School Library Advocacy
Questions to ask about your child's school library - 2022
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?
Explaining School Library Funding in Ontario
Ever wonder where school libraries get their funding?
The Ministry of Education provides all boards with funding for school library staff through the Grants for Student Needs (GSN). Use this one-pager on School Library Funding in Ontario to help advocate for your school library: Download Brief on School Library Funding
School Library Advocacy
- 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
- 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.
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)
