TALCO (The Association of Library, Media, Information Technology Co-ordinators and Consultants of Ontario) invites conference delegtes who are the lead people in their school boards for library, media and information technology programs to attend the AGM. No cost. Please email Kelly Diioro if you plan to attend: Kelly.DiIorio@dsbn.edu.on.ca

For fifteen years, Levant has been an insider with the Conservative Party, working closely with many of its senior decision-makers, right up to the Prime Minister's Office. When not advocating for the Nation’s ring-wing conservative movement, he works as a columnist for Canadian Lawyer magazine and various newspapers. He is also the author of Shakedown: How Our Government is Undermining Democracy in the Name of Human Rights. Part memoir, part investigative journalism, this is a shocking and controversial look at the corruption of Canada’s human rights commissions. Levant’s latest book, Ethical Oil: The Case for Not Buying Oil from OPEC Nations, will be out in March 2010.

Dr. Chris Spence is the Director of Education for the Toronto District School Board, Canada’s largest and most multicultural school board. He has more than 15 years of senior administration and teaching experience and has authored several books about leadership and teaching. His leadership role in working with the broader educational community to manage issues, develop policy, promote causes that benefit students, and achieve measurable results has been widely recognized. He played a significant role in the development of Boys 2 Men; Project G.O. (Girls Only); and the Read to Succeed Program, which motivates and teaches boys to read. He has won many awards for his outstanding contributions to education and the community, including Outstanding Alumni Award from Simon Fraser University, Positive Impact Award, and Canadian Black Achievement Award for Professional Achievement and Community Leadership. He was recognized by the City of Toronto for best practices in education and by the community group Why We Are Here for outstanding educational contributions. Chris also received the John C. Holland Award for Professional Achievement and a Harry Jerome Award for community contributions.

Over the last year, Library and Archives Canada has been working on a modernization initiative to fully support its role as a national institution. Based on results from early pathfinders and research on the current environment, it is clear that collaboration is paramount and a must-have at all levels - institutional and professional - to achieve set outcomes that provide Canadian citizens with consistent and persistent access to their information resources over time. After a brief overview of the environment and the challenges memory institutions face, the presentation will focus on collaboration issues and the avenues to explore that will allow us to increase synergy and serve citizens well.

Nora Rawlinson, co-founder of earlyword.com and former editor-in-chief of Publisher’s Weekly, believes that the more librarians understand publishing, the better readers advisors and book buyers they will be. Learn how to anticipate demand; understand major and niche publishers; spot sleepers, and how to better use publisher’s catalogs; and develop online tools for better collection development and readers advisory.

Despite being one of our most popular pastimes, music and its related literature pose significant challenges to library staff handling patron reference questions. Identifying songs, locating scores and recordings, finding biographical information on musical personalities: is it possible without music-specific subscription databases? Search strategies and common resources in print and onlinewill be demonstrated.

Cet atelier explore, sous forme d'une table ronde, les défis, les enjeux et les solutions reliés à l'offre de services en français au sein d'organismes bilingues et multiculturels. Les invités proviennent de milieux divers, tels que les bibliothèques publiques, scolaires et académiques. Suite à une présentation de 15 minutes de chacun des invités, une discussion suivra.

This session looks at the successful and not-so-successful strategies used at The Ottawa Hospital to encourage greater use of library resources by nursing staff through the lens of nursing knowledge translation research.

When Seneca Libraries created the new Digital Library Services Division, staff education and training were considered essential ingredients to ensure a positive impact of the new division on library staff and the institution. Four years later, we are happy to share our insights on what works and does not work to foster a "can-do" attitude about library technologies within the library.

Resources:
Session Presentation (.pdf)

Grad Students Information Seeking: What we need to know
Graduate student enrolment is increasing and academic librarians must support this diverse group. How do grad students approach research? What are their stumbling blocks? What do they need from us in order to succeed? We spoke to graduate students in the social sciences and have uncovered the answers to these questions.

Resources:
Session Presentation (.pdf)

In September 2008, Brock University opened the Matheson Learning Commons. In the fall of 2008, an initial set of focus groups about the services of the Learning Commons suggested there was a need to study how to best communicate these services and resources of the Library and its partners. A second series of focus groups were held in March 2009 and the research results provide insight into how university libraries and their campus partners can effectively promote their services and collections to today's students.

Resources:
Session Presentation (.ppt)

Ever heard, "We didn't know the library did that!" Our strategic planning process revealed that students didn't have a good sense of the scope of our library services and how we could support them academically. Students asked for a stronger library presence on-campus. We responded with the creation of a student advisory committee and the development of marketing strategies to raise our profile within the university. Join us to hear about our focus on outreach.

Resources:
Session Presentation (.pdf)
Further Reading (.pdf)

This presentation investigates the accessibility and usability of library databases for University Students with print/learning disabilities. The presentation is based on the results of a study conducted by York University and Ryerson University where ten students who use screen readers were asked to search 3 academic databases. The impact of database accessibility on research skills at the academic level will be discussed.

Resources:
Session Presentation (.ppt)

The issue of filtering public library workstations is an ongoing debate. By providing digital literacy programs, libraries can help maintain their position of trust in their communities, while providing uncensored information. This session, delivered by Media Awareness Network and the Ottawa Public Library, shows how to deliver tips and workshops to parents to help them equip their children with digital literacy skills. The presenters will also spotlight a new partnership with Girl Guides of Canada which will see girls in guiding receive cybercitizen badges in Ottawa libraries.

Resources:
Session Presentation (.ppt)

Ottawa Public Library's website for children offers preschoolers and older children a chance to learn literacy skills in a fun, interactive environment. Learn how this bilingual site was built using the Drupal open-source platform, and how library staff maintain the site to keep it fresh and kids coming back.

Resources:
Session Presentation (.pdf)

Learn how to plan and execute a Writer in Residence program from start to finish, including tips on types of residencies, submitting Canada Council grant proposals, creating successful programming, incorporating blogs and online chats, and supporting the author and his or her project.

Resources:
Session Presentation (.ppt)

The Transitional Intervention Program for Suspended Students (TIPSS) is a partnership project of the Toronto Public Library and Toronto Catholic District School Board that brings suspended students into the library. Participants receive library orientation; access to online, educational, and community resources; academic support, and have access to a social worker. Learn how the program has become a success, how it was developed, and hear about future plans.

Although the concept of providing services for older adults in not a new one, the disproportionate growth of this demographic is causing most library systems to intentionally refocus energies on this segment of their communities.  There are actually three generations within the senior group to be considered when designing a senior space: baby boomers, older adults, and the elderly.  Learn more about creating the perfect "destination" for these groups.

In 2009, Oshawa Public Libraries hosted its inaugural Battle of the Bands. The event was a huge success with bands in three age categories "rocking the shelves". We will discuss how to host a battle at your library: timelines, committee responsibilities, sponsors, judges, equipment, and more.

In November 2006, Dr. Alyson Shaw, a CHEO pediatrician, wrote an article in the Ottawa Citizen that linked literacy and health. The Cornwall Public Library approached its local Eastern Ontario Health Unit to create a reading and health programme for new parents and their babies. Toys were provided by the Early Years Centre, and an Early Childhood Education student at St. Lawrence College completed the Healthy Baby Tales team. Come and hear how this new combination of existing resources has helped this community to raise healthy, happy readers.

With funds allocated from the Ministry of Culture’s $15M investment, the sixth and final element of OLBA’s Leadership by Design will be implemented in Spring 2010 in cooperation with the Ontario Library Service. Networking with Our Peers will bring together Board Chairs and CEO’s in a series of ten Area Workshops – five in Northern Ontario and five in Southern Ontario, to collaborate on issues affecting the future of library leadership in communities province-wide. At this session, you will meet key library leaders involved and be introduced to this far-reaching initiative.

To address a number of ongoing concerns, including increased demands for on-line information and services, the sharing of resources and services through partnerships, changing demographics, and recruitment, retention, and training concerns re library trustees and staff, the Saskatchewan Provincial Library formed the Multitype Library Board. This is a network of working relationships among autonomous libraries and information providers, established to share services and resources for mutual benefits.

Resources:
Session Presentation (.ppt)

So much of the work we do in libraries focuses on digital strategies, but we always need to consider the people side of our practices and services. This panel looks at how to change strategies and practices for the digital world, roles: working approaches, competencies, and digital models with users in mind.

Hear the results and recommendations from a large-scale 2008 study, conducted by the speaker, to ascertain the similarities and differences in how various end user groups and librarians define metadata quality. Discuss the implications of the research results for current acquisitions and cataloging policies, practices, and workflows.

York University chose VuFind (vufind.org) as a new search and discovery application that would give users a better way of searching all York's collections and holdings. Hear what we did, how we did it, how it turned out, what went well, and what the problems were.

This session relays the experience of McMaster librarians in the creation of a series of outreach videos. The session will identify best practices, key software (and hardware), and means of disseminating video to library users.

Was your library a part of the Atomic Learning tutorials pilot project that LearnON ran during the 2009-2010 academic year? Curious as to what were the most popular applications? Highest demand tutorials? How the Atomic tutorials stacked up as a source of 24X7 support? We'll provide an entertaining overview of the results of this pilot project and look at outcomes for 2010 onward.

Moe Hosseini-Ara, Director of Service Excellence with the Markham Public Library, will provide practical insights, lessons learned and benefits realized through the use of RFID and self-service technology. Hear how circulation processes have been transformed, allowing staff to provide more value added services. Find out how your library can improve customer service, materials handling and turn around time while keeping up with increased volume. Markham Public Library, an early adopter of self-service and RFID technology was the first library in Canada to install a booksorter/self-checkin machine.

Learn more about leading ideas and tools of municipal cultural planning, including cultural asset mapping, community identity mapping and place branding, the use of social media in community engagement, and cultural tourism development.

Eating disorders, depression, bullying, drugs, suicide . . . the health of Canadian Youth is a national priority and librarians can play a pivotal role. How do teens find the information they need—but are too embarrassed to ask for? Strategies will be shared to leverage print, web, and online databases to support teen health and wellness education and programming, which in turn contributes to building strong communities.

This session reports on The Library Association of Alberta/The Partnership Continuing Education Certification Program pilot project. More than 40 participants are recording their continuing education activities and at the end of the pilot will receive certificates that document their CE work. This pilot is the first step towards a national certification program.

Studies have identified images of librarians as elderly curmudgeons and as sex objects, but what about the image of an army fatigue-wearing, gun-toting librarian putting his/her life on the line for books and the right to read them as found in a popular anime/manga, hypothetically "Library Wars"? This presentation will look at the representation of librarians as freedom fighters. Taking modern day examples, this presentation is a call to arms that will seek to empower librarians to protect the right to access information in a free environment.

International Champion of Human Rights, Award-Winning Author, Leader LGen The Hon. Roméo Dallaire (Ret) is a true hero and an outspoken leader for the 21st century. A decorated Lieutenant General, Dallaire served 35 years with the Canadian Armed Forces. His best-selling book, Shake Hands With the Devil, is a stirring account of his experience as the Force Commander of the United Nations Assistance Mission to Rwanda, which exposes the failures of the international community to stop the worst genocide in the 20th century.

The Forest of Reading® 2009 EVERGREEN AWARD™ WINNER Voting for the 2009 Evergreen Award takes place during Public Library Week in October. The winner is announced in November, and the Award is given at Super Conference 2010. Every year this session is a "standing-room-only" success, and this year, it will be held in one of large spaces! Here is your chance to meet and hear the winning author speak. Be sure to bring or buy copies of the book for autographing! One Book One Conference (OBOC) The winning title will be this year's OBOC title. Watch the online Super Conference program for new information regarding this year's book discussions. Pick up your Evergreen sticker at the Forest of Reading® booth on the EXPO floor if you have read the winning title, and don't forget to buy the Evergreen bookmarks in the OLAStore.

The OPLA Child and Youth Services Committee has coordinated this opportunity for anyone working with teens and children in public libraries to meet for a session of idea sharing, networking, and camaraderie. Libraries of all sizes will be displaying ideas for programming in both the teens' and children's services area. This will also be a chance to meet and hear from the recipients of this year's "Leadership in Youth Services" and "Children's Librarian of the Year" awards, as well as to chat with committee members who represent your interests.

Toronto Public Library's website redesign included two key marketing communications objectives: 1) to create an online brand to define the website's visual design and messaging, and 2) to develop and implement a digital strategy to bring the brand to life. Hear how we're engaging in the conversation about our brand through social media and e-marketing initiatives.

In our data-driven world, it is important to understand that mathematical concepts underlie almost all real-life situations and everyday activities. Unfortunately, the role of school and public libraries in supporting mathematics education has long been underestimated and therefore underutilized. By re-examining their various collections and programs, library staff will find that they can foster the development of these essential numeracy skills, often while simultaneously promoting traditional and informational literacy skills.

Resources:
Session Presentation (.ppt)

Cet atelier propose une découverte par démonstration du produit Eureka.cc, banque de données d'articles de journaux et de quotidiens francophones et anglophones. Ce produit électronique fait partie de la gamme de produits offerts au public ontarien via Knowledge Ontario.

PubMed is a freely available gold standard database for the life and health sciences disciplines. Novice PubMed users can become expert PubMed searchers. The session will highlight the numerous PubMed search features, and will focus on free resources and services such as the Bookshelf, PubMed Central (PMC), citation matching, and My NCBI (e.g. an alert service). Learn how to access and keep current with the latest peer-reviewed health sciences information.

Resources:
Session Presentation (.pptx)
Handout (.pdf)

 When looking to increase communication and collaboration in our library, we created a team of physical sciences/engineering librarians, library assistants, and administrators.  Together, we work on setting priorities, sharing expertise, and developing skills.  In three years, we have moved from traditional subject-based instruction responsibilities to working as a team to prepare and co-instruct classes.  By sharing with you the benefits of our team-based system to our librarians, library system, and users, we want to inspire you to think about how to implement a similar system in your own library.

Resources:
Session Presentation (.ppt)

Social Service Work faculty and Library Science faculty at Georgian College collaborated in a study designed to understand how students value and engage with the concepts, skills, and tools of Information Literacy (IL) and Evidence Based Practice (EBP). This mixed method exploratory study sought to understand students' current attitudes, confidence levels, knowledge, and skill sets and how these develop as a result of taking an eight week modular training program in conjunction with a core course. The researchers advocate for an embedded model of learning the skills of IL and EBP.

What draws students to library space during overnight hours? How has 24-hour service originated and evolved at different post-secondary institutions in Ontario? What struggles and successes have academic libraries experienced in providing service around the clock? Join us for a lively discussion where panelists provide an overview of their institutions’ experiences, and attendees are invited to share their questions, ideas and stories, as we all explore what the demand for 24-hour service means for the future role of the library in academic institutions.

Resources:
Session Presentation (.ppt)

Follow along on the journey that two management librarians at the University of Ottawa are taking in their effort to increase and improve upon exposure of faculty publications to internal and external communities. What began as a simple idea to use RefWorks as a means of promotion ended up as a much larger and much more collaborative initiative involving key members of the School of Management and the University Library.

Resources:
Session Presentation (.pdf)
Annotated Bibliography (.pdf)
Handout (.pdf)

Learn new methods and techniques for conducting and promoting assessment activities in your library. This session is geared to those new to assessment activities as well as the more experienced librarians looking for ways to promote assessment and enable others to practice evidence-based decision-making. The assessment toolkit will provide you with a selection of data gathering methods, tips such as how to work with your ethics research board, suggestions for visually presenting data, and more.

Resources:
Session Presentation (.ppt)

We know more today about effective education, teacher-librarianship, information literacy, and curriculum and staff development than ever before. Yet there are fewer university faculty members, fewer school district coordinators and consultants and of course fewer teacher-librarians than ever before. What went wrong? Join Ken as he takes a personal view of the world of the teacher-librarian from his beginnings as a high school teacher-librarian 40 years ago, until today. The issues are sadly the same, in spite of new and emerging technologies; the prescriptions are also the same and sadly, not followed.

Today's students are accustomed to just-in-time delivery at their fingertips. Streaming video allows teacher-librarians to offer video content to immediately meet student learning needs. Streaming video is also an ideal delivery method to differentiate instruction.

What can be done to move beyond well-functioning book discussions in order to enhance your students' experiences with the White Pine™ selections? Learn how to incorporate technology and special events to enhance your White Pine™ program.

Want to support new and experienced teachers in all aspects of project design? Teacher-librarians are in a unique position to bring best practices of assessment and evaluation to collaborative ventures with teachers to ensure optimum student learning. Discover new ideas about A & E: how diagnostic testing, feedback, evaluation devices, and learning skills can ensure student growth and success.

Resources:
Session Presentation (.ppt)
Generic Rubric (.doc)
Concept Formation - Teaching & Learning Opportunities (.doc)
ASCD Article (.doc)

The presentation will report findings from an anonymous survey that invited members of the OSLA listserv to respond to questions about their libraries and graphic novels. The survey included questions about the size of the collection, characteristics of readers, titles, and circulation. Open-ended questions asked librarians for their personal response and reflections on the role of graphic novels in the school library.

Online technologies are breaking down barriers in accessing music resources. Archival sound, media and score resources are being moved to accessible spaces in novel ways. Find out what is now easily available.

When planning your digitization project you need to visualize your project from start to finish. Consider how your digital material will be preserved for longevity and sustainability, predict the cost of the project, and be knowledgeable about best practices, standards, and overall digitization policies for your institution.

This session explores the problem of inconsistency in library jargon on our website, signage, email signatures , business cards, and marketing materials. Are we liaison librarians or subject librarians? ILL or ILL/DD? Article Databases or Research Databases? This session will identify how we can manage an "authority list" of consistent library jargon.

Winners of OPLA's 2009 Leadership in Adult Readers' Advisory Award, the Deweys are back to give a sneak preview of the best books of Spring 2010, including fiction and non-fiction, Canadian authors, exciting debuts, new mysteries, bookclub picks, and some hidden gems! Great for library staff who work in collection development and readers' advisory services, who organize teen bookclubs, who are repeatedly asked to recommend good books to patrons.

Renovations in the University of Alberta's Cameron Science & Technology Library afforded the opportunity to enter into a unique partnership of shared space and services with Edmonton Public Library with the goal of enhancing public library access and services to the University of Alberta community. Learn about the implementation and operational details of setting up this collaborative venture, the development of a shared library card service for students, as well as the expected and unforeseen benefits of providing academic and public library services side-by-side.

Join us as we discuss how the Pickering Public Library's new digital service point "iHelp" provides in-depth tech support for library clients wishing to download to their portable devices (ipods, G3 phones); edit image, sound and video files; configure their wireless laptops; or view a podcast tutorial. The service evolved in response to a decline in traditional reference questions along with an increase in technical support questions.

Resources:
Session Presentation (.pdf)

In light of the digital environment we live in, it is anticipated that the Canadian Copyright Act will undergo some significant changes. Librarians are one of the few stakeholders that advocate for a fair and balanced copyright, and we need to be ready for draft legislation. Margaret Ann Wilkinson, OLA's copyright expert, will report on key elements we need to be aware of should changes be made.

Attendees will learn about the exciting challenge of providing multilingual collections in linguistically diverse communities. Using Markham Public Library's thriving Chinese collection as a jump-off point, the participants will outline their various experiences, obstacles, and successes in serving the needs of an ever-increasing non-English customer base.

This presentation will explore some implications of recent development in complex systems therapy to public libraries. The speaker will lead a discussion concerning the significance of libraries to public mental health based on the following principles: (1) complex language, particularly as it is presented in Literature, trains the brain; (2) the change of stories, on both personal and social levels, is a form of modelling for the maintenance of a healthy, creative life; (3) effective therapy is about self-efficiency and transformation through language development and story revision.

In November 2007, the NS Minister of Education struck a Library Funding Task Force, mandated to prepare a multi-year funding strategy that provides stable, multi-year operating funding to regional library boards. In August 2008, the Task Force concluded its work and presented its report and recommendations to the Minister. This session provides an overview of the process, the players, and the results. This session will be of interest to public library trustees, senior library managers, and library funders.

Manage Media Messages will provide insights and tools to help you prepare for media encounters.  You’ll learn what to say and what NOT to say to a reporter, how to focus on the most appropriate key messages and how to lead without being led.  If you dread the thought of talking to reporters, this session is for you.  It will help you discover how easy it can be to deliver messages through the media.

Resources:
Handouts (.doc)

In the era of ubiquitous computing and mobile devices, libraries are facing the need to develop mobile applications and interfaces to meet the changing needs of their user populations. Hear the important issues, stimulating ideas, and exciting options that libraries should consider when developing new applications and interfaces.

To keep a healthy portfolio of services and programs, libraries, like all organizations, need to prune or weed those offerings no longer producing the desired results to make room for new programs & services. Libraries have a long history of adding without deleting, resulting in too many offerings, too much staff stress and too little focus on what’s really important for users and for the library. Rebecca guides you through a portfolio management process long used by service businesses for identifying those services critical for the library, those to be phased out and those to be incubated, as well as approaches for managing the underlying decision-making and staff engagement.

For years hardly a single children’s book was published in Canada. Now we have a rich, diverse body of literature to call our own, but we may lose this hard-won national treasure. Why should we care? What should we do? And what are the must-have Canadian books for every library?

Learn how the Thames Valley DSB committee follows the selection, approval and challenge process for choosing appropriate gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender literature for children and teens. Presenters will discuss the challenges and successes encountered, highlight some titles from the resulting list of resources for GLBT youth and families, and how they have been incorporated into lessons based on curriculum expectations at the Elementary and Secondary Level. Themes such as Bullying, Self-Esteem, Diverse Families, Self-Concept, Sexual Identity, and Healthy Relationships are addressed through literature based activities.

Julia and Caryl will present an international literature unit which leads students to broader understanding of diversity and pluralism, connecting them to wider world perspectives and universal truths.

Christopher Hume is the architecture critic and urban issues columnist of The Toronto Star. He started writing for the paper in 1981. He won a National Newspaper Award for his columns in 2008, on his fifth nomination. In 2009, the Royal Architectural Institute of Canada gave him the President’s Award in Architectural Journalism. Hume has also received a certificate of appreciation from the Ontario Association of Architects. His book, William James’ Toronto Views, won a Toronto Heritage Award in 2000. In 2004, he received a Landscape Ontario award. His feature article about the Toronto waterfront in Spacing won a National Magazine Award this year. Hume appears frequently on radio and television as a commentator on city issues. Hume was named Toronto’s best newspaper columnist by NOW magazine in 2005 and Eye magazine in 2006. Born in England in 1951, he came to Canada as a child. He was educated at the University of Toronto and Glendon College and lives in downtown Toronto.

In general, librarians strive to ensure their libraries are respectful, democratic, and tolerant environments. What does this mean for LGBQ library patrons? Do libraries provide safe spaces for LGBQ users or must they create their own? What impact and responsibilities do librarians have on the library as a place, and on the creation of safe space?

Victoria Owen and Joan Dalton, members of the OLA Copyright Users Group, will lead an interactive workshop that will include a review of actual licenses provided by OLA members. The workshop will focus on the challenges of negotiation, interpretation, and practical application in both academic and public libraries.

Find out what's new in DDC! Learn the changes that happened in DDC22 and the updates from the past six years. Future plans and editorial directions will be included.

Resources:
Session Presentation (.ppsx)
Session Presentation (.ppt)

The session provides an overview of systematic reviews with a focus on expert searching. It will cover applying the principles of evidence-based medicine (EBM); information resources, including specific database retrieval interfaces and content; search strategies (hedges) for EBM, including sources of hedges that have been researched and developing strategies for specific projects; evaluation retrieved results to discover and identify relevant evidence and determine fit to information needs; and, documentation of the information retrieval process.

Cet atelier fera un bilan des développements des dernières années dans l'industrie du livre numérique au Québec et au Canada français. Plusieurs enjeux seront soulevés: les changements provoqués dans l'industrie de l'édition traditionnelle, l'entente Google, l'édition numérique au sein de petites structures d'édition. La conférencière proposera aussi de discuter de ces enjeux avec les participants.

The University of Guelph-Humber Library Services has a Learning Commons (LC) detached from the library building. During the 2008-2009 academic year we conducted a survey to gather information about the type of library service and service approach students want to have at the LC. We implemented the roving librarian and also delivered reference help at the LC's Writing Centre. We also incorporated a new student work figure: the Research Support Peers. This group of students has the main goal of bridging library services from the library to the student community.

Resources:
Session Presentation (.pptx)

Why can't all campuses be like Earlham College where Information Literacy (IL) has been integrated into curricula since the 1960s? Explore with us the sustainability of typical Faculty-Librarian IL collaborations, then consider how a top-down approach can assist in making IL a core educational value and an essential element of all academic curricula. How might this model play out on your campus? Can Ontario's UDLEs help us out? Who else can help? Reflect with us on your experiences and learn about Sheila Webber's Information Literate University.

Resources:
Session Presentation (.ppt)

Since the launch of the University of Waterloo Map Library's new indirect outreach initiative, GIS user statistics have significantly increased. Find out what we did to attract more students from across the entire campus and learned how offering less can in fact increase the academic use of library services.

Exciting things are happening at ODESI, the data service of Scholars Portal. Come to this session to see ODESI in action using real reference questions as a starting point. Become familiar with the broad range of surveys and polls available through ODESI. No experience necessary!

Moving beyond the numbers, the presenter will share her "lessons learned" using the five p's of budgeting: purpose, pieces, process, place, and politics. From "presentation disaster recovery" to "the meeting before the meeting", consider the strategic side of budgeting in the academic library context.

OSLA Council will cover the current projects and issues of the Association.

Faced with secondary students reading well below grade level, a teacher and teacher-librarian collaboratively developed and implemented their successful reading program designed for reluctant readers, featuring blogging and podcasting of student reviews of the books they had read. Benefits included increased reading and continued library use. Award winning author, Eric Walters will join us during this session to discuss the process of writing Hi-Lo fiction novels for young adults.

Resources:
Session Presentation (.pdf)
Book List (.xls)
Report (.doc)

As teacher-librarians, we have access to books and digital resources that can open children's eyes to the wonder of the natural environment and the complexities of our planet's natural systems; we also have a unique opportunity to expose children to the information and skills they need to become responsible environmental citizens. Three Toronto teacher-librarians at EcoSchools will share resources and how to use them to educate and excite elementary-aged students about our home planet.

Resources:
Book List (wiki)

The AODA Accessibility Standard for Information and Communications outlines how organizations must meet the information and communications needs of people with disabilities. This session will explain the requirements of the Standard and provide information on how your library can be prepared to implement the Standard. The emphasis will be on how to provide equitable access to information and resources for individuals with disabilities. Practical tips and resources will be provided.

Resources:
Session Presentation (.pptx)
Final Proposed Standard (.doc)
Resources (.doc)

Maximize your partnering time with teachers. We will share our experiences in advocating for the teaching of specific research inquiry skills and information technologies as a progression of skills through the junior and intermediate grades. Practical suggestions will be shared on how to set up your library and research area to reflect the four-step research process.

Resources:
researchcontinuum.blogspot.com

The speaker will provide an introduction to literature by Canada's original people. Their stories, offering a perspective outside of the experience of mainstream culture, need to become part of the educational experience for all Canadians. Featuring stories all students will identify with, suggestions will be offered for incorporating them into elementary curriculum.

The dialogue continues.  Following the Symposium 2020 we held focus   
groups sessions to flesh out the Symposium Participants' five priorities and create a picture of success in 2020. Now it's time to focus on the collaborative action necessary to get there. The Symposium Committee invites you to come and join us to further define the future of Public Libraries in Ontario.

This project is funded by the Ontario Ministry of Culture's investment in public libraries through SOLS in collaboration with OLS-North.

Resources:
Report on Ontario Public Library Focus Groups (.doc)

They love to challenge authority and are notoriously moody - are we talking about teens, or two-year-olds? Teen brain development may rival that of the toddler years and perhaps that explains the attitude and characteristics of this historically underserved age group! Discuss underlying factors that may influence teen behaviours and learn how librarians can address patron behaviour issues in a way that will develop positive relationships with young adults.

Resources:
Session Presentation

A One Book program has multiple benefits. But what are the pitfalls and the unexpected challenges that can occur? Organizers of three community read programs discuss practical details on developing and organizing their programs and provide strategic tips on what works and what doesn't. The session covers partnerships: in two neighbouring towns, in a rural county, and in a large urban centre. An author on the panel provides the view from the other side: the impact of being chosen as a One Book author and the commitment required.

ONE: Project Prep & Positioning: Find out how Cambridge Libraries has established regular classroom visits with schools in their community. Interactive teaching sessions throughout the year allow students to learn research skills and develop a sense of library ownership. TWO: Read to your Webkinz: Develop programs that will generate wide appeal by combining pop culture with activities for school-age children. Using a pop-culture theme, apply the format and watch the program succeed. THREE: But I Hate to Read! Discover London Public Library's innovative approaches to reaching reluctant readers through collections, programs, family literacy events, and community outreach.

Resources:
Project Prep & Positioning (.ppt) - Sandra Sydor
Read to your Webkinz (.ppt) - Sandra Sydor

Reference work in public and academic libraries is changing. No longer can we expect to only answer questions using our reference interviewing skills and a collection of core reference materials. Evidence from a comprehensive study of face-to-face interaction in a large urban system combined with an analysis of what's being taught in North American LIS reference courses and a pilot project of peer-counselling suggests managers and practitioners might need to learn some new approaches to their work. Re-conceptualizing the reference transaction as interactions, and building information relationships shift the paradigm.

Libraries often have great programs for younger children and older teens, but what about those who are in the middle? Join us as we present twelve stand-alone tween program ideas that you can take back to your library. From advertising blurbs and booklists to program outlines and budgets, this session is the package deal. Don't miss this great opportunity to bridge the gap between children's and teen programming.

Resources:
Session Presentation (.ppt)
Companion Web site

When water bursts from the pipes and flows through the library, soaking and cracking study tables, chairs, carpets, electrical wiring, data cabling, computers, books, dvd’s, and everything else in its path, what do you do? And how quickly do you do it? Richmond Hill Central Library experienced a flood March 1, 2009, which closed the building. After three months of restoration, four of six library departments were re-opened, with the last two by early August. Staff and contractors will describe the restoration process along with tips for the uninitiated.

Libraries need to be easier to use and more interesting. The impact of new technologies provides impetus for holistic thinking about usability, including design thinking, physical building issues, tech issues, and website redesign.

When Reference and Research Services staff at the University of Toronto Mississauga Library (UTML) contemplated a new approach to professional self-reflection and stock-taking, they wanted a tool which would make the process systematic, constructive, and fun. The result is a unique instrument which can be deployed both as a survey and as a group workshop.

The Gerstein Science Information Centre used freely available Web 2.0 applications in their latest homepage redesign: a wiki, delicious, a blog, Facebook, and Google Calendar. Learn how it was done and what was learned.

Newspapers capture the events and stories from a community in unique ways. Very few other sources bring forward such volume of content, and a newspaper digitization project requires special considerations to minimize the amount of steps needed to set up a collection, which can run to many thousands of pages for even one newspaper title. This session describes lessons learned from a pilot project to digitize backfiles of community newspapers from microform sources, using OCR (Optical Character Recognition) and other technologies to bring this content forward effectively using modest resources.

Presentation on a collaborative partnership between the Municipal Property Assessment Corporation and several library boards on providing internet access to local property taxpayers - a shared customer - to MPACs Internet Portal.

The University of Guelph's McLaughlin Library recently hosted a Living Library in which books are people that are members of groups that are often marginalized, stereotyped, or misunderstood. Readers engage in dialogue with the Books in a controlled, safe environment. The objective of a Living Library is to break down barriers, open up dialogue and learn not to judge a book by its cover. This session will share what we learned from our first Living Library and provide those interested with the tools to organize their own.

Community space and increasing digital repositories are key concerns in the future. Learn how to meet the demands and increase floor space with innovative concepts for storage and mobility.   Learn how to utilize every inch in new and innovative ways that can meet any budget.

Annual Meeting

Annual Meeting

Annual Meeting

Annual Meeting

Award Presentation and Reception

Reception

Annual Reception STEP UP YOUR PASSION! Super Conference 2010 coincides with two stellar events in Canada: Freedom to Read Week, February 21 - 27, and the XX! Olympic Winter Games February 12 - 28. The planning committee thought it would be a perfect opportunity to hold our very own version -- the BANNED BOOKS OLYMPICS! Stay tuned for ways you can get involved in the time leading up to the conference, and at the Friday night special event. There is no cost for this event, and it is a very special way to network with the whole library information community. Join us!