Library Land Loves

Ontario Library Association
  • 5.0 (1)
  • Education
  • Updated Bimonthly

Library professionals are passionate about a lot of things. Be it the pop culture they consume or the databases that drive their libraries, Library Land Loves A Lot!

  1. Sep 29

    Social Connection with Pete Bombaci

    What happens when we take a moment to connect with someone new? In this episode of Library Land Loves, Michelle Arbuckle sits down with Pete Bombaci, founder of GenWell, Canada's national social health movement dedicated to reducing loneliness and strengthening human connection. Together, they explore why social connection is essential to our well-being, how simple conversations can transform communities, and what inspired Pete to launch a movement focused on bringing people together. From the power of talking to strangers to the role libraries can play in fostering belonging, Pete shares practical ideas, inspiring stories, and a compelling vision for creating stronger, more connected communities. Michelle also digs into what makes Pete such an effective advocate, uncovering lessons in storytelling, authenticity, and speaking with purpose. Whether you're a library worker, community builder, or simply someone looking to deepen your connections, this conversation offers thoughtful insights and a timely reminder that meaningful change often begins with a simple hello. ******* For more information about our new presenting sponsor, visit CVSMidWestTape.ca or HooplaDigital.com    Learn about GenWell’s mission, team, and partners, and read some frequently asked questions to understand why they do what they do - visit genwell.ca or donate today!  Talk to a Stranger Week is held annually in November and intends to educate and empower Canadians to build stronger connections and communities through the simple power of talking to strangers. Learn more at talktoastrangerweek.org   Email Pete – I mean, he basically told you to – pete@genwellproject.org  ******* 📚 You’re not an OLA member yet? Don’t worry about it, it’s fine, you can become one ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. ⭐️ Keep up to date with what your OLA besties are doing via ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠LinkedIn⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. ******* This podcast is hosted by Michelle Arbuckle and produced by Gina Freitag.   Editing and additional production support is completed by Helen Chevreau.  Promotions and communications for this podcast are executed by Laurel McLeod. For programming inquiries, please email: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠education@accessola.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.   For promotional and sponsorship inquiries, please email: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠communications@accessola.com⁠⁠⁠

  2. Sep 15

    Advocating for Libraries: Municipal Election Talk with FOPL’s Dina Stevens

    We’re kicking season 8 off with an important topic: the role public libraries play during municipal elections.   The date is probably already embedded in your mind, but elections in Ontario are set for Monday, October 26 and throughout October BC, Manitoba, and Prince Edward Island.  So today we're talking about how we talk about libraries during a municipal election season. How we can be loud for libraries right now. Because the municipality is an important decision maker when it comes to library funding and oversight – and it’s imperative that those decision makers understand the important role that libraries play in their communities. We are joined for this episode by Dina Stevens, Executive Director of the Federation of Ontario Public Libraries (FOPL) ******* For more information about our new presenting sponsor, visit https://www.cvsmidwesttape.ca/ or https://www.hoopladigital.com/ https://fopl.ca/ - FOPL is the provincial voice of Ontario's public libraries, advancing advocacy, collaboration, and sector leadership to strengthen library services.  Ontario’s Municipal Elections - https://www.amo.on.ca/about-us/municipal-101/municipal-elections   City of Toronto elections info - https://www.toronto.ca/city-government/elections/   ******* 📚 You’re not an OLA member yet? Don’t worry about it, it’s fine, you can become one ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. ⭐️ Keep up to date with what your OLA besties are doing via ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠LinkedIn⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. ******* This podcast is hosted by Michelle Arbuckle and produced by Gina Freitag.   Editing and additional production support is completed by Helen Chevreau.  Promotions and communications for this podcast are executed by Laurel McLeod. For programming inquiries, please email: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠education@accessola.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.   For promotional and sponsorship inquiries, please email: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠communications@accessola.com⁠⁠⁠

  3. Jul 7

    Reading is an Essential Service

    As we close out this season of Library Land Loves, Michelle sits down with Brian Bannon, Chief Librarian of the New York Public Library to come back to one of the most essential (and sometimes overlooked) parts of library work: reading.    Michelle and Brian explore how libraries can reconnect with reading in ways that feel fresh, inclusive, and relevant, and discuss:  Why we may have unintentionally quieted our message about reading  The role of choice, format, and access (yes—this includes audiobooks!)  How to help people build a reader identity  The role reading plays in empathy, wellbeing, and civic life  What a bold, continent-wide reading initiative could look like    Books mentioned in this episode:   Reader Come Home: The Reading Brain in a Digital World – Maryanne Wolf   Proust and the Squid: The Story and Science of the Reading Brain – Maryanne Wolf   City We Became – N.K. Jemisin  Yesteryear   All of the Rachel Reid books (shout out Canada!)    New York Public Library   OLA is a charitable and non-profit organization (107798159RR0001) that accepts donations for several funds. Each fund supports the library and information sector uniquely; from supporting OLA programs to getting books into the hands of children across Ontario, to mentorship, and more:  Example: I Read Canadian Fund

  4. Jun 23

    Getting Ready for Summer

    Summer is just around the corner, and libraries are getting ready—not just with programs and schedules, but with fresh ideas, creativity, and a focus on connecting with their communities in new ways.  In this episode, we chat with libraries from across Ontario to explore how they’re reimagining summer programming. From outdoor adventures to global celebrations and imaginative kids’ experiences, these libraries are thinking beyond the walls and embracing what makes summer special.   Whether you’re planning programs or just looking for inspiration, this episode is a reminder to experiment, collaborate, and try something a little unexpected.  Georgian Bay Public Library  Waterloo Public Library  TPL’s Summer Wonder program  Stratford Public Library – Summer at the Library  FIFA World Cup 26 Toronto Community Activation Toolkit   📚 You’re not an OLA member yet? Don’t worry about it, it’s fine, you can become one ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. ⭐️ Keep up to date with what your OLA besties are doing via ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠LinkedIn⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. ******* This podcast is hosted by Michelle Arbuckle and produced by Gina Freitag.   Editing and additional production support is completed by Helen Chevreau.  Promotions and communications for this podcast are executed by Laurel McLeod. For programming inquiries, please email: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠education@accessola.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.   For promotional and sponsorship inquiries, please email: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠communications@accessola.com⁠⁠⁠

  5. Jun 10

    Spring Gathering

    In this episode of Library Land Loves, we’re taking you inside the Spring Gathering—a powerful and meaningful event that brings together members of the First Nations Public Library (FNPL) community from across Ontario.    Through conversations with organizers and attendees, we explore the purpose behind the gathering, the importance of the FNPL network, and what makes this space so unique. You’ll hear directly from participants about why they attend, what they take away, and how this gathering supports their work and strengthens their communities.    Whether you’ve experienced the Spring Gathering firsthand or are learning about it for the first time, this episode offers a glimpse into the relationships, reflections, and values that shape this important community.    To learn more about the Spring Gathering and the work of First Nations Public Libraries, visit:  First Nations Public Library community resources  Ontario Library Association – Indigenous Community of Practice   📚 You’re not an OLA member yet? Don’t worry about it, it’s fine, you can become one ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. ⭐️ Keep up to date with what your OLA besties are doing via ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠LinkedIn⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. ******* This podcast is hosted by Michelle Arbuckle and produced by Gina Freitag.   Editing and additional production support is completed by Helen Chevreau.  Promotions and communications for this podcast are executed by Laurel McLeod. For programming inquiries, please email: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠education@accessola.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.   For promotional and sponsorship inquiries, please email: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠communications@accessola.com⁠⁠

  6. May 26

    A Conversation with Margie Singleton

    Michelle Arbuckle sits down with recently retired library leader and past recipient of OLA’s W.J. Robertson Medallion for Public Librarian of the Year, Margie Singleton—an inspiring force in Canadian public libraries whose legacy continues to shape communities across Vaughan and beyond.    Over the course of her remarkable career, Margie led Vaughan Public Libraries through a period of bold growth and meaningful transformation. Her leadership has been especially transformative during moments of challenge as well. But beyond the milestones and achievements, Margie is perhaps best known for her unwavering commitment to mentorship, public service, and empowering the next generation of library professionals. Her passion and impact shines through this thoughtful, energizing episode about leadership, innovation, and the lasting power of libraries to connect and care for their communities.    Whether you’ve worked alongside Margie, been inspired by her work, or are simply dreaming big for your own library, this episode is one you won’t want to miss.  ******* 📚 You’re not an OLA member yet? Don’t worry about it, it’s fine, you can become one ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. ⭐️ Keep up to date with what your OLA besties are doing via ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠LinkedIn⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. ******* This podcast is hosted by Michelle Arbuckle and produced by Gina Freitag.   Editing and additional production support is completed by Helen Chevreau.  Promotions and communications for this podcast are executed by Laurel McLeod. For programming inquiries, please email: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠education@accessola.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.   For promotional and sponsorship inquiries, please email: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠communications@accessola.com⁠⁠

  7. May 6

    What’s going on in Alberta? with James Turk

    Today we’re diving into one of the most pressing issues facing libraries right now: intellectual freedom, and the growing wave of challenges to it across Canada.  Over the past year, we’ve seen a sharp increase in attempts to restrict access to materials, particularly in school libraries, alongside rising political pressure, public controversy, and questions about governance, policy, and professional expertise.  To help us make sense of what’s happening, we're joined by James Turk, Director of the Centre for Free Expression, who has been closely tracking censorship trends across the country, and his latest report offers one of the clearest and most comprehensive national pictures we have of how and where these challenges are unfolding, and what they mean for library workers, boards, and communities.  ******** Centre for Free Expression - Profiles of Challenged Book  Report for Freedom to Read Week - The Rising Demands for Censorship: Challenges in Canadian Libraries in 2025 by James L. Turk  "Alberta's access restrictions threaten privacy and democratic role of libraries, critics say" (CBC, April 13, 2026)  “Responding to Alberta Government’s Defense of Public Library Takeover” (CFE Blog post, April 30, 2026)   Coalition of Alberta Public Libraries   ******** 📚 You’re not an OLA member yet? Don’t worry about it, it’s fine, you can become one ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. ⭐️ Keep up to date with what your OLA besties are doing via ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠LinkedIn⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. ******* This podcast is hosted by Michelle Arbuckle and produced by Gina Freitag.   Editing and additional production support is completed by Helen Chevreau.  Promotions and communications for this podcast are executed by Laurel McLeod. For programming inquiries, please email: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠education@accessola.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.   For promotional and sponsorship inquiries, please email: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠communications@accessola.com⁠⁠⁠

  8. Apr 28

    Forest of Reading Festival

    Welcome to Library Land Loves. Every May, the OLA hosts the largest literary event for young readers in Canada, and it’s called the Forest of Reading Festival.    In case you aren’t familiar with it, we host this annual event at the Harbourfront Centre in Toronto, and we welcome young readers from all over to get involved in author and illustrator workshops. Plus, they get to have nominees sign their favourite Forest books, take part in games and activities, win prizes, and so much more. It’s a blast, always full of high energy, music, and the voices of excited readers. One of my favourite parts is hearing the rollercoaster screams and cheers as readers see these authors take the stage for awards.   In celebration of the OLA’s 125th Anniversary, Michelle is speaking with one of the Forest of Reading’s most decorated nominees and winners. Eric Walters is a Canadian author of over 150 young adult fiction and picture books, and is, of course, a very familiar face at the Forest of Reading Festival.   ******* Visit Eric Walters’ website and discover all of his books - https://ericwalters.net/   Forest of Reading Festival tickets are on sale to OLA Members starting January 28th, 2026, and sales open to the public on February 4th, 2026  https://forestofreading.com/buy-your-tickets/  ******* 📚 You’re not an OLA member yet? Don’t worry about it, it’s fine, you can become one ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. ⭐️ Keep up to date with what your OLA besties are doing via ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠LinkedIn⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. ******* This podcast is hosted by Michelle Arbuckle and produced by Gina Freitag.   Editing and additional production support is completed by Helen Chevreau.  Promotions and communications for this podcast are executed by Laurel McLeod. For programming inquiries, please email: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠education@accessola.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.   For promotional and sponsorship inquiries, please email: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠communications@accessola.com⁠⁠⁠

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About

Library professionals are passionate about a lot of things. Be it the pop culture they consume or the databases that drive their libraries, Library Land Loves A Lot!

Information

  • Creator
    Ontario Library Association
  • Years Active
    2018 - 2026
  • Episodes
    104
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Ontario Library Association
  • Show Website
    Library Land Loves

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