Grant applications open on June 10 and close on July 8, 2025. To learn more or to apply online, please use the link below. | | |
The Regional Park Pass Lending Program is Back!
After a slight funding hiccup, the Saskatchewan Regional Parks Association (SRPA) has stepped in to offer their support resulting in the decision to reopen the Regional Park Pass Lending program for the 2025 season! We announced this exciting news recently at the 2025 Saskatchewan Libraries Conference.
The Regional Park Pass Lending Program runs from June 16 through to September 16 this year.
Libraries wishing to access additional information or materials related to the program are asked to please contact Stevie Peiffer at: steviep@saskregionalparks.ca
Be sure to visit your local library to get started or use the link below to download a promotional poster or learn more!
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Get Your Passports Ready: Get Your Summer Read On is Almost Here!
Get your tickets, grab your passports—here we go!
With the launch of the TD Summer Reading Club (TDSRC) coming up soon, we wanted to share a few key resources and pieces of information to help you effectively promote and prepare for the Club in this final stretch.
This year, libraries can launch registration for the Club anywhere from June 9 to June 23, 2025. This registration period is known as Get Your Summer Read On (GYSRO).
Promotional Presentations
If you’re visiting classrooms or inviting kids to the library, consider using some of our promotional presentations to build interest in the Club. Challenge kids with an Escape Adventure, the Snapshot Trivia Game or create a Silly Story together.
Join the Club presentation highlights the important elements of the 2025 program. You can add content to that presentation to fit your local program, or create your own presentation using our branded PowerPoint template.
GYSRO Lead-Up
Libraries can host events and activities to mark the opening of Club registration.
Online Workshops
We’ve partnered with Bibliovideo to offer a series of TDSRC online workshops this summer with our artist and web comic illustrators. The videos will be embedded on our kids’ website for kids to enjoy all summer long.
The kids’ TDSRC website goes live on Monday, June 9, 2025.
Have fun launching your Club this summer!
For more resources and information, please visit the link below.
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National Film Board 2025 TD Summer Reading Club Film 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 2025, the TD Summer Reading Club is pleased to present the compilation From France to Nunavut, via Hong Kong, stories…
These films are available to libraries to support 2025 programming and events this year. For more information including descriptions of films, please use the link below.
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Summer Programming Grant Applications Have Been Extended!
Did you forget to apply for a Summer Program grant this year? Luckily, the deadline for our 2025 Summer Programming grants has been extended until June 8th! These $300 grants, generously supported by SaskTel, are available to SLA member libraries. This is your last chance, so don't delay! To learn more or apply, please use the link below.
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Congratulations to the 2025 National Indigenous Peoples Day Grant Recipients
National Indigenous Peoples Day reflects, recognizes and celebrates the diversity of First Nations, Métis and Inuit communities both in Saskatchewan and across the country.
We recently awarded six $200 grants to help support National Indigenous Peoples Day library programs taking place on June 21, 2025 or during the week of June 15–21, 2025.
SLA gratefully acknowledges funding support for these grants by the Saskatchewan Ministry of Government Relations; Indigenous and Northern Relations, First Nation and Métis Relations Unit.
The SLA is excited to announce the recipients of the 2025 National Indigenous Peoples Day grants as follows:
• Eastend Branch Library
• Gabriel Dumont Institute Library, Prince Albert
• Lafleche Branch Library
• Lumsden Public Library Branch
• Shaunavon Branch Library
• Wakaw Public Library
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The Prison Library Sub-Committee on CBC Saskatchewan!
On Thursday, May 8, Prison Library Sub-committee (PLSC) members Marika Hunter and Alan Kilpatrick sat down with Stephanie Massicotte on CBC Saskatchewan, Saskatoon Morning for a discussion on the valuable work of the PLSC. SLA would like to thank Marika, Alan and all committee members for their hard work and tireless dedication to the PLSC. Fantastic job! Please use the links below to listen, read the article, or download the PLSC program brochure.
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SK Libraries Conference Wraps Up Another Successful Year!
As another successful conference wraps up, SLA would like to extend a heartfelt thank you to everyone who supported and took part in the 2025 Saskatchewan Libraries Conference in Saskatoon! We couldn't have done it without you.
As an important follow-up to this year's event, we are seeking your valuable feedback. This helps us connect Saskatchewan’s library and information service professionals with the organizations and services that meet their needs.
Please use the links below to fill out the delegate and presenter evaluation survey by June 2, 2025. The survey is anonymous and should only take approximately five to ten minutes to complete.
We are excited to see you all again for next year’s conference to be held from April 30 - May 1, 2026 at the DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel & Conference Centre in Regina!
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Strong Foundations to Reading Webinar
Language is the foundation to strong reading skills. In this webinar workshop, hosted by Nazneen Akhter Ahmed and Becca Abbott at Foundations Learning & Skills Saskatchewan, participants will gain a better understanding of early language and literacy development, the link between language and literacy development, and the role childhood educators play in creating a strong learning foundation. This workshop will share strategies for building language skills in children and easily replicated early literacy activities.
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Nazneen Akhter Ahmed is a Senior Family Literacy Coordinator at Foundations Learning & Skills Saskatchewan. She has a Master of Science degree in Early Childhood Development and over 14 years of experience working with children and families. At Foundations Nazneen closely works with families, communities and Community partners and delivers training and supports to partners throughout the province.
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Becca Abbott has been with Foundations Learning for 4 years. Her background is in Psychology, specifically in developmental psychology. Becca has a special interest in the secure attachment relationships developed between caregivers and children. She loves seeing how family literacy activities can strengthen these relationships during her family literacy programming.
This free workshop takes place on Wednesday, June 11 from 12:30-2pm and is open to all SLA members. Please use the link below to register.
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Congratulations to Morgan Kelly, Recipient of the Early Career Librarian Award!
SLA would like to extend a warm congratulations to Morgan Kelly, the first ever recipient of the Early Career Librarian Award!
Morgan Kelly is SLA’s Vice President of Advocacy and Development, and has been involved with SLA on several committees since 2021. In addition to her role with SLA, Morgan is also the Community Services Manager for Southeast Regional Library. Her work includes region-wide programming initiatives such as TD Summer Reading Club, Saskatchewan Library Week, and Saskatchewan Aboriginal Storytelling Month, as well as the development of regional resource kits. Thank you for your tremendous contributions, Morgan!
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Thank you 2024-2025 Committee Members and Reps!
SLA's volunteer committees operate from September to May of each year. The hard work of these volunteers makes it possible for SLA to achieve its mission to support libraries all across Saskatchewan! We want to extend an enormous THANK YOU to each and every volunteer for their hard work, dedication and valued contributions over the past months.
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Advocacy Committee
Chau Ha
Danielle Raymond
James Hope Howard
Marika Hunter
Morgan Kelly (Chair)
Oksana Moshynska
Jennifer Doede
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Conference Planning Committee
Caitlin Bakker
Desirae Munro
Hannah Sackville
James Hope Howard
Ryan Monks (Chair)
Yuri Forbes-Petrovich
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One Book One Province Committee
Ann Liang
Christina Winter
Colleen Murphy (Chair)
James Hope Howard
Joe Geary
Mary Chipanshi
Morgan Kelly
Paula Daigle
Su Hyun Lim
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Awards
Sub-Committee
Barbara Nelke
Cara Bradley
JoAnn Murphy
Kimberley Hintz
Robert Thomas (Chair)
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Prison Library Sub-Committee
Marika Hunter (Chair)
Maria Cruz
Alan Kilpatrick
James Richards
Jo Shepherd
Megan Stecyk
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Programming Committee
Emily Wong
James Hope Howard
Katherine Wagner
Morgan Kelly
Tawn Marshall (Chair)
| | SLA also has a number of volunteer external representatives, who represent SLA to other organizations across Saskatchewan and would like to express our sincere gratitude to all of our 2024-25 external representatives! | | |
Ann Liang
Prairie Provinces Representative to the Canadian Federation of Library Associations (CFLA)
Donna Thiessen
CFLA Copyright Committee
Dale Storie
Multitype Library Board
Deborah Pelletier
CFLA Indigenous Matters Committee
Lisa Ulriksen
Library Services for Saskatchewan Aboriginal Peoples Committee (LSSAP)
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Gwen Fisher
Saskatchewan Book Awards
Michele Fedyk
Saskatchewan Polytechnic Library & Information Technology Advisory Group
Kate-Lee Nolin
University of Regina Senate
Amanda D. Lepage
University of Saskatchewan Senate
Riane LaPaire
Willow Awards - Saskatchewan Young Readers' Choice Awards (SYRCA)
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• June 2 - SK Libraries Conference Evaluation Survey Deadline
• June 8 - Deadline Extension for Summer Programming Grants
• June 9 - TD Summer Reading Club Begins
• June 10 - Culture Days Program Grant Applications Open
• June 11 - Strong Foundations to Reading Webinar
• June 16 - Regional Park Pass Lending Program Opens
• June 21 - National Indigenous Peoples Day
• July 15 - Govenor General's History Award Nomination Deadline
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Hello, everyone,
I hope that you enjoyed an unforgettable Conference! Each year the Saskatchewan Libraries Conference is one of the big highlights on our SLA calendar, and I'm thrilled that our 2025 incarnation at TCU Place in downtown Saskatoon was such a success. Thank you to our Conference Planning Committee and our SLA staff for all of their efforts ahead of the big show, and to all of our delegates, exhibitors, sponsors, presenters and volunteers who came together to share information and ideas.
In addition to our exciting announcement about the return of the Regional Park Pass Lending Program during the Conference proceedings, we were very pleased to announce that next year’s Saskatchewan Libraries Conference will take place on April 30 and May 1, 2026 at the DoubleTree Hotel by Hilton Hotel & Conference Centre in downtown Regina. That's right, folks – only 333 days until next Conference! Give or take! Depending on when you're reading this!
To help us guide the development of the 2026 Conference and of future Conferences to come, please fill out the 2025 Conference Evaluation Form if you have not already done so. (That said: please do not mention The Wheel that we used for the prize draws. I am already incredibly, indelibly, intensely aware of The Wheel. I will not be accepting questions about The Wheel at this time.)
In the meantime, while we all make the most of the rest of 2025 – can you believe that we’re almost halfway through the year already? This report today is the most times that I’ve typed 2026 into any document thus far, a year that my brain had largely considered theoretical to this point – I wish everyone a warm and wonderful summer to come, and look forward to the summer success stories of libraries all across the province.
Until next time,
James Hope Howard
SLA President
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OLA Super Conference Callback
The OLA is thrilled to present a new program this summer: “Super Conference Callback”, a series in which we invite a curated selection of presenters to replicate or reimagine their popular in-person conference session in the form of a webinar. We hope that these sessions will appeal to those who were unable to attend the in-person conference for whatever reason.
Here are the 1-hour sessions to look forward to:
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June 3 - Less Can be More: Conquering Weeding Worries to Create Streamlined Collections and Enhance Resource Access
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June 10 - Teen Nights That Work: Strategies from a Successful Multi-Organization Partnership
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June 17 - Outreach Programming: The Bridge to Everywhere -
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June 23 - Cultivating a Safe and Welcoming Library Space: Addressing Incidents with Hamilton Public Library's Step System
For more information or to register, please use the link below.
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Calling All School Librarians: Share Your Expertise
Canadian School Libraries (CSL) is extending an invitation to school librarians who are passionate about and/or have insights, strategies, or success stories to share with their colleagues. In this way, then CSL is hoping to offer professional learning on a wide variety of relevant, timely, and impactful topics.
The requested topics of interest are as follows:
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• Advocacy & Leadership
• Technology & AI Integration
• Instructional Design for Inclusive Learning
• Collaboration & Adult Learning
• Program Evaluation & Data-Informed Practice
• Literacy, Reading & Engagement
• Self-Care, Support & Community
• Management & Curation
| If any of these topics resonate with you or if you have another great idea, the CSL would love to hear from you. To learn more or submit an idea, please use the link below. | |
More Topics in Leadership & Management
Fresh topics are tackled in the third iteration of this ongoing virtual workshop series. Participate in interactive sessions to build essential management skills, improve leadership performance, and inspire resilience to navigate challenging workplace situations. Hosted by The Education Institute.
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Preparing for the Unpreparable
Monday, June 16, 2025
1:00pm – 3:00pm EST
Online via Zoom
Facilitator: Andrea Freeman, Organization Coach at Andrea Freeman Coaching and Consulting
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2025 Governor General's History Award for Excellence in Community Programming: Call for Nominations
Across Canada, community organizations are making significant efforts to preserve and share their local stories. From exhibits and civic engagement events to oral histories and preservation projects, these initiatives bring communities together in new and exciting ways.
Canada's History Society is seeking nominations and applications for the 2025 Governor General's History Award for Excellence in Community Programming. This award recognizes community-led projects that promote public engagement in history. Applications are evaluated on their impact, innovation, and contribution to a greater public understanding of Canadian history.
Two prizes of $2,500 will be presented at a memorable ceremony.
Applications are due on July 15, 2025. If you have any questions about the award or application, please contact Kylie Nicolajsen at knicolajsen@canadashistory.ca
To learn more or to make a nomination, please use the link below.
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Arts Practice Survey for Academic Librarians
Are you an academic librarian who regularly engages in an art practice?
Librarians at the University of Guelph are conducting a survey to learn how many Canadian academic librarians have a committed art practice and how their work and their art practice complement each other.
The survey will take approximately 10 minutes to complete. To learn more or complete the survey, please use the link below.
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An Invitation to Share Your Story!
What role has the library played in your life or community? Have you had an exceptional experience at your local library? How has the library helped support your goals? Has your library recently run a fantastic program you want others to know about?
Whether you are a staff member or patron, we'd love to hear all about your experience at the library! Submit your story to info@saskla.ca and it may be featured in an upcoming issue of SLAte and on our social media channels!
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SLAte Submissions
Have something you want to see in SLAte? Send us a submission! The deadline for SLAte submissions is the 20th of each month, and submissions must be emailed to Yasmin Dar at YDar@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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