By Maureen McGrath & Cathy MacKechnie
From their first conference dating back to 1902, the Ontario Library Association has a rich history of bringing people together. Super Conference was launched in 1995, which allowed people to convene in large numbers in Toronto, Ontario, on often the coldest week of January. In 2021, and again this year, the OLA has continued to assemble, round up, and gather people from across Ontario, Canada, and even North America, albeit using a virtual conference platform. This year’s theme: Gather ~ Se rassembler is exactly what we all needed.
Priya Parker, one of the keynote speakers and author of The Art of Gathering: How We Meet and Why It Matters, reminded the audience that every gathering has a host. A good host will connect the guests to each other, provide a safe environment, and orient the participants to the purpose of the gathering. OLA Super Conference did just that! The gift of this conference is how it brings together in learning, a breadth of library professionals from all library sectors. It reminds us of the integral necessity of libraries in all communities including our schools. Many speakers wove in their intimate experience of the power of libraries in space, materials, and stories. It reaffirmed our important work and reminded us of our purpose as school leaders.
By definition, according to the Merriam-Webster dictionary, to gather is also “to harvest and pick”. The selection of this year’s conference was immense and thankfully offerings are available until August, so picking one session no longer means you miss another! The school library day was led by educators sharing great examples from their practice and filled with inspiring ideas for attendees. As we re-culture our communities and rebuild after closures, the themes running through the day asked us to reflect on our environment and our students. Suggestions around decolonizing our spaces and collections, inclusivity, intentionality of culturally responsive pedagogy in photography and coding, and equity work were offered. Listing them all in one sentence is not to diminish the importance or immensity of the work! Each presentation gave us pause to think, and energy to act.
Included throughout the conference were innumerable opportunities for learning and joy, and as usual there was something for everyone. Super Conference brings it all to one place: publishers, authors, vendors, shopping, great new book selections, current research and lots of swag! The poster sessions came alive with the audio feature and the combination of pre-recorded and live chats provided excellent variety. You cannot gather without making connections and the social events throughout the conference were so clever. Planners truly found the heart of all librarians through drag musical bingo, trivia, a comedy show from Cathryn Naiker, a virtual illustration show with Kevin Sylvester and a spelling bee! The hundreds of attendees who showed up for these events attested to this desire to connect.
In her keynote, Cherie Dimaline stated that, “Gatherings are times of change where we purposefully place ourselves and ideas in the optimal space for growth”. Super Conference places us in this optimal space as we come ready to soak up all the ideas presented to us; and the featured speakers left us with much to consider. Lawrence Hill was the OSLA spotlight this year sharing stories of his writing life, his personal journey and the story of his new book Beatrice and Croc Harry. Hill shared how Beatrice’s coming of age story gives voice to those seeking to find their identity in a complex world and the necessity for diversity in the stories we offer to students. His honesty and passion for storytelling was unmistakable and memorable.
Great gatherings have a beginning, middle and end. The final day of the conference focused on the celebration of school libraries. It offered three distinct opportunities to congregate: to learn, to celebrate, and to reflect. Our day opened with our Ontario School Library AGM hosted by President Maureen McGrath. It was a wonderful opportunity to look back on the past year and highlight our accomplishments and goals moving forward. At noon the #SchoolLibraryJoy session, was hosted by OSLA Council members, and we celebrated and shared our favourite moments in our school libraries across the province and how we can be agents of change. Finally, the School Library Wrap Up was a perfect way to end the day, as we all expressed our personal highlights of the conference. What emerged was the common theme of how hopeful we are moving forward in school libraries.
By gathering together as school leaders, curators of resources and knowledge seekers, Super Conference has done it again – our harvest baskets are full. Everyone has been challenged these past couple of years. But by coming together in community and connecting with one another, we have built up our strength and resilience to support students in their learning. We have a renewed commitment to welcoming students and educators back into our spaces – as the gracious hosts of our school community.
Maureen McGrath. After many years in the secondary English classroom, and 12 years as a teacher-librarian, Maureen is currently in the role of Coordinator of Curriculum and Staff Development with the Algonquin & Lakeshore Catholic District School Board. She is a lover of books, new ideas and her boys at home. She has been part of the Ontario School Library Association for two terms as Councillor Eastern Region and is honoured to have completed her second year as president. Maureen is now moving into the OSLA Past-President role.
Cathy MacKechie is currently working at Nepean High School as a teacher-librarian in the Ottawa Carleton District School Board. She has over 25 years experience in three different school boards in Quebec and Ontario. Cathy is part of the Executive of the Library Subject Council within the OCDSB. Cathy is also presently sitting on the OSLA Council as the Eastern representative.