Loud for Libraries: Celebrating Ontario Public Library Week and Advancing Our Advocacy Priorities
Ontario Public Library Week 2026 was a celebration of the incredible work happening in public libraries across the province—and an opportunity to turn that celebration into meaningful advocacy and action.
From October 18–24, the Federation of Ontario Public Libraries (FOPL) joined the Ontario Library Association (OLA) on the road for our annual Ontario Public Library Week Roadshow. This year’s theme, Loud for Libraries, was particularly timely, with municipal elections taking place just days after the celebrations. Throughout the week, FOPL Executive Director Dina Stevens and OLA Executive Director Michelle Arbuckle visited libraries across Ontario, connecting with library staff, boards, municipal leaders, and community members to celebrate the essential role public libraries play in their communities.
Taking Our Message on the Road
Our roadshow took us to communities large and small, highlighting the diversity of Ontario’s public libraries and the innovative ways they serve their residents. From open houses and community celebrations to conversations with local elected officials, each stop reinforced the importance of public libraries as essential community infrastructure, places of connection and learning, and valued municipal partners. The roadshow also provided an important opportunity to reinforce our shared advocacy priorities, including sustainable provincial funding, equitable access to digital resources, intellectual freedom, and strong local library governance. We extend our sincere thanks to the library CEOs, staff, trustees, municipal representatives, and community members who welcomed us throughout the week. Your enthusiasm, creativity, and commitment to your communities made this year’s celebrations particularly memorable.
Listen to Our Roadshow Diaries!
Want to hear more about our adventures on the road?
Dina and Michelle recorded a special episode of OLA’s Library Land Loves podcast, sharing behind-the-scenes stories, highlights from our library visits, and reflections on the people and communities we encountered.
Listen to the OPLW Road Show Diaries podcast on Spotify
Celebrating with Minister Zee Hamid at Milton Public Library
We concluded Ontario Public Library Week on Saturday, October 24, with a special event at Milton Public Library, joined by the Honourable Zee Hamid, Ontario’s Minister of Tourism, Culture and Gaming. The event was a wonderful opportunity to celebrate Ontario’s public libraries and recognize their contributions to communities across the province. The new Minister is passionate about public libraries, being a lifelong library user and supporter, and expressed his excitement to work with us to further public libraries in Ontario.
It also brought welcome news for the sector, as Minister Hamid announced a new provincial investment to support public library digital expenses.
New Provincial Funding for Public Libraries
During the event, Minister Hamid announced a new $1.185 million annual Fund for Digital Expenses, providing additional provincial support for eligible public libraries serving populations under 50,000. FOPL and OLA welcome this additional investment as a positive step toward addressing the growing costs of providing digital services and resources to Ontario residents. This announcement also reflects the importance of sustained advocacy and continued conversations with the provincial government about the funding pressures facing public libraries.
While we are pleased to see new funding directed toward the sector, we also recognize that changes to funding eligibility and program parameters have raised important questions and concerns among our members.
Continuing the Conversation with the Ministry
On Monday, November 2, FOPL and OLA met with staff from the Ministry of Tourism, Culture and Gaming for a technical briefing on the new Fund for Digital Expenses and to discuss feedback received from the public library sector. The meeting provided an opportunity to seek clarification on the new program and communicate concerns about the impact of the revised funding model, particularly for libraries affected by changes to eligibility and funding allocations. We also continued discussions about the Ontario Digital Public Library (ODPL) and other shared advocacy priorities.
FOPL remains committed to ensuring that the experiences and concerns of our members are heard as the province implements this new funding program. We will continue working with OLA and ministry staff to advocate for equitable, sustainable funding that reflects the needs of public libraries of all sizes and the communities they serve.
Keeping the Momentum Going
Ontario Public Library Week may be over, but our advocacy continues. This year’s roadshow was a powerful reminder that public libraries are much more than buildings and collections. They are vital community partners that support literacy, lifelong learning, digital inclusion, civic engagement, and community well-being. Thank you to OLA for partnering with us on another successful roadshow, to the libraries that welcomed us, and to everyone who helped make Ontario Public Library Week 2026 such a wonderful celebration.
Together, we will continue to be Loud for Libraries—not just for one week, but all year long.