OPLA’s Research and Evaluation Committee presented at the OLA Super Conference 2022: Finally Fines Free! Explore Different Ways of Using Data to Help Your Library Advocate for Going Fines Free Ontario Library Association Super Conference 2022 The link to the presentation will be provided soon. In the meantime, check out the Advocating for Fines-Free Libraries Read More…
Author: Kimberly Silk
Got a Project? Hire an MI Student!
The iSchool at the University of Toronto invites employers to submit proposals to host students enrolled in the Winter 2022 Information Professional Practicum. DEADLINE EXTENDED:Submit your proposal by Friday January 7, 2022. For questions about the practicum project timeline, project approval, and selection process, please contact the practicum course instructor, Kimberly Silk, at kimberly.silk@utoronto.ca Overview The Read More…
Digital Health Libraries Drive Hospital Web Traffic
U.S.-based marketing agency Boston Digital recently reported on how American hospitals are competing to become consumers’ go-to for digital health information. “When analyzing the digital performance of America’s top 20 hospitals, it’s clear that the healthcare providers who offer their online users a comprehensive, original library of health topics like diseases and conditions are winning Read More…
Study: U.S. Public Libraries Improve Student Achievement
The Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago recently published a working paper to explore the effects of public library use. “The Returns to Public Library Investment” working paper studies “how capital investment in public libraries affects library operations, patron usage, and local communities, with a focus on student achievement.” Findings The study first establishes the link Read More…
StatsCan: Estimated Financial Impact to Canadian Universities Due to COVID-19
Statistics Canada’s latest paper in their Education, Learning and Training Research Series estimates the projected financial impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on Canadian universities for the 2020-2021 academic year. Over the last decade, universities have increasingly relied on tuition fees as a revenue source. This growth has been estimated to come mostly from an increasing Read More…
Poverty in Canada by the Numbers
“No Poverty” is the 1st of the 17 UN Sustainable Development Goals. Libraries contribute to this goal by delivering programs to improve literacy and numeracy for everyone.
Researching Social Impact: 2021 Canada Research Chairs Announced
In June, the Government of Canada announced the most recent SSHRC funding and Canada Research Chair recipients. The following researchers cover topics of interest to GLAMs.
2020 Canadian Internet Use Survey shows the Digital Divide Endures
Statistics Canada recently released early findings from the 2020 Internet Use Survey. The data show that while the majority of Canadians have adequate Internet access, there remains a proportion of the population that do not have access, indicating that the digital divide endures. Takeaway 1: The majority of Canadians living in provinces have Internet access Read More…
UC’s Deal with Elsevier is a Victory for Open Access
Fantastic news from the world of scholarly publishing! After over two years of negotiations following a broken business relationship, the University of California (UC) and Elsevier have created a transformative agreement that represents a landmark victory for open access publishing. The four-year agreement goes into effect on April 1, 2021 and restores UC access to Read More…
Ontario announces funding for broadband for public libraries in unserved and underserved communities
Some wonderful news was announced at the OLA Super Conference 2021: the Ontario government is investing over $4.8 million to upgrade broadband at public libraries in rural and remote communities. Laurie Scott, Ontario Minister of Infrastructure and Lisa MacLeod, Ontario Minister of Heritage, Sport, Tourism and Culture Industries co-delivered the funding announcement, which is part Read More…