Advocacy and Resources

The Role of Ontario Public Libraries

For many Ontarians, public libraries are the primary, and often only, access point for a variety of technology resources. With their unique mandate and reach, physical and technical infrastructure, staff expertise and local community presence, public libraries play a critical role in addressing the digital divide.

Public libraries across the province are providing essential technology services to millions of Ontarians each year.

2021 Ontario Public Library Statistics infographic. 300+ libraries. 45 First Nation libraries.70 million in-person visits. 294 million electronic visits.93.9 items circulated. 2,495 maker spaces, digital media and self-publishing programs with 46,770 attendees. 375 career, job help and skills programs with 7,782 attendees. Over 4.2 million public library card holders (33% of Ontario population)

(Source; Government of Ontario. (2021) Ontario Public Library Statistics. Retrieved from www.ontario.ca/page/ontario-public-libraries)

Public libraries excel in providing information and skills to diverse individuals of all ages and backgrounds. They play a crucial role in addressing digital inclusion and literacy within their communities. Libraries offer access to the Internet, as well as to a wide range of basic and emerging equipment and technologies. Through these services, libraries foster digital comfort and skills development, and support social connections, civic engagement and democracy.

Public libraries also drive economic growth and innovation by offering emerging technology services, entrepreneurial support, and market insights. They enable lifelong learning through digital platforms and technology training courses, benefiting both businesses and individuals.

Resources

Collaboration facilitates a deeper understanding of community needs and challenges related to digital inclusion. Moving forward, enhanced partnership and collaboration among Ontario libraries and data resources can amplify library impact, facilitating the benchmarking of robust standardized data comparisons.

Looking to expand your data reach or gain valuable advocacy support? Here are affiliates and partners that are just as passionate about data and empowering libraries through advocacy as we are:

Ontario:

Every year FOPL conducts an in-depth analysis of public library data submitted to the Ministry of Tourism, Culture and Sports. This report offers a glimpse of the immense benefits that libraries across the province provide their communities.

Libraries provide a range of services, but thanks to the advent of big data and analytics, we can now quantify those services better than ever. In some areas of the province job creation and small business support services are most pressing, while information and digital literacies may play a more prominent roll in the economic progress of an adjacent city.

Every city and municipality has their own distinct set of challenges. This dataset can be used as a tool to help libraries address growing needs. This report seeks to expand our understanding of the various pursuits of communities across Ontario while providing in-depth insights into areas where we can better support each and our communities.

As with all reports, the insights available are as strong as the inputs (data). In some instances, there may be missing or faulty data that could lead to erroneous and anomalous outputs.

The Dashboard is available to use by FOPL members. If you are interested in joining FOPL, please contact admin@fopl.ca for more information.
The OLA engages in advocacy initiatives and government relations for its public and school library sectors, as well as offers a host of advocacy resources. Founded in 1900, the Ontario Library Association (OLA) is the oldest continually operating library association in Canada.

With 5,000 members, OLA is also the largest library association in Canada, with six divisions covering various kinds of libraries (college and university, library and information technology, library boards, public libraries, school libraries, and French libraries).

Visit the OLA website to access information briefs, their annual pre-budget submissions and government consultations, toolkits and more!
The Ontario Library Service was established in 2021 and is mandated to deliver programs and services on behalf of the Ontario Minister of Tourism, Culture and Sport by:
- increasing cooperation and coordination among Public Library boards and other information providers in order to promote the provision of library services to the public
- assisting Public Library boards and First Nations public libraries by providing them with services and programs that meet their needs including consulting, training and development services.
Visit Ontario Library Services for more information.

National and International:

The IFLA North America Regional Division covers Canada and the United States of America.

As with other Regional Division Committees, it focuses strongly on advocacy, identifying priorities for the region, and defining and delivering on action plans that respond to these

This includes work to build capacity, communicate about IFLA’s work and offer, extend IFLA’s membership and reach, and strengthen the voice of libraries.

Visit the IFLA North American Regional Division website.
You can’t improve what you don’t measure.

Municipal Benchmarking Network Canada is a partnership between Canadian municipalities who believe in the power of measurement to inspire continuous improvement in the delivery of services to our communities.
- Measure and report
  Partner municipalities identify and collect consistent and comparable data on their municipal service areas, report the findings annually and analyze those results to see how they measure up. But data is only the start.
- Share ideas
  Partners use the network to discuss results and share their practices and strategies. It often starts with a question—Why did we get these results? How can we improve? What does your program look like?—and ends with collaboration on creative solutions to improve performance.
- Use the data
  Partners have used data to support Council decisions, set policy, inform reviews, evaluate programs, support budget recommendations, identify trends, and develop data dashboards. Some municipalities make their data accessible to everyone through open data policies and programs.
  
  Visit the MBN Canada Libraries Service Area for more information.
- Mission
  To facilitate advocacy, collaboration, and research that strengthens and promotes the value of Canada’s urban libraries as integral to a vibrant democracy, a strong economy, and thriving communities.
- Advocacy
  CULC/CBUC will be recognized as a leader through innovative partnerships on program, service and leadership in the promotion of urban public library service.
  CULC/CBUC is prepared to work with traditional and non-traditional partners to advance the provision of library service within their communities.
  
  Visit the Canadian Urban Councils for more information.
The Urban Libraries Council has spent 50 years enriching communities by strengthening and promoting the value of libraries as essential public assets.

ULC provides a forum for library leaders to share best practices and innovative ideas that inspire programs that support learning, a strong economy and an active democracy.

ULC programs are recognized for creating new frameworks that invigorate public libraries and their communities.

Visit the Urban Libraries Council for more information.

Open Data:

Statistics Canada: https://www.statcan.gc.ca/en/start
Ontario Data Catalogue: https://data.ontario.ca/

Ontario Public Library Statistics: https://www.ontario.ca/page/ontario-public-library-statistics
City of Toronto Data Hub: https://open.toronto.ca/