It’s that time of year again. The air is bitterly cold, there might be a foot of snow on the ground, and library professionals from across the country prepare for the Ontario Library Association Super Conference. This year though, instead of flocking to Toronto for a week, we are getting the super conference at home. And as always, LSC is there to educate and entertain! Read through for details on what we are doing.

Our Booth

This promises to be an OLA unlike any other, and while it is disappointing that we won’t get to see you all face to face, that doesn’t mean we won’t be there. We will be in the virtual exhibitor’s hall, Booth 115. Feel free to stop by and chat with Michael Clark, Trish Hayes, Jamie Quinn, or our CEO Michael Monahan (who recently announced his retirement later this year, making this his final OLA).

This year we will be highlighting our recently activated respectful Indigenous Subject Headings, and will be on hand to answer questions people have concerning these new headings and our retrospective service to update existing records in a library’s ILS.

We have a limited number of Expo Hall passes available. If you would like to tour the Expo floor, contact Michael Clark.

Our Giveaway

It wouldn't be an OLA without a booth prize. Last year we gave away two Polaroid cameras, and thought that was pretty neat. This year though, we are giving away a Stay Comfy At Home prize pack, which includes:

• one (1) Google Nest Mini (2nd Gen) Smart Speaker
• one (1) Dog Man plush
• one (1) Signed Oliver Jeffers What We’ll Build print
• one (1) Demco StickTogether® Mosaic Sticker Puzzle Poster
• one (1) Susan Mallery tote bag
• Notebooks
• and of course, various Books provided by our publishing partners.

To enter to win this prize pack, you must register to receive our new LSC Weekly Update newsletter between the dates of Feb 3rd and 5th. Anyone who registers between those dates will be entered into a draw after the festivities are over.

Our Fun

Each year, we host our Wine and Cheese, and try as we might we couldn’t figure a way to translate booze and food to a virtual setting (aside from what you bring to the Zoom yourself). However, we think we’ve come up with just as exciting an option.

On Thursday Feb 4th at 7pm we will be hosting the LSC Library Spelling Challenge. This for-fun spelling bee is an opportunity to come together, have some laughs, and see if you can remember where the ‘u’ in February goes. We have 30 spots for participants who want to compete. Register for your spot at Eventibrite. And for anyone who just wants to watch can email Michael Clark directly for the link (we even came up with drinking game rules for the audience). The winner will get a word-based prize pack!

Our Thanks

LSC is impressed and thanks OLA for finding a way to keep the conference going in this time of COVID. This is a challenging time for our industry, and OLA is a highlight of the year for many, including us. Even if it isn’t the same, it’s good to still bring us together in a way. We'll see you "there"!