I’d love to say something about spring being energizing, but the reality is the OLA team was plagued with illness last week. We’re shaking off the bugs, though, and steadily finding our footing and moving toward the end of April.   

On a more positive note, there were lots of inspiring out-of-office activities last week. I kicked things off in Toronto at the Mayor’s Culture Summit, where there was a lot of thoughtful conversation about how culture shows up in our communities and the important role it plays in our lives. It was a great reminder that libraries, reading, authors, and publishing are not on the sidelines of cultural life. We are right in the middle of it, shaping access, creativity, and connection.  

We also had the chance to connect with our colleagues at the Federation of Ontario Public Libraries AGM. Always valuable time spent with partners who are equally committed to strong, coordinated provincial advocacy. Congrats to Dina Stevens and her board for another successful year of work and collaboration.  

I had the chance to get dressed up and attend Biblio Bash last week, hosted by the Toronto Public Library Foundation. It’s always inspiring to see the energy and support behind library fundraising, and this year’s focus on after-school programming is such an important investment in young people and the communities they’re part of. A great reminder of the many ways our sector connects beyond our walls. Thanks to Whitehots for the invitation. 

On the OLA front, we’re continuing to make solid progress on updates to our advocacy toolkit. This has been a real focus over the past few months, and we’re aiming to have it ready for members in early summer. The goal is simple: practical, relevant tools that you can actually use in your day-to-day advocacy work.  

We also hosted two fantastic ONLibChats. One focused on AI innovations in health libraries, and the other on everyday acts of advocacy. Both conversations were thoughtful, practical, and full of ideas you can take back into your own work.  

And finally, my colleague Melissa was out at the London District Catholic School Board staff day, connecting with educators about membership and the role OLA plays in advocating for school libraries. These kinds of conversations matter and help build understanding of how OLA can support you, and how we can work together to strengthen library services across Ontario.  

Lots in motion, and more to come. Here is to a healthy entry into May!  

See you next Tuesday!