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. 3D AGO

    Prison Library Funding

    Welcome back to Library Land Loves. This week, our host Michelle Arbuckle (Executive Director of the OLA) is speaking with two of the proponents leading the way in the movement to support prison library funding, Keersten Wurmann and Tom Best. Prison libraries play a critical role in promoting rehabilitation, literacy, and mental well-being for incarcerated individuals, and they are in particular jeopardy at the moment.  You may have seen the news about Canadian prison library funding and the significant cuts proposed, with plans to eliminate librarian positions that will affect library services and threaten inmate rehabilitation and recidivism.   So what can be done to intercept these measures? How do we advocate for the right to read in prison environments? ******** Open letter started by Book Clubs for Inmates  Visit the website for Book Clubs for Inmates  GELA Prison Libraries Project   Learn more about the Manitoba Library Association Prison Libraries Committee  Review the CFLA-FCAB Endorsement of the Prison Libraries Network's Position Statement on The Prisoners’ Right to Read   Correctional Service Canada. (2025). Commissioner’s Directive 720.   De Agostini, Michelle. (2022). Locked Up Libraries: A Critique of Canadian Prison Library Policy. Journal of Radical Librarianship.   IFLA (2023). Guidelines for library services to prisoners. International Federation of Library Associations and Institutions.   Joint Statement Regarding Plan to Phase out CSC Librarians and Library Workers.   Saskatchewan Library Association. Prison Library Sub-committee.   United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime. (2015). The United Nations standard minimum rules for the treatment of prisoners (the Nelson Mandela rules). United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime.   ******** 📚 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

    40 min

  2. 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

  3. 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

  4. 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
  5. 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
  6. 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

  7. 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

  8. SEASON 7 TRAILER

    See You After Conference!

    This week’s episode is a quick check-in to say hello, share what’s coming up, and explain why we’re pressing pause on a full episode while we sprint toward the OLA Super Conference.  With the conference just two weeks away, the OLA team is deep in planning mode. That means fewer podcast recordings right now, but lots of exciting conversations ahead. Come say hello if you’re at the conference! Thanks for listening, thanks for your patience, and we’ll be back in your earbuds very soon.  📚 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 min
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Trailer

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
    96
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Ontario Library Association
  • Show Website
    Library Land Loves

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