OPLA Best Bets Committee
This committee is comprised of Librarians and Library Technicians who are OLA members, work in public libraries and are committed to children’s and young adult services and eager to evaluate and promote Canadian books. We are a long standing committee with a strong voice in promoting Canadian literature for children and young adults. Our goals include highlighting excellence in the current publishing year for the OLA membership, bolstering the Canadian publishing industry, developing recognition for Canadian authors and Canadian books, and providing teachers, teacher-librarians, librarians and other interested parties with a meaningful list to assist in collection development and readers’ advisory.
Meetings are held a minimum of four times a year. Members discuss and evaluate recent publications by Canadian authors and illustrators. The books evaluated are suitable for children and young adults from birth to nineteen years old. From these discussions, the Committee produces “Best Bets” lists, annual annotated lists of recommended titles. These lists are released each year at the OLA Super Conference.
The Best Bets Committee is a wonderful opportunity to evaluate new Canadian books, network with colleagues and be an active participant in OLA
Kara Miley
Co-Chair
Toronto Public Library
Theresa Power
Co-Chair
Centre for Equitable Library Access
Katie Vlanich
Windsor Public Library
Meagan Wilkinson
Orillia Public Library
Krista Sumnauth
Oakville Public Library
Linda Ludke
London Public Library
Heidi Taber
Perth and District Union Public Library
Emily Anderson
Essex County Library
Melissa Macks
OLA Staff Liaison
mmacks@accessola.com
2024 Best Bets – Holiday Book Buying
2024 Best Bets – Back To School
2023-Best Bets Book List, 2023 Accessible Annotations
2022-Best Bets Books List, 2022 Annotations, Accessible Annotations
2021-Best Bets Book List, 2021 Annotations
2020- Best Bets Book List, 2020- Annotations
2019-Best Bets Book List, 2019-Annotations
2018-Best Bets Book List, 2018-Annotations
2017-Best Bets Book List, 2017-Annotations
2016-Best Bets-YA, 2016-Best Bets Juvenile
2015-Best Bets-YA, 2015-Best Bets-Children
2014-Best Bets-YA, 2014-Best Bets-Children
2013-Best Bets-YA, 2013-Best Bets-Children
2012-Best Bets-YA, 2012-Best Bets-Children
2011-Best Bets-YA, 2011-OLA Best Bets-Children
2010-Best Bets-YA, 2010-Best Bets-Children
2009-Best Bets-YA, 2009-Best Bets-Children