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 reminds us that while technologies, structures, and priorities evolve, strong leadership always comes back to respect, listening and relationships.  

Whether you are a new manager, an experienced leader, or someone thinking about your next step, this episode offers grounded and practical wisdom on how to lead with integrity and humanity in complex times.  

It is a reminder that good leadership is not about having all the answers. It is about creating conditions where people can do their best work. Thanks to Larry Alford for being our guest this week!  

*******

📚 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: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠[email protected]⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.  

For promotional and sponsorship inquiries, please email: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠[email protected]⁠⁠⁠

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 moments and hallway heart-to-hearts, this episode captures what it really feels like to run a major conference in real time. 

This is the nightly download. 
The honest recap. 
The slightly unhinged reflection. 
The slow, loving descent into conference exhaustion. 

If you’ve ever wondered what happens after the lights go down, the doors close, and the staff finally sit down for five minutes, this one’s for you. Happy Super Conference Season!

📚 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: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠[email protected]⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.  

For promotional and sponsorship inquiries, please email: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠[email protected]⁠⁠⁠

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! Thanks for listening, thanks for your patience, and we’ll be back in your earbuds very soon. 

📚 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: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠[email protected]⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.  

For promotional and sponsorship inquiries, please email: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠[email protected]⁠⁠

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, ergonomics that actually help, staff advocacy, and creative outlets that keep you grounded. 

So grab something warm, take a deep breath, and let this short wellness conversation be a small balm for the end-of-year fatigue. 

• Check out Bobbi’s blog - librarianbyday.net

• Grab Bobbi’s book online - enter the code B.Newman2025 and score 15% off your copy when you purchase it on The Library Marketplace.  

• Don’t miss the ThriveLib Conference, which will be happening again in August 2026. More info:  https://www.thrivelib.com/  

  
  

  *******

  📚 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: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠[email protected]⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.  

  For promotional and sponsorship inquiries, please email: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠[email protected]⁠⁠⁠

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 that’s where cultural calendars come in. 

In this episode, you’ll hear: 

• How libraries are using cultural calendars  
   

• Ways to respectfully navigate feedback, decor debates, and strong opinions 
   

• How to move beyond performative “holiday lists” into genuine, day-to-day inclusion 
   

• Why a calendar isn’t the destination… it’s the starting point 

Thanks to Jennie Hamilton, Suzanne Fernando, and Charmaine De Castro for showing how thoughtful planning (and a lot of empathy) can transform how library teams support one another and serve their communities. 

Resources:  

CCDI Events calendar 

Government of Canada – Important and Commemorative Days 

OLA Anti-Racism Resources for 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: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠[email protected]⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.  

For promotional and sponsorship inquiries, please email: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠[email protected]⁠⁠

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 rights” and restrictions on “inappropriate material” are showing up everywhere from school board meetings to provincial legislation. And while this often sounds like a U.S. issue, our guests remind us that it’s very much happening here in Canada — and our response matters. 

We speak with three guests who bring different lenses to this issue: 

• Heather Ganshorn – researcher, librarian, and author of Challenging ‘Parental Rights’. Heather explains where these movements are coming from, why they’re gaining momentum, and the real risks to public education and vulnerable students. 

• Michael Nyby– who has been tracking book challenges and censorship efforts across Canada. He walks us through the types of books being targeted, the tactics used to pressure schools, and how this affects teacher-librarians and students. 

• Joel Krentz – a school administrator and parent living this reality on the ground. Joel shares what these challenges look like inside a school, how they affect students and staff, and what supportive parents can do to make a real difference. 

This episode is a call to action for anyone who works in libraries and has children in the public system. You know why school libraries matter. You understand literacy, inclusion, and intellectual freedom. And your voice — as a parent — carries weight. 

If you’ve ever wondered how to support your school’s library, or stand up for the right to read, this episode gives you real tools, real language, and real hope. 

Thanks for listening — and for standing up for equitable, inclusive public education. 

*******

📚 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: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠[email protected]⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.  

For promotional and sponsorship inquiries, please email: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠[email protected]⁠⁠

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, and Mary Kapusta for a conversation about what makes signage work—and where you might need to reassess. So, the next time you walk five steps into your library, pause and look around. What do you see? Are your signs welcoming? Clear? Confusing? Invisible? 

If your users are always asking the same questions… this episode might just point you in the right direction. 

• Hit the shop: grab your copy of Mark Aaron Polger’s book, Library Signage and Wayfinding Design: Communicating Effectively with Your Users  

• Grab your ticket: OLA Marketing Libraries Think Tank takes place November 13th. Learn about A.I. policy and practices from experts across Canada; gain insights into managing communications challenges in libraries of all sizes; and discover how to best balance democracy in your library marketing and communications strategies! Register today: https://mltt25.vfairs.com/  

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 responsibilities that come with governance, and why your voice matters at the table. If you’ve ever wondered how to turn your passion for libraries into impact, joining a board might just be your next big move. 

*******

📚 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: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠[email protected]⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.  

For promotional and sponsorship inquiries, please email: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠[email protected]⁠⁠⁠

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 communities—or for settlers who are simply curious about how reconciliation connects to our work—this is also an invitation. David Robertson, in his book 52 Ways to Reconcile, reminds us that reconciliation isn’t a single act but an ongoing practice, something we choose to show up for again and again. Libraries, as places of learning and connection, have a responsibility to be part of that practice. 

In today’s conversation, I’ll be speaking with three librarians who are leading projects that build bridges—between public libraries and First Nations libraries, between settler communities and Indigenous knowledge, and between the idea of reconciliation and the everyday work we do in our institutions. Their stories highlight what true partnership looks like, and how each of us can contribute to stronger, more respectful relationships. 

Chapters

00:00 - 2:11 Intro

2:11 - 9:49 Reconciliation Reading List Book Club for Library Staff

9:49 - 22:46 Learning from Place & The Importance of Fostering Relationships

22:57 - 39:03 How Trust & Collaboration with Neighbouring Indigenous Organizations Can Grow Into Lasting Partnerships

39:10 - 42:11 Outro

*******

📚 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: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠[email protected]⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.  

For promotional and sponsorship inquiries, please email: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠[email protected]⁠⁠⁠

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 and burnout.

Chapters

00:00 - 02:15  Intro

3:20 - 9:18 Malissa’s background and journey

11:09 - 16:36 Workaholic or Hard Worker?

17:09 - 20:40 Protecting Ourselves from Burnout

20:42 - 25:06 The Lack of Research on Overwork and IBPOC women

25:18 - 33:46 How Organizations can Embrace More Balanced Workplaces

34:25 - 38:20 How to Rewire Our Workaholic Brains

38:20 - 41:02 Closing Thoughts

📚 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: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠[email protected]⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.  

For promotional and sponsorship inquiries, please email: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠[email protected]⁠⁠⁠