Happy Canadian Library Month from all of us at OLA!
October is always one of my favourite months in library land, and there is already a lot of momentum building. This week is also First Nation Public Library Week, an important opportunity to celebrate FNPLs and the people who make them such vital places for connection.
We kicked off Canadian Library Month last Thursday with our OLA Town Hall. It was a chance to update members on what we’ve been working on, what’s coming next, and how we’re making progress on the priorities in our strat plan. I was also happy to share that OLA has closed out 2026 with a balanced budget! Thank you to everyone who joined us live. If you missed it, you can catch the recording here.
Last week, I also had the chance to talk with library technician students at Seneca Polytechnic about advocacy. We talked about what it looks like in everyday library work and how OLA advocates on behalf of the sector. One of the messages I keep coming back to is that advocacy doesn’t have to be big – in fact, it often starts with a simple story. Advocacy is a muscle, and the more you use it, the stronger it gets. So, if you find yourself sitting next to that uncle who always has a lot of questions at Thanksgiving dinner this weekend, consider it a chance to get a little practice in.
Meanwhile, Super Conference 2027 planning is officially in high gear. Our planners met last week and are now digging into almost 500 submissions. We also announced at the Town Hall that Canadian author Kate Beaton will be our Thursday keynote speaker. Very exciting!
Municipal election advocacy continues across the province. With advance voting beginning in many communities, this is a good time to make your voting plan and to keep libraries part of the conversation! We have talking points and tools to help you talk with candidates who come to your door – don’t be afraid to let them know that the library is important to you. And if you haven’t listened yet, check out my recent podcast conversation with Dina Stevens. The episode is all about advocating for libraries during municipal election season.
Speaking of the podcast, there’s a new episode of Library Land Loves ready for your ears. I sat down with Pete Bombaci, founder of GenWell, to talk about social isolation, the importance of human connection, and the role of libraries. Always a pleasure to talk to Pete. You can listen to this episode here.
Canadian Library Month is only getting started, and there is lots more ahead. Keep telling your library stories, keep making connections, and stay Loud for Libraries.
Giga-waabamin! Until next week,
Meet the Author
Michelle Arbuckle
Executive Director, OLA
Michelle Arbuckle is OLA’s Executive Director. Reporting to the OLA Board of Directors, Michelle’s key responsibilities are government relations, advocacy, partnership development, the implementation of the strategic plan and supporting the exceptional OLA staff team. She is an avid lifelong learner, a tea sommelier, and wants to know your astrological sign.