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.  

Before I dive into OLA updates, I want to acknowledge the devastating wildfires continuing to affect communities across Canada. While many of us are enjoying summer vacations, far too many people have been forced from their homes, with First Nation communities among those hardest hit. It’s a sobering reminder that for many, this has been a season of uncertainty and loss.  

Libraries often become important sources of trusted information and support during times like these. The OLA Indigenous Advisory Council and staff have put together a collection of resources, donation campaigns, and ways to support wildfire evacuees and communities. If you’re looking for a way to help, or if your library is able to share these resources through your own channels, I encourage you to take a look. Thank you to everyone across the library sector who continues to support their communities during an incredibly difficult summer.  

Back at the OLA office, the work certainly didn’t take a vacation. One exciting milestone coming up this week is the launch of the Super Conference 2027 call for proposals. Emily Burns has been hard at work getting everything ready, and the CFP will officially launch later this week. If you’ve been sitting on a presentation, panel discussion, workshop or poster idea, now’s the time to start pulling those thoughts together. Submission deadline is September 18, so you’ve got a little time – but remember how quickly it flies!  

We also had the pleasure of welcoming a new member to the OLA team. Victoria Flores has joined us in an administrative role, and we’re thrilled to have her on board. You’ll likely see her name popping up in emails and behind the scenes as she helps keep all of the moving pieces at OLA running smoothly. Welcome, Victoria!  

Behind the scenes, our Finance Committee also met last week to review the proposed FY27 budget ahead of our August board meeting. Budget conversations are rarely flashy, but they’re some of the most important work that we do. They give us an opportunity to make sure we’re investing in the programs, services, and advocacy work that matter most to our members while keeping OLA on a strong financial footing for the future.  

It’s good to be back. Wishing everyone a wonderful week, and if you’re fortunate enough to have a lake nearby…you know what I’m going to recommend. And if you aren’t, I hope you find another way to carve out a little space to recharge before summer slips away.  

See you next Tuesday!