These are tough times to work in public service, including libraries. As an institution rooted in its enduring mission to be, in part, a welcoming community space for everyone who walks through the door, today’s public library comes face to face with society’s most challenging social issues. It is incumbent upon library leaders to take […]
Hello library world, Ever stop to think about the local community information referrals you have readily at your fingertips? Have you ever wondered – where does this amazing information come from? Well, welcome to Information and Referral (I&R) story time – so get comfy, grab your cup of coffee/tea, gather your fellow library workers and […]
Stratford Public Library CEO, Julia Merritt explains the library’s edgy new campaign. As the adage goes, “perception is reality”. Not being seen and not being heard are serious threats facing libraries. We at Stratford Public Library feel we cannot afford to be complacent. Period. Full Stop. Get off the complacency train. Taking control of the […]
This fall, Hamilton Public Library launched a city-wide contest to solve an age-old mystery. The adventure began on Friday September 13, 2019 when HPL received a cloth-bound journal written by Dr. Tiberius Hess, a man who lived and practiced in Hamilton during the Victorian era. The journal details a time machine called Chronocycle that he […]
Here we are, on the verge of October, the month in which we Canadians express our love for public libraries. As we gear up for the launches and the open houses, the special programming, and community outreach initiatives, let’s take a few minutes and recognize the diversity inherent within the public library eco-system in Ontario […]
SOLS is pleased to join BiblioBoard, Library Journal and other Ontario libraries for the Ontario Author Project contest. Part of the North American “Indie Author” project, the contest seeks the best indie published eBooks in each participating region. The Ontario Author Project gives librarians a chance to engage with a growing group of fresh literary […]
We’re pleased to repost an article from Hamilton Public Library about their “Ask Me” translation service, which offers help to customers in more than 180 languages! Demande-moi. Chiedimi. Frag Mich. If Hamilton Public Library staff don’t speak your language, we’ll find someone who can, in a hurry. Collectively, HPL staff fluently speak 21 languages, from […]
After the recent sale of Archambaut’s MaBiblioNumérique French Ebook platform to DeMarque, all data from the SOLS shared French ebook collection has been successfully migrated to DeMarque’s platform, Cantook Station. An overview of the new platform is available here: My new library on Cantook Station Set-up information has been sent to all member libraries of […]
Toronto Public Library (TPL) has revitalized — and renamed — our Ontario-facing site formerly known as the Virtual Reference Library (Prince reference not intended). It’s now: Digital Archive Ontario. You can access it on LearnHQ. The updated name reflects the site’s increased emphasis on historical digital collections. Started in 1999, the site has changed over time — it […]
We are proud to announce the launch of the new LearnHQ! LearnHQ is a one-stop shop for library training. You can start online courses, register for upcoming webinars and workshops, and browse a wealth of online resources. The portal features training from SOLS, OLS-N, OLA, FOPL, libraries and other partners. The new LearnHQ is waiting […]