Library Land Loves

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!

Library Land Loves is a education podcast hosted by Ontario Library Association, with 95 episodes on record and a Required Pod Score of 80. PitchCentric scores this show on Booking Probability, Listen Score, and live audience signals refreshed every 24 hours.

Ontario Library Association hosts Library Land Loves, a education show with 95 episodes published.

Our AI reads these to draft pitches. Use them as grounding for a pitch that cites a real guest and a specific topic.

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  Episode #20

  Reading is an Essential Service

  Jul 7, 202643 minS7

  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 unintentionally quieted our message about reading The role of choice, format, and access (yes—this includes audiobooks!) How to help people build a reader identity The role reading plays in empathy, wellbeing, and civic life What a bold, continent-wide reading initiative could look like Books mentioned in this episode: Reader Come Home: The Reading Brain in a Digital World – Maryanne Wolf Proust and the Squid: The Story and Science of the Reading Brain – Maryanne Wolf City We Became – N.K. Jemisin Yesteryear All of the Rachel Reid books (shout out Canada!) New York Public Library OLA is a charitable and non-profit organization (107798159RR0001) that accepts donations for several funds. Each fund supports the library and information sector uniquely; from supporting OLA programs to getting books into the hands of children across Ontario, to mentorship, and more: Example: I Read Canadian Fund

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  Episode #19

  Getting Ready for Summer

  Jun 23, 202648 minS7

  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, these libraries are thinking beyond the walls and embracing what makes summer special. Whether you’re planning programs or just looking for inspiration, this episode is a reminder to experiment, collaborate, and try something a little unexpected. Georgian Bay Public Library Waterloo Public Library TPL’s Summer Wonder program Stratford Public Library – Summer at the Library FIFA World Cup 26 Toronto Community Activation Toolkit 📚 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

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  Episode #18

  Spring Gathering

  Jun 10, 202637 minS7

  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’ll hear directly from participants about why they attend, what they take away, and how this gathering supports their work and strengthens their communities. Whether you’ve experienced the Spring Gathering firsthand or are learning about it for the first time, this episode offers a glimpse into the relationships, reflections, and values that shape this important community. To learn more about the Spring Gathering and the work of First Nations Public Libraries, visit: First Nations Public Library community resources Ontario Library Association – Indigenous Community of Practice 📚 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

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  Episode #17

  A Conversation with Margie Singleton

  May 26, 202644 minS7

  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 and meaningful transformation. Her leadership has been especially transformative during moments of challenge as well. But beyond the milestones and achievements, Margie is perhaps best known for her unwavering commitment to mentorship, public service, and empowering the next generation of library professionals. Her passion and impact shines through this thoughtful, energizing episode about leadership, innovation, and the lasting power of libraries to connect and care for their communities. Whether you’ve worked alongside Margie, been inspired by her work, or are simply dreaming big for your own library, this episode is one you won’t want to miss. ******* 📚 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

  ListenShow Notes
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  Episode #16

  What’s going on in Alberta? with James Turk

  May 6, 202646 minS7

  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 professional expertise. To help us make sense of what’s happening, we're joined by James Turk, Director of the Centre for Free Expression, who has been closely tracking censorship trends across the country, and his latest report offers one of the clearest and most comprehensive national pictures we have of how and where these challenges are unfolding, and what they mean for library workers, boards, and communities. ******** Centre for Free Expression - Profiles of Challenged Book Report for Freedom to Read Week - The Rising Demands for Censorship: Challenges in Canadian Libraries in 2025 by James L. Turk "Alberta's access restrictions threaten privacy and democratic role of libraries, critics say" (CBC, April 13, 2026) “ Responding to Alberta Government’s Defense of Public Library Takeover” (CFE Blog post, April 30, 2026) Coalition of Alberta Public 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

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