The Ontario Library Association (OLA) was established in 1900 and is the oldest continually operating library association in Canada. and among the 10 largest library associations in North America.

The stated purpose of the OLA is to "give profile to the librarians, library workers and trustees in the school, college, university, public and special libraries of Ontario and to foster provincial programs that will improve library services in the institutions and communities our members serve and that will ensure equitable access to information for all citizens of the province." Between 2006 and 2013, the OLA's office was at 50 Wellington Street, Toronto, Ontario. In 2013, the OLA moved to 2 Toronto Street, and to 192 Spadina Avenue in 2023.

Structure and leadership

The OLA has seven divisions:

  • Association des bibliothèques de l’Ontario-Franco (ABO-Franco)
  • Ontario College and University Library Association (OCULA)
  • Ontario Health Library and Information Association (OHLIA)
  • Ontario Library Boards’ Association (OLBA)
  • Ontario Library and Information Technology Association (OLITA)
  • Ontario Public Library Association (OPLA)
  • Ontario School Library Association (OSLA)

Each division is headed by a president and elected council, and past division presidents serve on the OLA board of directors. The board of directors also includes the Executive Director and the executive committee, composed of the president, vice -president, past president, and treasurer.

  • Ex Libris Association
  • Library and Archives Canada Stakeholder Group
  • Ontario Health Libraries Association More than 270,000 readers participate annually from their school and/or public libraries.

The ten awards offered under the Forest of Reading umbrella are:

  • Blue Spruce Award - ages 4–7 (junior kindergarten–grade 2), English, picture books
  • Silver Birch Express Award - ages 8–10 (grades 3–4), English, fiction/non-fiction
  • Silver Birch Fiction Award - ages 8–12 (grades 3–6 ), English, fiction
  • Yellow Cedar Award - ages 9–14 (grades 4–8), English, non-fiction
  • Red Maple Award - ages 12–14 (grades 7–8), English, fiction
  • White Pine Award - high school (grades 9–12), English, fiction
  • Le prix Peuplier - ages vary, French, picture books
  • Le prix Mélèze (formerly Le prix Tamarac Express) - ages vary, short chapter books or advanced picture books, French, fiction/nonfiction
  • Le prix Tamarac - ages vary, chapter books, French, fiction/nonfiction
  • Evergreen Award - adult, fiction/non-fiction the event was rebranded in 1995 as the Super Conference. The event is held annually in Toronto, Ontario.

See also

  • James Bain (librarian)
  • Mary J. L. Black
  • Leslie Weir
  • Official website

References