Vision: One Voice for Ontario’s Public Libraries
The purpose of FOPL is to strategically support and advocate furthering Ontario public libraries and the communities they serve. In order to strengthen and improve the provision of public library service, FOPL will act in a cooperative manner with other organizations to market public libraries’ value and collaboratively, coordinate opportunities to build people capacity within Ontario’s public libraries. A resilient federation will support our own research and build a sustainable public library sector.
Strategic Objectives and Initiatives 2021-2023
As we are entering the last year of our three-year strategic plan, FOPL will continue to remain flexible and use our resources wisely to create an impact in our sector. In large part this means:
- Empowering Our Members
- Informing Our Members
- Communicating with Our Members
- Maintaining Good Relationships with the Government
Advocacy & Influence
Positively influence legislation and government initiatives impacting Ontario Public Libraries, especially surrounding the global pandemic and its impact periods.
- Build relationships with provincial elected officials and civil service to influence government policy and practices.
- Collaborate with other library associations, organizations, and agencies to lobby for public libraries in provincial political arena such as Library Day at Queen’s Park.
- Support members’ libraries efforts in municipal government advocacy.
- Support First Nations libraries with national and provincial advocacy.
- Remain agile to enable timely response to emerging issues and opportunities.
- Act as a conduit for government to supply information to Public Libraries.
In 2023 This Means:
- Participate in the education of new boards and new councils across the province
- Partner with OLA (and involve other Ontario associations) to speak with a united voice.
- Work with our professional government relations counsel.
- Partner with CFLA to bring the voice of Ontario Public Libraries to the table.
Marketing Public Library Value & Impact
Coordinate and assist in the implementation of strategic marketing for Ontario Public Libraries.
- Be recognized as the trusted voice of Ontario Public Libraries.
- Inspire and mobilize the library community.
- Develop and provide research to inform marketing initiatives.
- Develop province-wide social media marketing campaign tools.
- Pursue partnerships beyond traditional library partners such as AMO, school boards, vendors and media.
- Collaborate to create consistent promotional messaging for use by Public Libraries.
In 2023 This Means:
- Attending municipal conferences to promote the value impact of Ontario’s Public Libraries on their local communities
- Provide the Data Dashboard to member libraries so they may better market their own successes and impacts
- Produce social media that will market FOPL as well as be in a format that member libraries can easily edit for local impact
- Strengthen the website as a marketing tool on the impact of public libraries in Ontario
Training & Development
Provide Ontario’s Public Libraries with professional training and development.
Coordinate training opportunities such as seminars, workshops, symposia, and webinars.
- Collaborate in creation of trustee training tools.
- Share expertise at professional conferences and events such as OLA Super Conference and Marketing Think Tank.
- Build consensus in the Ontario Public Library community.
- Increase awareness of grant and subsidy opportunities.
In 2023 This Means:
- Build capacity in our members as together we address local government orientation
- Continue to offer influence support and training to our members
- Partner with OLS and OLA on public library and board training
- Continue the FOPL info series
Organizational Resilience
Increase organizational resiliency.
- Seek alternate sources of funding to ensure fiscal stability.
- Grow and retain membership through increased member engagement.
- More effectively and more frequently communicate with individual members and FOPL caucuses.
- Increase involvement and contribution of FOPL Working Groups.
- Overcome challenges of diversity and geography.
- Develop a succession plan for Executive Director and Administrative Assistant.
In 2023 This Means:
- Promote MLS/LT Student Access to FOPL resources
- Promote the Former Library Leader Caucus
- Continue to build the project fund
- Continue to offer hybrid board meetings as well as virtual Caucus and Annual General Meetings so all members can participate regardless of geographic location
- Through recruitment, build diverse membership in our board and working group who will achieve objectives and initiatives of the strategic plan