Leading the Way: How School Librarians Can Support AI Use in the Classroom
For many educators, the arrival of artificial intelligence in schools can feel a little like the opening scene of a Star Wars film…
Read the Library: A Community Challenge
There is always that point in the school year, after everyone is settled, orientation is complete and the excitement of our first library book check-out settles, where I find students start returning to their favourite reads. But we have so many great books in the library!
Author Spotlight: Colby Sharp
This issue’s “Author Spotlight” feature is veering into new territory. We decided that what would really help our library staff members as they return to schools in September would be to connect you all with Colby Sharp.
From Plans to Progress: An Update on OPLA Council’s 2026 Workplan
OPLA Council’s 2026 workplan is guided by OLA’s broader strategic plan and its three priorities:
• Champion libraries to secure the future through advocacy.
• Invest in people to strengthen the sector through education.
• Create value and build belonging through OLA membership.
Join the Conversation: The New OPLA Forum is Here
As Ontario’s public libraries continue to evolve, one thing remains constant: we are stronger when we learn from one another. The OPLA Forum is new, and we are still discovering all the ways it can support and strengthen our community.
Inside OLA: August 25, 2026
Back-to-school season is just around the corner! With Ontario colleges and universities getting ready to welcome new and returning students, they’re busy hosting open houses, social activities and pop-ups. Last Wednesday, OLA joined in on the fun with Melissa, making her way to Thunder Bay to host an outreach event at both Confederation College and Lakehead University.
Inside OLA: August 18, 2026
I’m back! Technically.
After 10 days in South Korea for the IFLA World Library and Information Congress, my body is back in Ontario, my brain is somewhere over the Pacific, and the 13-hour time difference continues to make a compelling argument that 4pm is a perfectly reasonably time to go to sleep.
I’m still processing everything I learned and experienced at IFLA. There’s a lot to unpack, and I suspect pieces of it will continue to show up in my thinking – and this blog – for months to come.
Inside OLA: August 4, 2026
Happy August! What’s that Taylor Swift line – August sipped away like a bottle of wine? On that note, last week I headed out to Stratford to spend some time with the team at Stratford Public Library – and yes, I finally got to experience Summer Swiftie Celebration! A group of friends and I joined in the fun, and it was exactly the kind of joyful, community-building event that reminds you why libraries are so special.
Inside OLA: July 28, 2026
It’s the end of July. Am I the only person questioning space and time, and wondering how it all flies so quickly? These are my post-vacation existential thoughts. I spent the last 10 days away from my desk, floating in a lake and roasting marshmallows (not at the same time) and, wow, is that an effective strategy for remembering the world continues to spin even when you’re not checking your email every twelve minutes.
Inside OLA: July 14, 2026
Things are feeling a little quieter around the OLA office this week as people take advantage of Summer Fridays and some well-deserved vacation time. I’m about to do the same. My immediate plans involve floating in a lake for a while and attempting to remember what it’s like not to check my email every seven minutes. But before I disappear for a week, here are a few updates.