Library Land Loves

About Library Land Loves

Library professionals are passionate about a lot of things. Be it the pop culture they consume or the databases that drive their libraries, Library Land Loves A Lot!

Publisher

Ontario Library Association

Category

education

Language

en

Explicit

No

First episode

29 Mar 2018

Latest episode

29 Sept 2026

Latest episodes

105 episodes in the feed.

1. 

   29 Sept 2026

   Social Connection with Pete Bombaci

   What happens when we take a moment to connect with someone new? In this episode of Library Land Loves, Michelle Arbuckle sits down with Pete Bombaci, founder of GenWell, Canada's national social health movement dedicated to reducing loneliness and strengthening human connection. Together, they explore why social connection is essential to our well-being, how simple conversations can transform communities, and what inspired Pete to launch a movement focused on bringing people together. From the power of talking to strangers to the role libraries can play in fostering belonging, Pete shares practical ideas, inspiring stories, and a compelling vision for creating stronger, more connected communities. Michelle also digs into what makes Pete such an effective advocate, uncovering lessons in storytelling, authenticity, and speaking with purpose. Whether you're a library worker, community builder, or simply someone looking to deepen your connections, this conversation offers thoughtful insights and a timely reminder that meaningful change often begins with a simple hello. ******* For more information about our new presenting sponsor, visit CVSMidWestTape.ca or HooplaDigital.com Learn about GenWell’s mission, team, and partners, and read some frequently asked questions to understand why they do what they do - visit genwell.ca (https://genwell.ca/) or donate today (https://genwell.ca/donations/general-donation/)! Talk to a Stranger Week is held annually in November and intends to educate and empower Canadians to build stronger connections and communities through the simple power of talking to strangers. Learn more at talktoastrangerweek.org  (https://www.talktoastrangerweek.org/) Email Pete – I mean, he basically told you to – pete@genwellproject.org (mailto:pete@genwellproject.org) ******* 📚 You’re not an OLA member yet? Don’t worry about it, it’s fine, you can become one ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ (https://accessola.com/membership-information/). ⭐️ Keep up to date with what your OLA besties are doing via ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ (https://www.instagram.com/ontariolibraryassociation/) and ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠LinkedIn⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ (https://www.linkedin.com/company/ontario-library-association/mycompany/). ******* This podcast is hosted by Michelle Arbuckle and produced by Gina Freitag. Editing and additional production support is completed by Helen Chevreau. Promotions and communications for this podcast are executed by Laurel McLeod. For programming inquiries, please email: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠education@accessola.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ (mailto:education@accessola.com). For promotional and sponsorship inquiries, please email: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠communications@accessola.com⁠⁠⁠ (mailto:communications@accessola.com)

2. 

   15 Sept 2026

   Advocating for Libraries: Municipal Election Talk with FOPL’s Dina Stevens

   We’re kicking season 8 off with an important topic: the role public libraries play during municipal elections. The date is probably already embedded in your mind, but elections in Ontario are set for Monday, October 26 and throughout October BC, Manitoba, and Prince Edward Island.  So today we're talking about how we talk about libraries during a municipal election season. How we can be loud for libraries right now. Because the municipality is an important decision maker when it comes to library funding and oversight – and it’s imperative that those decision makers understand the important role that libraries play in their communities. We are joined for this episode by Dina Stevens, Executive Director of the Federation of Ontario Public Libraries (FOPL) ******* For more information about our new presenting sponsor, visit https://www.cvsmidwesttape.ca/ (https://www.cvsmidwesttape.ca/) or https://www.hoopladigital.com/ (https://www.hoopladigital.com/) https://fopl.ca/ (https://fopl.ca/) - FOPL is the provincial voice of Ontario's public libraries, advancing advocacy, collaboration, and sector leadership to strengthen library services. Ontario’s Municipal Elections - https://www.amo.on.ca/about-us/municipal-101/municipal-elections (https://www.amo.on.ca/about-us/municipal-101/municipal-elections) City of Toronto elections info - https://www.toronto.ca/city-government/elections/ (https://www.toronto.ca/city-government/elections/) ******* 📚 You’re not an OLA member yet? Don’t worry about it, it’s fine, you can become one ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ (https://accessola.com/membership-information/). ⭐️ Keep up to date with what your OLA besties are doing via ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ (https://www.instagram.com/ontariolibraryassociation/) and ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠LinkedIn⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ (https://www.linkedin.com/company/ontario-library-association/mycompany/). ******* This podcast is hosted by Michelle Arbuckle and produced by Gina Freitag. Editing and additional production support is completed by Helen Chevreau. Promotions and communications for this podcast are executed by Laurel McLeod. For programming inquiries, please email: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠education@accessola.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ (mailto:education@accessola.com). For promotional and sponsorship inquiries, please email: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠communications@accessola.com⁠⁠⁠ (mailto:communications@accessola.com)

3. 

   7 Jul 2026

   Reading is an Essential Service

   As we close out this season of Library Land Loves, Michelle sits down with Brian Bannon, Chief Librarian of the New York Public Library to come back to one of the most essential (and sometimes overlooked) parts of library work: reading. Michelle and Brian explore how libraries can reconnect with reading in ways that feel fresh, inclusive, and relevant, and discuss: Why we may have unintentionally quieted our message about reading The role of choice, format, and access (yes—this includes audiobooks!) How to help people build a reader identity The role reading plays in empathy, wellbeing, and civic life What a bold, continent-wide reading initiative could look like Books mentioned in this episode: Reader Come Home: The Reading Brain in a Digital World – Maryanne Wolf Proust and the Squid: The Story and Science of the Reading Brain – Maryanne Wolf City We Became – N.K. Jemisin Yesteryear All of the Rachel Reid books (shout out Canada!) New York Public Library (https://www.nypl.org/) OLA is a charitable and non-profit organization (107798159RR0001) that accepts donations for several funds. Each fund (https://accessola.com/ola-funds/) supports the library and information sector uniquely; from supporting OLA programs to getting books into the hands of children across Ontario, to mentorship, and more: Example: I Read Canadian Fund (https://ireadcanadian.com/fund/)

Who has been a guest on Library Land Loves

Names identified in recent episode analyses. Showing up to five guests.

• Emily Burns
• Dr Sabrina Saunders
• Melissa Macks

Reach and audience

Public platform figures. Ratings count people who left a rating, not total listeners.

YouTube views

152,050

Score snapshot 15 Sept 2025

Apple Podcasts (US)

5.0 / 5

1 ratings

Spotify

5.0 / 5

5 ratings

Podcast Authority Score: 57 / 100

A composite of feed quality, social presence, YouTube performance and engagement. Read the methodology.

Quality

47

Social presence

94

YouTube

86

Engagement

32

Contact Library Land Loves

Guest appearances

Books guests

Based on episode analysis; this does not confirm that the show is currently accepting guests.

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