Back at our desks. Mostly.  

Week 5 was our official return to the office after this year’s amazing OLA Super Conference, and while it was technically a short week, it did not feel quiet in the slightest. 

The OLA office was closed on Monday and Tuesday to give staff time to rest. The remainder of the week was an opportunity for the staff to clean up, reset, wrap invoices, file reports, and gently reintroduce themselves to regular email volume. Conferences do not end when the lights go off in the convention centre, and those two days are a critical part of making sure we close the loop properly.  

Even with the compressed schedule, we jumped right back into governance and sector work. 

The Ontario Library Association Board met for its first full meeting of the year, and it was a really strong one. There was thoughtful reflection on how Super Conference went, what worked particularly well, and where we might want to tweak, evolve, or rethink things for next year. These conversations help ensure the conference stays responsive, relevant, and grounded in what the sector actually needs. 

The Board also clarified their working groups for the year, aligning them closely with their approved workplan. This kind of early-year clarity is invaluable. It gives Board members clear lanes to contribute meaningfully, keeps momentum strong, and helps move priorities forward in a way that is intentional rather than reactive. 

Outside of governance work, staff also met with the Ontario Ministry of Education last week to discuss school library collection development. The focus of the conversation was ensuring the Ministry is aware of the supports OLA can provide, particularly through the work of OSLA and its well-established professional guidance. 

We spent time reviewing the Ontario School Library Association’s Selection and Deselection of School Library Resources Guide, which continues to be recognized as a best-practice resource for managing school library collections responsibly and thoughtfully. It was a positive and constructive meeting, and the Ministry expressed appreciation for both the resource itself and our willingness to support them as they review and consider next steps. These are exactly the kinds of conversations where associations can add real value by bringing expertise, context, and ready-made tools to the table. 

So, while Week 5 may have been short on paper, it was full in all the ways that count. Governance work is underway, advocacy continuing, and the steady transition from conference energy into year-long impact is very much in motion.