Public Libraries are struggling across BC, they have not had an increase to regular operating funds since 2010. Help support your BC Libraries by signing and sharing our petition today! We need your support! #BC #libraries #books #BritishColumbia #freedom #accessibility www.mylibrarybc.ca

"Restorative practice is the art of having difficult conversations and seeks to turn bad situations into good learning opportunities." Join Toby Mueller on Tues. June 16th, 2pm-3pm for 'Restorative Practice: Why should public libraries learn to use it?' Register today: tinyurl.com/restorativel...

On Tues. June 9th at 2pm we are hosting Audrey Jun, Executive Director of Nidus for her free workshop "Personal Planning and Representation Agreements" to help librarians support their patrons and find resources when planning for incapacity and end-of-life. Register today! tinyurl.com/nidusbcla

On Tues. May 26th, BCLA is hosting the panel 'Developing AI Policies in Canadian Public Libraries' with Laural Raine (TPL), Patricia Lesku (WVML) and Vicky Varga (EPL) to learn about their process, policies, and glean advice. Register today for this free event & recording. tinyurl.com/aipolicypanel

On Wed. May 20th we're offering "Creating Accessible Library Services for Children with Disabilities" thanks to @nnelsca.bsky.social and @celalibrary.bsky.social. Learn to plan and deliver programs, and enhance services for young patrons with disabilities. Register today! tinyurl.com/accessiblepr...

Thank you CUPE BC @cupebc.bsky.social www.cupe.bc.ca for your generous sponsorship of our Closing Keynote Dr. Shahana Alibhai site.pheedloop.com/event/bcla20... See you next week at the 2026 BC Library Conference! #BCLA2026 #premiersponsor

Thank you Library Bound Inc www.librarybound.com for your generous sponsorship of the 2026 BCLA Awards Lunch. site.pheedloop.com/event/bcla20... See you next week at the 2026 BC Library Conference! #BCLA2026 #premiersponsor

Thank you BCGEU @bcgeu.bsky.social www.bcgeu.ca for your generous sponsorship of our Plenary Session: "Recent Challenges to Intellectual Freedom in Alberta" site.pheedloop.com/event/bcla20... Join us at the 2026 BC Library Conference! #BCLA2026 #premiersponsor

Thank you BCGEU @bcgeu.bsky.social www.bcgeu.ca for your generous sponsorship of our Plenary Session: "Recent Challenges to Intellectual Freedom in Alberta" site.pheedloop.com/event/bcla20... Join us at the 2026 BC Library Conference! #BCLA2026 #premiersponsor

Thank you UBC Library www.library.ubc.ca for your generous sponsorship of our Opening Keynote Dr. Jenna Hartel site.pheedloop.com/event/bcla20... See you at the 2026 BC Library Conference! #BCLA2026 #premiersponsor

Thank you to our 2026 BC Library Conference Refreshment Break Sponsors: United Library Services ulscan.bsky.social www.uls.com and Whitehots www.whitehots.com We are so grateful for your support! See you next week at #BCLA2026 ! site.pheedloop.com/event/bcla20...

We'd like to welcome our returning and new exhibitors to the 2026 BC Library Conference! The Trade Show is a great place to discover new products and services to support libraries at #BCLA2026 Check it out on Wed April 22 and Thu April 23 site.pheedloop.com/event/bcla20...

Join Chris Knapp, Children's & Teen Librarian next Tuesday, April 14th at 10am for his workshop The Co-op Gaming Experience, exploring unique ways to promote cross-generational inclusion and learning at the library! Register today. bclaconnect.ca/resources/co...

Thank you to our 2026 BC Library Conference Refreshment Break Sponsors: United Library Services @ulscan.bsky.social www.uls.com and Whitehots www.whitehots.com We are so grateful for your support! site.pheedloop.com/event/bcla20... #BCLA2026

Next Wednesday, April 8th at 10am, Law Librarian Mita Williams will present on Open Data and AI and how library staff can contribute to making community data accessible through existing projects. Register today! bclaconnect.ca/resources/co...

On March 25th, Simon Jaeger (NNELS) and Ioana Gandrabur (CELA) are hosting "Navigating Toward Better Accessibility in Audiobooks." The workshop includes a demo of new audiobook options for those with print disabilities and how AI may improve accessibility. Register here: tinyurl.com/accessibleau...

Thank you Library Bound Inc www.librarybound.com for your generous sponsorship of the 2026 BCLA Awards Lunch. site.pheedloop.com/event/bcla20... Join us at the 2026 BC Library Conference! #BCLA2026 #premiersponsor

On Thurs. March 12th, McKelle Hansen (Library Access Specialist at the North Vancouver City Library) will be presenting "From Barriers to Belonging: Designing a Community Hub that centers the needs of marginalized patrons" based on the Open Door Community Hub. Register today. tinyurl.com/opendoorhub

Thank you CUPE BC @cupebc.bsky.social www.cupe.bc.ca for your generous sponsorship of our Closing Keynote Dr. Shahana Alibhai site.pheedloop.com/event/bcla20... Join us at the 2026 BC Library Conference! #BCLA2026 #premiersponsor

March begins with a talk called "Search is Evolving - Are the Searchers?" by Marydee Ojala from 'Online Searcher' magazine on Wed. March 4th at 10am PDT. MaryDee will evaluate the practical and ethical tradeoffs between traditional and AI-assisted search. Register today! tinyurl.com/OnlineSearcher

Thank you BCGEU @bcgeu.bsky.social www.bcgeu.ca for your generous sponsorship of Plenary Session, site.pheedloop.com/event/bcla20... Join us at the 2026 BC Library Conference! #BCLA2026 #premiersponsor

Thank you UBC Library www.library.ubc.ca for your generous sponsorship of our Opening Keynote Dr. Jenna Hartel site.pheedloop.com/event/bcla20... See you at the 2026 BC Library Conference! #BCLA2026 #premiersponsor

Jenne Amell is an Occupational Therapist presenting "Sensing the Possibilities: Creating inclusive library spaces for all" on Thurs. February 26th at 2pm. Discover how sensory processing impacts learning, behaviour, and overall engagement at the library. Register today! tinyurl.com/libraryspace...

Thank you to our 2026 BC Library Conference Premier Sponsors @bcgeu.bsky.social www.bcgeu.ca @cupebc.bsky.social www.cupe.bc.ca, Library Bound Inc www.librarybound.com, and UBC Library www.library.ubc.ca site.pheedloop.com/event/bcla20... We are so grateful for your support! #BCLA2026

On Thurs. Feb. 19th at 10am, we'll be hosting David Lee King and his workshop "Using AI Tools in Library Marketing" which includes a discussion on library AI-related policies, and how they can help or hinder the work of marketing and promotion. Register today! tinyurl.com/LibraryMarke...

Next Wed. Feb. 11th at 2pm, Mark Reinelt (Director Public Services at ORL) is offering a workshop called "Hitting the Limit: Trauma and Library Workers." Learn how to assess incident plans and create strategies to work through traumatic incidents. Register today! tinyurl.com/libraryworke...

Nominations for the 2026 BCLA Awards are now open - tell us about the amazing library workers and library projects that deserve recognition! bclaconnect.ca/blog/call-fo...

Are you responsible for understanding your library's financial position but don't know what everything means? Join BCLA Treasurer, Ann Johannes for "Financial Statements for Library Workers" next Thurs. Feb. 5th at 11am-12pm on Zoom. Register today: tinyurl.com/libraryfinance

Registration for #BCLA2026 is now open! bclaconnect.ca/blog/registr...

BCLA is excited to announce the new UX Interest group! Find out more: bclaconnect.ca/blog/introdu...

On Wed. January 21st at 2pm the event "Increasing Climate Literacy in Your Community" will be presented by RegenerateBC and Librarian, Caitlin MacRae. Public libraries are an ideal forum for climate collaboration, so register today to learn about climate solutions workshops. tinyurl.com/climatebcla

Our first event of 2026 is Accessible Social Media & Newsletters with the National Network for Equitable Library Service on January 15 at 10am. Learn why accessibility in marketing and social media matters and how to better engage all your patrons. Register today! tinyurl.com/newslettersn...

"Accessibility is about doing the work up front to identify and remove barriers for people who have specific disabilities." - Kevin Millsip, Executive Director BC Libraries Co-op. Find a video transcript in Word & PDF format: bclaconnect.ca/accessibilit... #accessibility @bcla.bsky.social #library

Happy holidays from BCLA!

Our final event for 2025 will be hosted by Shirley Chan called “AI Workshop Design for Newcomers in Public Libraries” on Thurs. December 11th. Learn how such workshops increase ethical AI use and strengthen the public library as an inclusive community hub. Register today! tinyurl.com/ainewcomers

Nick Tanzi is our Year-End Keynote speaker, and we hope you can join us next Wed. December 3 at 10am PDT for his talk called "Future-Ready Youth: Preparing our patrons to navigate the Age of AI." Register today! bclaconnect.ca/resources/co...

The Public Library Accessibility Working Group is hosting three sessions (December 2 - 4), depending on the size of your library, to introduce the "Accessibility Assessment Framework for Library Spaces." Follow the link for more detail and registration. bc.libraries.coop/about/access...

We hope to see you next Wed. Nov. 26th for the Becoming Anti-Ableist workshop at 10am with Elisabeth Walker-Young and Shawna Lawson of Inclusive Experiences. This session is “grounded in lived experiences and principles of disability justice.” Register today! tinyurl.com/inclusiveexp...

Calling all library leaders! BCLA has extended the deadline for mentors to consider offering their expertise in the 2026 Mentorship Session until Nov. 21st. Please consider this opportunity! For more detail and the "Expression of Interest" link, visit our webpage: bclaconnect.ca/mentorship/2...

Next week, Wed. Nov. 19th, Accessibility Librarians Kelsey Chaban and Rachel Chong of Kwantlen Polytechnic will present "Braille Printing: Accessible University Library Services" at 12:30pm. Learn how your campus library can reduce barriers and offer equitable service. tinyurl.com/brailleprint...

We are hosting the panel "Approaches to Intellectual Freedom Instruction at Canadian Library Schools" with Dr. Toni Samek, Dr. Mahdi Ganjavi and Dr. Cameron Pierson on Tues. Nov. 18th at 10am. Learn about their approach to teaching IF and best practises. Register today tinyurl.com/libraryschoo...

Register today for "Why Do Human Rights Matter for Emerging Technologies like AI?' with Dr. Wendy H. Wong, author of "We, the Data: Human Rights in the Digital Age." Join us on Thurs. Nov. 6th at 2pm PDT via Zoom for a talk that emphasizes the role of public libraries. tinyurl.com/DrWendyWong

Reminder that Climate Action Week begins across Canada, Nov 1 - Nov 7! Please @ us with your climate literacy activities and we can re-post your hard work for all to see. #ClimateActionWeek For more details, please visit: bclaconnect.ca/climateactio...

Register today for "Misinformation and Public Libraries" on Wed. Oct. 29th with Deb Hutchison Koep, Devon Greyson, and Leigh Anne Palmer. The spread of false information is a formidable threat - this session will explore how public libraries can approach this growing challenge. tinyurl.com/bclaevent

There's still time to register for "Indigenous Data Sovereignty and AI" with Kristin Kozar of the Hwlitsum First Nation on Thurs. October 9th at 2pm. Learn how digital archives and tools like AI can advance Indigenous data sovereignty, as well as the risks. Register today! tinyurl.com/bclaseriesAI

We're excited to (re)introduce the BCLA Accessibly Interest Group. Share knowledge, strategies and connect on issues related to accessibility in libraries. Find out more! bclaconnect.ca/blog/introdu...

Happy Library Month!🥳

B.C. libraries are vital hubs for learning, connection, and opportunity. Sustained funding is key to keeping services like digital access and literacy programs strong! Read the full @vancouversun.bsky.social article: vancouversun.com/opinion/colu... #libraries #community @bcla.bsky.social

We hope that you can join us via Zoom on Wed. October 1st for Sḵwx̱wú7mesh Sníchim Language Revitalization in the Public Library to learn how your library can better support local Indigenous communities... register today! tinyurl.com/registerbcla

Khari Wendell McClelland is a dynamic presenter, hosting our next workshop: "Facilitation for Community Transformation" on Thurs. Sept. 4th at 10am PDT on Zoom. We'll learn about values-based creative solutions and the 9 pillars of facilitation. Register today. tinyurl.com/KhariWendell