Sep 26, 2023 | Uncategorized
Deadline approaching! – Applications due October 2nd. CFLA/ Ex Libris Association – W. Kaye Lamb Award for Service to Seniors Every other year, the Canadian Federation of Library Associations / Fédération canadienne des associations de bibliothèques and ExLibris Association invite Canadian libraries to be considered for the W. Kaye Lamb Award. The award is given to that library which offers innovative and excellent service to their senior population. A list of past winners can be viewed here: https://www.exlibris.ca/doku.php?id=award:wk-lamb-award-winners The 2021 award recipient was the West Vancouver Memorial Library as detailed here: https://www.exlibris.ca/lib/exe/fetch.php?media=wiki:documents:wklamb_award_announcement_2021.pdf Named to commemorate Canada’s first National Librarian, William Kaye Lamb, OC, FRSC, the W. Kaye Lamb Award recognizes outstanding library service to seniors with a $500.00 cash prize and commemorative plaque. For more information on William K. Lamb’s contribution to the development of Canadian library services, visit the Biography page, located on ExLibris Association’s website: https://www.exlibris.ca/doku.php?id=biographies:lamb-william-kaye| To apply, visit: https://cfla-fcab.ca/en/programs/w-kaye-lamb-award/https://cfla-fcab.ca/en/programs/w-kaye-lamb-award/ Completed applications or notification of the intention to apply must be submitted by Monday, October 2, 2023 to: WKLAward@cfla-fcab.ca Use the subject line “W.Kaye Lamb Award Application 2023” and include your library’s name or...
Sep 26, 2023 | Uncategorized
Documented attempts to restrict library materials rose 20% in the first eight months of 2023 On September 19, the American Library Association (ALA) announced findings that challenges to books and other library materials and services are on pace to set a record for the third straight year in 2023. The release reads, in part: ALA has released new preliminary data documenting a continued uptick in attempts to censor books and materials in public, school, and academic libraries during the first eight months in 2023. Between January 1 and August 31, ALA’s Office for Intellectual Freedom (OIF) reported 695 attempts to censor library materials and services. Those challenges included 1,915 unique titles—a 20% increase compared with the same reporting period in 2022, the year of the highest number of book challenges documented since ALA began compiling this data more than 20 years ago. The vast majority of challenges were to books written by or about a person of color or a member of the LGBTQIA+ community. Challenges to books in public libraries accounted for 49% of those that OIF documented, compared with a share of 16% during the same reporting period in 2022. A growing number of cases involve demands by a person or group to restrict or remove large numbers of titles. As in 2022, nine in 10 books challenged were part of an attempt to censor multiple titles. But cases that included a challenge to 100 or more books were reported in 11 states, compared with six states during the same reporting period in 2022 and zero in 2021. “These attacks on our freedom to read should trouble every person...
Sep 11, 2023 | Uncategorized
Over the past year, the Centre for Free Expression (CFE), in conjunction with the Edmonton Public Library (EPL), has developed a course for libraries to use for staff learning and development on intellectual freedom. CFE will provide virtual train-the-trainer sessions for staff whom libraries select to deliver the intellectual freedom course. The train-the-trainer sessions will review the material in the intellectual freedom course, describe the options built into the course so it can be customized for each library’s staff, provide background on issues raised in the course, and discuss questions and issues likely to arise when the course is offered. The first Trainer-the-Trainer session with be offered virtually on Friday, October 6, from 12-3 pm EDT. Registration will be limited to 30 participants who will be offering the intellectual freedom course in their library. The library CEO or designate should complete the online registration form available here. The deadline for submissions is Friday, September...
Sep 11, 2023 | Uncategorized
Every other year, the CanadianFederation of Library Associations / Fédération canadienne des associations de bibliothèques and ExLibris Association invite Canadian libraries to be considered for the W. Kaye Lamb Award. The award is given to that library which offers innovative and excellent service to their senior population. A list of past winners can be viewed here. Named to commemorate Canada’s first National Librarian, William Kaye Lamb, OC, FRSC, the W. Kaye Lamb Award recognizes outstanding library service to seniors with a $500.00 cash prize and commemorative plaque. For more information on William K. Lamb’s contribution to the development of Canadian library services, visit the Biography page of the ExLibris Association’s website. Purpose of the Award This award recognizes a library that has developed an ongoing service, program or procedure of benefit to seniors and/or a design and organization of buildings or facilities that improve access and encourage use by seniors. The award will be presented biennially (every two years) when merited. Eligibility Any Canadian public, government, postsecondary or special library is eligible for this award. Application Procedure Please provide: Name of the library. A statement of the service or facility of benefit to the senior population served by the library. Descriptive material such as photographs, promotional or advertising materials used, articles or news items published may be included with the application to indicate the ongoing success of the project. The application might include architectural drawings, details of the equipment used and an outline of the effect on staffing and budget. Name of a contact person, position title and contact details (email, telephone, etc). Application Deadline Completed applications must be submitted by Monday, October 2,...
Sep 7, 2023 | Uncategorized
The awards submission deadline has been extended to September 22, 2023 at 5:00pm. PLSA 2023 fillable submission form FR-CA PLSA 2023 fillable submission form [EN] PLSA Call for Submission 2023 FR-CA PLSA Call for Submission 2023...
Sep 5, 2023 | Uncategorized
Libraries as Battlegrounds: Defending Access to Information in a Polarized World Monday, September 11, 2023 at 1- 2pm ET What’s at stake when libraries and librarians become targets for censorship? As institutions whose mandates often include the furthering of democracy and prioritizing equal access, libraries are becoming critical battlegrounds between disparate forces, facing pressures to restrict collections, events, even access to our public spaces. What happens to librarianship as a profession when its practitioners are forced to choose between resisting and become targets or surrender and change mandates etc? Tracie D. Hall, Executive Director of the American Library Association, and one of Time magazine’s 2023 “100 Most Influential People in the World,” speaks with the City Librarian of Toronto, Vickery Bowles, about the vital role libraries play as defenders of free thought, and the increasing responsibility of libraries to protect everyone’s access to information and ideas, now more than ever. Who decides what books we can read or what opinions are the right ones? Who gets to prescribe events we can attend? And what are the implications for us all when libraries come under attack? Register...
Aug 17, 2023 | Uncategorized
First Nation Public Library Week SKAÍHWA’T | DGOGAABWI | STANDING TOGETHER October 2-6, 2023 First Nation Public Library Week (FNPLW) takes place each October as part of Canadian Library Month. You are invited to use the downloadable resources on the First Nation Public Library Week website to assist with FNPLW programming and events at your library. Website Resources: Program history Downloadable poster, social media graphics, fillable programming calendar + more Virtual events calendar Contact Deanna Nebenionquit, First Nation Consultant dnebenionquit@olservice.ca | (705)...
Aug 17, 2023 | Uncategorized
Freshly released, Ontario Library Association (OLA) is proud to share the graphics and branding for Ontario Public Library Week 2023: Libraries for Life / Biblios pour la vie. New Theme for 2023 Libraries for Life / Biblios pour la vie We are happy to share a new theme for Canadian Library Month and OPLW! “Libraries For Life / Biblios pour la vie” is a celebration of libraries as a lifelong institution. There is a library for everyone at every stage of their life. Whether you’re a kid discovering the joy of reading, a student preparing for an exam, a new grad applying for jobs, or a senior attending a community group, the library is there for you! Be sure to celebrate Canadian Library Month and OPLW on social media with the hashtag #LibrariesForLife / #bibliospourlavie Digital Graphics and Assets You can find the full suite of digital graphics, printable posters and printable bookmarks at oplw.ca. We have released all digital assets, so you can use OPLW branding in whatever way works best for your library system! Ontario Public Library Week October is Canadian Library Month! During this month, libraries, and library partners across Canada raise awareness of the valuable role libraries play in the lives of people in Canada. In Ontario, the first week of October features First Nations Public Library Week (October 3 to 7), and the third week of October is Ontario Public Library Week (October 16 to 20). Ontario Library Association (OLA) is the provincial coordinator for Ontario Public Library Week. As the coordinator, OLA provides public libraries and public library supporters with various promotional resources for Ontario Public Library Week. For questions...
Aug 17, 2023 | Uncategorized
le français suit CFLA’s new Climate Action Committee is searching for members. We welcome self nominations from interested individuals who are members of a CFLA/FCAB member association. Members must be a member of at least one CFLA-FCAB member organization and will serve on the committee as subject matter experts and not organization representatives. At largest this committee will have 10 members. Members will be selected with the goal of representing across the Canadian Library landscape, both geographically and across the profession with preference given to librarians with special interest or credentials in environmental conservation and climate action. Members selected to serve on the committee have a two-year term. If they would like to continue to serve additional terms after those two years, they will have to respond to the annual call for members and be selected for membership. There is no limit for consecutive terms as a member of this committee. Half of the initial appointees will serve for one year for ease of continuance, please note your preference in your application. The Committee will normally meet monthly between September and June, with additional meetings scheduled as required. Once the 2023/24 committee has been assembled, a meeting schedule will be agreed upon. The Climate Action Committee is a working committee. All members are expected to attend meetings and advance plenary activities. More information about the work of the Committee can be found at: Climate Action Committee Those interested can contact the current committee chair, Lita Barrie, at barriel@bpl.on.ca noting membership status of a CLFA-FCAB member organization and nation affiliation if applicable. ——————————————————————————————————————- Le Comité des d’action pour le...
Aug 9, 2023 | Uncategorized
Please join me in welcoming Susan McGibbon to our Board of Directors as Rural Caucus Trustee. Susan joins us from the Georgian Bay Public Library Board. Here is a short bio from Susan: I joined the Board of the Township of Georgian Bay Public Library (GBPL) as a member in 2019. I took over as as Board Chair in January 2021 and have served two full years in that capacity and now am in my third year. I am a lifelong Georgian Bay cottager. In my professional career, I am recognized as an accomplished business strategist and brand innovator and have 35+ years of experience in the Marketing, Research and Creative services industries. Our rural library system is unique. We have three branches (MacTier, Port Severn and Honey Harbour) that serve a population of just over 19,000 total residents. We have the largest “seasonal” population (cottagers) in the District of Muskoka so we serve a dual audience of that are different in terms of their needs. As our community has rapidly changed we as as a Board have focused on reimagining and reorganizing GBPL and worked to build capacity. That has included significant key initiatives being undertaken in the areas of HR and IT. Most importantly we have successfully strengthened our relationship with the Township by fully integrating with their different departments including HR, Finance, IT and Operations who now work in partnership with our CEO and staff. As part of our in re-imagination journey we have spent considerable time educating our Mayor, Council and Township staff on the new role that libraries play in our communities. This education has resulted in GBPL having a new level of respect and understanding in terms of...
