Like every other organization in the world, public libraries are frantically trying to plan for a future that is still very uncertain. Not only do we not know when we’ll get the green light from Provincial and local officials to re-open our buildings, we don’t know what it will look like when we do open […]
As Ontario’s State of Emergency continues, and its list of essential services shrunk, additional workplaces have shut down, leaving countless workers, including those in public libraries, laid off, put on temporary leave, redeployed, or working from home. Obviously, none of these is an ideal situation for those workers whose jobs are designed to provide service […]
As a result of the Province’s latest emergency order, more and more public library employees – management, administrative and frontline – are now working from home. While libraries closed to the public more than a week ago, some staff continued to report to work, while practicing social distancing in the workplace. The latest measures from […]
These days are, indeed strange and unnerving, as we figure out how to navigate all of the ramifications of COVID-19. The opening words of A Tale of Two Cities come to mind … “It was the best of times. It was the worst of times…” You only have to spend a few minutes on social […]
Erin Kernohan-Berning, Branch Services Librarian for Haliburton County Public Library, takes a few minutes out of her busy schedule to tell us about an important new collection and the collaborative work behind it. This year, Haliburton County Public Library is proud to launch our Mental Health & Wellbeing collection. This project had been percolating for […]
These are tough times to work in public service, including libraries. As an institution rooted in its enduring mission to be, in part, a welcoming community space for everyone who walks through the door, today’s public library comes face to face with society’s most challenging social issues. It is incumbent upon library leaders to take […]
Stratford Public Library CEO, Julia Merritt explains the library’s edgy new campaign. As the adage goes, “perception is reality”. Not being seen and not being heard are serious threats facing libraries. We at Stratford Public Library feel we cannot afford to be complacent. Period. Full Stop. Get off the complacency train. Taking control of the […]
Here we are, on the verge of October, the month in which we Canadians express our love for public libraries. As we gear up for the launches and the open houses, the special programming, and community outreach initiatives, let’s take a few minutes and recognize the diversity inherent within the public library eco-system in Ontario […]
By the first week of December, most municipal councils have been sworn in and will be poised to begin the task of appointing people to the various local boards and committees with terms tied to council’s term. This, of course, includes library boards. Board Appointments Ideally, councillors understand the importance of making board appointments as […]
We in the public library sector have, for some time now, been talking about the importance of continuous learning to doing what we do and doing it well. In order to be responsive and innovative in our services, we rely on staff being comfortable with uncertainty, willing to take calculated risks, and ready to learn […]