Ontario Public Library Week – October 19 to 25, 2025
October is Canadian Library Month! During the month, libraries and library partners across Canada raise awareness of libraries’ valuable role in the lives of people in Canada.
In Ontario, the first week of October features First Nation Public Library Week (October 6-10), and the third week of October is Ontario Public Library Week (October 19-25). If the third week of October falls on a statutory holiday, OPLW will be held the following week.
Ontario Library Association (OLA) is the provincial coordinator for Ontario Public Library Week. As the coordinator, OLA provides public libraries and supporters with various promotional resources for Ontario Public Library Week. Graphics will be available this summer! OLA also typically organizes the OPLW launch event if applicable.
For 2025, Ontario Public Library Week will take place from October 19 to October 25, and the theme is “Libraries For Life / Biblios pour la vie.”
For questions and comments, please get in touch with communications@accessola.com
Digital Graphics and Assets
Digital graphics for 2025 OPLW/CLM are now available. Click the corresponding links to view and right click on the graphics to download.
Interested in adapting the graphics for your specific library? Access the Canva template here.
Bookmark
Poster
Website Banner
Email Header
LinkedIn Post
Facebook Post & Facebook Header
Instagram Post & Instagram Story
Bluesky Post & Bluesky Header
X/Twitter Post & X/Twitter Header
Desktop Wallpaper
Zoom Backdrop
Download all CLM 2025 – FR graphics (.zip file)
🖥️ Celebrate with Every Screen: Use the Official Desktop Wallpaper All October
The OLA is calling on all libraries to showcase their support this October by using the official OPLW/CLM desktop wallpaper on all public computers!
OPLW Social Media Toolkit
Celebrate the week on social media, highlighting the valuable role your library plays in your community. Along with visuals, the OLA is sharing sample social media posts and tips & tricks for online engagement this year.
Please feel free to modify as appropriate to your library. Just don’t forget to use the hashtags #OPLW and #LibrariesForLife / #bibliospourlavie to increase visibility and make it easier for others to find and engage with your content.
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Celebrating Ontario Public Libraries
Sample 1:
📚 From your first story time to lifelong learning, libraries grow with you. Celebrate #LibrariesForLife this #OPLW
Sample 2:
Celebrate #OPLW by visiting your local branch this week and discover all the ways your library is there for you! 📚 From internet access to job search help, there is a library for everyone at every stage of their life. #LibrariesForLife
Sample 3:
📚 Libraries aren’t just for books — they’re for life.
From your first story time to discovering new hobbies in retirement — your local library is with you every step of the way.
During Ontario Public Library Week, we celebrate the stories, support, and opportunities libraries offer every stage of life. Whether it’s digital literacy programs, book clubs, computer access, or just a quiet place to reflect — libraries evolve as we do.
📅 Visit your local branch this week and discover all the ways your library is there for life.
#OPLW #LibrariesForLife
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Demonstrating the Value of Your Library
These social media posts are intended to showcase the value you bring to your local community. To fill in the blanks, you can use data from the Annual Survey of Public Libraries. Need help pulling your data? Connect with your staff member who fills out the survey each year. Or email lkwok@accessola.com for assistance.
Sample 1:
📚 In [YEAR], our library delivered _________ programs to our community. Whether it’s early literacy or business development programs, the library is there for you at every stage of your life. Celebrate #LibrariesForLife this #OPLW
Sample 2:
💡 Did you know [LIBRARY] offers access to _________ databases, _________ programs, and _________ e-learning courses to _________ cardholders? Get your library card this Ontario Public Library Week and get access to all these resources and more at your local library 📚. #OPLW #LibrariesForLife
Sample 3:
📚 Libraries aren’t just for books — they’re for life.
From your first story time to discovering new hobbies in retirement — your local library is with you every step of the way.
This Ontario Public Library Week, we’re proud to celebrate how our library supports people at every stage of life:
👶 Last year, we hosted _________ early literacy programs for children ages 0–5 — helping parents and caregivers build strong foundations for learning.
🧒 We ran _________ programs for children 6–12, from coding clubs to creative arts, empowering curiosity and confidence.
👩🎓 With _________ teen-focused programs, we gave youth a space to explore identity, passions, and possibilities.
👩💼 Our _________ adult programs supported job seekers, hobbyists, and lifelong learners alike — because learning doesn’t end after school.
👵 We hosted _________ programs for older adults, offering connection and community.
📅 Visit your local branch this week and discover all the ways your library is there for life.
#OPLW #LibrariesForLife
- Along with engaging with people interacting with your own posts, remember to engage with posts from other libraries, as well as your own community. Show your support by liking, commenting, or sharing posts with the #OPLW or #LibrariesForLife / #bibliospourlavie hashtags. Re-share testimonials, photos and stories from patrons and staff alike! Real voices = real impact.
- Highlight local stories – adapt the sample social media posts as much as possible to best reflect your community. Highlight your best attended programs or branch-specific achievements. What local impact stories can you share? People love seeing themselves and their communities reflected in posts.
- Turn your posts into conversations by asking a question.
- Which program helped you most this year?
- What’s your favorite library memory?
- What was the best thing you borrowed from the library this year?
- Tag your municipality and other relevant organizations for more reach.
- Remember to use the official OPLW visuals to draw attention in the vast space of social media content.
Government Relations Toolkit – Engage Elected Officials during OPLW
This year, the OLA and Federation of Ontario Public Libraries (FOPL) invite members to engage their local elected officials by hosting a “Library Day” event during OPLW.
What does that look like? It means inviting your local Member of Provincial Parliament (MPP), Mayor, and/or Councillors to celebrate public libraries in their communities.
A “Library Day” event doesn’t need to be long, elaborate, or costly. It could be as simple as inviting your local officials to deliver brief remarks, tour a branch, observe a program in action, or sit down to discuss your library’s priorities and challenges.
The OLA and FOPL have prepared a brief Government Relations Toolkit to help you plan and host your Library Day event and effectively engage your elected officials. If you are interested in the toolkit, please send an email to lkwok@accessola.com to receive a copy.
OPLW Showcase
The OLA is inviting the library community to share photos of past OPLW displays, programs, and events to help inspire each other as we plan for this year’s celebrations!
Submitted photos may be shared through OLA channels—such as our website, newsletter and social media—in the months leading up to OPLW to spark ideas for how we can bring OPLW to life in our libraries.
Poster/Bookmark Orders and Shipping
With support from the Ministry of Tourism, Culture and Gaming, the OLA will once again provide printed OPLW posters and bookmarks to small libraries serving populations under 7,000. This year, however, materials will be automatically shipped to all eligible libraries—there’s no need to place an order or express interest. If you have any questions or concerns, please contact lkwok@accessola.com. All printed materials will be sent out by the end of September.
First Nations Public Library Week - Coordinated by Ontario Library Service
Since 2000, First Nation public libraries have used one week of the year to raise awareness of their resources, services, programs and activities. First Nation Public Library Week is celebrated the first week of October to coincide with Canadian Library Month.
First Nation Public Library Week is an opportunity to promote public library services and celebrate cultural uniqueness through creative library programming. We encourage all Ontario libraries to join in its celebration!
First Nation Public Library Week runs October 6-10.
Please visit the First Nation Public Library Week website for more information about the program’s history, updates, and resources.
Thank You to our 2025 Ontario Public Library Week Sponsors and Supporters!
The OLA thanks the Ontario Ministry of Tourism, Culture and Gaming for their support of Ontario Public Library Week.
Looking for library leaders to support Ontario Public Library Week.
If you support Ontario public libraries, maybe you are interested in sponsoring Ontario Public Library Week.
Your support will go toward printing and shipping OPLW posters and bookmarks for Ontario public libraries that serve a population of less than 7,000. This year, the OLA has taken on the ambitious goal of automatically shipping OPLW posters and bookmarks to all small libraries serving communities of less than 7,000 residents. That’s 213 libraries across the province, including those in rural, Northern and First Nation communities!
For your support you will receive recognition on Ontario Public Library Week promotional materials including the website and an invite to the official launch event for Ontario Public Library Week with the Minister (invited) and library CEOs.
OLA will also recognize you as a sponsor on sponsorship signage at other events such OLA Super Conference.
Sponsorship is $1,000 per company. If interested please contact Jefferson Gilbert or Jennifer Marriott at Gap.Point.Reach. Inc at info@gappointreach.com by August 15.
