About Ontario Library Service

The Ontario Library Service was established in 2021 and is mandated to deliver programs and services on behalf of the Ontario Minister of Tourism, Culture and Gaming by:

• Increase cooperation and coordination among Public Library boards and other information providers in order to promote the provision of library services to the public
• Assist Public Library boards and First Nation public libraries by providing them with services and programs that meet their needs including consulting, training and development services.

Ontario Library Service is governed by a board of directors who are elected from population groups called Board Assemblies. Board Assemblies are an important part of the OLS governance structure. OLS has nine Board Assemblies based on population served, and the OLS Board is made up of 13 members: 9 elected Board Assembly representatives and 4 ministerial appointees.

To support continuity in governance, the OLS Board has implemented staggered elections, with a portion of the Board Assembly representative seats filled every two years. This helps maintain experience and stability on the OLS Board while creating regular opportunities for new members to join. The OLS Board meets three times each year, twice virtually and once in person. Expenses related to travel for OLS Board meetings are reimbursed. 

This spring, four OLS Board seats are up for election: two for libraries serving populations under 2,500, one for libraries serving populations 2,500 to 4,999, and one for libraries serving populations 75,000 to 149,999. To learn more about the Ontario Library Service Board Member role view the Role Description. 

Scroll down for more information on Board Assemblies including how to become a rep. 

Vision
Every community in Ontario proudly invests in public libraries.

Mission
Ontario Library Service is trusted and empowers public library leaders to serve their unique communities.

About Board Assemblies:

• There are 9 Board Assemblies based on population served to represent Ontario public libraries. (View the Board Member Role Description.)
• All public libraries boards in Ontario are eligible to appoint an official representative to their respective Board Assembly.
• In accordance with the Public Libraries Act of Ontario an Indian Band, also known as Chief and Council act as the governance body of First Nation Public Libraries. Each Chief and Council governing a library is entitled to appoint a representative to their respective Board Assembly.
• One Representative from each Board Assembly is elected from their corresponding population-based Board Assembly to serve on the Ontario Library Service Board.

Board Assemblies give members an opportunity to share governance issues, learn from peers across the province, and stay connected to developments affecting public library governance. Board Assembly meetings are held virtually twice each year, in the spring and fall. 

Visit the Meetings page for upcoming meeting dates.

An email discussion group for all Board Assembly Members and other interested board members to share comments, questions and best practices about governance and board topics is available to join. For more information, visit the Distribution Groups section of the website.