by FOPLED | Jan 27, 2023 | Uncategorized
FOPL was recently interviewed by CBC Sudbury to provide comment on the Public Library Operating Grant, the sector’s largest funding envelope. FOPL was asked for comments after the Sudbury Public Library asked for an increase to their budget, a familiar position many of our libraries are in after soaring inflation rates and the post-pandemic echo. Read the full story here:...
by FOPLED | Jan 27, 2023 | Advocacy Updates
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 continued to monitor developments with Bill 3, Strong Mayors, Building Homes Act, 2022 and have sent a letter to the Toronto and Ottawa municipalities as the province proposes to expand the bill to other regions. These letters, sent as correspondence to the municipal Clerks, will hopefully make it to council agenda for review. I have attached these letters for you to read as well. The Minister of Finance and The Standing Committee of Economic Affairs and Finance have convened in January to accept deputations. FOPL has rallied a variety of public libraries CEOs across the province to apply for deputations to both. I was fortunate enough to be accepted to speak to the Minister of Finance during his budget consultation session in Brampton on January 11th. I spoke to our provincial priorities, emphasizing the frozen Public Libraries Operating Grant, the serious concern for public libraries on reserves and the province-wide benefits of creating the Ontario Digital Public Library. Kitty Pope from Windsor Public Library and Monika Machacek from Clarington Public Library also gave deputations to Minister Bethlenfalvy as the committee moved across the province, strengthening our message. Deputations for the Standing Committee on Economic Affairs and Finance are coming up and we have heard back from at least two CEOs that they have been...
by FOPLED | Jan 17, 2023 | Uncategorized
The Annual General Meeting for the Federation of Ontario Public Libraries will take place virtually via Zoom on Friday, APRIL 21, at 10:00am. Registration will begin at 9:30am so please be sure to log in prior to 10am so that you can be marked in attendance. The draft agenda and all supporting documents can be found on the website in the members section, https://fopl.ca/agm/. It will be updated 30 days prior to the AGM. Only members in good standing are eligible to attend and vote at the AGM. Registration To attend the AGM, please register on Eventbrite. The zoom link to attend will be sent via Eventbrite after registration. For those who cannot attend, please fill out a proxy form (more info below). REGISTER HERE ******************* Dates to note: Any member resolutions are due no later than 30 days prior to the AGM; Wednesday, March 22nd, 2023 at 4:00pm. Nominations or self-nominations for board vacancies are due February 13, 2023. Proxy forms can be sent in until Thursday, April 20th at 4:00pm. Nominations for Board Positions The following positions will be available for the 2023 to 2025 FOPL Board: Rural Caucus Trustee (currently vacant) Large Urban Caucus Trustee (currently vacant) Large Urban Caucus CEO Small Medium Caucus Trustee (currently vacant) Northern Caucus CEO Please send nominations to dinastevens@fopl.ca. If only one qualified nominee is received by the deadline, that applicant will be acclaimed. In the event of multiple nominations for the same position, a Caucus election will occur in the month of March. Notice of Motions According to Bylaw 1, Section 9.2, resolutions shall be prepared and submitted to the Board no later than 30 days prior...
by FOPLED | Jan 12, 2023 | Advocacy Updates
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 framework governing Ontario’s public libraries. The letter will be sent via email this week. I will attach a copy in next month’s member emails. The Standing Committee Finance and Economic Affairs will be meeting in January and February across the province. The purpose of this committee is to hear deputations from various parties in advance of the provincial budget requests in February. FOPL and a few of our members have applied to attend 6 of the 9 committee meetings across the province, in Sudbury, Sault Ste Marie, Timmins, Kingston, Barrie and Queens Park. We will hopefully get a few slots and provide appropriate library sector representation! FOPL will be submitting a formal budget request after the committee meetings to the Minister of Finance. FOPL will be attending the Rural Ontario Municipal Association (ROMA) Conference in Toronto from January 22nd to 24th. Stop by at our tradeshow booth and bring your local Councillor for an introduction! We will also be at the OLA SuperConference February 1-4. Stop by our booth outside of the tradeshow for a quick hello, I would love to meet you all in-person! FOPL is presenting two sessions as well, On Friday, February 3rd in person and during the virtual board bootcamp on Saturday, February...
by FOPLED | Dec 15, 2022 | Uncategorized
Grants Available for 2023 The Ontario Trillium Foundation (OTF) is pleased to announce the grants available for next year to support the essential work of non-profit organizations and grassroots groups across the province. OTF welcomes applications from eligible organizations that provide direct programs and services to Ontarians and whose projects align with the grants they are applying for. Resilient Communities Fund Grant application period 1: Application will be available on January 4, 2023, with an application deadline of February 1, 2023, at 5 PM ET. Grant application period 2: Application will be available on September 27, 2023, with an application deadline of October 25, 2023, at 5 PM ET. Capital grant Grant application period: Application will be available on May 17, 2023, with an application deadline of June 14, 2023, at 5 PM ET. More information will be available next year to help your organization apply for a Capital grant. Youth Opportunities Fund Youth Innovations and Family Innovations grant: The grant application will be available as of May 31, 2023. The expression of interest deadline is August 23, 2023, at 5 PM ET. The grant application deadline is November 1, 2023, at 5 PM ET. System Innovations grant: The grant application will be available as of April 3, 2023. The lead organization registration deadline is May 31, 2023. The grant application deadline is June 21, 2023, at 5 PM ET. Upcoming Grant Deadline: Resilient Communities Fund The Resilient Communities Fund supports community-based organizations that deliver programs and services in Ontario and need funding to recover and build capacity, resilience and sustainability. Grants support the delivery of projects...
