School Library Advocacy
NEW School Library Advocacy Postcard
Core Education Funding and the Impact on School Libraries - 2024
In May 2024, the OSLA Council wrote to the Minister of Education to express concern with the new Core Education Funding model and its impact on school libraries, library staff and the critical contributions they make to curriculum delivery and student success.
The letter highlighted that these changes to education funding will directly lead to further reductions in school library access, make it easier for school boards to reduce or eliminate these vital learning resources, while undoing positive progress towards accountability for school library funding introduced under the Minister’s leadership.
Advocate for School Libraries
Want to get involved? Join OSLA’s Save Our School Libraries campaign to raise awareness on at-risk school library funding.
School Library Advocacy 2-pager
Need help demonstrating the value of school libraries and school library staff?
Download our advocacy 2-pager which answers the following questions:
- What is a school library?
- Who are school library professionals?
- Why should a school library professional select the materials for my child’s school library?
- How does the school library differ from the public library?
- When students lose access to a school library, what are the consequences?
- What is the impact of restricting or banning age-appropriate books?
A Guide to the Selection and Deselection of School Library Resources - 2023
Last Updated: July 31, 2023
French adaptation forthcoming.
How are resources curated for a school library? Who is in charge of the selection and removal of resources? What happens when a resource is challenged by a member of the school community?
Discover the answers to these questions and more in OSLA’s “A Guide to the Selection and Deselection of School Library Resources”.
This guide provides:
- information, best practices, and resources to support the selection and deselection of school library learning resources.
- resources to help school boards navigate concerns, questions, and/or challenges related to school library materials.
Additional Resources - Collection Development & Intellectual Freedom
- OLA on School Boards Banning & Restricting Books (Nov 2023)
- OSLA’s Letter to Ontario Directors of Education re: A Guide to the Selection and Deselection of School Library Resources (Nov 2023)
- Canadian School Libraries (CSL) Collection Diversity Toolkit
- CSL Statement: Book Challenges and Censorship in Canada’s School Libraries (May 24, 2023)
- Freedom of Expression Rights and the School Library (Mar 1, 2022, Dianne Oberg)
- OLA Statement on Intellectual Freedom and the Intellectual Rights of the Individual (2020)
- International Federation of Library Associations and Institution (IFLA) School Library Guidelines, 2nd revised edition (2015)
Download the Guide for more resources!
Questions to ask about your child's school library - 2024
Parents, you can help advocate for your child’s school library: Ask your child’s school principal or school board trustee these 3 questions:
- Does my child still have access to school library resources and to a qualified school library professional? How?
- Is a qualified school library professional responsible for selecting the books in my child’s school library?
- What is your plan for the school library next year?
School Library Advocacy
- OSLA Letter to Ontario Directors of Education and School Board Trustee Chairs re: Ontario’s school libraries and supporting student success in 2024-25 (March 2024)
- OSLA’s Letter to Ontario Directors of Education re: A Guide to the Selection and Deselection of School Library Resources (November 2023)
- Staffing Qualified School Library Professionals in Every School (March 2022), in English and in French
- Including Library Learning Commons in 2021-22 Return to School Protocols (August 2021), in English and in French
- School Libraries & the 2021-22 Grants for Student Needs (May 2021), in English and in French
- Invest in Student Success by Investing in the School Library (December 2020), in English and in French
- Ensuring Student Success Through Access to School Libraries (July 2020), in English and in French
- May 8, 2024 – OSLA to the Minister of Education re: Core Education Funding Model and the Impact on School Libraries
- November 23, 2023 – OSLA re: Recommendations for improving Grant for Student Needs (GSN) reporting
- November 2, 2023 – OSLA’s Response: The Education Act New Regulation: Director of Education Performance Appraisal
- April 19, 2023 – OSLA’s response to Toronto DSB’s decision to reduce 7.5 FTE Teacher Librarians for 2023-2024
- March 23, 2023 – OLA and OSLA response re: revised elementary Language curriculum and English Grade 9 course
- February 9, 2023 – OSLA’s response to Peel DSB’s decision to cut the Library Coordinator position
- April 30, 2022 – OSLA and TALCO response: Ministry of Education Language, Grades 1-8/English, Grades 9-12
Information Gathering - March 17, 2022 – OSLA and CSL response: OHRC “Right to Read” Inquiry Report & Contribution of School Libraries.
- OSLA letter regarding the recent modifications to the new Grade 9 Mathematics curriculum (August 2021)
- Response to the Toronto District School Board’s decision to repurpose all Elementary teacher-librarians (September 9, 2020)
- Open Letter to Ministry of Education and Ontario School Board Associations (July 31, 2020)
- Slide deck – Ontario School Library Responses to COVID-19 (2020)
- OLA 2020 (Fall) Pre-Budget Submission (2020)
- OSLA 2020 (January) Pre Budget Submission (2020)
- Grants for Student Needs (GSN) Recommendations (2020)
- January 14, 2020 – OSLA and CSL response: OHRC launches Right to Read public inquiry.
- Grants for Students Needs (GSN) Recommendations (2018)
- OSLA Pre-Budget Submission (2018)
- COVID-19 School Library Brief For School Boards In Ontario (Updated November 2020)
- The State of Elementary School Libraries in Ontario – Excerpt from the Teaching Librarian (2019)
- My School Library Rocks (2019)
- School Libraries Matter Video Contest (2015)
- About School Libraries – OSLA Information Sheet (2014)
- Facts about the impact and decline of school libraries – OSLA Information Brief (2014)
- De-Valuation of Teacher Librarians – OSLA Information Brief (2013)
- Library Research Service – 2013 Infographic (2013)
- Public Service Announcements About Libraries
- How School Library Programs Equal Success for Your Child (2003) – OSLA Council has created the pamphlet, as the first in a series of advocacy pamphlets, developed to support a strong school library program. The pamphlet uses quotes from research and experts detailing what the school library program can offer your child for success.
Canadian Federation of Library Associations / Fédération canadienne des associations de bibliothèques
CFLA-FCAB Position Statement on the Status of School Libraries in Canada (May 2024)
Save School Libraries Coalition
The Save School Libraries Coalition, formed in 2020, is a national coalition dedicated to advocating for the critical importance of school libraries and their professional staff.
- Save School Libraries Coalition – Letter to Council of Ontario Directors of Education and the Ontario Principal’s Council (April 6, 2021)
- Save School Libraries Coalition – letter to Minister Lecce (October 28, 2020)
Ontario Book Publishers Organization
- Ontario Book Publishers Organization letter to Minister MacLeod (September 30, 2020)
- Ontario Book Publishers Organization letter to Minister Lecce (September 30, 2020)
Association of Canadian Publishers
- Association of Canadian Publishers (ACP) letter to Minister MacLeod (September 30, 2020)
- Association of Canadian Publishers (ACP) letter to Minister Lecce (September 30, 2020)
