Library Land Loves

Ontario Library Association

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. APR 3 ·  BONUS

    Canadian Culture 3-Part Special! Part Three: National Canadian Film Day

    Welcome back to Library Land Loves. Throughout the month of April, there are several high profile events taking place across the country, including The Juno Awards, Canada Reads, and National Canadian Film Day. As our fearless leader, Michelle Arbuckle takes a well-deserved break, we have Emily Burns and Gina Freitag filling in to bring you all the important Can-Cultural news from across the land. The OLA team has connected with libraries and archives that are participating in these celebrations, bringing you a behind-the-scenes peek at the scale of these collaborations, and the energy and planning that goes into each one. Never ones to overwhelm, we've decided to divide each conversation into its own episode, and for Part Three, Emily is getting the lowdown on how The Film Library & Media Archives at the University of Toronto are getting into the spirit of National Canadian Film Day. National Canadian Film Day takes place on April 15th this year. Let’s dream together!Film Library and Media Archives (U of T)website Bluesky Instagram  Facebook Collection Search 📚 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

    34 min
  2. APR 2 ·  BONUS

    Canadian Culture 3-Part Special! Part Two: Canada Reads

    Welcome back to Library Land Loves. Over the month of April, there are several high profile events taking place across the country, including The Juno Awards, Canada Reads, and National Canadian Film Day. As our fearless leader, Michelle Arbuckle takes a well-deserved break, we have Emily Burns and Gina Freitag filling in to bring you all the important Can-Cultural news from across the land.The OLA team has connected with libraries and archives that are participating in these celebrations, bringing you a behind-the-scenes peek at the scale of these collaborations, and the energy and planning that goes into each one.Never ones to overwhelm, we've decided to divide each conversation into its own episode, and for Part Two, Gina is getting you the inside scoop on how Cote Saint-Luc Public Library engages patrons with their very own Canada Reads competition. CBC's Canada Reads book debate episodes are available here 📚 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

    23 min
  3. MAR 26

    Canadian Culture 3-Part Special! Part One: The Junos

    Welcome back to Library Land Loves. Have we got a treat for you. Over the next month there are several high profile events taking place across the country, including The Juno Awards, Canada Reads, and National Canadian Film Day. As our fearless leader, Michelle Arbuckle takes a well-deserved break, we have Emily Burns and Gina Freitag filling in to bring you all the important Can-Cultural news from across the land. The OLA team has connected with libraries and archives that are participating in these celebrations, bringing you a behind-the-scenes peek at the scale of these collaborations, and the energy and planning that goes into each one. Never ones to overwhelm, we've decided to divide each conversation into its own episode, and we're diving in today with Emily's dispatch from Hamilton Public Library and the work they're doing in the lead up to this week's Juno Awards. Visit the Juno Awards website / check out the Juno  winners and nominees  Read more about the Junior Junos and Juno Stories from the Studio  Check out the Hamilton Public Library staff Junos List!  📚 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

    29 min
  4. Climate Conversations for All Ages

    MAR 13

    Climate Conversations for All Ages

    With Earth Day around the corner, many libraries are thinking about how to engage their communities in conversations about climate and care for the planet. But those conversations can feel complicated. How do we talk about climate change with kids in ways that are honest and hopeful? And how do adults manage their own climate anxiety while staying engaged with the issue?  In this episode, Michelle speaks with environmental educator and bestselling children’s author Rochelle Strauss about using books and storytelling to help young readers build curiosity, empathy, and a connection to the natural world.  Later senior editor and climate activist Jen Knoch joins us to share insights on climate anxiety in adults and why community and conversation are essential for moving from worry toward action.  If this topic resonates with you, consider joining OLA’s Climate Action Community of Practice, where library workers from across the sector are sharing ideas, resources, and programming approaches for engaging their communities on climate issues.    Find Rochelle Strauss’ books on her website - https://www.rochellestrauss.com/books  Follow Rochelle on Instagram at @rochellestraussauthor and @kidscanpress Subscribe to Jen Knoch’s Substack “Five Minutes for the Planet” Join the OLA’s Climate Action Community of Practice: https://accessola.com/communities-of-practice/ Check out the Yellow Cedar Award NomineesOther climate, eco and sustainability resources from the Library Marketplace: Inspiring Teens, Tweens, and Families to Make a Difference in the World: Programming to Advance the Sustainable Development Goals Libraries and Sustainability: Programs and Practices for Community Impact 25 Projects for Eco Explorers Young Activists and the Public Library: Facilitating Democracy Libraries and Gardens: Growing Together Teens Go Green: Tips, Techniques, Tools and Themes for YA Programming 25 Read-To-Use Sustainable Living Programs for 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

    43 min
  5. A Conversation with Larry Alford

    FEB 24

    A Conversation with Larry Alford

    In this episode, Michelle sits down with Larry Alford, Chief Librarian at the University of Toronto Libraries to reflect on leadership, people management, and what it means to guide institutions through decades of change.   This is a conversation about empathy and the quiet work of building healthy teams and resilient organizations. Larry shares lessons shaped by a lifetime in libraries and reminds us that while technologies, structures, and priorities evolve, strong leadership always comes back to respect, listening and relationships.   Whether you are a new manager, an experienced leader, or someone thinking about your next step, this episode offers grounded and practical wisdom on how to lead with integrity and humanity in complex times.   It is a reminder that good leadership is not about having all the answers. It is about creating conditions where people can do their best work. Thanks to Larry Alford for being our guest this week!   ******* 📚 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

    41 min
  6. FEB 6

    Super Conference Diaries

    Welcome back to the Super Conference Diaries, where Michelle and Emily hit “record” at the end of another very long conference day and bravely attempt to form complete sentences.  In this episode, we debrief each day fueled almost entirely by pots of tea, adrenaline, and granola bars found at the bottom of a tote bag.    From last-minute problem-solving and speaker wrangling to unexpected magic moments and hallway heart-to-hearts, this episode captures what it really feels like to run a major conference in real time.  This is the nightly download. The honest recap. The slightly unhinged reflection. The slow, loving descent into conference exhaustion.  If you’ve ever wondered what happens after the lights go down, the doors close, and the staff finally sit down for five minutes, this one’s for you. Happy Super Conference Season! 📚 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

    44 min
  7. 12/22/2025

    Wellbeing in the Library Workplace

    It’s our last episode of the year! As 2025 winds down, you’re probably feeling the weight of a full year of library work. This episode is your reminder to pause, breathe, and think about how you’ll use the holidays to reset.  We’re talking with Bobbi L. Newman about realistic approaches to wellbeing in the library workplace: healthier work habits, stronger communication, gestures of appreciation, ergonomics that actually help, staff advocacy, and creative outlets that keep you grounded.  So grab something warm, take a deep breath, and let this short wellness conversation be a small balm for the end-of-year fatigue.  Check out Bobbi’s blog - librarianbyday.net Grab Bobbi’s book online - enter the code B.Newman2025 and score 15% off your copy when you purchase it on The Library Marketplace.   Don’t miss the ThriveLib Conference, which will be happening again in August 2026. More info:  https://www.thrivelib.com/   ******* 📚 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

    37 min

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!

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