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. 

These priorities have helped Council focus its efforts on practical initiatives that support public library workers, strengthen professional connections, and respond to emerging challenges across the sector. As we move through the second half of the year, we are pleased to share a brief progress report on this work. 

Champion Libraries to Secure the Future 

The OPLA’s advocacy work is focused on equipping OPLA members to become advocacy leaders who can champion important issues, mentor colleagues, and help build advocacy capacity within their organizations and communities. 

One initiative currently in development is a set of practical advocacy resources for frontline public library staff. These resources will support staff in responding confidently and consistently to challenging or antagonistic public interactions related to issues such as censorship, intellectual freedom, misinformation, and AI. The goal is to provide values-based guidance that staff can use in real-world situations. 

Earlier this year, OPLA also partnered with the Ontario Library Boards’ Association to deliver an ONLibChat on municipal election preparedness. The session explored topics including strong mayor powers, governance, and library board recruitment, helping libraries and boards prepare for Ontario’s upcoming municipal elections. 

Invest in People to Strengthen the Sector 

The OPLA Council continues to create, collect, and share resources that help libraries navigate evolving issues while encouraging collaboration and shared learning. 

Council gathered feedback from members about emerging areas where additional learning and resources would be valuable. This feedback will be used to shape initial resource areas shared within OPLA’s forum. The suggested topics were employee well-being and improving organizational culture.  

Also under development is a ‘Small Library, Big Impact‘ resource page to highlight practical ideas, approaches, and resources relevant to smaller and rural library systems. 

Across OLA, divisions are working together to provide professional development that supports member growth and innovation. OPLA will continue identifying opportunities to collaborate with other divisions and bring timely learning opportunities to public library workers. 

Create Value and Build Belonging 

Creating opportunities for connection and demonstrating the value of OLA membership remain important areas of focus. 

The launch of the new OPLA Forum has provided members with a dedicated space to ask questions, share resources, discuss emerging issues, and learn from colleagues across Ontario. Council is also exploring how the Forum could support interlibrary job shadowing and staff engagement opportunities by helping member organizations connect with one another. 

Another priority is helping library workers better understand that OLA is not only for librarians—it is for people working in all library roles and at every career stage. 

An upcoming ONLibChat will be open to members and non-members at no cost, so please tell your colleagues! The session will highlight some of the benefits of joining OLA and explore how membership can support the professional growth of all library workers. More details are expected by the end of the summer. 

The OPLA Council has also been gathering information about Library Staff Development Days to identify opportunities for OLA representatives to speak directly with library teams. To complement this work, Council developed a presentation deck outlining the benefits of OLA membership and is working on a recorded version that libraries can use during staff development programs.

Looking Ahead 

Many of these initiatives are still evolving, and member input will continue to shape the work. The OPLA Council’s goal is to remain responsive to the needs of Ontario’s public library community while creating practical opportunities for advocacy, learning, connection, and professional growth. 

The OPLA Council looks forward to sharing more progress throughout the remainder of 2026 and encourages members to join the OPLA Forum, participate in upcoming events, and continue sharing how OPLA can best support them and their colleagues.