Annual Institute on the Library as Place 2022

Healthy Essentials Breakfast

Seasonal sliced fresh fruit
Low fat greek yogurt parfait with honey, sundried fruits and nuts
Banana and zucchini bread
Whole grain bagels with low fat and regular cream cheese
Freshly baked acorn creek garden farm's wild blueberry and bran muffins

Assorted juices
Freshly brewed Starbucks® regular and decaffeinated coffee, a selection of Teavana® teas

All meals/breaks can be consumed in the ballroom or the outdoor space adjacent to the foyer of the meeting space. Masking is strongly encouraged throughout the conference.

This session featuring a panel of library builders and architects will give you all of the tools you need to start your building project. Creating a functional program process with your team will help you define the activities in your building, how your spaces relate to each other, and how much and what type of space is required to operate efficiently. This session will explore the critical pre-design work of creating service plans and functional program documents.

Extremely practical, and full of useful, ready-to-use templates, this session will help prepare you to work with your architects and facilities team. We'll share documents, tips, and talk about how to get this rich, creative and crucial work accomplished even without a budget or a consultant.

Access the presentation file here.

Working Lunch Menu:
Traditional minestrone, parmigiano reggiano
Grilled vegetarian flat breads
Panzanella salad with tuscan bread, juicy tomatoes, cucumbers, olives, onion, basil and mozzarella, red wine vinaigrette
Shaved fennel and orange salad with basil and red onions
Chicken piccatta with lemon
Tri colour zita a la putanesca (vegetarian)

Lunch includes freshly brewed Starbucks® regular and decaffeinated coffee, a selection of Teavana® teas

All meals/breaks can be consumed in the ballroom or the outdoor space adjacent to the foyer of the meeting space. Masking is strongly encouraged throughout the conference.

We are living in a time of increasing awareness about individuals with neuro-sensitives and special needs, such as ADHD. In fact, 1 in 7 people are considered neurodiverse but fewer than 50% know it. These individuals can be high energy, out of the box thinkers, excel in a crisis, and be bold problem solvers. Not only is designing to be inclusive the right thing to do, there is a compelling case that it improves the work experience.

Join us as we share the various aspects of neurodiversity and explore how to create spaces that are more physically and culturally inclusive for people with a wide spectrum of neurological conditions in ways that allow them to thrive.

Are our staff spaces meeting the requirements library workers in a pandemic and post-pandemic world? In this session, we'll talk about the importance of designing functional, supportive staff space, and the questions to ask to get there. We'll review two case studies of library staff areas that no longer meets the needs of the staff who work there, and explore ideas for adjustments to make them work.

Presentation can be accessed here.

Home style cookies
Assorted granola bars
Whole Fresh Fruit
Individual bags of chips
Smart food popcorn

Freshly brewed Starbucks® regular and decaffeinated coffee, a selection of Teavana® teas

All meals/breaks can be consumed in the ballroom or the outdoor space adjacent to the foyer of the meeting space. Masking is strongly encouraged throughout the conference.

Four lightning-style talks will take you through recent public space transformations in public and academic libraries. In 10 minutes (or less!) the presenters will cover topics such as the impetus behind the projects, how they've been received and lessons-learned. With lots of time for Q&A and lots of photos of the transformations, you're sure to leave armed with great ideas to revitalize an underused space.

Mini Makerspace: Using the Space You Have - Ellen Rabie from Oxford County Library (slide deck below)
Robarts Commons - Glen Morales from University of Toronto (slide deck below) 
My Office is the Library: Meeting and Program Spaces in the Age of Remote Work - Assad Hossein from Hamilton Public Library (slide deck below) 
The Library Beyond its Walls: The Naturespace at WPL - Kelly Kipfer from Waterloo Public Library  

Hear from vendors in the library furniture community about what is the latest and greatest in library furnitures. Each speaker will give examples at a variety of price points and show examples of the innovative new furniture for users and staff at your library.

Access presentation slides here.

Recipients of the OLA Building Awards will make short presentations on their award winning spaces. This exciting event is always inspirational and features the library planning team as well as the architects involved. 

All conference attendees will receive a drink ticket for a selection of wine, beer and soda. We will also have crudité and a domestic cheese platter.

Cash bar will also be available.

All meals/breaks can be consumed in the ballroom or the outdoor space adjacent to the foyer of the meeting space. Masking is strongly encouraged throughout the conference.

Anyone wishing to join other conference attendees for dinner at a local restaurant can sign up at the registration desk. 

This tour group will meet in the lobby of the Pan Pacific and bus will depart at 9:00am, returning to the hotel at 2:30pm. If you prefer to drive yourself or meet us at the tour stop, please inform OLA staff.

Masks are mandatory on all Coach Buses. A mask will be provided if you do not have one. 

Stop #1 - Vaughan Public Libraries - VMC (9:30am) 
Nestled within a vibrant community hub, the VMC Library brings Vaughan’s library services, programming, and collection to the fast-growing downtown core. This new 9,000 square foot library provides welcoming spaces, and Vaughan’s first community kitchen which will be host to a culinary literacy program.

Stop #2 - Vaughan Public Libraries - Maple Library (10:20am)
Maple Library has been recently renovated with a refreshed children’s area, a new reading garden and imaginative use of colour and design elements. This tour stop will include a panel discussion featuring VPL building project leads and key architects associated with the build. (this stop includes lunch)

Stop #3 - Richmond Hill Library - Oak Ridges Branch (12:45pm)
With a strong emphasis on flexible and convertible 'people spaces' rather than 'book spaces', Oak Ridges Library is a modern reflection of the evolving role of libraries in communities today. The Silver LEED building is oriented to maximize daylight, mitigate solar glare and features an extensive green roof and natural landscaping.

Interior features a public computer learning centre, makerspace, study rooms, children's program room, meeting rooms, modular furniture and adaptable space that creates a natural doorway between indoor and outdoor space.

Tour guides will include Michael Blois and Aimee Drmic from Perkins + Will and Yunmi Hwang and Karen Wales from Richmond Hill Public Library.

This tour group will meet in the lobby of the Pan Pacific and bus will depart at 9:15am, returning to the hotel at 2:30pm. If you prefer to drive yourself or meet us at the tour stop, please inform OLA staff.

Masks are mandatory on all Coach Buses. A mask will be provided if you do not have one.


Stop #1 - University of Toronto Scarborough - Valley Land Trail, The BRIDGE and UTSC Library (9:45am) 

• The four-season Valley Land Trail connects the UTS campus to the Highland Creek Valley in a winding, accessible trail featuring a wheelchair charging station, lookout points and lighting. At 500-metres long, the trail descends a 19-metre slope at no more than a 5% grade, ensuring that as many people as possible can access the beautiful natural features. 
• The BRIDGE is a joint venture between UTSC’s Department of Management and the UTSC Library. We are a U of T accelerator focused on student formation, and a pathway for industry and community partnerships. Tour visitors will get an introduction to our state-of-the-art facility, which includes a business research library, data lab, and collaboration lounge.
• UTS Library is currently undergoing a three-phase renovation to provide improved spaces and services to the UTSC community, with a completion goal by 2025. Key changes will include state of the art study rooms, flexible student seating, improved access to book stacks and more access to outlets. Tour visitors will be shown the spaces designated for construction, renderings for the new spaces and how library users are able to use the space during construction.

Stop #2 - Toronto Public Library - Albert Campbell Branch (11:45am) (this stop includes lunch)

• The project is nearing completion and will be opening to the public at the end of July 2022.  This tour will be a sneak peek of the complete renovation of a brutalist building first opened in 1971. The renovation includes a revitalization of al public service areas. New spaces include a Digital Innovation Hub, Innovation Space, Enhanced Learning Centre, Teen Zone and Indigenous focused space.
• A sensitive, respectful treatment of the original design has resulted in a spectacular public space full of warmth and light. This project significantly expanded public space in the building without increasing the size of the structure. 
• Consultation with the local Indigenous community led to a partnership with a local Indigenous owned landscape firm to design and plant a medicine garden at the front of the branch.  The Red Urban Nation artist collective has been engaged to add a mural to the front garden space at the branch. 
• Tour the library with TPL staff Susan Martin, Gail Rankin and Eda Conte-Pitcher and design lead Brock James from LGA architectural partners.