Training & Development

FOPL and OLA met with Amanda Pape, liaison officer for the Ministry of Indigenous Affairs, to communicate our provincial budget ask for Public Libraries on Reserve. We were able to connect about the issues affecting these libraries and the immediate measures needed to stabilize them. Dr. Sabrina Redwing Saunders, CEO of Blue Mountains Public Library,…

The Canadian Municipal Network on Crime Prevention Community of Practice Session on Safety in Public Libraries was held on May 31st, 2023. CULC's Safety and Security Working Group gave a fantastic panel presentation on this issue. Public libraries across Canada are facing an unprecedented increase in the frequency and intensity of security and safety incidents in…

Stakeholder consultations with the Ministry of Tourism Culture and Sport were concluded in late March. We will be staying in touch with Ministry staff and offering any follow-up they may require. The MTCS has expressed an interest in “modernizing” the library sector’s funding contribution and we are hopeful that we will see some movement on…

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…

FOPL was granted a deputation to the Standing Committee of Economic Affairs and Finance on February 13th to compliment our Pre-Budget Submission to the Ministry of Finance. Our sector has had, in total, six deputations to the Standing Committee and/or the Minister of Finance combined this budget season. I’m so energized by the way our…

FOPL and OLA continue to have conversations with Ministry staff and answer any questions they may have about the ODPL and the funding issues with public libraries on reserve, which have also been of great interest. We hope to meet again formally next month to follow up from our conversation in November. We have also…

FOPL and OLA have have drafted a joint letter to Toronto and Ottawa municipal councils regarding the Strong Mayors Act. The intent of this letter was solely to bring to light to Toronto and Ottawa council members important information about the relationship between the exercise of authorities granted in Strong Mayors and the broader statutory…