CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER’S
REPORT
October is Library Month
Throughout the month, OPL
will draw attention to its amazing offerings to everyone in Ottawa who use
their Library card. She said the OPL’s Golden Tickets were such a hit last
year that they are back this October, hidden around the City and throughout
the Library’s 33 branches and Bookmobile. Each Golden Ticket can be redeemed
for a stylish handmade fanny pack, made from upcycled material in Ottawa. The
CEO mentioned that OPL will be encouraging people to follow its social media
accounts, and the hashtag #OPLGoldenTicket. OPL will be in the community with
its Golden Ticket campaign to raise awareness about the importance of
libraries. She said Ontario Library Week takes place October 20-26, 2019.
First Nations Public
Library Week
The CEO indicated that First
Nations Public Library Week was celebrated September 29 to October 5, 2019,
which coincides with Canadian Library Month. The purpose of First Nations
Library Week in First Nation communities is to increase local awareness and
gain support for the library’s role in the community. She said beyond First
Nation communities, the purpose is to increase awareness regarding: First
Nation peoples and cultures, past and present, and the importance of making
available materials that portray First Nations accurately and sensitively.
OPL launched its first Indigenous film series on October 2, 2019 with “Ce
silence qui tue”, a documentary film about the trauma endured by Indigenous
women. The screening was followed by a panel discussion, in French, with the
filmmaker Kim O’Bomsawin, the executive producer Michèle Rouleau and a film
interviewee Israël McDougall.
Ottawa Book Awards
The CEO indicated that
the Ottawa Book Awards and Les Prix du livre d’Ottawa recognize the best
books of 2019, published in English and in French, by Ottawa authors. All
shortlisted finalists receive $1,000 and each winner receives a prize of
7,500. She said the 2019 Awards Ceremony will be presented on October 16,
2019 at Ottawa City Hall, Jean Pigott Place. The finalists are listed on
OPL’s website and a display featuring the finalists will circulate through
six OPL branches from December 2019 to May 2020. The CEO mentioned that along
with the display, OPL is offering a number of in-depth, free workshops by
writers and poets during the month of November.
Coming up in early
November
The CEO said the
following two events in November are sponsored by the Friends of the Ottawa
Public Library Association:
·
The
second film in OPL’s Indigenous Fall Film Series: Indian Horse, November 4,
2019 at 7:00 p.m. in partnership with UNESCO and the Ottawa Art Gallery; and,
·
A
cookbook launch with Chef Shane Chartrand, author of tawâw: Progressive
Indigenous Cuisine, November 7, 2019 at 7:00 p.m., in partnership with Wabano
Centre.
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