Setting the Scene…
• Just to set the scene, we wanted to tell you some of our assumptions for this presentation.
• Our first assumption is that Heather and I are librarians who are involved on a committee established by the Ontario Library Association’s Public Library sub-group, the OPLA.
• We have been asked by OPLA to put together an advocacy plan to encourage public library CEO’s, trustees and other interested parties to consider becoming involved with or to support an initiative to create a province-wide public library card. We are presenting our proposal for the first time at OLA’s SuperConference in early 2007.
• Because of the scope of this project, we are assuming that it is extremely early in the process, mainly to help keep it manageable for the twelve minutes we’ve been allotted for this presentation.
TOL-Free: First Steps Towards an Ontario-wide
Library CardPresented to: Members of
OPLA
OLA SuperConference
February 2, 2007
Prepared by: Jason Hammond and Heather McKend
Who Is The TOL-Free Card For?
• Robert Reed, 47, Businessman, Windsor, Ontario
Who Is The TOL-Free Card For?
• Paige Petersen, 21 Student, Thunder Bay, Ontario
Who Is The TOL-Free Card For?
• The Galleys, 37, 34, & 10, Summer Vacationers, Cottage Country, Ontario
Imagine This…
• What if your library card allowed you to borrow and return items at virtually any library in Ontario?
No Need To Re-invent the Wheel
• Alberta is currently the only jurisdiction in Canada with a province-wide library service.
Why The Ontario Library for Free (TOL-Free) Card Now?
• Ontario residents are increasingly mobile
• Libraries are seeing increased visits from non-residents
• The TOL-Free Card maximizes access to information for all Ontario residents
First Steps
• Expand our steering committee
• Write business plan
• Approach Ministry of Culture for their support
• Obtain funding for development work
• Communicate with stakeholders
Who Supports Us Already?
• Ontario Digital Library
• The Alberta Library
• Libraries in many smaller and northern Ontario communities
We Need Funding Support
• Ontario Provincial Government
• Federal Government
We Also Need Their Support
1. Library CEO’s
2. Ontario’s Public Library Trustees
3. Ontario Public Library Association (OPLA)
4. Ontario Library Association
5. Canadian Library Association (CLA)
6. Ontario municipalities, large and small
Issues
• What will it cost my library?
• Why should my library subsidize another library that gets less use?
• Will I get my books back?
Strengths
• There will be no extra cost to your library
• Most libraries see a roughly equal number of books going out as coming in
• Books will be returned promptly
Even Bigger Strengths
• Makes Ontario a leader in the national library community.
• Will have an economic benefit
• Establishes relationship for other joint programs between libraries
• Eventually will include other types of libraries
The TOL-Free Card Is:
• Easy to use
• Convenient
• Mobile
Who Wins?
• Businesspeople who travel for their work
• Commuters
• Families on vacation
• People in northern and smaller communities
• Students away from home
• Tourists within the Province
It Takes Baby Steps
Questions?
Top Related