Did you miss out on Super Conference 2011? Or did you double book your schedule and miss an interesting session? Now is your chance to catch up on many of the brilliant speakers and inspiring plenaries experienced during the conference.
By registering at ola.scholarlab.com you can access sessions highlighting and discussing the hot topics in librarianship today. For only $50 you can purchase an all-access pass allowing you to view, rewind, forward and save any virtual conference session.
Not sure how any of this works? You can always preview any session or access one of our many FREE sessions! We've included videos from the Michael Wesch and Atom Egoyan plenaries as well as a spotlight session from Tonya Surman of the Centre for Social Innovation. As a bonus feature we've also included personal interviews with library leaders such as Mike Ridley, Stephen Abram, and Nicole Engard.
So come and join the Virtual Experience - all the fun of Super Conference, minus the snow- storms!

This popular full-day symposium sponsored by OPLA will run on Friday, October 21, 2011 in the Bluma Appel Salon at the Toronto Reference Library. Serving today's readers is rapidly evolving and changing as technology brings new possibilities and opportunities to the reading experience. This year, RA in a Day will feature presentations on reaching readers virtually, and offer strategies and solutions to effectively respond to the way readers are now accessing our collections and services. Registration will open in early August.

Guest Speaker: Charlotte Gray, author
Confirmed panelists include:
Michael Ciccone, Director of Collections, Hamilton Public Library Karen Potash Estrovich, OverDrive, Inc. Duncan Smith, founding partner and Product Manager, NoveList

Are you a member? It is free and there are multiple forums set up for discussions ... Visit OLA online today to join.

Libraries in our society are under a constant challenge to present programs and information in a way that is "new" and innovative, and in a manner that will attract the interest of the public. The Human Library program endeavors to do that by fostering meaningful interpersonal dialogue between people who would normally not have the occasion to speak to each other.
The Check Out a Human Book @ Your Library committee developed a toolkit for public, post-secondary and school libraries in Ontario by gathering best practices and encouraging libraries to participate in similar events. This project will increase the visibility of libraries and strengthen community partnerships. Libraries are an excellent venue for holding such events as they are considered to be a trusted and nonpartisan environment. The toolkit was launched spring 2011 - find it on OLA's website and coordinate a Human Library at your organization!

A Libraries 2020 Initiative* hosted by the Ontario Library Association
Tuesday July 12, 9-5, Toronto
(location listed on OLA's website)

Planning a new facility? Re- designing a space? Involved in the building of a multi-use space?
This one-day intensive boot camp will prepare your organization for a new space project of any size. In the morning, participants will learn how to create the vision, build a use study, create a use case, and select the architect/ space planner.
The afternoon is hands-on, focusing on developing case studies based on recent library space planning and building projects. The resources and case studies provided will provide participants with a practical tool-kit to begin their own work plans.
Space is limited to 60 participants.
*Libraries 2020
The Symposium: Libraries 2020, held in September 2009 and funded from the $15 million contribution from the Ministry of Culture, focused on the future of public libraries. Administered by the Ontario Library Service North and overseen by a Steering Committee of representatives of OLS North, the Southern Ontario Library Service, the Federation of Ontario Public Libraries, Knowledge Ontario, and
the Ontario Library Association.

Visit the OLA web site for updates on the following programs and events in development:
* RA in a Day: October 21, Toronto
* Super Conference 2012 - Innovation! Have a great idea for Super Conference? Interested in presenting? The call for proposals deadline for Super Conference 2012 (February 1-4) is May 13.

You can determine the future of Ontario's Libraries:
Engage your local candidate ...
"A properly funded school library has a direct impact on student achievement and reading engagement. Not all of Ontario's schools have well-resourced school libraries. If elected, what is your commitment to ensuring the best educational experiences for young Ontarians?"
"Public libraries support economic development, life-long learning, digital literacy, and community engagement. Yet provincial funding has not kept pace with increase in service demands. If elected, how can you help secure an increase in funding for public library services?"
"Knowledge Ontario provides a suite of digital services that can be accessed from school, public, or academic libraries in Ontario. The organization enables students to get real-time research help right from home, creates local digital community collections, and provides access to information online for all Ontarians, yet provincial government support has dwindled. If elected what will you do to continue this valuable service?"
Visit OLA's website for more election issues, resources, and contacts.