building, advancing areas of action such as “Equitable Student Success”, and “Community Engagement and Collective Action,’ and how we work with the Humber and local community to build a well-used collection that reflects a broader spectrum of identities, perspectives, and histories. has context menu
time iconJanuary 30, 2025 10:45 am to
12:00 pm

Building Bridges to Understanding During Workforce Planning – Advocating for Access Services

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Samantha Gibbon
University of Waterloo

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Sarah Martin
University of Waterloo

The outdated perception of Access Services staff in academic libraries as the people who do the primary tasks of signing out books and keeping the buildings open can be hard to change. In an era of increasing budget constraints, communicating and emphasizing the impact that Access Services has on the teaching, learning, and research of the institution is important. Workforce planning is an opportunity to advocate for Access Services by making connections, addressing challenges, and adapting to new demands. In this session we’ll talk about our experience with workforce planning and what we learned about bridging the gap between our front-line services and senior leadership.
time iconJanuary 30, 2025 10:45 am to
12:00 pm

Building Sustainable Evidence Synthesis Services in Generalist Academic Libraries

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Fiona Inglis
Wilfrid Laurier University

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Elizabeth Yates
Brock University

The explosive growth of evidence synthesis research projects – including systematic reviews and scoping reviews - has prompted many institutions to rethink their services and staffing models. This is a challenge for institutions without medical schools which often lack trained librarians and resources dedicated to this service and which are seeing increased demand from disciplines outside health sciences. This presentation will highlight approaches used by two medium-sized universities - one with liaison librarians, another with functional teams - to assess needs and develop sustainable models for supporting evidence synthesis research across diverse non-clinical disciplines. We will also share results from our recent research survey documenting experiences and service models at other generalist institutions in Canada. The session will include interactive opportunities for participants to share their own experiences with evidence synthesis support structures and to discuss how they might apply findings from the survey to their own institutional processes. 
time iconJanuary 30, 2025 10:45 am to
12:00 pm

Inventive Leadership: A Creative Response to Change

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Andrea Cecchetto
Markham Public Library, Canadian Federation of Library Associations/ Fédération canadienne des associations de bibliothèques, International Federation of Library Associations, North American Division

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M.J. D'Elia
LLEAD

Whenever we face significant change, most of us panic. It’s true. We feel control and certainty slip away. We fret about the additional workload. We foster concerns about our competence. We fabricate likely catastrophes. Make no mistake – change can be unsettling. But what if we could cultivate habits that help us re-establish our agency, foster resilience, and learn through these important transitions? Drawing parallels from the stories of real-world inventors, this session explores how thinking like an inventor can help us navigate change and build more adaptive library organizations. Discover how strategies like stoking curiosity, harnessing creativity, and collaborating widely will give you the confidence and courage to thrive in your changing context. Inventive leadership is the breakthrough perspective you need.
time iconJanuary 30, 2025 10:45 am to
12:00 pm

Examining Shared Print Collections: Data, Tools, and Workflows for Effective Collective Collections Stewardship

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Rachel Frick
OCLC

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Eva Jurczyk
University of Toronto Libraries

Explore the successes and challenges of stewarding a collective collection through two research lenses: a data-informed perspective on shared print initiatives’ impacts and a community-based perspective on the tools, data, and workflows supporting monographic shared print collections. This presentation shares a data analysis of the current shared print retention state, and key tools, data, and workflows used in shared print initiatives. Examining monographic print retention holdings in libraries across the United States and Canada supports future collection development decision-making. Library staff and administrators identified perceived advantages of participating in shared print programs and gaps in tools, data, and workflows that can inform future shared print initiatives. Learn how shared print workflows, data, and tools support collection evaluation, coordinated collection stewardship, and DEI (Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion) goals. The presentation will explore the essential workflows that underpin shared print programs and the data and tools necessary to manage these workflows effectively.
time iconJanuary 30, 2025 10:45 am to
12:00 pm

Gather at the Table: Building Community with Culinary Literacy

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Karen Luk
Vaughan Public Libraries

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Ruthanne Price
Vaughan Public Libraries

Culinary literacy is the ultimate synthesizing literacy. Culinary activities require reading, numeracy and mathematical competency, fine and gross motor skills, and cultural awareness. The kitchen and the table offer a multitude of opportunities to engage your community across different ages, family structures, diverse backgrounds, and skill levels. And while it’s nice to have an actual kitchen to program out of, it is possible to use the scaffolding of culinary literacy to connect people and build community in any library anywhere.
time iconJanuary 30, 2025 10:45 am to
12:00 pm

See What’s Feasible: Two Towns, Two Libraries, One Feasibility Study

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Jennifer Murley
Blue Mountains Public Library

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Karen Cubitt
Town of Collingwood

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Ryan Gibbons
Town of the Blue Mountains

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Ashley Kulchycki
Collingwood Public Library

The Collingwood and Blue Mountains public libraries, together with their municipalities, embarked on a feasibility study for recreation and library spaces. This session will explore the unique library-municipality relationship and the impact of partnering with a neighbouring town to take a collaborative, cost-effective approach to the evaluation of facilities and services. We will discuss the political landscape of a joint study, respecting multiple Councils and Boards as stakeholders, the joys and challenges of a collaborative approach, and hear the perspectives of recreation and library representatives.
time iconJanuary 30, 2025 12:00 pm to
02:00 pm

Lunchtime Social: Stitching People Together with Fabric Bookmark Making

Get to know fellow conference attendees while learning a new craft in this no-stress fabric bookmark making drop-in, taking place over the lunch break! Let's be honest, networking can sometimes be awkward, but it doesn't have to be. Lyndsey and Mandy are two library assistants who connected through their shared love of threadwork years before they both worked for Western University. They know from personal experience how much easier it is to talk to new people when you are stitching. Come and eat your lunch, make an embroidered bookmark, and some new friends!  No sewing experience or extra materials needed, they will bring everything you need and will teach you what you need to know. All are welcome.

time iconJanuary 30, 2025 12:00 pm to
01:00 pm

POSTER: Creating an OER Handbook and Toolkit on Designing Research Assignments that Enhance Student Research Skills

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Kathleen Oakey
Sheridan College

After years of helping students who were struggling to meet challenging assignment requirements, I embarked on an 8-month sabbatical leave to develop an OER handbook and toolkit for faculty in higher education who were looking to take their research assignments to the next level and really help support students in their information literacy skills. Designed in PressBooks, the handbook and toolkit offer reflection questions, readings and discussions, case studies, example text, a planning guide, assessment rubric, and more. In this poster, I share an overview of the project and the lessons I learned along the way.
time iconJanuary 30, 2025 12:00 pm to
01:00 pm

POSTER: Fostering Community-Centric Digital Collections

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Bennett Steinburg
University of Toronto Scarborough Library

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Kirsta Stapelfeldt
University of Toronto Scarborough Library

Digital special collections can serve as powerful tools to "enrich, capture, store and disseminate" community conversations (R.D. Lankes). However, partnerships with communities raise complex legal, ethical, technical and professional questions that can easily frustrate even the best intentions. The University of Toronto Scarborough Library's Digital Scholarship Unit partners with diverse internal and community groups to create unique digital collections using the openly-licensed U of T Scarborough Partnership & Engagement Framework. Our poster provides practical tools for co-creating digital objects in common-shareable formats, examples from our experience, and guidance about using frameworks like U of T Scarborough's to support mutually beneficial, non-extractive collections development.

time iconJanuary 30, 2025 12:00 pm to
01:00 pm

POSTER: Press Cutting on Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs): Automated Service of UniMAC -IJ Library to Enhance Access to Research Information

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Raphael Adjei
University of Media, Arts and Communication (UniMAC)- Institute of Journalism (IJ)

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Lydia Nyantakyi-Baah
University of Media, Arts and Communication (UniMAC)- Institute of Journalism (IJ)

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Faustina Barfi
University of Media, Arts and Communication (UniMAC)- Institute of Journalism (IJ)

Newspaper is regarded as primary sources of information for research purposes. Therefore, University of Media, Arts and Communication (UniMAC)- Institute of Journalism (IJ) library does press cutting on relevant topics on sustainable development goals (SDGs) as one of its thematic areas to increased access to information and augment literature on the goals. Press cutting serves as directory to facilitate retrieval and discovery of scholarly works. The press cutting was previously manual and limited to a stand-alone computer that made to impossible to be simultaneously accessed and display indexed entries real time. Remote access was not possible also. Presently the library uses Google sheets as a simple technology to showcase the thematic topics. Entries are made and managed with excel where concurrent entries are displayed simultaneously on the library website. It indexes from national newspapers such as the Daily Graphic, the Ghanaian Times, the Mirror, Daily Guide and Spectator of Ghana dating from January 2018 –date
time iconJanuary 30, 2025 12:00 pm to
01:00 pm

POSTER: Get Active! Building a Sports and Recreation Equipment Collection in an Academic Library

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Emma Boyes

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Mikaela Gray
University of Toronto Libraries

Many academic libraries offer programs to help students relax and take study breaks, but few have expanded into the realm of physical activity. Inspired by the success of similar public library initiatives and our library’s previous wellness programs, we set out to build a sports and recreation equipment collection for users. This unique initiative is an opportunity to promote the library as a hub for students on campus and to draw potential new users into the space. Further, this collection opens the door for creative library programming and partnership opportunities with campus organizations. This poster will outline the steps needed to prepare for this program's launch including budgeting, sourcing materials, lending policies, promotion, and assessment and will also share some preliminary results.
time iconJanuary 30, 2025 12:00 pm to
01:00 pm

POSTER: Makerspace to Go: Patrons Explore and Discover in the Comfort of Their Own Homes

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Jen Cyr
Region of Waterloo Library

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Maria Marioncu
Region of Waterloo Library

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Heather Woodley
Region of Waterloo Library

Makerspaces are popular services in public libraries. However, what is a rural library, with small branches and no room to renovate, to do when it comes to providing maker equipment to its patrons? Lend the tools for patrons to take home, of course! Learn how Region of Waterloo Library built a collection of maker equipment, and other non-traditional items, and made it accessible for all patrons to use at home. Visit this poster presentation to learn practical tips on how to create, execute, and maintain a makerspace for use beyond the library walls.
time iconJanuary 30, 2025 12:00 pm to
01:00 pm

POSTER: Making Connections: Designing Undergraduate Internships as a Bridge to a More Diverse Library Profession

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Candice Dahl
University of Saskatchewan

Libraries can become more welcoming places for all when they reflect, understand, and connect with their communities of users. Though recruiting a more diverse student body into the profession of librarianship is seen as one way to build these bridges, efforts to do so are not always successful. It is therefore encouraging that the student body of the undergraduate library internship course at *** has become more diverse since the course was first offered 2017, as many who register are exploring librarianship as a potential career path. Learn what factors might be influencing participation and consider how academic librarians’ connections with undergraduates could encourage greater inclusion of underrepresented backgrounds (e.g. minoritized groups, STEM disciplines) in librarianship. Ideally these efforts will help position libraries to connect with more diverse communities in informed and meaningful ways.

time iconJanuary 30, 2025 12:00 pm to
01:00 pm

POSTER: Building Bridges: Leveraging Data for Evidence-based Decision Making in Public-Facing Departments

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Aleksandra Blake
Carleton University Library

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Joel Rivard
Carleton University Library

Our poster will explore the collaboration between two academic library departments—Access Services and Research Support Services—as they strive to make evidence-based decisions and better understand the types of questions received at their respective service points. The poster will provide an overview of each department, discuss the intersecting services as well as discuss how the following information is collected and for what purpose. The data includes: 1. Scholars Portal virtual chat data 2. LibInsight Research Help Desk data 3. Shared mailboxes: o AskTheLibrary email data o LibraryServices Jira Tickets The presentation will also highlight ways in which decisions were made to better serve our students and ensure a balanced workload for staff. Finally, we will focus on how to move forward with this information and determine actionable next steps.

time iconJanuary 30, 2025 12:00 pm to
01:00 pm

POSTER: Evidently, We Can! Librarian Skill Sets in a Knowledge Translation Organization

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Ellen Tulchinsky
Centre for Effective Practice

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Christina De Longhi
Centre for Effective Practice

In recent times, ‘undervalued and underutilized’ has become a refrain for many health science librarians and their skill sets. At this Ontario knowledge translation organization, a team of health science librarians are embedded in knowledge translation work and act as a cornerstone in the bridge between evidence and practice for Ontario’s primary care sector. Team members utilize their professional expertise at the forefront of knowledge translation and in the creation of practical and educational clinical tools for primary care. This poster will address the ways in which librarians have excelled in both supportive and leadership roles in an Ontario-based knowledge translation organization as highly valued and utilized members of embedded teams.

time iconJanuary 30, 2025 12:00 pm to
01:00 pm

POSTER: Leveraging AI: Enhancing Web Archive Metadata

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Nicholas Worby
University of Toronto Libraries

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Mona Makinejad
University of Toronto Libraries

In 2020, University of Toronto Libraries with help from the Archives of Ontario, sought to web archive the impact and experience of the COVID-19 pandemic in Ontario. The collection contains over two thousand websites and 2.3 terabytes of data. The scale of the collection posed significant challenges for writing descriptive metadata, namely human resource constraints. We used ChatGPT and Python to mine and extract data from our web archive collections to create “first draft” metadata. This poster presentation will explore the process and hurdles experienced leveraging generative AI effectively in metadata projects, including the limitations of platforms and strategies for prompt engineering.
time iconJanuary 30, 2025 12:00 pm to
01:00 pm

POSTER: Building Bridges from Walls: Making Connections with Teens Through Community Art

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Morgan Gariepy
Toronto Public Library

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Danielle Lum
Toronto Public Library

This poster presentation will focus on our Teen Gallery Wall. The “living mosaic” consists of small canvas tiles created by our teens and displayed in our Youth Hub. The goal is to foster a sense of community, belonging, ownership, and self expression within the teens in the space. Teens make their tiles during “community art project” programs held each semester and new tiles are added to the gallery, meaning the mosaic is ever growing and changing along with our group of teens. During our presentation, we will cover how to create a teen gallery wall in the library including supplies, costs, and programming. We will also discuss the rationale and outcomes for the gallery, such as spawning a partnership with the local high school for an annual teen art exhibition.
time iconJanuary 30, 2025 12:00 pm to
01:00 pm

POSTER: Marketing in Learning Commons from an Inclusive Perspective

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Mabel Rodriguez
mabel_rdguez@yahoo.com

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Sarah Ferreira
Loyola Catholic Secondary School - Dufferin-Peel Catholic School Board

Learning Commons are growing spaces that need interactive and creative ways to promote their resources. High school students face a great challenge. They live in a world where there is more information than they can handle it. Information professionals have the responsibility to assist them in finding accurate information to achieve their academic goals and pursue personal interests. Marketing our resources from an inclusive perspective has been one of our approaches at Loyola Catholic Secondary School. Using media, physical space, print materials and personal communication are strategies utilized to pursue this goal. In this poster, you will find ideas to promote information resources in high school environments. Breaking walls and building bridges has been the philosophy at Loyola Catholic Secondary School for a long time and as a result we are proud to have developed an amazing community of actively engaged students at Loyola's Library Learning Commons.
time iconJanuary 30, 2025 12:00 pm to
01:00 pm

POSTER: Engaging Environmental Science Researchers in Systematic Review Methods: A Library Workshop Evaluation and Communications Assessment

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Agnes Zientarska-Kayko
University of Waterloo

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Jackie Stapleton
University of Waterloo Libraries

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Tanya Snyder
University of Waterloo Libraries

University of Waterloo librarians are finding an increasing number of environment students and researchers wanting to learn how to apply evidence-based, systematic review methodology to their own research fields. Recognizing the importance of emphasizing unbiased, evidence-informed research in today’s era of misinformation and climate research communication, a new workshop was created outlining systematic review methods, incorporating specific examples from the environment discipline. To increase awareness of this new workshop, instructors worked with the library’s Communications Team to implement a communications plan including social media, campus partners, student organizations, academic departments, and more. This poster will provide an overview of workshop content and a summary of participant feedback to inform the development and delivery of future workshops. A communications assessment, including social media analytics and trackable registration link, will provide guidance on how to best advertise future workshops.
time iconJanuary 30, 2025 02:00 pm to
03:00 pm

TIFF Library Walking Tour

Please note that this tour requires pre-registration.

Always wanted to see what happens at the Toronto International Film Festival library? Well, now is the time! TIFF is offering several opportunities for attendees of the OLA Super Conference to tour the TIFF Library. Please note that the TIFF Library is approximately 10 minutes' walk away from the conference centre.

For those unable to attend an official OLA Super Conference tour, you may still visit the TIFF Library during your time in Toronto. Library hours are from 10am-5pm Monday to Friday. 

time iconJanuary 30, 2025 02:15 pm to
03:30 pm

Wishing Into the Woods: Learning About Ourselves Along the Way

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Eric Nearing
Wellington Catholic District School Board

We’ve all read those fairy tales where the main characters venture into the woods, unsure of their path to get their wish. Sometimes getting the wish isn’t always what it seems. They learn that “there are bridges you crossed you didn’t know you crossed until you’ve crossed”. We are all characters in our own stories, exploring the woods. Our outcome depends on what we learned along the way. In this session, hear about one of those journeys- a man travelling from being an elementary school library technician, moving through the thick forest of high school, and back again? Through all that they must have learned something! Everyone is invited to listen to one another and share their experiences and stories. Let’s discover that no one is alone, and that sometimes the biggest challenge in the woods isn’t a big bad wolf, but our own saying yes without fear.
time iconJanuary 30, 2025 02:15 pm to
03:30 pm

Getting in on the Ground Floor: Perspectives from Growing a New Shared Repository Service

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Julia Gilmore
Scholars Portal

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Daniel Scott
Laurentian University

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Courtney Waugh
Western University

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Shelby Thaysen
University of Toronto

Scholaris is a new national shared repository service that aims to support open discovery, management, sharing and preservation of Canadian scholarship. Scholaris is being developed by OCUL, CARL, and the University of Toronto Libraries (UTL), in collaboration with regional consortia and the broader repository community. The shared technical infrastructure is hosted and managed by Scholars Portal. Scholaris seeks to establish scalable technical and community infrastructure that will support repository managers and alleviate capacity issues. In this panel, you’ll learn more about the service vision and hear from participants from Pilot and Early Adopter institutions (representing repositories of various sizes and complexity) who will discuss opportunities presented by shared repository infrastructure and share their experiences and lessons learned from joining the service. Practical examples will be offered for establishing and cultivating community infrastructure for shared services, including community calls, expert groups, and other avenues for sharing information and resources.
time iconJanuary 30, 2025 02:15 pm to
03:30 pm

Opening Eyes to Accessibility: A Co-op Student Accessibility Project

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Nancy Collins
Head, Porter ISR

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Timothy Ireland
University of Waterloo

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Michael R. Clark
Coordinator, Accessibility and Information Resources

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Grace Judge
W. Ross Macdonald co-op student

In the fall 2024, the University of Waterloo and W. Ross Macdonald School for the Blind in Brantford, initiated a pilot project. In this project, a low-vision student from W. Ross would have a co-op work term in the University of Waterloo Library. This session includes how this project came to fruition and includes some of the expected and unexpected challenges. What are appropriate co-op tasks that would create a positive and meaningful experience for all parties involved? Our aim is to take our accessibility skills to the next level by obtaining feedback directly from one of our key stakeholders. We will also share contact information for everyone interested in reaching out to W. Ross Macdonald school for a potentially similar experience. 

time iconJanuary 30, 2025 02:15 pm to
03:30 pm

Canadian Copyright Act and Accessible Content: Overview and Best Practices

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Laurie Davidson
Centre for Equitable Library Access

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Victoria Owen
Information Policy Scholar-Practitioner

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Alexandra Kohn
Copyright Librarian

The exception in the Copyright Act for persons with perceptual disabilities (section 32) recognizes fundamental human rights in the copyright regime, such as the rights to access works, to education, and to cultural participation. Libraries and other non-profit organizations work hard to ensure that accessible content is made available to users with perceptual disabilities by producing and distributing works in the alternate formats their users need. Understanding and navigating the requirements set forth by the Act is not always easy and confusion about these requirements and fear of making a mistake can represent a major barrier to these organizations in fulfilling their mandate. The presenters have put together a guide to clear up this confusion and provide easy to follow best practices. This presentation will introduce the major copyright issues in alternate format production, provide some context on the creation of the guide and walk the audience through the guidelines.
time iconJanuary 30, 2025 02:15 pm to
03:30 pm

Less Can be More: Conquering Weeding Worries to Create Streamlined Collections and Enhance Resource Access

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Pam Bolan
Seneca Polytechnic

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Elyse Hill
Seneca Polytechnic

Who loves to weed? Not many of us! In fact, weeding is often a librarian’s least favourite task. Time-consuming, complicated, and potentially controversial - it’s no wonder most library staff have weeding worries. But weeding is essential for maintaining healthy library collections, ensuring access to current, relevant materials on the shelves while shifting focus to e-resources that can be accessed anytime from anywhere. Join Elyse and Pam to discuss common weeding worries and how they can be tackled to help you bridge the gap between your users and the information they need. We will share what worked for us throughout our recent data-driven academic library weeding project that took our print book collection from 55,657 to 25,855 items, and in doing so improved print resource discoverability and enhanced overall resource access.
time iconJanuary 30, 2025 02:15 pm to
03:30 pm

Social Impact Study: An Innovative Approach to Measuring the Value of Library Services

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Laural Raine
Toronto Public Library

The value of the library reaches far beyond traditional statistical reporting measures, such as the number of visits and books circulated - it profoundly touches peoples lives. While measuring the impact of libraries on people's lives is challenging, it is increasing important in advocating for the value of libraries in our communities.  Toronto Public Library partnered with the Danish firm Seismonaut to measure this previously unquantifiable value using an innovative new methodology called the Experience Impact Compass. The Experience Impact Compass methodology combines quantitative data and qualitative stories to provide an empirical, evidence based approach that assesses impact across the four dimensions of Emotional, Social, Intellectual and Creative Impact. In this session, learn about the study results as well as how this new approach can help us collectively as a library sector to build a new language for describing the value of library services.

time iconJanuary 30, 2025 02:15 pm to
03:30 pm

Public Libraries Spotlight: Renewing Our Energies: Fostering Intentional Culture in the Public Library

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Simona Dinu
Connect to Grow

What sparks you? We all know public libraries are changing. They have become places and spaces that bring people together with the promise of something for everyone. However, keeping up with a vast array of services means change at a pace that can leave people with a lot of what ifs. 

What if I have to be on the desk all day? What if I don’t have time? What if I’m not respected? 

A healthy organization nurtures the growth and development of its people and – when done intentionally – can help to answer these questions. Using concepts rooted in neuroscience, psychology and leadership development, you will discover how we all play a role in creating a strong culture rooted in vulnerability and shared purpose. 

time iconJanuary 30, 2025 02:15 pm to
03:30 pm

French Spotlight: Dis-moi où tu lis. Pour des communautés régionales engagées

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Chloé LaDuchesse
l’autrice

Hors des grandes villes, point de salut? S’il est vrai qu’il est plus difficile de cultiver une vie littéraire dynamique dans les communautés de petite taille, Chloé LaDuchesse, établie à Sudbury, en Ontario, y trouve son bonheur depuis bientôt dix ans. La littérature est un écosystème où chaque maillon – auteurices, maisons d’édition, médias, organismes de diffusion, milieu de l’éducation, public – est crucial. Dans cette conférence, elle parlera de sa propre expérience, discutera des défis et des succès de son milieu, présentera quelques initiatives inspirantes et démontrera que l’unicité de nos lieux de vie peut vite se transformer en atout. Les participant·es seront invité·es à partager les façons qu’elles et ils promeuvent le plaisir de lire chez leurs publics respectifs. 

time iconJanuary 30, 2025 02:15 pm to
03:30 pm

OLITA Tech Talks

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Valerie Forgues

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Samantha Tai
Kitchener Public Library

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Daniel Brett
Brock University

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James Steeves
Peel District School Board

This fast-paced session of lightning talks will have you fully up to date on the trends and innovations that technology is bringing to our libraries.

  • Tech Talk #1: PRODUCE:HER Sessions: Creating Inclusive Library Recording Studios for Gender-Diverse Music Makers
  • Tech Talk #2: Bridging the Gap: Using GitHub to Make Your Work More Accessible and Reusable
  • Tech Talk #3: Helping Protect Canadians: Privacy in the Digital Era
  • Tech Talk #4: Bridging Past with Present: Using Digital Historical Maps to Foster Student Inquiry
time iconJanuary 30, 2025 02:15 pm to
03:30 pm

Ever-Changing Landscape of Being a CEO – What Keeps Us Going and What Keeps Us Up at Night

Come and listen to the perspectives of CEOs on the hot-button issues and opportunities facing our public libraries and communities, as well as the pressing issues and joys that come from being a library leader.

time iconJanuary 30, 2025 02:15 pm to
03:30 pm

“How Do You Come Up With This Stuff?” Investigating Creativity for Programs and Services

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Brooke Windsor
Stratford Public Library

Ever wondered how someone else constantly comes up with new and exciting programs or services? Are you stuck in a creative rut or struggling to catch up with other libraries? The last decade has seen a surge in research concerning creativity and innovative thinking. Creativity can be taught even when someone’s brain does not naturally follow pathways associated with the function. This session will dive into where creativity originates, exercises to encourage it, and how to bridge those methods into library programs and services. Once we have delved into the science of creativity, it will be time to build your skills by performing a variety of activities that turn theory into reality. You will leave with a head full of techniques to encourage the flow of new ideas, steps to turn those ideas into innovative programs or services, and of course plenty of hands-on exercises with practical takeaways.

time iconJanuary 30, 2025 02:15 pm to
03:30 pm

Keeping It Real: Featuring Books with Lived Experiences into Children's and Young Adult Fiction

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Julie Thompson
Northern Secondary School

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Sarah Raughley
Lakehead University

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Sade Smith

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Nadia Hohn
Toronto District School Board

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Liselle Sambury
Sambury Creative Inc

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Carlos Anthony
Millennial X Productions Inc/ Creative Compass Inc

Own voices is a term that came into publishing lexicon after author Corinne Duyvis began using it in September 2015 to refer to books by “authors who openly share the diverse identity of their main characters”. After We Need Diverse Books (WNDB) stopped using the term as it placed “diverse creators in uncomfortable and potentially unsafe situations”as it has been used as a “catchall term”. However, might it be possible that the term still has relevance for Black Canadian authors. What is the insight about their lived experiences that they bring into their work? How can librarians consider their books throughout the year, not just in February? Join us for a conversation with members of Sankofa’s Pen, Black Canadian kidlit creators as they discuss their work and explore issues of authenticity, integrity, and appropriation.
time iconJanuary 30, 2025 02:15 pm to
03:30 pm

Deep End: Validating a Medline Filter for the First Time

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Emilia Main
University Health Network

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Rouhi Fazelzad
University Health Network

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Melanie Anderson
University Health Network

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Ani Orchanian-Cheff
University Health Network

Some topics are hard to search, and health professions education (HPE) in Ovid Medline is one of them. With education researchers in a major research hospital to support, the library works to solve the problem. Let's explore the stages from planning to validation of sensitive and precise search strategies for Ovid Medline. We will discuss the process, tools, successes and frustrations of creating validated search filters that can be used by any searcher or researcher.
time iconJanuary 30, 2025 03:45 pm to
05:00 pm

Thursday Keynote: Jael Richardson in Conversation with Catherine Hernandez

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Jael Richardson
Festival of Literary Diversity (FOLD)

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Catherine Hernandez
Author & Screenwriter

MTCC 105/106

Thursday's education program will close with a conversation between two Ontario treasures: Jael Richardson, author and Executive Director of the Festival of Literary Diversity (FOLD) will interview author and screenwriter Catherine Hernandez. Join us for a delightful and wide-ranging conversation that will give you lots to think about as you transition into your evening of OLA social events. 

time iconJanuary 30, 2025 06:10 pm to
08:25 pm

Because News Live Taping at the CBC

This session has limited space and requires pre-registration. 

OLA has secured a limited number of seats at a live Because News taping taking place at the CBC, right across the street from the Metro Toronto Convention Centre (MTCC). The taping will take place between 6:30-8:30PM. Confirmed attendees will receive details in their email inboxes in January. 

time iconJanuary 30, 2025 06:30 pm to
08:30 pm

Super Conference Library Award Gala

Join us as we celebrate library award winners, including the Public Library Ministry Awards, OLA Awards, and public libraries receiving accreditations.

This is a ticketed event.

time iconJanuary 31, 2025 08:15 am to
09:00 am

Choose Your Own Adventure: Intellectual Freedom Edition

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Sam Helmick
American Library Association

Attendees will collaboratively navigate their way through multi-step, intellectual freedom-related scenarios, the outcome of which is contingent upon their choices at various points, akin to a Choose Your Own Adventure (™) story, including collaborative analysis by presenters and attendees as to why some decisions are better than others when considering their work in light of core values of librarianship. Play through the Dilemma of the Disapproving Dino Doctor and the Farce of the First Amendment Audit Influence to experience and examine a spectrum of potential responses to challenges. Consider policy creation through the lenses of access and inclusion to all as well as diversity of viewpoint to best support frontline and public-facing staff fielding intellectual freedom questions.
time iconJanuary 31, 2025 08:15 am to
09:00 am

Building Resilient Libraries: Navigating Cybersecurity Challenges in Public Libraries

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Chris Moore
Pickering Public Library

In today’s digital world, libraries face increasingly sophisticated cyber threats. With the rise of ransomware, data breaches, and AI-driven cyberattacks, libraries must proactively safeguard their digital infrastructure, protect the privacy of patrons, and ensure staff are cyber-aware. Participants will review best practices for developing a cybersecurity strategy that protects library resources, maintains patron trust, and complies with legal obligations such as the Municipal Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act (MFIPPA).
time iconJanuary 31, 2025 08:15 am to
09:00 am

The Librarian Leap: Jumping Roles, Building Bridges, and Elevating Others

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Sam Vettraino
Western University

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Maren Goodman
Western University

Join us for an honest and insightful conversation about the challenges and rewards of transitioning from a library assistant or technician to a librarian. We’ll explore the nuances of redefining your role and navigating new responsibilities, while also discussing how this leap can be a powerful opportunity to build bridges and elevate colleagues. Through real-world examples, we’ll dive into the emotional and practical aspects of this shift and provide strategies for overcoming obstacles. This session emphasizes how personal growth, even when challenging, can be turned into a force for mentorship and advocacy. Participants will leave with actionable tools to manage the complexities of career transitions while fostering collaboration and inclusivity within their teams. Whether you’re making this leap yourself or supporting others, this conversation offers practical insights into creating a more empowered and connected library community.
time iconJanuary 31, 2025 08:15 am to
09:00 am

The Junk Drawer Librarian – Mastering Project Management and Maintenance

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Ashley Booth
Regina Public Library

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Devon Stolz
University of Toronto Libraries

Some librarians find themselves in roles that defy traditional job descriptions. We lovingly refer to these roles as “Junk-Drawer” librarians. You’ll know you’re a junk-drawer librarian if your job title includes “special projects,” “engagement,” or “other duties assigned.” Junk-drawer librarians are the go-to contacts for a wide array of projects that don’t quite belong to other work units. From half-formed ideas to initiatives that have lost their original champions, the Junk-Drawer librarian is adept at coming on board, mapping out the project, and maintaining it once it’s finished. We will explore common challenges and opportunities faced by librarians in these roles. We’ll delve into best practices and strategies for organizing and prioritizing an eclectic project portfolio, managing competing demands, and navigating the delicate art of saying “no” when necessary. Attendees will gain insights into transforming the potential chaos of a catch-all position into a streamlined, effective, and rewarding career path.
time iconJanuary 31, 2025 08:15 am to
09:00 am

Librarian or Salesperson? How the Skills I Learned in Retail Help Me to Be a Better Library Professional

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Jonelle St. Aubyn
Louise Arbour Secondary School - Peel District School Board

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Punam Dhaliwal
Louise Arbour Secondary School - Peel District School Board

Although they may not seem like similar roles, the skills, tools, tips and tricks employed by effective salespeople, can also be used to increase teacher librarian effectiveness and impact. Learn how these roles are connected and how to use them to increase student engagement, collaborate more with colleagues and garner school and community support for your library learning commons.
time iconJanuary 31, 2025 08:15 am to
09:00 am

Pro-Palestine, Pro-Israel, or NSFW? A Conversation with OCULA’s Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion Community of Practice: Morning 2

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Benjamin Walsh
University of Toronto

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Jessica Shiers
Algonquin College

Library workers are invited to a two-part discussion (Thursday morning and Friday morning) about how you and your institution respond to world shaping events like Israel’s military actions in the occupied Palestinian territories. As libraries deliver core services - information literacy, collections development, library space, etc. - should library workers be free to reflect on troubling global realities in their work product and speak to these concerns in their day-to-day work lives?

The following themes will be used as discussion prompts:  

  • Neutrality - Do personal beliefs have a place in library work? Is neutrality ever possible? 
  • Avoidance - Do contentious conversations take place where you work? Should they? 
  • Assumptions - Do you fill in the blanks about how your colleagues and students feel based on their identities?
  • Actions - How do you respond to global conflict in your work? What do you wish you or your institution were doing?

This conversation will be governed by the Chatham House Rule.

Learning Objectives

  • 1. Participants will leave the session able to compare their response to global conflict with those of other library workers.
  • 2. Participants will leave the session able to compare their institution’s response to global conflict with those of other institutions.
  • 3. Participants will leave the session able to describe how the OCULA EDI Community of Practice provides an opportunity to engage in topics of critical importance to library professions.
time iconJanuary 31, 2025 08:15 am to
09:00 am

Eye-Openers: Free Coffee, Practical Library Marketing Tips

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June Dickenson
Brampton Public Library

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Shelley McKay
Hamilton Public Library

Whether you are a solo marketing professional operating in a library setting or tasked with marketing/communications responsibilities in a library of any size, all are welcome to join the OLA Marketing Libraries Think Tank for fresh coffee and even fresher conversation about all things marketing and communications related.
time iconJanuary 31, 2025 08:15 am to
09:00 am

Snakes and Ladders: Navigating the Path Towards a Culture of Institutional Assessment

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Michelle Gravelle
Seneca Polytechnic

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Karen Del Monte
Seneca Polytechnic

The path towards creating a culture of institutional assessment is not a straight one; it winds through many obstacles and opportunities along the way. How can we unify assessment approaches in an organization where each department operates differently? How can we effectively map a student's journey through postsecondary education? What is the most impactful way for us to tell our story? Join us for this interactive discussion as we use the game of Snakes & Ladders as an analogy to map the evolution of our quality assurance processes, identify opportunities and challenges with various assessment methods, and strive to build a culture of institutional assessment.

time iconJanuary 31, 2025 08:15 am to
09:00 am

PRIDE Versus Prejudice: Building Bridges, Creating Safe Spaces, and Connecting Rural Libraries and 2SLGBTQQIA+ Communities

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Elgin Pecjak
Meaford Public Library

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Lynne Fascinato
Meaford Public Library

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Ashley Trusler
Meaford Public Library

Canada continues to see a rise in 2SLGBTQQIA+ hate, causing libraries to become critical spaces for education and solidarity. In this session, libraries will learn about the dynamic and diverse ways they can build bridges with their 2SLGBTQQIA+ community. Using three examples of collection development, resource sharing, and program building, this session will demonstrate how to create and maintain 2SLGBTQQIA+ inclusion in your rural library. This session will provide space for active dialogue, problem solving, and discussion regarding how to ensure your rural library provides a safe space for 2SLGBTQQIA+ individuals and their families. This session seeks to provide lived experience, insider library strategy, and community collaboration to show how your library can be rainbow ready
time iconJanuary 31, 2025 08:15 am to
09:00 am

Neurodiversity on the Bridge: The Spectrum of Performance and Hidden Capacities

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Morgan Irvine
Greater Sudbury Public Library

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Endie Commanda
Greater Sudbury Public Library

Neurodiverse communities have long been forming, and are now having a moment of being seen. But there's always been a gap between policies, and neurodiverse peoples - how can libraries bridge that gap in a way that lasts? Morgan and Endie are sometimes a handful, but their neurodiversity also detects what others might miss. What accommodations help with the difficulties Endie and Morgan face? How does having front-facing staff with Autism and ADHD affect your library, and what can they do to affect the culture and perception of these so-called disabilities? Join Morgan and Endie as they share how to find those bridges, what keeps them closed, and how to open the path to a connected and fulfilling library for all.
time iconJanuary 31, 2025 08:15 am to
09:00 am

Building Bridges to Special Collections with Podcasts and Digital Media

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Carla Marano
Windsor Public Library

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Mary-Lou Gelissen
Windsor Public Library

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Erica McKenzie
Windsor Public Library

As libraries and technology continue to merge in creative and innovative ways, what shouldn’t be lost are the pen and paper stories of our past. Local history branches and community archives are treasure troves of historical gems, but many still feel restricted or inaccessible in the name of preservation. Our presentation will discuss the efforts being made through the Windsor Public Library’s Digital Branch to bring our community’s history and historical collections to life through podcasts and visual storybooks. By way of these digital media initiatives, we aim to tell the stories that define our community while inspiring communal ownership of the collections in our libraries and archives. Attendees will learn how to create podcasts and visual storybooks with limited experience, budgets, and technology as well as the basic steps needed to create a final product, including scheduling, researching, recording, editing, and posting.
time iconJanuary 31, 2025 08:15 am to
09:00 am

We Don’t Talk about Burnout (Enough)

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Chelsea Humphries
Memorial University

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Justine jcotton@brocku.ca
Brock University

We don’t often talk about burnout, but we should. This facilitated discussion run by librarians with a combined 28 years of experience in a variety of wellness spaces will explore what burnout is, how it can present itself, and how we can best cope with and address it. (please note - College & University library audience too!)
time iconJanuary 31, 2025 08:15 am to
09:00 am

Signing (in) the Library - Lessons from DHH student engagement in the School Library

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Heather Kessler
Northern Secondary School

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Juli Mori
Northern Secondary School

Deaf and Hard of Hearing students can communicate, learn, read and enrich the Library Learning Commons when they see, hear, and feel understood. Explore ways that we can make school libraries spaces where student abilities, ways of communicating, preferences for reading, and sharing their ideas. Get to see an FM system, captioning system, and other technologies that help make our big school Library spaces more accessible. Continue the conversation with other teacher-librarians and school library technicians to collaborate on what you might do next to bring increased accessibility to your school.
time iconJanuary 31, 2025 08:15 am to
09:00 am

Thinking about Leadership as a Relationship

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Vicki Whitmell
Library Leaders Institute

This facilitated conversation will focus on how library leaders can build strong relationships with others to create libraries that encourage innovation, information sharing, trust and resilience.
time iconJanuary 31, 2025 08:15 am to
09:00 am

Abuelita, Ayeeyo, Madarbozorg: The Importance of Diasporic Grandmas in BIPOC Picture Books

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Nadia Hohn
Toronto District School Board

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Leonarda Carranza

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SilviaArgentina (SA) Arauz Cisneros
LAEN- The Latinx, Afro-Latin-America, Abya Yala Education Network

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Sahar Golshan
No organizational affiliation

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Derek Mascarenhas
University of Toronto School of Continuing Studies

Abuelita and Me, Gettings Us to Grandma’s, Granny’s Kitchen,… there are SO many books about grandmothers (and grandfathers) and the special bonds they have with their grandkids. Often they teach lessons, provide comic relief, impart wisdom, or simply remind the main character that they are loved unconditionally. Coined in her piece, “A Diasporic Grandparent Picture Book Manifesto” for Picture Books Eh!, author Sahar Golshan asks, “Is the diasporic grandparent a cliché in picture books?” The grandmother features so prominently and yet, so many children in the diaspora, children of immigrants or immigrants themselves, did not grow up with or even meet their grandparents. In this panel, we new children’s book authors who explore grandmother in all her “badass, joyously loud, diasporic” glory, moderated by a soon to be grandmother.
time iconJanuary 31, 2025 08:15 am to
09:00 am

The Switch Hitter: What Academic and Public Libraries Can Learn From Each Other

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David Luinstra
Sir Sandford Fleming College

Public and academic libraries share many common goals but also face unique challenges. In an era of specialization, we risk becoming increasingly isolated as we focus on our parochial interests and concerns. While not unique, it is unusual for professionals to "cross the aisle" and experience life on both sides of the professional spectrum. Drawing from almost a decade in each sector, this session explores what each can learn from the other to enhance services, foster collaboration, and meet the needs of diverse user groups. As a "switch hitter", I have learned valuable insights and gained a fresh perspective on the strengths and areas of improvement of each “side”, and how these lessons can be applied to address blind spots, break out of our silos, and challenging traditional mores and conventions. Join us for a dynamic conversation on how we can bridge the gap between academic and public libraries to create a stronger, more unified approach to librarianship.

time iconJanuary 31, 2025 08:15 am to
09:00 am

First Look: CSL Digital Media Literacy Toolkit

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Joseph Jeffery
Canadian School Libraries

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Jennifer Casa-Todd
Canadian School Libraries

Canadian School Libraries is in the process of building a Digital Media Literacy Toolkit to bring together resources for school library learning commons to assist them with digital media literacy. The toolkit will contain annotated lists of resources, as well as strategies for teaching, good places to start and some background on why its a perfect fit for the school library learning commons. This will also be a chance for you to offer feedback and suggestions ahead of the formal launch. Shape how the toolkit will look - It's for you, so let's make it meet your needs.
time iconJanuary 31, 2025 08:15 am to
09:00 am

Interlacing Stories, Building Connections

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Maryse Laflamme
Library and Archives Canada

The Director General of Outreach and Engagement at Library and Archives Canada (LAC) builds strategic relationships with target audiences through user-centered programs, partnerships, community engagement, and Indigenous initiatives, aiming to share diverse stories, promote Canadian heritage, and support reconciliation. The conversation will highlight members who collaborate with the three divisions: the Indigenous Initiatives Division, which fosters ongoing dialogue with Indigenous communities and coordinates projects like We Are Here: Here Are Our Stories and Listen to Hear Our Voices; the Programs Division, which designs public programs such as exhibitions, national reading promotions, and online content to reach diverse audiences; and the Partnerships and Community Engagement Division, which facilitates forums for knowledge exchange and manages partnerships to engage the community. You’ll no doubt learn more about how LAC foster connections with new and existing audiences.
time iconJanuary 31, 2025 08:15 am to
09:00 am

More than “Creoles and pidgins, Other”: Reaching beyond MARC to surface Indigenous-language content for our users

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Juliya Borie
University of Toronto Libraries

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Susan Bond
University of Toronto

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Kaelen Bennett
University of Toronto

Within the University of Toronto Libraries, Indigenous Metadata Working Group is dedicated to improving access to materials related to Indigenous Peoples and knowledges in our collections. Our current project addresses a critical gap identified in an assessment of CRKN member libraries' holdings in Indigenous languages: the lack of MARC language codes for all Indigenous languages spoken in Canada. While the MARC code list for languages, based on International Organization for Standardization (ISO) 639-2 standard, groups many Indigenous languages by continent, we are implementing the PCC-approved ISO 639-3 codes to enhance our bibliographic description. This initiative not only improves the granularity of our metadata but also facilitates users' ability to search for materials in Indigenous languages with greater precision. By sharing our experiences and fostering dialogue, we hope to contribute to the necessary deep work of decolonizing descriptive practices and improving access to Indigenous knowledge resources.
time iconJanuary 31, 2025 08:15 am to
09:00 am

Makerspace Meet Up

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Jennie Hamilton
Hamilton Public Library

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Kat Drennan-Scace
Hamilton Public Library

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Vanessa Marion-Merritt
Hamilton Public Library

Engage in conversation with other library workers in Makerspaces. Whether you just launched your Makerspace or have been making in your community for a while, we want to hear from you! This is an opportunity to connect with makers across the country and develop a network of library workers you can call on. Draw advice from other experts in the field and walk away with ideas for new programs, best practices and outreach strategies.
time iconJanuary 31, 2025 09:15 am to
10:30 am

The State of Reference Service in Ontario's Academic Libraries

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Amy Weir
Manager, Learning Services

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Caleb Domsy
Humber Polytechnic

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Vanessa Colaiacovo
Humber College Libraries

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Dorcas Adjei
University of Guelph-Humber, Library Services

In 2023, a dedicated team of 13 librarians and technicians from the Humber and University of Guelph-Humber Library embarked on an ambitious project to assess the state of reference services across Ontario’s academic libraries. Our goal was to compare our own data and experiences with findings from existing literature, a survey of over 20 Ontario academic libraries, and 14 in-depth interviews with heads of reference departments across the province. Join us for an interactive and engaging presentation where we will share our comprehensive results. This session will not only delve into the current state of reference services but also provide insights into the methodology and challenges of conducting a research project of this magnitude. Attendees will gain valuable knowledge on how to initiate and manage large-scale research projects within their own institutions.
time iconJanuary 31, 2025 09:15 am to
10:30 am

But How Are You Really? Early Findings from the OPLA Psychological Safety Survey

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Shaun McDonough
Richmond Hill Public Library

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Tirthesh Jani
Barrie Public Library

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Dakota Smith
London Public Library

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Alison Clarke
Brampton Library

The Ontario Public Library Association’s Research & Evaluation Committee sent out a survey in 2024 designed to analyze the library community's feelings of psychological safety at work. We’ll be sharing early findings from the survey, which includes such topics as chronic stressors for staff, workload management, leadership expectations, career development, and psychological safety & support at work. We’ll explore any differences between results from libraries serving smaller or larger populations. Join us for a peek at how the post-pandemic work climate is treating the library world—and no, “fine” isn’t the answer we’re expecting!
time iconJanuary 31, 2025 09:15 am to
10:30 am

From Vision to Launch: A DiscoverySpace for Children and the Lessons We Learned Along the Way

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Emma Burkholder
Community & Programming Librarian

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Tammy Csajaghy
Burlington Public Library

Learn how Burlington Public Library transformed one of its program rooms into The DiscoverySpace, a STEAM-based self-directed learning space where children can explore and create with loose parts, new tech, and building resources. In this session, we'll share how we turned our vision into reality - complete with a few bumps along the way and lessons learned, including the need to be flexible when vision and reality don't perfectly align! No room in your branch for a DiscoverySpace? Find out how you can scale the DiscoverySpace plan to work at your location.
time iconJanuary 31, 2025 09:15 am to
10:30 am

Outreach Programming: The Bridge to Everywhere

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Trish MacGregor
Stratford Public Library

If you had to choose one kind of program: programs at your library or outreach programs in community, which would you choose? It's a big question to consider! Discover how outreach programs break down barriers in community, creating inclusive, welcoming spaces for everyone. Learn how outreach programs build bridges for literacy and learning in unexpected places, rural communities and even for people who might claim "I don't do libraries." Explore new, exciting ideas that will reach out beyond traditional library walls and into the corners of community that would benefit from library programming the most. Imagine bridges in your own community that could create pathways that lead back to your library, connecting community and the building blocks of lifelong literacy, learning and fun.
time iconJanuary 31, 2025 09:15 am to
10:30 am

Building Workplace Bridges: A Holding Space for IBPOC Library Staff

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Allyson Aritcheta
Toronto Public Library

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Victoria Yang
Toronto Public Library

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Jamila Hastick
Carleton University MacOdrum Library

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Virgilio Medina
Aurora Public Library

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Jennie Hamilton
Hamilton Public Library

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Charmaine De Castro
OLA Cultural Diversity and Inclusion Committee

The OLA Cultural Diversity and Inclusion Committee invites IBPOC (Indigenous, Black, and People of Colour) library workers to join our discussion on building and strengthening bridges with leaders in the library workplace. This roundtable-style open discussion will engage with themes such as: (1) Professional development and (2) Workplace initiatives. Through shared experiences, participants will build on their understanding of confident discourse with library leadership. Key takeaways will include strategies for initiating difficult conversations, learning how to advocate for oneself, and identifying resources on effective workplace communication.
time iconJanuary 31, 2025 09:15 am to
10:30 am

School Libraries Spotlight: The Love Lettering Project: Making a Place for Placemaking

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Lindsay Zier-Vogel
Author, Grant Writer, Arts Educator

Author, community-based educator, and creator of the internationally-acclaimed Love Lettering Project, Lindsay Zier-Vogel will share her experience using placemaking and community-building practices in libraries and classrooms across the country. Using her debut picture book, Dear Street, as the basis for engagement, Lindsay will explore the transformative power of writing letters to things we love about where we live, and how this practice can empower students, caregivers, librarians and educators. By reflecting on what works in our communities, we can celebrate and protect the spaces we share, and engage more deeply with our surroundings.

time iconJanuary 31, 2025 09:15 am to
10:30 am

Mind the (Data) Gap! Building Stronger Connections Between Library Workers with Data Disaggregation

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Autumn Piette
Seneca Polytechnic

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Fiona Inglis
Wilfrid Laurier University

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Joanna Blair
Wilfrid Laurier University

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Stephanie Lindsay
CAMH Library

The existence of the gender data gap is well-established, but in library research we have a less well documented “library workers data gap”. This gap is the result of research that does not differentiate between different employee groups when reporting results. This lack of data disaggregation has led to the voices and experiences of many library workers, especially library technicians, associates, and clerks, being lost. These voices are essential if we want to understand our workplaces and make the kinds of changes that improve them for everyone. Based on our recent scoping review about remote work in libraries, this session will provide examples of how library research is currently reported and suggest concrete actions that will ensure that all library workers' voices are heard. We will also guide a discussion on the impact that this has in libraries and what we can do to effect positive change in our workplaces.
time iconJanuary 31, 2025 09:15 am to
10:30 am

Copyright Update

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David Fewer
University of Ottawa

In 2024, Canadian copyright law has seen notable developments in case law and policy. Courts have addressed key copyright concepts such as authorization, the overlap between fair dealing and the protection of digital locks, and the scope of moral rights.  On the policy front, the government is consulting on reforms to the Copyright Act to address new challenges from artificial intelligence. Key issues include text and data mining, infringement in outputs, and the ownership of AI-generated works, with stakeholder positions polarized between fostering innovation and protecting authors' rights.

time iconJanuary 31, 2025 09:15 am to
10:30 am

Health Libraries Spotlight: 4 Good Ideas on Self and Community Care for Library Workers

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Farzana Doctor
Author & Psychotherapist

Library work can be both rewarding and overwhelming. Burnout and vicarious trauma are common. Much of the problem is systemic – underfunding, oppression, global crises. So what can we do to sustain ourselves while doing this valuable work? In this Health Library Spotlight, activist, social worker, and author Farzana Doctor will present practical ideas on how to rethink and reduce burnout, and bring more self and community care into our lives. There will be time for Q&A and book signing.

time iconJanuary 31, 2025 09:15 am to
10:30 am

Surviving a Cyberattack: A Test in Resiliency and Dedication to Public Service | Part One - Behind the Scenes

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Paul Takala
Hamilton Public Library

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Vickery Bowles
Toronto Public Library

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Linda Hazzan
Toronto Public Library

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Jon MacDonald
London Public Library

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Ellen Hobin
London Public Library

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Dijia Qin
Hamilton Public Library

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Michael Ciccone
London Public Library

In the past year, a number of library systems have fallen victim to cyberattacks, including three large urban library systems in Ontario - Toronto, London and Hamilton. These attacks severely impeded each system’s ability to deliver library services for months. Staff from these systems will discuss the attacks, the incredible work their staffs did in quickly adjusting to their new realities and continue to provide services The session will be offered in two parts.

Part One will focus on the behind-the-scenes work at the point of the attack and in addressing the ongoing aftermath, focusing on initial response by administrators, IT staff actions, and the importance of a coordinated internal and external communication plan.

time iconJanuary 31, 2025 09:15 am to
10:30 am

OCULA Lightning Strikes

OCULA Lightning Strikes Talks are presentations prepared by students with an interest in academic libraries who are either currently enrolled in a Master's program in library/information studies or library technician program at an Ontario university or college. 

time iconJanuary 31, 2025 09:15 am to
10:30 am

Enhancing Digital Access and Rights through Collaboration: Digitizing IN the Stacks at Vancouver Public Library

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Loren Fantin
Internet Archive Canada

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Inness Campbell
Vancouver Public Library

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Andrea Mills
Internet Archive Canada

Last year, a new partnership between Vancouver Public Library (VPL) and Internet Archive Canada (IAC) launched an initiative to digitize rare and historical books from VPL's non-circulating collection. This project included the installation of a Scribe machine - specialized digitization equipment developed by Internet Archive - the public 3rd floor of VPL's central branch. This collaboration not only enhances access to unique materials centered on the history of British Columbia and the Pacific Northwest but also contributes to the broader movement for digital rights for libraries. The initiative reflects core library functions: preserving knowledge and culture while providing open access to information. In this session, we will explore the various stages of the project - from obtaining Board approval to clearing access rights - and how libraries can play a crucial role in ensuring equitable participation in the digital era.

time iconJanuary 31, 2025 09:15 am to
10:30 am

The Relationship Bridge: Trust and Connection in a Changing, Challenging Workplace

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Beth Côté
Saskatoon Public Library

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Amanda Lepage
Saskatoon Public Library

We all rely on strong, supportive professional relationships to provide the network we need to successfully achieve goals in our workplace. What happens, though, when suddenly peers become direct reports, or a colleague becomes your manager? How do changes in roles, positions, and reporting impact our professional relationship, teams, partnerships, and our ability to work toward shared goals? In their time working together, Beth and Amanda have navigated countless changes in working relationships, with others and with each other. Through storytelling, sharing resources, and group activity, two Saskatoon Public Library leaders will share what they learned through their experiences to illustrate the importance of proactive relationship building in the workplace, and inspire you to explore how your everyday interactions with peers, reports, and leaders at your library can strengthen your relationships, and prepare you for overcoming adversity, obstacles, and change.
time iconJanuary 31, 2025 09:15 am to
10:30 am

Hitting Your limit: Trauma and Library Workers

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Mark Reinelt
Okanagan Regional Library

Frontline library work has changed, and incidents in libraries are growing. Has our capacity to plan, deal with incidents, and help team members involved with incidents kept up with the changes? Using years of frontline experience dealing with incidents of evolving complexity and working in consultation with social workers, learn how the Okanagan Regional Library supports its frontline team members. This interactive session will help you assess your current incident plans, create strategies to work through traumatic incidents, and provide tools to help your team after incidents have occurred. Trigger warning: this talk will involve topics of assault, suicide, and toxic drug poisoning. The facilitator is not a social worker but has created this talk in consultation with mental health professionals.
time iconJanuary 31, 2025 09:15 am to
10:30 am

Connecting the Dots with Data: Creating a Data Strategy When You Aren’t a Data Scientist

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Samidha Kalia
Whitby Public Library

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Jaclyn Derlatka
Whitby Public Library

Public libraries are known for collecting data. We know the number of users we have, the number of times they walk through our doors, the number of items they check out and how many programs they attend. But do you have guidelines in place for using that data intentionally and making decisions with it? Good news! You don’t need to be a data scientist to get started with a data strategy. You’ve got the data; all you need is a plan. A data strategy will help you consider data management, data quality and analytics, which will help you measure performance, enhance policy and decision-making, and improve your library’s outcomes. But the most important thing to remember is: a data strategy is always a work in progress.
time iconJanuary 31, 2025 09:15 am to
10:30 am

Trauma-Informed Change Management: Building a Culture of Care While Diving into the Unknown

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Preethi Gorecki
MacEwan University

Libraries are constantly evolving and changing, which can trigger stress responses for patrons and library workers. Trauma-informed change management is a powerful strategy that reduces harm and fosters feelings of safety in the face of change. This session offers concrete examples of and strategies for effective, high-empathy change management from the research and experience of a seasoned project coordinator who has led through everything from a major library renovation project to a library services platform migration. You will leave this session feeling confident in your ability to lead your library, department, or team through any change that comes your way while ensuring everyone feels respected, safe, and informed.
time iconJanuary 31, 2025 09:15 am to
10:30 am

Success Within Reach: Addressing Barriers to Employment in Tech with Toronto Public Library's IT Essentials Program

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Nalini Battu
Toronto Public Library

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Nan Davies
Toronto Public Library

Canada is a major player in the international tech sector, but finding IT jobs is harder than ever, especially for those from marginalized communities and disadvantaged socioeconomic backgrounds. Since 2021, Toronto Public Library’s IT Essentials project has addressed barriers experienced by low-income newcomers looking for careers in tech. Using Cisco Networking Academy’s online course materials, TPL librarians guided over 100 learners through an 8-month curriculum while providing wraparound supports to help them meet their goals, plus funding to complete the industry-standard CompTIA A+ certification exam. Learn how this project unfolded and how TPL helped bridge gaps in workforce development and certification opportunities for marginalized Torontonians, and how we continue to collaborate with partners in the nonprofit and corporate sectors to foster a more diverse and accessible IT industry for everyone.
time iconJanuary 31, 2025 09:15 am to
10:30 am

Wrangling the Beast: How We Turned Intensive Annual Outreach Into a Creativity and Camaraderie Boon

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Kate Gibbings
Ontario Tech University and Durham College

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Lydia Thorne
Ontario Tech University and Durham College

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Nadya Lim-Douglas
Ontario Tech University and Durham College

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Kaelan Caspary
Ontario Tech University and Durham College

Using a retrospective look at our academic library’s Science Literacy Week programming from 2019 to present as our focal point, this session will discuss working collaboratively, across teams of librarians and library technicians, to execute an intensive week-long annual outreach event. We have experimented with active and passive programming ideas and external partnerships, engaging college and university populations simultaneously. In this session we will share the programming criteria and strategies we have refined. We will discuss challenges that can also serve as opportunities, such as staff capacity issues leading to improved inter-team collaboration. In this workshop, participants will analyze case study examples and brainstorm strategies to use at their own libraries to navigate common pitfalls and implement successful outreach programs. Finally, the discussion will open up questions about how we, in our workplaces, strategically impart knowledge to build bridges between different teams and library staff with varying levels of experience.

time iconJanuary 31, 2025 09:15 am to
10:30 am

Drag Story Time: A Case Study in Crisis Communication

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Michal Utko
Okanagan Regional Library

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Danielle Hubbard
Okanagan Regional Library

Drag Story Time is used as a case study to frame this discussion, as we at the Okanagan Regional Library have weathered several highly contentious Drag Story Time events, and have therefore honed our communication framework. The session begins with a discussion about what constitutes a "crisis event" at a library, and what attitudes and realities come into play. A wide variety of events - eg. controversial programs, natural disasters, security incidents, scandals, and unpopular policy announcements - can all necessitate crisis communication. We will provide a summary of the communication tactics we found most effective. This session is not about the moral or philosophical merit of Drag Story Time or any other specific program. Rather, it is a practical session about how best to lead your library system through times of public criticism.
time iconJanuary 31, 2025 10:45 am to
12:00 pm

Digital Media Literacy Skills in the Age of AI

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Kim Davidson
Toronto District School Board

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Ken Boyd
CIVIX

New AI-powered tools have the potential to have a positive impact on students’ learning. At the same time, their ability to make mistakes, produce false and misleading information, and produce artificial content that is indistinguishable from reality has made the problem of finding reliable and trustworthy information online even more difficult. In this session, participants will learn empirically-based digital media literacy strategies that can be used to effectively evaluate any kind of information online, with a focus on content created by AI. Participants will use AI tools to experience how they can produce false, misleading, and biased content, and practice using lateral reading skills to determine whether text, photos, and videos were created by people or by AI. These resources are a new addition to the CTRL-F: Digital Media Literacy programming from CIVIX. All resources are free for educators, and available in both English and French.
time iconJanuary 31, 2025 10:45 am to
12:00 pm

Makers Gonna Make: Libraries and IT Building Makerspaces

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Daniel Schueler
City of Mississauga

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Haider Rizvi
Mississauga Library

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Alex MacCutchan
Toronto Public Library

Makerspaces are becoming an integral part of library services and positioning it as a hub for innovation and creativity is key to bridging diverse community needs. This session offers practical insights on designing inclusive spaces, managing a financial blueprint, and collaborating with IT for smooth technical integration. Attendees will gain a roadmap for creating a makerspace of different sizes and budgets and how to anticipate and overcome obstacles. Whether you're just starting out or enhancing an existing space, you'll leave this session with actionable strategies to build or improve a makerspace that fosters creativity, learning, and innovation in your community.
time iconJanuary 31, 2025 10:45 am to
12:00 pm

Power Plays and Public Purpose: Municipal Councils and Library Boards

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Erin Scuccimarri
Innisfil ideaLAB & Library

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Anne Smith
Board Chair

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Jason Reynar
Lerners LLP

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Lynn Dollin
Mayor

This interactive workshop will explore the complex relationship between Municipal Councils and Library Boards, examining real-world power struggles that have emerged between these two governing bodies. Featuring a dynamic panel of experts—mayor, library board chair, library CEO, and a former CAO/municipal lawyer—and case studies, our panelists will tackle key topics all board members and library leadership should understand.
time iconJanuary 31, 2025 10:45 am to
12:00 pm

Beyond Lego and Ozobots: Elevating Digital Literacy Delivery with Competitive Robotics

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Andy Fenos
iDesign 365 Ltd

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Daniel (Zhao) Yu
Caution Tape Robotics

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Tommy Sunthorn
Vaughan Public Libraries

Did you know during a robotics competition, teams are judged on their presentation skills, note keeping, and their community involvement? These programs deliver on so many core values that the library represents and yet robotics programs at libraries have usuallly just been about trying out a gadget and basic coding. By creating a program based on these competitions, we can achieve so much more. Vaughan Public Libraries, with support of the CanSTEAM Foudation (hosts of the Vex robotics Canadian championships), and Canadian distributor of Vex robotics, iDesign 365 have developed a 4-week robotics workshop based on the fundamentals a new robotics team would need to learn to compete. Come see how a partnership between these three organizations has taken VPL’s digital literacy delivery to the next level, inspired their staff, reached hundreds of young engineers in Vaughan and filled a community need.
time iconJanuary 31, 2025 10:45 am to
12:00 pm

From Confusion to Clarity: The Plain Language Revolution

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Kaitlyn Vecchio

In today’s fast-paced world, clear communication is more critical than ever. Yet, jargon, convoluted language, and complex explanations often create barriers to understanding. Join us for From Confusion to Clarity: The Plain Language Revolution, where we’ll explore how plain language can transform your communication strategies and make your messages resonate with any audience. In this interactive session, you will: Uncover the Principles of Plain Language: Discover the fundamental concepts behind plain language and why simplicity is key to effective communication. Learn Practical Techniques: Gain hands-on experience with tools and techniques to simplify your writing, from sentence structure to word choice. Explore the Impact of Clear Communication: Understand how plain language not only enhances comprehension but also builds trust and improves engagement with your audience.
time iconJanuary 31, 2025 10:45 am to
12:00 pm

Revisiting Racial Capital: EDI Plans, the Diversity Model, and the Shortcomings of Canadian Academic Libraries

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Tina Liu
McGill University

As academic institutions in Canada continue to grapple with untangling their colonial legacies, the processes in place today to combat lingering systemic inequities continue to rely on extractive physical and emotional labour practices. One place where academic libraries communicate their initiatives and attitudes regarding these systemic inequities is through an EDI (equity, diversity, and inclusion) plan. This presentation will discuss the results of a qualitative analysis of commons themes found in the EDI plans of Canadian academic libraries. Additionally, I will share approaches to incorporating tenets of EDI and social justice into one’s work within the academic library without tokenizing racialized and marginalized identities.
time iconJanuary 31, 2025 10:45 am to
12:00 pm

Virtual Healthcare 101: Building Partnerships between Rural and Urban Libraries with Local Healthcare Systems

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Gabriele Davey
London Health Sciences Centre & St. Joseph’s Health Care, London

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Lisa Manax-Skikos
London Public Library

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Dakota Smith
London Public Library

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Kate Kingswell
London Health Sciences Centre & St Joseph’s Health Care, London

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Aimee Sparzynski
Middlesex County Library

In recent years, access to virtual health care has expanded across Canada in order to improve access to care, reduce costs, promote caregiver inclusion and enhance the overall patient experience. Virtual care offers many benefits but barriers such as lack of awareness, stable Wi-Fi, device access, and digital literacy prevent many from benefiting. Public libraries, as trusted community spaces, can help bridge this gap by facilitating connection for equity-deserving populations to virtual health care information and supports, ultimately narrowing the digital divide. Libraries often provide free Wi-Fi, computers, tech tutoring, and bookable spaces, making them ideal partners for health care systems in both urban and rural areas. Join us to explore the Virtual Health Care 101 project and the value of partnering with local health care providers from both the urban and rural library perspective. Participants will gain actionable insights into building effective community partnerships, opportunities for programming, promotional strategies, and utilizing evaluation tools.
time iconJanuary 31, 2025 10:45 am to
10:45 am

Indigenous Spotlight

time iconJanuary 31, 2025 10:45 am to
12:00 pm

Surviving a Cyberattack: A Test in Resiliency and Dedication to Public Service | Part Two – Public Service

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Carmen Ho
Toronto Public Library

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Jennifer Gal
Hamilton Public Library

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Sarah Kasprzak
London Public Library

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Meghan Tinmouth
Hamilton Public Library

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Chelsie Abraham
London Public Library

In the past year, a number of library systems have fallen victim to cyberattacks, including three large urban library systems in Ontario - Toronto, London and Hamilton. These attacks severely impeded each system’s ability to deliver library services for months. Staff from these systems will discuss the attacks, the incredible work their staffs did in quickly adjusting to their new realities and continue to provide services The session will be offered in two parts.

Part Two focuses on ensuring library users could continue to access physical and digital services by devising business continuity plans to enable the continuation of service to its members. At this session, each system will present their respective approaches, share what strategies they would recommend, and what they would do differently, including initial priorities and consideration, maintaining open doors, borrowing services and other vital services.

time iconJanuary 31, 2025 10:45 am to
12:00 pm

Save Our School Libraries Campaign Update

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Rob Elliott
Counsel Public Affairs

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Devan Sommerville
Counsel Public Affairs

Come hear from OLA's government relations specialists, Devan Sommerville & Rob Elliott from Counsel of Public Affairs, together with 2024 & 2025 Ontario School Library Association President, Wendy Burch Jones as they provide a comprehensive update on the Save Our School Libraries Campaign. Learn about our advocacy efforts on your behalf, how our petition is gaining public support, the latest news from the new Minister of Education's office, and how our school library media coverage is turning heads. Come and listen to the latest news, voice your concerns, and ask your questions about what's next. 

time iconJanuary 31, 2025 10:45 am to
12:00 pm

Academic Shop Talks: Library Alliances and Digital Frontiers

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Madeleine Bognar
OCAD Univeristy

From public/academic library collaborations to AI, from JSTOR to storytime, this fast-paced session of academic-focused lightning talks will invigorate, rejuvenate, and surprise!

  • 1. Academic Libraries + Public Libraries = BFF
  • 2. From Books to Bots: Bridging Knowledge Gaps with AI Workshops
  • 3. Managing Digital Collections Using JSTOR Forum - Bridging the Gap Between Library, Archive and Special Collections Materials and the User
  • 4. Not Just for Kids: Drag Queen Story Time for Grown-Ups
time iconJanuary 31, 2025 10:45 am to
12:00 pm

Cultivating a Safe and Welcoming Library Space: Addressing Incidents with Hamilton Public Library's Step System

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Chad Roglich
Hamilton Public Library

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Sarah Gauthier
Hamilton Public Library

In recent years, public libraries have faced increasing challenges as societal issues have made these spaces more vulnerable to incidents. Libraries are witnessing serious situations, including opioid overdoses, violence, and verbal intimidation, which can undermine the sense of equity within these public spaces. In response, Hamilton Public Library developed a three-part “Step System” to manage and address incidents. This system aims to create a proactive presence on the floor while ensuring continuous communication between staff, management, and Senior Leadership about the ongoing activities at the Central Branch. Learn how to design a similar system for your library and discover the key lessons Hamilton Public Library learned during its first winter implementing this strategy.

time iconJanuary 31, 2025 10:45 am to
12:00 pm

Bridging Your Way: An Insider's Guide to Landing a Federal Government Job

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Amanda Robinson
Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, Government of Canada

Navigating the federal government hiring process can be a daunting experience. Understanding how it all comes together is crucial for anyone pursuing a career in the public sector. Join the Manager of the Canadian Agriculture Library for a detailed look at the federal government hiring landscape! Whether you’re new to the field, looking for a change, or simply curious about working for the feds, this session has something for everyone. We’ll review real government job postings, break down the application process, and discuss techniques to prepare for an interview. You’ll also learn what it’s like to work for Canada’s largest employer. We’ll finish things off with a group discussion: come prepared to share your own interview tips and best practices! Applicable at any career stage, from students to seasoned library professionals, this session will equip you with the knowledge to confidently approach and succeed in government hiring processes.
time iconJanuary 31, 2025 10:45 am to
12:00 pm

Migration: Transforming IT Infrastructure and Empowering Your Team

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Jaclyn Tyson
Caledon Public Library

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Darrel Sultana
Caledon Public Library

Facing a digital dilemma: a sluggish, often unresponsive physical file server and, a lackluster intranet site with limited functionality, the Caledon Public Library embarked upon a transformative technology and engagement journey. CPL’s IT and Communications teams were juggling multiple on-premises servers and wrestling with storage limitations on hosted web servers. It was clear that a significant tech overhaul was needed, but a fundamental question remained on how to involve and rally staff to accept and adopt a complex and disruptive technological change? The answer was simple but powerful: involve everyone. By actively seeking input from all staff members and using creative marketing strategies to build excitement, the library transformed these challenges into opportunities. What could have been a daunting process became an engaging and collaborative journey, resulting in a successful upgrade that everyone embraced—and have actively utilized to improve productivity and collaboration.

time iconJanuary 31, 2025 10:45 am to
12:00 pm

Advocating for Your Special Librarian Role

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Natasha Kwiatkowski
ArcelorMittal

This session pertains specifically to information professionals working in special and nontraditional libraries. How do you advocate for your role? How do you demonstrate your importance to management when the results are intangible?
time iconJanuary 31, 2025 10:45 am to
12:00 pm

Harnessing Artificial Intelligence for Academic Libraries: A Collaborative Strategy to Enhance and Build Capacity

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Amy Greenberg
Ontario Council of University Libraries (OCUL)

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Catherine Steeves
Ontario Council of University Libraries (OCUL)

This session explores the Ontario Council of University Libraries’ (OCUL) artificial intelligence and machine learning (AIML) strategy. We will examine the collaborative plan to enhance knowledge, skills, and expertise across the community while experimenting with and implementing AI in library use cases. Recognizing both the potential and ethical concerns of AI, OCUL’s program is built on principles aligned with those emerging across the profession. Join us to learn about the OCUL AIML Program and engage in dialogue with other participants about human capacity building, the strategy's central focus. Participants will share their perspectives on the current and potential impacts of AIML on academic libraries and research, readiness on campuses and in our libraries, and the essential discussions, education, training, and professional development needed to shape the responsible use of AI technologies.
time iconJanuary 31, 2025 10:45 am to
12:00 pm

Great Expectations: Bridging the Communication Gap Through Compliance

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Fawzia Raja
Mississauga Library

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Jennifer MacDonald
City of Mississauga

It is a truth universally acknowledged that a library in possession of high performing staff must be strong in communicating expectations. In light of this, the Mississauga Library has been working alongside the Standards & Training team at the City of Mississauga to build up a transparent process for communicating expectations through Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs), and Manager Compliance Dashboards. In a time when management is required to wear multiple hats, these processes have provided solutions for on-boarding, transparency, accountability, and task management. This session will highlight the purpose and process of developing SOPs, followed by how libraries can use these documents to develop performance expectations, and standardize tracking of management tasks.
time iconJanuary 31, 2025 10:45 am to
12:00 pm

All Brains are Welcome! A Bold Strategy to Raise Awareness and Foster Belonging for Our Neurodiverse Community

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Ken Cheung
Markham Public Library

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Jenny North
Markham Public Library

While Neurodiversity is a major buzz word in the media lately, many organizations are slow to get on-board with adjusting practices and services to meet the needs of their neurodiverse community. Public Libraries can provide a critical juncture for those who are neurodiverse and their support network by facilitating connections with reputable community organizations, providing access to accurate and timely resources and most of all; by creating safe, inclusive environments for neuronormative and neurodiverse alike.
time iconJanuary 31, 2025 10:45 am to
12:00 pm

French Language-of-Cataloguing (for English-Speaking Cataloguers)

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Janice Anderson
University of Ottawa

To meet the needs of French-speaking users, the language of the metadata should also be in French. I will explain when to create an original French language-of-cataloguing record. Most of the time, a French language-of-cataloguing record already exists, but it is not always an RDA record. It is possible (and permitted) to convert AFNOR records to RDA. Starting with the Partenariat des bibliothèques universitaires du Québec’s table for Conversion AFNOR-RDA, I will explain how to convert an AFNOR record into RDA. This presentation also supports the language of cataloguing policy 2.0 of the Ontario Council of University Libraries’ Collaborative Futures initiative.
time iconJanuary 31, 2025 10:45 am to
12:00 pm

More Than Trolls

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Mary Kapusta
Calgary Public Library

The digital landscape feels more divisive than ever and can be a minefield for a brand’s reputation management. Calgary Public Library experienced intense online targeting and harassment in recent years that spurned a new approach to online community management that sought to empower and protect staff, while navigating a commitment to intellectual freedom. Join Mary Kapusta, Director of Communication and Engagement for Calgary Public Library, for tips and tools to help guide your brand through issue response and hear how protests, targeted trolling, AI bots, misinformation, and more create new challenges for libraries everywhere.
time iconJanuary 31, 2025 12:00 pm to
01:00 pm

POSTER: Small Branch, Big Dreams: A Rural Public Library Renovation on a Budget

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Vicki Stevenson
Rideau Lakes Public Library

Are you dreaming of a new build or branch renovation for your rural community but don't know where to start? In 2022, Rideau Lakes Public Library opened the South Elmsley Branch in a converted municipal office space after two years of planning, moving, fundraising, buying, and building. This poster maps out how we did it on a modest budget, drawing inspiration from local surroundings and libraries with Danish design. Come away with practical steps on how you can make the most of a small space to create an adaptable, vibrant and accessible branch for your community.
time iconJanuary 31, 2025 12:00 pm to
01:00 pm

POSTER: Bridging the Breach: Handling a Cyberattack

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Linda Zaleski
OurDigitalWorld

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Jess Posgate
OurDigitalWorld

In the past few years, many unsuspecting organizations have been hacked. Our sector is realizing its vulnerability to cyberattack and it’s scary, especially when you have a small team. This poster will illustrate how we managed our way through a forced service outage. From Detection to Impact, we’ll show how to harness a team’s technical and managerial superpowers; communicate with clients and your Board; maintain team morale; mitigate impact to the organizational reputation and service performance; and realize what you can and cannot control.
time iconJanuary 31, 2025 12:00 pm to
01:00 pm

POSTER: Library Book Bikes: Problems and Possibilities

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Daniel Clarkson Fisher
Markham Public Library

Library book bikes are a contemporary outreach development that not only increase access to library resources and services but also generate a tremendous amount of popular enthusiasm for public libraries. In fact, the number of library book bike programs in North America has been increasing, so much so that the Association of Bookmobile and Outreach Services now celebrates "Book Bike Week" every year during the first week of August. And yet, the scholarly and professional writing that has been done on them is very far from extensive. This poster presentation seeks to address this gap by providing a history and typology of library book bike programs, and drawing out insights from a fairly comprehensive literature review. It will also identify some of the problems, both obvious and subtle, with library book bike programs, as well as the as yet untapped possibilities for them in the future.

time iconJanuary 31, 2025 12:00 pm to
01:00 pm

POSTER: Connecting the Dots: Outreach Librarians on a Mission to Meet the Needs of Health Professionals

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Sadaf Ullah
Unity Health Toronto

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Talin Boghosian
Unity Health Toronto

This poster highlights the creation of two new roles in our hospital library focused on outreach and training for health disciplines and nursing groups. Through targeted outreach interventions—such as attending council meetings and nursing rounds - we’ve demonstrated measurable improvements in engagement and service delivery. Pre- and post-implementation quantitative data, including request volumes and user demographics, will be shared alongside survey results that illustrate how our services have added value to clinical and academic work. Attendees will see a clear example of how tailored library roles can deepen relationships with specific user groups and foster replicable strategies for enhancing service impact across the healthcare library sector.
time iconJanuary 31, 2025 12:00 pm to
01:00 pm

POSTER: From Chaos to Clarity: Enhancing Library Services Through Collaborative Inventory Control

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Celina De Lancey
Western Libraries

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Jacqueline Cato
Western Libraries

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Erin Bourgard
FIMS Graduate Library

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Abigail Faseruk
Western Libraries

To enhance user access and improve collection management, we conducted a comprehensive inventory of our library’s holdings. This initiative aimed to improve access, resolve migration issues from a previous library system, and ensure accurate reflection of all items in our system. The project involved multiple functional units, including user services, collections, and cataloguing. As a result, we now have a more organized, user-friendly collection that meets the needs and interests of our community, ultimately enhancing overall library services. This poster session presents the workflow, benefits, and challenges of conducting inventory control within libraries. It emphasizes the critical role of cross-functional collaboration in the success of large-scale inventory initiatives to improve collection searchability.
time iconJanuary 31, 2025 12:00 pm to
01:00 pm

POSTER: Breaking the Sanctity of The Rare Book Collection: An Experiential Learning Collaboration

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Deborah Meert-Williston
Western University

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Arielle VanderSchans
Western University

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Connie Sutherland
Western Libraries, University of Western Ontario

For many, rare books are intimidating and untouchable. The Rare Book storage rooms are often vault-like spaces where only few are allowed in. Such spaces leave young professionals wondering if they belong. A collaboration was struck between an MLIS class and Western Archives and Special Collections to invite the students into the rare book storage space as part of their class assignment. Students were welcomed, taught how to handle the books, and allowed to spend an hour in the space browsing and choosing a book to work with for the semester. This unique experience broke down the walls of imposter syndrome as students realized that they were capable of handling rare books and existing in the space. Our poster will show the logistics of creating this experiential learning opportunity, the challenges and changes made over two years of offering this, and highlight students’ feedback.
time iconJanuary 31, 2025 12:00 pm to
01:00 pm

POSTER: Bridging Print and Digital: Collaborating to Share Special Collections Online

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Joanne Paterson
Western Libraries, Western University

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Arielle VanderSchans
Western University

Explore how collaboration between library teams and digital tools can unlock the potential of special collections. Through a multimedia project featuring Western’s Milton Collection, we'll demonstrate how bridging physical archives and digital platforms makes rare materials accessible to a wider audience, creating new opportunities for research and engagement. Milton@Western was developed by the Research & Scholarly Communication team in partnership with Archives & Special Collections. This poster highlights the value of cross-team collaboration within the library and the importance of creating interactive, public-facing websites to provide access to special collections. Milton@Western connects students, researchers, and faculty to the physical collection through multimedia, while also linking the artists whose illustrations appear in different editions of Paradise Lost.
time iconJanuary 31, 2025 12:00 pm to
01:00 pm

POSTER: Cultivating Pedagogical Skills and Instructional Confidence in Library Staff

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Emily Hector
McMaster University Library

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Anna Flak
McMaster University Library

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Katie Harding
McMaster University Library

At McMaster University Library (MUL), many staff members hold teaching responsibilities across a wide variety of topic areas, including information literacy, research data management, media production and coding skills, among many others. However, despite teaching frequently, many of these team members have not received robust pedagogical training and voiced a desire to improve their skills through teaching-related professional development. To offer additional support to library staff, three of McMaster’s Teaching and Learning Librarians designed and delivered a full-day workshop to colleagues called “MUL Teaching Fundamentals,” providing actionable guidance based on real-life practice opportunities and examples. In this poster, we will share our workshop materials and describe our process of developing this learning opportunity, providing readers with a blueprint for planning similar events for library staff. We will outline the steps we took to construct a responsive, learner-centered lesson plan, including content on learning outcomes, active learning, and student assessment.
time iconJanuary 31, 2025 12:00 pm to
01:00 pm

POSTER: AI in Ontario Archives

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Scott Jones
Conestoga College/Mohawk College

Artificial Intelligence (AI) is increasingly becoming an integral part of the archival field, offering new and different ways to manage, preserve, and provide access to historical documents. In Ontario, the crossroads of AI and archives is being explored through various initiatives and frameworks aimed at employing the potential of AI while ensuring ethical use and trustworthiness.
time iconJanuary 31, 2025 12:00 pm to
01:00 pm

POSTER: Recruiting and Developing Community Talent to Create In-residence Programs and Related Programming

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Kimm Culkin
West Grey Public Library

Building programming capacity is especially challenging in areas where specialized knowledge is required and with limited budgets and staff. Community needs and interests continue to emerge and rural libraries have become even more essential as sources of adult learning, literacy and social opportunities. This session describes an approach that uses community experts as resources to build programming capacity and identify programming needs in their fields, and the expertise of these talented individuals to lead programming into new and valuable directions. They keep knowledge current and topics fresh.
time iconJanuary 31, 2025 12:00 pm to
01:00 pm

POSTER: Prayer Spaces in Libraries

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Lynne Serviss
McMaster Libraries

This poster presents a case study of addressing a genuine space need on our campus. It explores how libraries can adapt to changing student needs through open dialogue and collaboration. Libraries are students' home away from home and should intentionally create welcoming spaces and services that cultivate a strong sense of belonging. We aim to build community by developing multi-modal engagement opportunities. By understanding and responding to how students use library spaces, we can organically create meaningful experiences. This poster will share strategies and insights for transforming libraries into inclusive spaces that truly serve students' evolving needs.
time iconJanuary 31, 2025 12:00 pm to
01:00 pm

POSTER: Librarians, Provincial Prisons, and the Right to Read: A Call to Action

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Susan Munn

This is a call to action for librarians across Canada to build a bridge between our communities and incarcerated people to protect the right to read through advocacy, awareness, and on-the-ground programs and services. Incarcerated people have a fundamental right to read but Canada falls short on providing library services to incarcerated people, particularly in provincial and territorial correctional facilities despite the high numbers of people detained in those facilities awaiting trial or serving shorter sentences. There is very little available information about library programs and services in those facilities and even less information about what can be done to strengthen information access and protect intellectual freedom of those who are incarcerated. We can work together to understand the law, strategize around protecting fundamental rights of incarcerated people, and learn from the librarians doing vital work across the country.
time iconJanuary 31, 2025 12:00 pm to
01:00 pm

POSTER: It's a Nat. 20!

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Grace Hook
Hamilton Public Library

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Meaghan Nichols
Hamilton Public Library

Teens can be apprehensive about joining library programs; it can be challenging to fill seats. Through a popular role-playing game library staff were able to launch a multi-branch program that brought storytelling, strategy, and fun to Hamilton teens. This poster will explore the challenges and successes staff navigated during initial planning, staff training and launching of Dungeons & Dragons for Teens.
time iconJanuary 31, 2025 12:00 pm to
01:00 pm

POSTER: A Quest for Improvement: Mapping RUSA Guidelines to Library FAQ for Better Practices

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Maggie Gordon
Queen's University

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Carling Spinney
Queen's University Library

Many libraries have FAQs in some form, whether that’s a web page, a LibGuide, or a knowledgebase. The fact is, users have questions about library services and resources, and we have the answers! FAQs can serve as an excellent tool for asynchronous reference, forging connections to other services within the broader reference ecosystem in academic libraries. But how can we ensure FAQs are held to the same standards as conventional forms of reference? At Queen’s University Library, we recently conducted an overhaul of our FAQ. As part of this project, we wanted to ensure that our FAQ answers met the same standards that we would apply to other typical forms of reference (chat, in-person, email, etc.). To get a better understanding of our goals, we conducted a literature review to determine how other academic libraries were treating FAQs. While there is a fair amount written about best practices and continuous improvement – focusing on either the initial implementation or user experience – FAQs tend to be siloed from other forms of virtual reference, such as chat and email, and are not explicitly held to the same professional standards. To bridge this gap, we mapped RUSA Guidelines for Behavioral Performance of Reference and Information Service Providers (2023) to our new FAQ knowledgebase, including methods to incorporate each standard of inclusion, approachability, engagement, searching, evaluation, and closure into FAQs. Whether you’re curious to learn how you can improve an existing knowledgebase, start fresh, or a mix of the two, stop by this poster and learn more about applying these practices to your own FAQs!
time iconJanuary 31, 2025 12:00 pm to
01:00 pm

POSTER: Opening a New Urban Library: Lessons Learnt After Year One

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Isadore Auerbach George
Southwark Libraries

In 2023, Una Marson Library opened to the public for the first time in London, UK. It made national headlines for a number of reasons: as well as reversing a trend in a country where 2 out of every 5 public libraries has closed permanently in the past 10 years, Una Marson Library is the first public library in the UK to be named after a Black woman, and debatably, the first public library to be named after a woman at all. After a year of managing daily operations, Isadore will present a dynamic poster that will share lessons learnt about what is means to try and honour the legacy of a figure like Una Marson; practical tips on dealing with liability periods and snagging; how to welcome a community to a new space; and how to balance opposing interests in an area of rapid gentrification.
time iconJanuary 31, 2025 12:00 pm to
01:00 pm

POSTER: Impact of eBook Collections on Interlibrary Loan Activities of Academic Libraries: Impacting the Ability to Share

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Donald Taylor
Simon Fraser University

InterLibrary Loan, although declining, is fundamental to the sharing ethos intrinsic to libraries. Ebooks are now an increasingly common way to grow monograph collections, but ebooks are not “owned” like a physical book. How does shifting towards licensed ebooks impact the ability of academic libraries, and all libraries, to fulfill their resource sharing responsibilities? What happens when a significant amount of their monograph collections are governed by licenses constraining our ability to share? Is this equitable? This poster session will report the findings of a survey of interlibrary loan specialists and licensing specialists at academic libraries on the impact of ebooks on their interlibrary loan activities; licensing issues; correlation of ebook growth to declining interlibrary loan; and next steps for further research.
time iconJanuary 31, 2025 02:15 pm to
03:30 pm

The Proof is in the Process: Incorporating Generative AI in Student Research Projects

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Melissa Poremba
Hillfield Strathallan College

As AI technology continues to evolve rapidly, it is imperative that educators prepare students for a future where AI will be an integral part of research and learning. This session will explore how teacher librarians can work with classroom teachers to design projects that effectively incorporate generative AI tools into student research assignments. The focus will be on shifting the assessment paradigm from the traditional emphasis on the final product to the research process itself. By understanding the "why," "when," "where," and "how" of generative AI integration, educators can empower students to become critical thinkers, problem-solvers, and ethical users of technology. The session will demonstrate the use of some specific generative AI tools that can be incorporated at various points of the research workflow to help create more relevant, engaging, and future-focused learning experiences for students while developing their digital and AI literacy skills.
time iconJanuary 31, 2025 02:15 pm to
03:30 pm

Embracing Disability: Practical Advice for Accessible Library Programming

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Jessica Desormeaux
CELA

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Denise Scott
CELA

Public libraries strive to be welcoming and inclusive in all aspects of their services. Accessibility to people who have disabilities, or are Deaf, is a key element in inclusivity, but what is required to make a library program accessible? Our session will talk about how assumptions can inadvertently create barriers to accessibility. It will provide guidance to help minimize those barriers. Our discussion will cover important topics related to delivering accessible programming, including planning ahead, communication, adapting on the fly, and evaluations after it is done. We will talk about programming for adults, children and teens, and we will consider both online and in-person scenarios. Improving accessibility welcomes more people into the library. Through embracing disability, libraries will create and strengthen connections in their communities.
time iconJanuary 31, 2025 02:15 pm to
03:30 pm

Legally Leveraging AI in Public Libraries

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Erin Scuccimarri
Innisfil ideaLAB & Library

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Jason Reynar
Partner

As AI technology rapidly evolves, Ontario libraries have an opportunity to adopt forward-thinking AI policies. This session, led by a Library CEO and a municipal lawyer (and former CAO), will explore how libraries can approach AI implementation, particularly in light of Bill 194.
time iconJanuary 31, 2025 02:15 pm to
03:30 pm

Green Libraries: Climate Action Beyond the Building

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Lita Barrie
Burlington Public Library

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Heather Cunningham
University of Toronto

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Siu Hong Yu
University of Waterloo

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Michael/Michelle Rogowski
N/A

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Carolyn Pecoskie
Bibliothèque et Archives nationales du Québec (BAnQ)

The climate crisis poses an existential threat, yet librarians are finding practical ways to integrate climate action into their work. The CFLA Climate Action Committee, through Environment and Climate Change Canada funding, has developed a Climate Action literacy project. This includes a Climate Action Primer and a toolkit with program templates for libraries and library workers. Librarians are also engaging in outreach beyond the library, participating in faculty Climate Action committees, Climate Pedagogy Communities of Practice, and partnering with campus Sustainability Offices. These efforts support campus-wide climate initiatives and foster more meaningful outreach connections. Additionally, the environmental impacts of digital versus print resources are being assessed. While print collections require significant resources for manufacturing and transportation, digital collections demand substantial energy for data storage and server maintenance. Is digital truly more climate-friendly than paper? Join us to explore practical approaches to climate action through outreach, learning objects, and resource footprints.
time iconJanuary 31, 2025 02:15 pm to
03:30 pm

Harnessing Data to Bridge Communities: The Impact of Library Technology Services in Ontario

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Megan Garza
Markham Public Library

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Tommy Sunthorn
Vaughan Public Libraries

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Jordan Bulbrook
Stratford Public Library

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Kanta Kapoor
Milton Public Library

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Sepideh Mckensy
Toronto Public Library - Library Impact Ontario

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Dave Hook
Mississauga Library

Discover how Library Impact Ontario is transforming how public libraries measure and demonstrate the impact of their technology services. Powered by Toronto Public Library and generously funded by the government of Ontario, this initiative brings together libraries across the province, in a coordinated effort to use standardized measurement and customer-centric data for advocacy, accessibility, and community impact. At the core is Bridge, an innovative outcome measurement platform that provides libraries with comparative data, intuitive dashboards, and automated reports. Learn how Bridge has empowered libraries of various sizes and across geographic boundaries to make informed decisions, strengthen advocacy efforts, and build data confidence. In this session, library leaders from Markham, Mississauga, Vaughan, Stratford, and Milton Public Libraries will share how they use Bridge data to strengthen strategic planning, community engagement, and evidence-based advocacy. Discover how Ontario libraries are bridging the gap between technology access, digital literacy, and sustainable, customer-focused services, driving transformative change across the province.
time iconJanuary 31, 2025 02:15 pm to
03:30 pm

Academic Libraries Spotlight: Thinking Out Loud Together: Why Civil Discourse Matters on Campus and Beyond

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Randy Boyagoda
Writer & Professor, University of Toronto

In this session, writer and professor Randy Boyagoda, the University of Toronto’s advisor on civil discourse, considers the state and stakes for civil discourse on campus and beyond. He does so by way of situating the question of civil discourse itself — of how and why we should think out loud together, to advance knowledge, pursue truth, and contribute to the common good - in contemporary and historical terms. He brings a special focus on the mission and work of universities in relation to civil discourse, at a time when universities confront a host of other challenges to their standing and purpose. 

time iconJanuary 31, 2025 02:15 pm to
03:30 pm

Table-ronde : La lecture dans la vie des jeunes locuteurs et apprenants de langue francaise : en fait-on assez?

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Nadia Caidi
University of Toronto

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Karen Devonish-Mazzotta
TDSB and York U.

Cette session fait état d’une réflexion sur la lecture publique en français pour les jeunes en milieu minoritaire, avec les identités complexes que ces jeunes naviguent. Nous partagerons les résultats de deux ans d’étude sur les habitudes de lecture en français chez les jeunes Ontariens (de 13 à 18 ans). Nous détaillerons l'approche participative qui consiste en quatre ateliers de co-design dans le grand Toronto auxquels plus de cinquante jeunes francophones ont participé entre Septembre 2023 et Octobre 2024. Nous examinerons ce que lire (ou non) en français signifie pour ces jeunes locuteurs et apprenants, le rôle de la lecture dans leur engagement dans la diversité francophone, et comment les bibliothèques peuvent optimiser leurs services en milieu minoritaire. Cette session se veut interactive, et mettra l’accent sur les facteurs qui déterminent l'accès, la découverte et l’appropriation d’oeuvres en contexte linguistique minoritaire, et les enjeux pour les bibliothèques scolaires et publiques.

time iconJanuary 31, 2025 02:15 pm to
03:30 pm

What Are You Reading? Celebrating Our Hospital Library by Starting Conversations

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Emilia Main
University Health Network

Hospital libraries are key partners in evidence-based healthcare, yet it can be challenging to engage busy front-line staff and bring awareness to our services and resources. To promote our library’s role in a large, multi-site academic health network, our team embarked on a month-long outreach campaign for Medical Libraries Month. In this session, we'll discuss how we developed an "aggressive" communication and promotion strategy to encourage hospital staff and learners to share their resource recommendations using an online collaboration platform. We'll share our challenges and successes, and the tips and tools we learned along the way.
time iconJanuary 31, 2025 02:15 pm to
03:30 pm

Streamlining Library Access: Best Practices for a Successful Migration and User-Centric Experience

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Adam Doan
University of Guelph

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Kailey Fallis
University of Guelph

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Matt Van Ast
University of Guelph

In 2024, the University of Guelph transitioned to OpenAthens, an authentication service that provides access to the library's subscription-based content, replacing the EZproxy system. This session offers insights and best practices for institutions considering a similar migration. We will explore the motivations for this change, including the elimination of server maintenance and local configurations.  Additionally, we'll discuss the available OpenAthens authentication options and the approach we took for a login hub. The presentation will cover the project management process and the essential preparatory steps needed for a seamless integration. We will also detail the integration with platforms like Alma, SpringShare, and Ares while emphasizing our user-focused approach and the role of our link generator tool in simplifying access. Finally, we will share unexpected challenges encountered during the go-live process and the significant efficiencies gained for the Electronic Resource Management Team, particularly in reducing EZproxy related tickets.

time iconJanuary 31, 2025 02:15 pm to
03:30 pm

Empowering Your Freedom to Read: Tools for Today and Tomorrow

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Rebecca Murray
Library and Archives Canada

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Michael Nyby
W Ross Macdonald School for the Blind

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Kelly Lauzon
Airdrie Public Library

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Sharon Day
Edmonton Public Library

Looking for tools to support your library’s mission to protect intellectual freedom? Seeking to build your confidence in protecting your users’ freedom to read? Interested in contributing to future materials to support libraries across Canada? Join members of the Freedom To Read Week Campaign and the CFLA’s Intellectual Freedom Committee to review the new-and-improved CFLA Intellectual Freedom Toolkit and to actively dream up what else you need to support freedom to read in your library. This interactive session will go beyond show-and-tell to engage attendees in the exercise of on-the-spot material creation. The results of this session will be taken away and built on by members of the Freedom to Read Week Campaign and the CFLA’s Intellectual Freedom Committee.

time iconJanuary 31, 2025 02:15 pm to
03:30 pm

Imagining Communications without Social Media

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Andrea Wheeldon
Brighton Public Library

There may be many reasons to imagine a world without social media - but how would we communicate with our patrons?! The FOMO is real, but a solid communications plan can’t depend on social media. Learn about more stable ways of reaching your community, whether you continue using social media or not. Ideal for smaller libraries that lack the resources of a marketing department.
time iconJanuary 31, 2025 02:15 pm to
03:30 pm

Indigenous Children's Literature and Collection Development: Utilizing the First Nations Communities READ Program

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Nancy Cooper
Ontario Library Service

The First Nation Communities READ program has been celebrating Indigenous literature for 21 years. Chosen by a jury of First Nation Public Librarians, the selected titles in the Children’s and Young Adult/Adul categories represent the very best in Indigenous literature today. Join Nancy Cooper, First Nation Consultant at the Ontario Library Service and First Nation Communities READ coordinator for an engaging and thought-provoking collection development session for Children’s librarians and other interested professionals.

time iconJanuary 31, 2025 02:15 pm to
03:30 pm

Building Bridges Between School Libraries and Individuals with Disabilities Through Representation, Programming and Collection

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Mona Cheema
Bloorview School Authority

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Cecilia Cheung
Bloorview School Authority

In our school library learning commons spaces, TLs strive to create welcoming school hubs that foster a love of reading for all. However, how often are we considering the needs of individuals with disabilities? In this session, discover how to build inclusive and welcoming spaces for everyone - in the collection, programming, and interactions - to engage all by considering their physical, emotional, and intellectual needs. How can we proactively ensure representation in our collections that are reflective of everyone in our communities? Hear from two Bloorview School Authority teachers: a Teacher Librarian and a Multi Unit Hospital Client Classroom teacher to learn how to bring different perspectives to your LLC.
time iconJanuary 31, 2025 02:15 pm to
03:30 pm

Inclusive Tales: Augmenting Storytimes with Sensory Activities for Children and Youth of All Abilities

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Heather Kanabe
Telling Tales

Partners Telling Tales and Hamilton Public Library together with consulting Occupational Therapist will explore the adaptations tested though the Inclusive Tales Research Project aimed at developing a new model for storytime appropriate for children and youth of all ages and abilities. Strategies used to create universal design for learning are applied to the storytime experience. Responsibilities for the outlined strategies are broken down by the event organizer, presenter, and onsite support. This model helps to create a space set up for success by preparing the physical space and introducing shared norms for operating within the space. It creates entry points for a broad set of learning styles through a set of different age-appropriate sensory engagement activities. Finally, it includes training for presenters and onsite support to provide individualized care for participants. Participants are invited into a space where they can self-select their preferred engagement and benefit from the author reading.
time iconJanuary 31, 2025 02:15 pm to
03:30 pm

Readers Advisory Divas and Dudes Present Books for Building Bridges

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Evette Fisher
Readers Advisory Divas and Dudes

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Tim Gain
Readers Advisory Divas and Dudes

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Krisztina Riez
Readers Advisory Divas and Dudes

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Rosalyn Steele
Readers Advisory Divas and Dudes

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Margot Stokreef
Readers Advisory Divas and Dudes

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Janet Murie
Orca Book Publisher

Join the Readers Advisory Divas and Dudes as they present books in the spirit of bridge building, reconciliation, and justice
time iconJanuary 31, 2025 02:15 pm to
03:30 pm

Tech Help with Empathy: A Human Connection

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Ashley Prince
The Blue Mountains Public Library

This presentation explores the importance of empathy and empowerment in providing tech support to seniors. By understanding the broader challenges seniors often face, such as loneliness and isolation, library staff can offer more compassionate assistance. A hands-on, guided approach to tech support empowers seniors to learn at their own pace and fosters a sense of accomplishment. Recognizing the unique challenges seniors face when learning new technologies, library staff can create a supportive and inclusive environment by cultivating patience, kindness, and adaptability.
time iconJanuary 31, 2025 02:15 pm to
03:30 pm

Bridging Generations: Establishing a Memory Lab to Preserve Community Stories

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Nicole Adams
Oshawa Public Library

This session delivers an actionable blueprint for launching a Memory Lab, where patrons can digitize obsolete media formats like VHS, cassettes, and film. The Memory Lab is framed as a community engagement tool, fostering storytelling, oral history, and heritage preservation. Participants will leave equipped with practical strategies to replicate this successful model, transforming their libraries into vital hubs for community memory and legacy preservation.
time iconJanuary 31, 2025 02:15 pm to
03:30 pm

The Final Bridge - Retirement

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Jennifer La Chapelle
Clearview Public Library

We spend our careers focusing on exceling in our positions and planning for advancement/changes. As many of us are set to retire in the next 5 to 10 years it’s time we focus on ourselves. What are we going to do in this final chapter? Attendees will be asked to look within to discover what brings them joy and how to harness the skills they have honed in libraries into a force for personal and community growth. By considering this before we cross that final bridge we will be better prepared for all that lays ahead!
time iconJanuary 31, 2025 02:15 pm to
03:30 pm

TD Summer Reading Club: New Website and Staff Portal

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Lianne Fortin
Library and Archives Canada

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Jessica Roy
Toronto Public Library

The TD Summer Reading Club (TDSRC) team are excited to share their new website. The new staff portal modernizes processes for library registration and provides real time online participation data at a local level so libraries can evaluate the success of their program throughout the summer. Interactivity is increased for kids, allowing them to comment on each other’s posts and feel a part of a dynamic community of readers. Tracking reading is also made easier for parents and caregivers by allowing them to link their kids’ accounts through a parent account. Join us for this walk through of the new TDSRC website and features!
time iconJanuary 31, 2025 02:15 pm to
03:30 pm

Crossing the Bridge: A Strategic Planning Survival Guide

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Danielle Hubbard
Okanagan Regional Library

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Michal Utko
Okanagan Regional Library

Developing a strategic plan for your library can be a daunting prospect, but it is a valuable process for unifying your library's stakeholders - staff, public, board, community partners, and political funding bodies. A strategic plan is not only about the finished product, but is also - more importantly - about the relationship-developing opportunities along the way. The planning process can be leveraged as an opportunity for a library's leadership team to establish a symbolic fresh start for the organization, and can provide a structured platform for staff and stakeholders to constructively air their dissatisfactions and hopes for the future. This session provides a practical framework for gathering input from stakeholder groups, and for consolidating the information into a meaningful plan. Drawing from our experiences at the Okanagan Regional Library and other non-profit organizations, we will provide tips and tactics for launching and completing the strategic planning process in a timely and manageable manner.
time iconJanuary 31, 2025 03:45 pm to
05:00 pm

Friday Keynote: Bridge-Builders are the New Radicals with Carol Off

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Carol Off
Broadcaster, Journalist, Author

MTCC 105/106

We’re all aware of the toxic divisions in our society right now, stirred and amplified by politicians, Big Tech and click-baiting media. But there’s a growing movement that seeks to counter the rage-farmers and the chaos agents. These are people at the grassroots level who want to recover civil society and take back the conversation. While those at the top – seeking power and money – drive wedges between us, bridge-building shows us the path forward. 


time iconJanuary 31, 2025 06:00 pm to
08:00 pm

Treasure Mountain Canada Opening Dinner

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Leslie Weir
Library and Archives Canada

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Joseph Jeffery
Canadian School Libraries

Pre-registration is required. 

Intended for school library professionals, the eighth biennial Treasure Mountain Canada symposium (TMC8) will open with an address from Librarian and Archivist of Canada Leslie Weir. 

Treasure Mountain Canada is organized by Canadian School Libraries (CSL). TMC8 is presented in partnership with the Ontario School Library Association (OSLA) and The Association of Library Consultants and Coordinators of Ontario (TALCO). 

time iconFebruary 1, 2025 09:00 am to
05:00 pm

Treasure Mountain Canada: Foundations for School Library Learning Commons in Canada: A Framework for Success

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Joseph Jeffery
Canadian School Libraries

Pre-registration is required.

Intended for school library professionals, the eighth biennial Treasure Mountain Canada symposium (TMC8) will include table talks and papers by school library learning leaders, as well as spotlight speakers Dr. Keith Curry Lance and Dr. Dianne Oberg. Symposium participants put their heads together to inspire the future work on Canadian School Libraries. 

Treasure Mountain Canada is organized by Canadian School Libraries (CSL). TMC8 is presented in partnership with the Ontario School Library Association (OSLA) and The Association of Library Consultants and Coordinators of Ontario (TALCO). 

time iconFebruary 1, 2025 08:45 am to
09:15 am

Library Board Trustee Boot Camp: AGM and Welcome

Pre-registration required.


time iconFebruary 1, 2025 09:15 am to
10:30 am

Library Board Trustee Boot Camp Spotlight: The Curse of Leadership

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Kate Graham
Researcher & Writer

Pre-registration required.

It’s easier to follow than to lead, so why do people do it? What drives the people who step forward to lead teams, organizations, and movements? What are some of the unique and emerging challenges facing those in leadership roles in 2025? This session focuses on the evolving role of Library Board Trustees when it comes to leading bravely in undeniably challenging times. It begins with an examination of our present context: some of the social, economic, political and cultural shifts underway that influence what is expected of leaders today. The session then explores key contemporary challenges facing library boards, and what this means for the role of Trustees — including opportunities for sharing and learning from peers in the room. For those who bravely choose to step up and lead, for their library and for their community — well, this session is for you.

time iconFebruary 1, 2025 10:45 am to
12:00 pm

Library Board Trustee Boot Camp: Navigating Memorandums of Understanding

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Rebecca Hunt
Temiskaming Shores Public Library

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Tara Wong
Oakville Public Library

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Jeff Knoll
Oakville Public Library

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Kate Graham
Researcher & Writer

Pre-registration required.

Many Library Boards across the province have entered into Memorandums of Understanding with their municipality to solidify their working relationships. Some are complex in their details, while others are more broad in context.

What are some things to consider when entering into an MOU? Are you looking to change the relationship? 

This session will contain an interactive portion where you will be able to look at an example of an MOU and discuss the positives and negatives of an MOU. If your Library Board has an MOU with the municipality, bring it along!

time iconFebruary 1, 2025 12:00 pm to
01:00 pm

Library Board Trustee Boot Camp: Lunch Break

Pre-registration is required. 

Lunch will be provided to all attendees of the Library Trustee Boot Camp. Vegetarian and gluten free options will be available. If you have additional dietary restrictions please email superconference@accessola.com

time iconFebruary 1, 2025 01:00 pm to
02:15 pm

Library Board Trustee Boot Camp: Responding to Safety Issues With Your Library Board

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Matthew MacDonald
Sault Ste. Marie Public Library

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Melissa Robertson
Orillia Public Library

Pre-registration is required. 

As a Library Board, you are the employer and required to make a safe work environment for their CEO and Library Employees.

What happens when patrons arrive with complex needs and a social worker is needed? How are you as a Board supporting your staff through these complex environments? Should you conduct a risk assessment to respond to those needs?

Learn from some other library systems about how they are dealing with these social issues arriving at the front steps of their Library.

time iconFebruary 1, 2025 02:45 pm to
04:00 pm

Library Board Trustee Boot Camp: Board Self-Evaluation, Recruitment, and Succession Planning

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Jodie Delgado
Springwater Township Public Library

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Brandon Fratarcangeli
Ontario Library Service

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Kelly Bernstein
County of Brant Public Library

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Fred Gladding
County of Brant Public Library

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Adrian Graham
Springwater Public Library

Pre-registration is required. 

In the 4-year Board cycle on the Governance Hub, Board Self-Evaluation is an objective within this year.  A Board self-assessment will identify the strengths of your Library Board's Governance and identify opportunities to strengthen your Board.

This builds upon the concept of succession planning to ensure that your Board turnover isn't 100%, but there is a mixture of new board members to provide new insights and returning board members with institutional memory to maximize the contributions of your Board.

If you have identified voices or expertise that you are missing in your current board, perhaps you could organize a Board recruitment drive during the municipal election to advocate for those needs. By having a recruitment session you can give community members an idea of what a Board Members does and does not do. Highlighting the process of applying to the Library Board will ensure that you have the broadest selection of candidates to make the strongest Library Board to continue to improve what you are able to deliver for your community.

time iconJanuary 30, 2025 09:15 am to
10:30 am

Imaginative Connections: Engage your Audience with Innovative and Dynamic Story Time Tools

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Margaret LaTour
Oshawa Public Libraries

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Brittany Dunk
Oshawa Public Libraries

In celebration of this year’s theme of “Building Bridges”, we propose sharing new storytelling tools and ideas to enhance engagement and foster a deeper curiosity with reading. Libraries excel at connecting tools like apps, technology, and other non-traditional resources with storytelling so children and families can discover new ways of reading and learning that are exciting and that help to build critical early literacy skills. Our presentation will demonstrate new ways of connecting children and families with storytelling through movement, music, and story building activities while blending in resources like Novel Effect, Magna Tiles and robotics into Story Time. We believe this combination of traditional story telling with innovative technology and out of the box activities is the perfect formula for modern day Story Times.

Virtual attendees have the option to view this livestream or can take advantage of the On-Demand Content Library

time iconJanuary 30, 2025 10:45 am to
12:00 pm

Inventive Leadership: A Creative Response to Change

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M.J. D'Elia
LLEAD

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Andrea Cecchetto
Markham Public Library, Canadian Federation of Library Associations/ Fédération canadienne des associations de bibliothèques, International Federation of Library Associations, North American Division

Whenever we face significant change, most of us panic. It’s true. We feel control and certainty slip away. We fret about the additional workload. We foster concerns about our competence. We fabricate likely catastrophes. Make no mistake – change can be unsettling. But what if we could cultivate habits that help us re-establish our agency, foster resilience, and learn through these important transitions? Drawing parallels from the stories of real-world inventors, this session explores how thinking like an inventor can help us navigate change and build more adaptive library organizations. Discover how strategies like stoking curiosity, harnessing creativity, and collaborating widely will give you the confidence and courage to thrive in your changing context. Inventive leadership is the breakthrough perspective you need.

Virtual attendees have the option to view this livestream or can take advantage of the On-Demand Content Library

time iconJanuary 30, 2025 02:15 pm to
03:30 pm

Social Impact Study: An Innovative Approach to Measuring the Value of Library Services

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Laural Raine
Toronto Public Library

The value of the library reaches far beyond traditional statistical reporting measures, such as the number of visits and books circulated - it profoundly touches peoples lives. While measuring the impact of libraries on people's lives is challenging, it is increasing important in advocating for the value of libraries in our communities.  Toronto Public Library partnered with the Danish firm Seismonaut to measure this previously unquantifiable value using an innovative new methodology called the Experience Impact Compass. The Experience Impact Compass methodology combines quantitative data and qualitative stories to provide an empirical, evidence based approach that assesses impact across the four dimensions of Emotional, Social, Intellectual and Creative Impact. In this session, learn about the study results as well as how this new approach can help us collectively as a library sector to build a new language for describing the value of library services.

Virtual attendees have the option to view this livestream or can take advantage of the On-Demand Content Library

time iconJanuary 30, 2025 03:45 pm to
05:00 pm

Thursday Keynote: Jael Richardson in Conversation with Catherine Hernandez

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Jael Richardson
Festival of Literary Diversity (FOLD)

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Catherine Hernandez
Author & Screenwriter

Thursday's education program will close with a conversation between two Ontario treasures: Jael Richardson, author and Executive Director of the Festival of Literary Diversity (FOLD) will interview author and screenwriter Catherine Hernandez. Join us for a delightful and wide-ranging conversation that will give you lots to think about.

Virtual attendees have the option to view this livestream or can take advantage of the On-Demand Content Library


time iconJanuary 31, 2025 09:15 am to
10:30 am

Surviving a Cyberattack: A Test in Resiliency and Dedication to Public Service | Part One - Behind the Scenes

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Steve Till-Rogers
Toronto Public Library

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Paul Takala
Hamilton Public Library

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Dijia Qin
Hamilton Public Library

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Michael Ciccone

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Jon MacDonald
London Public Library

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Linda Hazzan
Toronto Public Library

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Vickery Bowles
Toronto Public Library

In the past year, a number of library systems have fallen victim to cyberattacks, including three large urban library systems in Ontario - Toronto, London and Hamilton. These attacks severely impeded each system’s ability to deliver library services for months. Staff from these systems will discuss the attacks, the incredible work their staffs did in quickly adjusting to their new realities and continue to provide services The session will be offered in two parts.

Part One will focus on the behind-the-scenes work at the point of the attack and in addressing the ongoing aftermath, focusing on initial response by administrators, IT staff actions, and the importance of a coordinated internal and external communication plan.

Virtual attendees have the option to view this livestream or can take advantage of the On-Demand Content Library

time iconJanuary 31, 2025 10:45 am to
12:00 pm

Surviving a Cyberattack: A Test in Resiliency and Dedication to Public Service | Part Two – Public Service

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Carmen Ho
Toronto Public Library

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Meghan Tinmouth
Hamilton Public Library

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Jennifer Gal
Hamilton Public Library

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Sarah Kasprzak
London Public Library

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Chelsie Abraham
London Public Library

In the past year, a number of library systems have fallen victim to cyberattacks, including three large urban library systems in Ontario - Toronto, London and Hamilton. These attacks severely impeded each system’s ability to deliver library services for months. Staff from these systems will discuss the attacks, the incredible work their staffs did in quickly adjusting to their new realities and continue to provide services The session will be offered in two parts.

Part Two focuses on ensuring library users could continue to access physical and digital services by devising business continuity plans to enable the continuation of service to its members. At this session, each system will present their respective approaches, share what strategies they would recommend, and what they would do differently, including initial priorities and consideration, maintaining open doors, borrowing services and other vital services.

Virtual attendees have the option to view this livestream or can take advantage of the On-Demand Content Library

time iconJanuary 31, 2025 03:45 pm to
05:00 pm

Friday Keynote: Bridge-Builders are the New Radicals with Carol Off

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Carol Off
Broadcaster, Journalist, Author

We’re all aware of the toxic divisions in our society right now, stirred and amplified by politicians, Big Tech and click-baiting media. But there’s a growing movement that seeks to counter the rage-farmers and the chaos agents. These are people at the grassroots level who want to recover civil society and take back the conversation. While those at the top – seeking power and money – drive wedges between us, bridge-building shows us the path forward. 

Virtual attendees have the option to view this livestream or can take advantage of the On-Demand Content Library

time iconJanuary 31, 2025 02:15 pm to
03:30 pm

Embracing Disability: Practical Advice for Accessible Library Programming

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Denise Scott
CELA

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Jessica Desormeaux
CELA

Public libraries strive to be welcoming and inclusive in all aspects of their services. Accessibility to people who have disabilities, or are Deaf, is a key element in inclusivity, but what is required to make a library program accessible? Our session will talk about how assumptions can inadvertently create barriers to accessibility. It will provide guidance to help minimize those barriers. Our discussion will cover important topics related to delivering accessible programming, including planning ahead, communication, adapting on the fly, and evaluations after it is done. We will talk about programming for adults, children and teens, and we will consider both online and in-person scenarios. Improving accessibility welcomes more people into the library. Through embracing disability, libraries will create and strengthen connections in their communities.

Frequently Asked Questions


Super Conference 2025 is taking place January 29 - February 1, 2025 at the Metro Toronto Convention Centre. There is also the option to purchase a virtual ticket, which contains some but not all of the same content as the in-person conference. Virtual attendees will benefit from the flexibility of an on-demand content library.
The virtual ticket includes access to a single livestream that will take place on Thursday and Friday throughout each day, a Content Library full of rich content that was pre-recorded specifically for Super Conference virtual audiences, as well as access to the virtual presence of OLA's Exhibitors and Poster Presenters.
Yes, the vFairs platform is compatible with any computer or mobile device and any browser.
The OLA Super Conference is the largest and longest-running library conference in Canada, celebrating its 30th year in 2025. The conference provides rich educational opportunities, chances to network and meet new colleagues, and aims to breathe new life into your professional practice. When you visit the in-person conference you have the opportunity to visit our book-ish shop, The Library Marketplace, and benefit from a wide variety of socials catered to your socializing style - from crafting to games night, karaoke to Bingo, over the years we've had it all. We hope that you will join us, in-person or virtually, for SC25!
All recorded and pre-recorded event materials will be on demand for six months following the conference. Please note that not all in-person conference sessions will be recorded.

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