The Annual General Meeting for the Federation of Ontario Public Libraries will take place virtually via Zoom on Friday, April 21st at 10:00am. Registration will begin at 9:30am so please log in prior to the 10:00am start time so we can record your attendance. The Draft Agenda Package can be found on the website under AGM in the member’s section. Only members in good standing are eligible to attend and vote at the AGM. Those who have paid their 2023 membership balance are considered members in good standing. The deadlines for notice of motions and nominations to the board has lapsed. Registration is Required To attend the AGM, please register on Eventbrite. The zoom link to attend will be sent via Eventbrite after registration. REGISTER HERE Proxies The Proxy Form is available on the AGM webpage. The proxy form is designed to provide Members who, for whatever reason, cannot attend the AGM, with a method of participation in the meeting.  Proxies also ensure that quorum is achieved for this very important meeting. Proxy forms can be sent to admin@fopl.ca. Proxy forms can be sent in until Thursday, April 20th at 4:00pm. If members have any questions with any of the information provided in this Second Notice of the 2023

The Ontario Library Service is thrilled to partner with the Centre for Equitable Library Access (CELA) to offer a free, enhanced accessibility training certificate program for public libraries to support Ontarians with print disabilities. The “CELA Service in Ontario Public Libraries” certificate is open to Ontario library staff and volunteers at all service levels. The program, which is available in English and French, provides a comprehensive overview of CELA’s services in four, one-hour long courses available as on-demand recordings via the OLS LearnHQ platform: CELA Orientation Educator Access Program Accessible Reading Technologies, Devices, and Apps Accessible Library Services for Kids and Teens A certificate will be provided by the OLS upon completion of the program. By completing this program, library staff and volunteers will learn about CELA and how they can connect patrons, educators, and students living with visual, learning, or physical disabilities, to books in the alternate format of their choice. For more information, visit the OLS site here. CELA is a national not-for-profit organization that provides accessible reading services to the approximately 3 million people across Canada with print disabilities. CELA provides access to a collection of over 1 million titles in multiple accessible formats, including audio, braille,

The British Columbia government says it will provide a one-time funding boost of $45 million to public libraries across the province. The investment will be shared between all 71 public library organizations in B.C., supplementing the $14 million in annual operating funds the province provides. The B.C. municipal affairs ministry says the money will be dispersed on March 31 to help local libraries expand their operating hours and grow their digital collections. “From offering regular access to the internet, to delivering programs for families, newcomers, job seekers and seniors, this funding will go a long way to ensure libraries are helping people stay connected, access information and continue their lifelong learning,” B.C. Minister of Municipal Affairs Anne Kang said in a statement Friday. Last spring, the province doled out a one-time investment of $8 million to help libraries retroactively cover pandemic costs, meet the increased demand for digital content, upgrade physical spaces and deliver technology training. The province says British Columbians accessed digital resources from the province’s libraries almost 16 million times in 2021, a 47 per cent increase over 2019. Erin Hemmens, chair of the Vancouver Island Regional Library board of trustees, said the funding comes at a time

RCMP Confirms Censorship Attempts Were Unwarranted at BC School Libraries FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 14 March 2023, Canada Libraries continue to defend students’ freedom to read in the face of increased censorship tactics. A recent RCMP investigation found that items in Chilliwack, BC school libraries – while they may be deemed inappropriate or concerning to some people – do not contain child pornography. The investigation was in response to a complaint from a member of a Canadian-based group which is actively trying to have certain titles – primarily those with LGBTQA2S+ content – removed from libraries. The findings were announced during Freedom to Read Week, an annual celebration organised by the Book & Periodical Council which encourages Canadians to think about and reaffirm their commitment to intellectual freedom. Libraries defend Canadians’ intellectual freedom, which includes facilitating access to constitutionally protected expressions of knowledge, imagination, ideas, and opinion. School libraries uphold this core value by making a wide range of books, representing diverse opinions, views and lived experiences, available to students. “Over the past two years, libraries have been under increasing pressure to censor materials and programs, particularly those with LGBTQA2S+ content,” Wendy Wright, Chair of the Canadian Federation of Library Associations/Fédération