Communities of Practice
At OLA, we know that you want more than just a membership number. You want a place to connect, to share, and to grow alongside people who understand the work of libraries. That’s why we’re launching a new OLA structure designed for you.
Whether you’re looking to meet new colleagues, dive into the issues you care about, or spark new ideas, OLA is here to make it happen.
The new model of OLA organizes our work based on where our members live professionally – within the five library sectors – public, academic, health, school, and special. Within each of these sectors, councils and committees remain an active and essential part of governance and programming.
The newest layer to our model are the Communities of Practice — flexible, cross-sector interest groups where members can come together around issues, passions, and innovations.
About Communities of Practice
Communities of Practice (CoPs) are groups of OLA members who come together around a shared interest, challenge, or passion. To learn more about CoPs, read the FAQ below.
What This Means for OLA Members
- It means it’s easier to jump in and get involved.
- You can decide how much or how little you want to contribute. You’ll get to meet members across sectors, not just your own.
- And you’ll have new spaces to learn, experiment, and share ideas that strengthen your skills.
This is a big step forward in how OLA connects members to each other and to the work of the Association.
How to Connect with a Community of Practice
Join or Renew
When you join or renew your OLA membership you can indicate your Community of Practice interest.
Stay Connected
Once you’ve indicated your interest, you’ll get updates on upcoming meetups, activities, and events for your community. More information coming in November!
Meet In Person
Every community has a chance to gather at the OLA Super Conference, with touchpoints shared through email, newsletters, and our online forums.
For OLA members who have already joined or renewed their membership and have not yet joined a Community of Practice, please sign up using the form below.
FAQ
Unlike formal committees, CoPs don’t focus on governance or task-based work—instead, they create space for:
- Exchanging knowledge and ideas
- Learning from each other’s experiences
- Building solutions together
- Connecting across library sectors, roles, and geographies
Find your fit – indicate your interest in the communities that matter most to you (you can select more than one):
- Technology Community
- Francophone Community
- Indigenous Librarianship Community
- Inclusive Libraries Community
- Climate Action Community
Additional Communities of Practice will form based on member interest.
Anyone who is an OLA member!
- You don’t need to be an expert.
- You can participate as much or as little as you’re able.
- Members come from all kinds of roles—frontline, leadership, research, or education.
- All perspectives and lived experiences are valued, including voices from rural, northern, remote, and Indigenous communities.
Together, members of the CoP may:
- Meet quarterly (online or in-person) to share experiences and spark new ideas.
- Explore tools, research, and strategies that relate to their CoP.
- Hear from guest speakers to inspire new ways of thinking.
- Collaborate on small projects like resource lists or discussion guides.
- Highlight and share promising practices across the sector.
- Bring forward recommendations to OLA when appropriate.
- Facilitators (1–3 volunteers) help guide meetings and keep things moving.
- OLA staff provide support with logistics and communications.
- There’s no formal voting or hierarchy—decisions are made through conversation and consensus.
By being part of a CoP, you’ll:
- Connect with others who share similar interests and passions.
- Learn and share knowledge from others.
- Contribute to collective efforts that support the sector’s resilience.
Thanks for joining an OLA Community of Practice! The Communities of Practice official launch will be during Super Conference. Until then stay tuned for more information coming in November.
