Apply for a Culture Days Grant! | | |
Culture Days raises the awareness, accessibility, participation and engagement of Canadians in the arts and cultural life of their communities. With the support of volunteer groups at the national, provincial and local levels, hundreds of thousands of artists, cultural workers, organizations and groups, volunteers and supporters self-mobilize to host free participatory public activities that take place in hundreds of cities and towns throughout the country over a month each year.
This year's Culture Days activities will take place from September 18 to October 4.
Once again, we are pleased to offer TEN grants of up to $200 to support Culture Days library programming.
Grant applications open on June 8 and close on July 18, 2026. To learn more, please click the button below.
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Saskatchewan Library Week Grants Open Soon!
Saskatchewan Library Week (SLW) is an annual, province-wide celebration that showcases the valuable resources, programs, and services offered by libraries across Saskatchewan. Held each year during October, the event is celebrated in libraries of all types, bringing together communities of all ages in both urban and rural areas.
Saskatchewan Library Week (SLW) is happening October 11–17, celebrating the important role libraries play in strengthening communities, inspiring lifelong learning, and creating opportunities for everyone. This year’s theme, “Libraries Build Brighter Futures,” highlights how libraries empower people with knowledge, connection, creativity, and access to resources that help shape a better tomorrow.
To help make this year’s celebrations impactful, the Saskatchewan Library Association (SLA) is once again offering Saskatchewan Library Week Program Grants. Twenty-five grants of up to $250 are available to institutional and individual SLA members to help fund programming and events during Saskatchewan Library Week.
Applications open July 19 and close August 23. Watch for additional details in the coming weeks, or click the button below.
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The Regional Park Pass Lending Program is Up and Running!
The Regional Park Pass Lending Program runs from May 15 through to September 8 this year.
Libraries wishing to access additional information or materials related to the program can do so by clicking the button below.
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TD Summer Reading Club 2026 Library Awards and CELA Accessibility Award
Public libraries participating in the 2026 TD Summer Reading Club are encouraged to prepare for the upcoming Library Awards application process. Eligible libraries must have been registered for the 2026 program, delivered the Club for at least six weeks, followed branding guidelines, and completed all required reporting and application materials.
Applications are limited to one submission per library per year and must be submitted in either the English or French stream. Award recipients are required to reinvest prize funds in their library’s children’s services and participate in promotional activities.
Please note that libraries that receive an award will be ineligible to apply again for the following three years.
CELA Accessibility Award
The deadline to submit your TD Summer Reading Club Accessibility Award application is also October 2, 2026.
For more detailed information, please click the button below.
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The National Film Board in Libraries:
2026 TD Summer Reading Club Selections
Each year, the TD Summer Reading Club reaches out to the National Film Board for a curated list of great Canadian films that work with the year’s theme.
For 2026, the TD Summer Reading Club is pleased to present the compilation Drift & Discover. This selection of short films celebrates the wonders of water—from the depths of the sea to winding riverbeds and island shores. Playful and thoughtful, these works are crafted to engage young audiences through animation, storytelling, and imagination.
These films are available to libraries to support 2026 programming and events this year. For more information or to access these films for your library, please use the button below.
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Hello, everyone,
I'm very pleased this month to be able to pass along an exciting development at the national level, in an ongoing story that had drawn a lot of attention over these past few months.
As you likely were already aware, the federal Correctional Service Canada (CSC) had announced its intentions earlier this year to eliminate all prison librarian positions at all federal correctional institutions, in the wake of the 2025 federal budget directing the department to terminate roughly four hundred positions as part of broader planned public sector reductions over the next three fiscal years.
After several months of ongoing advocacy efforts against these proposed cuts by library associations, library workers, library advocates, prisoners' rights advocates, free expression organizations and other grassroots support from coast to coast, the Manitoba Library Association shared the good news on Facebook two weeks ago that CSC has now confirmed it will not move forward on its proposed reductions and will maintain its current levels of prison library staff and services across the country.
The potential of CSC revisiting its plans to eliminate all prison librarians will remain something to keep an eye out for over the next few years, as widespread federal public sector reductions are expected to remain an ongoing story through to the end of this decade. (My undergraduate degree was a Double Honours in History and Political Studies, so as you can imagine, I have some very developed opinions about the effects and legacies of austerity measures nationally and globally. Do not get me started!!) But for now, library champions and advocates across Canada can take heart in celebrating a shared victory, the second of this year following the successful safeguarding of the federal library shipping rate. Great things happen when we all work together!
Until next time,
James Hope Howard
SLA President
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Nominations Open for the 2026 Governor General’s History Award for Excellence in Community Programming
Community organizations across Canada play an important role in preserving and sharing local history. Through exhibits, heritage preservation projects, oral history initiatives, and community engagement events, these organizations help bring stories of the past to life and strengthen connections within their communities.
Canada’s History Society is now accepting nominations and applications for the 2026 Governor General’s History Award for Excellence in Community Programming. The award celebrates community-led initiatives that encourage public engagement with history and foster a deeper understanding of Canada’s past. Applications will be assessed based on their impact, creativity, and contribution to historical awareness.
Two award recipients will each receive a prize of $2,500 and be recognized at a special awards ceremony.
The application deadline is July 15, 2026. For more information or assistance with the application process, contact Kylie Nicolajsen at knicolajsen@canadashistory.ca.
To learn more or to make a nomination, please use the link below.
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Unlock the Full Power of Your
SLA Membership
Your SLA membership comes packed with incredible benefits. Are you taking full advantage of them?
Active Individual SLA members get exclusive access to more than 5,000 premium discounts through Perkopolis, one of Canada’s top member‑only savings programs.
Perkopolis connects you with unbeatable deals on travel, entertainment, shopping, wellness, and so much more. From globally recognized brands to everyday essentials, the savings add up fast.
Getting started is simple. Follow the steps below and activate your Perkopolis access today.
Want to discover even more exciting perks available to SLA members? Please visit us online using the button below and explore everything your membership has to offer.
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SLAte Submissions
Do you have something you’d like to see in SLAte? Send us your submission! The deadline for SLAte submissions is the 20th of each month, and submissions must be emailed to Marielle Escover at MEscover@saskla.ca. SLA reserves the right to change or edit any submission, or to refuse publication in its entirety.
SLAte is an open-access publication under a Creative Commons Attribution CC BY-NC-ND copyright license, excluding all logos and other material where indicated.
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