OLA Inclusive Libraries:
State of the Sector Survey – 2025 Report
The Inclusive Libraries: State of the Sector Survey marks a major milestone in the OLA’s commitment to decolonization, anti-racism, equity, diversity, inclusion (EDI), and accessibility. Conducted in early 2025 by The Commons Consulting, the survey collected over 1,100 responses from library professionals across Ontario. The findings demonstrate both progress and persistent challenges in the library sector and outline clear opportunities for building a more inclusive profession.
The report:
- highlights disparities in racial representation, particularly in leadership roles;
- identifies barriers to participation in OLA and across the profession;
- and captures members’ priorities and recommendations for advancing anti-racism in the sector and at OLA.
It also provides a set of actionable recommendations for both the OLA and the broader library sector—ranging from mentorship and leadership development to creating safer, more accessible professional spaces.
We invite all library workers, leaders, and partners to explore the findings and join us in moving this work forward.
Read the full report and learn how we can shape more equitable, representative, and inclusive libraries across Ontario.
Acknowledgements
The Ontario Library Association (OLA) would like to acknowledge the territory and land on which this work is taking place. This land has been inhabited since time immemorial and we honour the past, present, and future of the Wendat, the Haudenosaunee, Anishinaabe, Neutrals, and most recently, Mississaugas of the Credit and all other Nations of Turtle Island (acknowledged and unacknowledged, recorded and unrecorded).
This survey and report were made possible through the contributions of OLA staff, members, and volunteers; the expertise of external partners; and, most importantly, the Ontario library community, whose experiences and perspectives have shaped the recommendations for building a more inclusive sector.
The OLA gratefully acknowledges The Commons Consulting for administering the survey and conducting the data analysis; Lisa MacVicar Consulting & Coaching for auditing the report; and the British Columbia Library Association (BCLA) Anti-Racism Project Advisory Group, who co-designed the original survey on which the Inclusive Libraries: State of the Sector Survey is based. The OLA also thanks the following volunteers for reviewing the report and providing valuable feedback, helping to ensure the recommendations reflect the needs and interests of OLA members:
- Karen Devonish-Mazzotta, Toronto District School Board | Co-Chair, Forest of Reading
- Suzanne Fernando, Toronto Public Library | OLA Cultural Diversity and Inclusion Committee
- Desmond Wong, University of Toronto Libraries | OLA Anti-Racism Committee
- Andrew Wiebe, University of Toronto | OLA Indigenous Advisory Council
