| Established | 1900 |
|---|---|
| Type | Library association |
| Location | |
President | Andrea Cecchett |
Vice President | Sabrina Saunders |
| Website | accessola |
The Ontario Library Association (OLA) was established in 1900 and is the oldest continually operating library association in Canada.[1] With 5,000 members, OLA is also the largest library association in Canada[2] and among the 10 largest library associations in North America.[1]
The stated purpose of the OLA is to "give profile to the librarians, library workers and trustees in the school, college, university, public and special libraries of Ontario and to foster provincial programs that will improve library services in the institutions and communities our members serve and that will ensure equitable access to information for all citizens of the province."[1]
History
Founded in 1900, the OLA was formed after a meeting of the American Library Association held that same year in Montreal, at which meeting it was decided that a Canadian association was not currently practical.[3] Between 2006 and 2013, the OLA's office was at 50 Wellington Street, Toronto, Ontario.[4] In 2013, the OLA moved to their current address at 2 Toronto Street, 3rd Floor, Toronto, Ontario.[5][4]
Structure and leadership
The OLA currently has seven divisions:[6]
- L’Association des bibliothèques de l’Ontario-Franco (ABO-Franco)
- Ontario College and University Library Association (OCULA)
- Ontario Health Library and Information Association (OHLIA)
- Ontario Library Boards’ Association (OLBA)
- Ontario Library and Information Technology Association (OLITA)
- Ontario Public Library Association (OPLA)
- Ontario School Library Association (OSLA)
Each division is headed by a President and Vice-President, who also serve on the OLA Board of Directors. The Board of Directors also includes the Executive Director and the Executive committee, composed of the OLA President, OLA Vice President, OLA Past President, and OLA Treasurer.[2]
Affiliates
The OLA is affiliated with:
- Canadian Federation of Library Associations (CFLA-FCAB)[7]
- Ex Libris Association (Canadian national association interested in historical and current issues about libraries, archives, publishing houses, and related institutions and people)[8]
- Library and Archives Canada Stakeholder Group[9]
- Ontario Health Libraries Association (OHLA)[9]
- The Partnership (Canada’s national network of provincial and territorial library associations).[9]
- The Fabulous Show with Fay and Fluffy[10]
Events and programs
The OLA runs several programs, services, and events. Three of its most prominent are the Forest of Reading program, the Library Marketplace, and the OLA Super Conference.
Forest of Reading
OLA's Forest of Reading is Canada's largest recreational reading program, which has grown to ten reading awards programs since the early 1990s.[11][12] More than 270,000 readers participate annually from their school and/or public libraries.[12] The Forest award winners are chosen by votes cast by readers in the target age ranges for each of the specific book categories. Award winners are announced annually at the Forest of Reading Festival in Toronto.[13]
The stated goals of the Forest of Reading are:
- fostering a love of reading
- encouraging academic and social success in children through reading
- emphasizes the importance of libraries
- supports Canadian books, publishers, authors and illustrators.[12]
The ten awards offered under the Forest of Reading umbrella are:
- Blue Spruce Award™ - ages 4–7 (JK–Grade 2), English, picture books
- Silver Birch Express Award® - ages 8–10 (Grades 3–4), English, fiction/non-fiction
- Silver Birch Fiction Award® - ages 8–12 (Grades 3–6 ), English, fiction
- Yellow Cedar Award - ages 9–14 (Grades 4–8), English, non-fiction
- Red Maple Award™ - ages 12–14 (Grades 7–8), English, fiction
- White Pine Award™ - high school (Grades 9–12), English, fiction
- Le prix Peuplier - ages vary, simple stories that can be read aloud, French, picture books
- Le prix Mélèze (formerly Le prix Tamarac Express) - ages vary, short chapter books, less than 100 pages, or advanced picture books, French, fiction/nonfiction
- Le prix Tamarac - ages vary, chapter books, 100-250 pages, French, fiction/nonfiction
- Evergreen Award™ - adult, fiction/non-fiction[12][11]
Library Marketplace/OLA Press
The Library Marketplace is the official store of the OLA[14] and supports the OLA's position as the Canadian agent for twelve major professional library publishers and the International Reading Association.[1] The OLA also operates its own OLA Press, which publishes books, reports, and governance information for the OLA.[15]
OLA Super Conference
Begun in 1902 as the OLA's annual conference,[16] the event was rebranded in 1995 as the Super Conference.[17][4] Collectively, this history makes the Super Conference Canada’s largest continuing education event in librarianship. The Super Conference also includes within it Canada's largest library tradeshow.[18] The event is held annually in Toronto, Ontario.
OLA Presidents
| Year(s) of Service | Name | Affiliation |
|---|---|---|
| 2020 | Andrea Cecchetto | Markham Public Library |
| 2019 | Richard Reid | Durham District School Board |
| 2018 | Kerry Badgley | North Grenville Public Library Board |
| 2017 | Leslie Weir | University of Ottawa Library |
| 2016 | Todd Kyle [20] | Newmarket Public Library |
| 2015 | Jane Hilton [20] | Whitby Public Library Board |
| 2014 | Anita Brooks Kirkland | Waterloo Region District School Board |
| 2013 | Susanna Hubbard Krimmer | London Public Library |
| 2012 | Karen McGrath | Niagara College |
| 2011 | Tanis Fink | Seneca College |
| 2010 | Mary Ann Mavrinac | University of Toronto |
| 2009 | Peggy Thomas | Toronto District School Board |
| 2008 | Sam Coghlan | Stratford Public Library |
| 2007 | Esther Rosenfeld | |
| 2006 | Janet Kaufman | University of Guelph |
| 2005 | Cynthia Archer | York University Library |
| 2004 | Ken Roberts | Hamilton Public Library |
| 2003 | Liz Kerr | Kawartha Pine Ridge District School Board |
| 2002 | Stephen Abram | IHS MicroMedia |
| 2001 | Michael Ridley | University of Guelph |
| 2000 | Elizabeth Hoffman | Ryerson Polytechnic University |
| 1999 | June-Elaine Wilson | Ministry of Transportation Library |
| 1998 | Brian Bell | Oakville Public Library |
| 1997 | Greg Hayton | Cambridge Public Library |
| 1996 | John Black | University of Guelph |
| 1995 | Jane Horrocks | Richmond Hill Public Library |
| 1993-1994 | Janice Hayes | CNIB Library for the Blind |
| 1992-1993 | Allison Craig | West Carleton Secondary School |
| 1991-1992 | Paula de Ronde | Toronto Public Library |
| 1990-1991 | Stan Skrzeszewski | Southern Ontario Library Service |
| 1989-1990 | Wil Vanderelst | Cabinet Office, Government of Ontario, Toronto Public Library Board, Canadian National Institute for the Blind Library Board |
| 1988-1989 | Peter Rogers | Cardinal Newman High School |
| 1987-1988 | Gerry Meek | Thunder Bay Public Library |
| 1986-1987 | Gerda Molson | Niagara-on-the-Lake Library |
| 1985-1986 | Penny McKee | Aurora Public Library |
| 1984-1985 | Alan Pepper | |
| 1983-1984 | Elizabeth Cummings | Lincoln Public Library |
| 1982-1983 | Beth Miller | University of Western Ontario |
| 1981-1982 | Barbara Smith | Peel Board of Education |
| 1980-1981 | Jean Orpwood | North York Public Library |
| 1979-1980 | Kenneth Frost | North York Public Library Board |
| 1978-1979 | Madge Allwood | South Central Regional Library |
| 1977-1978 | Karen Smith | Sir Adam Beck Secondary School |
| 1976-1977 | Andrew Gregorovich | Erindale College Library |
| 1975-1976 | Lawrence A. Moore | Queen’s University |
| 1974-1975 | Peter K. Mutchler | Thunder Bay Public Library |
| 1973-1974 | James J. Brown | Waterloo Public Library |
| 1972-1973 | Peter Hallsworth | Sudbury Public Library |
| 1971 | Fred Israel | Windsor Public Library |
| 1970-1971 | Irma McDonough | Toronto Government Library |
| 1969-1970 | John Dutton | North York Public Library |
| 1968-19689 | Erich R.W. Schultz | Waterloo University Library |
| 1967-1968 | Margaret Whiteman | Etobicoke Public Library |
| 1966-1967 | Albert W. Bowron | Scarborough Public Library |
| 1965-1966 | Leonard Freiser | Toronto School Library |
| 1964-1965 | Grace Crooks | Orillia Public Library |
| 1963-1964 | Hilda M. Brooke | Essex Public Library |
| 1962-1963 | Erik Spicer | Federal Government Library (subsequently Librarian of Parliament) |
| 1961-1962 | Louise Schryver | Chatham Public Library |
| 1960-1961 | Betty D. Hardie | Etobicoke Public Library |
| 1959-1960 | C. Deane Kent | London Public Library |
| 1958-1959 | John D. Snell | Guelph Public Library |
| 1957-1958 | C.P. Crowley | Windsor Public Library Board Trustee |
| 1956-1957 | Mary Silverthorn | University of Toronto Library School |
| 1955-1956 | William L. Graff | North York Public Library |
| 1954-1955 | Dorothy Shoemaker | Kitchener Public Library |
| 1953-1954 | Isabel McLean | Sudbury Public Library |
| 1952-1953 | Robert Kennedy | Special Library |
| 1951-1952 | Gladys Shepley | Windsor Public Library |
| 1949-1951 | Lachlan Farquhar MacRae | Fort William Public Library |
| 1948-1949 | Mildred A. Clow | Kingston Public Library |
| 1947-1948 | Ruby Wallace | Niagara Falls Public Library |
| 1946-1947 | Margaret S. Gill | Ottawa Regional Library |
| 1945-1946 | James J. Talman | London University Library |
| 1943-1945 | Florence L. Cameron | St. Thomas Public Library |
| 1942-1943 | Wm. Stewart Wallace | University of Toronto Library |
| 1941-1942 | Freda F. Waldon | Hamilton Public Library |
| 1940-1941 | Anne I. Hume | Windsor Public Library |
| 1938-1940 | Kathleen Elliott | Galt Public Library |
| 1937-1938 | Edgar Urwin Dickenson | Wallaceburg Trustee |
| 1936-1937 | Dorothy Carlisle | Sarnia Public Library |
| 1935-1936 | Marjorie Jarvis | Toronto Public Library |
| 1933-1935 | Lurene McDonald | Hamilton Public Library |
| 1932-1933 | T. Bart Howard | Lambton County Trustee |
| 1931-1932 | Richard E. Crough | London Public Library |
| 1930-1931 | Aimee Kennedy | Kingston Public Library |
| 1929 | James Steele | Stratford Trustee |
| 1928-1929 | Lillian H. Smith | Toronto Public Library |
| 1926-1928 | Fred Landon | London University Library |
| 1925-1926 | E.A. Hardy | Toronto Trustee |
| 1924-1925 | G.W. Rudlen | Arnprior Public Library |
| 1923-1924 | W. Briden | St. Thomas Public Library |
| 1922-1923 | W.H. Murch | St. Thomas Public Library |
| 1921-1922 | W.J. Sykes | Ottawa Public Library |
| 1920-1921 | B. Mabel Dunham | Kitchener Public Library |
| 1919-1920 | D.M. Grant | Sarnia Public Library |
| 1918-1919 | F.P. Gavin | Windsor Public Library |
| 1917-1918 | Mary J. L. Black[21] | Fort William Public Library |
| 1916-1917 | George H. Locke | Toronto Public Library |
| 1915-1916 | David Williams | Collingwood Public Library |
| 1914-1915 | W.O. Carson | London Public Library |
| 1913-1914 | W.F. Moore | Dundas Public Library |
| 1912-1913 | C.R. Charteris | Chatham Public Library |
| 1911-1912 | L.J. Burpee | Ottawa Public Library |
| 1910-1911 | A.W. Cameron | Woodstock Public Library |
| 1909-1910 | Judge Hardy | Brantford Public Library |
| 1908-1909 | W.A. Bradley | Kitchener Public Library |
| 1906-1908 | Norman S. Gurd | Sarnia Public Library |
| 1905-1906 | W.J. Robertson | St. Catharines Public Library Board |
| 1904-1905 | W. Tyler | Guelph Public Library |
| 1902-1904 | Hugh H. Langton[22] | Librarian of University of Toronto |
| 1900-1902 | James Bain[23] | Toronto Public Library |
External links
References
- 1 2 3 4 "Ontario Library Association - The BPC". www.thebpc.ca. Retrieved 2021-08-09.
- 1 2 "About OLA". Ontario Library Association. Retrieved 2021-08-10.
- ↑ "Archives of Ontario". ao.minisisinc.com. Retrieved 2021-08-09.
- 1 2 3 OLA (2020). "Our History" (PDF). OLA.
- ↑ "Home". Ontario Library Association. Retrieved 2021-08-10.
- ↑ "Divisions". Ontario Library Association. Retrieved 2021-08-10.
- ↑ "Members". Canadian Federation of Library Associations. 2016-08-01. Retrieved 2021-08-09.
- ↑ Ex Libris Association. "Ex Libris Association". www.exlibris.ca. Retrieved 2021-08-10.
- 1 2 3 "Affiliates". Ontario Library Association. Retrieved 2021-08-10.
- ↑ https://broadview.org/fay-fluffy-storytime-interview/
- 1 2 "Award Nominated Lists". Ontario Library Association. Retrieved 2021-08-10.
- 1 2 3 4 "About the Forest of Reading". Ontario Library Association. Retrieved 2021-08-10.
- ↑ "Forest of Reading Festival |". Retrieved 2021-08-10.
- ↑ "The Library Marketplace". The Library Marketplace. Retrieved 2021-08-09.
- ↑ "About OLA Press". The Library Marketplace. Retrieved 2021-08-09.
- ↑ Ontario Library Association. "We've got a job to do! 90th annual conference program 1992". vitacollections.ca. Retrieved 2021-08-09.
- ↑ Ontario Library Association. "OLA Super Conference 1995: Navigating the Third Millennium: The Future of Librarianship". vitacollections.ca. Retrieved 2021-08-09.
- ↑ "About | OLA Super Conference". www.olasuperconference.ca. Retrieved 2021-08-10.
- ↑ "OLA Presidents". Ontario Library Association. 2020-07-08. Retrieved 2021-08-10.
- 1 2 "Board of Directors". Retrieved 2017-01-31.
- ↑ "Mary Johanna Louisa Black". Ex Libris Association. 2018. Retrieved May 31, 2020.
- ↑ "Libraries Today: Ontario's Libraries in the Twentieth Century". www.uoguelph.ca. Archived from the original on 2011-08-06. Retrieved 2017-01-31.
- ↑ Inc., Advanced Solutions International. "OLA's History". www.accessola.org. Retrieved 2017-01-31.
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