Library Land Loves

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 unintentio...

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, th...

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’l...

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...

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 professio...

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 th...

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 j...

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....

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 O...

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 fro...

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...

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 remind...

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...

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! Than...

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,...

Has your library ever struggled with tricky holiday decisions, confusing observance rules, or the great “should we have a Christmas tree in the lobby?” debate, then this episode is for you!  As the holidays creep closer and every public space suddenly fills with cinnamon and Mariah Carey, libraries are busy figuring out how to celebrate, honour, and include  everyone  in their communities. And tha...

In this episode of Library Land Loves, we dig into a conversation that feels more urgent in Canada by the day: what’s happening to school libraries, who is challenging what kids can read, and how library people who are also parents can use their voices to protect public education.  Across the country, book challenges are becoming more organized and more politically motivated. Calls for “parental r...

This episode is your sign—literally—to look around your library and take stock of your signage.  Signage is the unsung hero of library life: it promotes your programs, points people where they need to go, warns, reminds, nudges, and keeps our beautiful chaos running as smoothly as possible.  On this episode of Library Land Loves , Michelle is joined by Aleksandra Dowiat Vine, Mark Aaron Polger, an...

Are you looking to step up as a champion for the library sector, or grow your own leadership capacity? Well, this episode is for you. Serving on a board—whether at a school, library, or community organization—offers a front-row seat to decision-making that shapes policies, funding, and values in your community.    Let’s explore what it means to be a strong board member, how to navigate the respons...

This week’s episode is coming to your ears during First Nations Public Library Week. A time to recognize and honour the vital role that First Nations libraries play in their communities—spaces that preserve culture, language, and knowledge, while also providing access to the resources and connections that strengthen community life.  For those of us working in public libraries outside of reserve co...

Find yourself struggling to maintain a work-life balance? Wondering about the fine line between being a hard worker and an over-worker? What are the consequences of overwork and burnout - for each of us as workers, but also for our organizations? Join Michelle and Malissa Clark, author of Never Not Working⁠ to discuss all of these questions and more , her essential guide to navigating workaholism...

Welcome back to a brand new season of Library Land Loves! We're starting season 7 off strong with a deep dive into the OLA's 2026 Super Conference theme 'We Persist'. Host Michelle Arbuckle (Executive Director of the OLA) welcomes back guests Emily Burns (Director, Education & Impact at OLA) and Matthew Rohweder (2025 President of the OLA’s Board of Directors) to get into the n...

We've made it to the end of our season, but before we all take a much needed summer reset, we've gathered some of OLA's most super stars for a sneak peak into The Association's new Strategic Plan that will be guiding us through the next three years. Host and Executive Director of the OLA, Michelle Arbuckle is joined by Emily Burns ( Director, Education & Impact ), Dr. Sabrina Saunders ( Direct...

How do libraries stay relevant—and resilient—on social media in a digital world filled with ever-shifting platforms, polarized conversations, and online chaos? Just ask this week's guest, Kaitlin Slack, Digital Communications Officer at Calgary Public Library, who sits down with host Michelle Arbuckle (Executive Director of the OLA) for a timely discussion on the evolving role of social media...

Welcome back to Library Land Loves. This episode, host Michelle Arbuckle (Executive Director of the OLA) speaks to award-winning author and editor David A. Robertson about his new role as Editorial Director of Swift Water Books, the first Indigenous children's imprint at a major Canadian publisher. They discuss the importance of mentorship, representation in children's publishing, the foun...