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OCUL
@ocul-libraries.bsky.social
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We're the Ontario Council of University Libraries (OCUL).

OCUL provides academic libraries with shared services and technology infrastructure to support teaching, research and learning success.

Visit our website: https://ocul.on.ca/
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ocul-libraries.bsky.social
We're hiring: Network Zone Collections Coordinator.

Join the collaborative OCUL team and support shared library systems, licensing workflows and consortial resource access across Ont. academic libraries.

Applications due Nov. 27 @ 5 p.m. ET.

Full job & application info: ocul.on.ca/job-network-...
A green background with transparent circle shapes in the top-left and bottom-right corners. At the top of the background is the OCUL logo and underneath the logo is the text: Job Opportunity - Network Zone Collections Coordinator; 2-year term contract, member library secondments welcome; learn more at ocul.on.ca/careers.
November 7, 2025 at 2:16 PM
ocul-libraries.bsky.social
The Nov. installment of our Beyond the Algorithm reading club is coming up!

TOPIC: AI literacy, values and affect.

Sign up for 1 of 2 online drop-ins to discuss the month’s readings and topic. Drop-ins are open to all academic library workers.

Learn more and register: oculsp.ca/emei1
A brown background with the text "Beyond the Algorithm Reading Club – November topic: AI literacy, values and affect.” Under the text is the OCUL logo. To the right of the text are white over-ear headphones resting on a row of three colourful books.
October 21, 2025 at 12:20 PM
ocul-libraries.bsky.social
It's #CanadianLibraryWorkersDay 🎉

Today (and truly, every day!) we celebrate the incredible dedication, knowledge and passion of academic library workers. Thank you for championing access to information and creating spaces where everyone belongs.
A white background with the texture of paper. In the centre of the background is a bright green paint smear and a quote in black text: "A library was nothing without its people...without them, all the sacredness was gone. It was just a building with books." The quote is credited to Scott Douglas.
October 17, 2025 at 2:56 PM
ocul-libraries.bsky.social
We manage 200+ e-resource licenses and with the USD exchange curtailing member library purchasing power by nearly 30% last year, consortial licensing helps ensure access to scholarly research.

Read “The Power of Consortial Licensing: A Case Study in Value” in our annual report ➡️ oculsp.ca/1dmu5
A dark green background with a bright green single large quotation mark positioned to the right of the background. Down the middle of the quotation mark is black text: "214 consortial e-resource licenses managed; OCUL Annual Report 2024-2025." To the left of the quotation mark is the OCUL logo.
October 16, 2025 at 8:23 PM
ocul-libraries.bsky.social
By leveraging collective buying power to bring vital research resources to Ontario university communities, in the past year, OCUL member libraries saved $10 million on e-resource spending.

Read more about the Power of Consortial Licensing in our annual report: oculsp.ca/1dmu5
A dark green background with a large bright green single quotation mark covering most of the background. Down the middle of the quotation mark is black text: "$10 M saved on e-resource spending for members; OCUL Annual Report 2024-2025". To the left of the quotation mark is the OCUL logo.
October 1, 2025 at 1:45 PM
ocul-libraries.bsky.social
There’s still time to take part in the Sept. installment of the Beyond the Algorithm reading club! (And it's open to any academic library worker.)

Join us online Sept. 24 or 29 to discuss this month’s readings on human rights and AI.

Learn more and sign up for a discussion: oculsp.ca/3v471
September 22, 2025 at 1:42 PM
ocul-libraries.bsky.social
Curious what AI and machine learning tech we're exploring?

❇️ A genAI-OCR gov docs project supported by @heqco.bsky.social

❇️ An AI-assisted chatbot to potentially improve virtual reference services

❇️ And more!

Read our latest update: oculsp.ca/l3m9s
A dark green background, with two rounded rectangular shapes that are magenta and lime green, centred on the background and stacked on one another. Text reads: "OCUL's Latest Efforts in Academic Library Innovation through AI." Below the text are five small white and green icons, each representing a different aspect of AI and library technology. To the right of the icons, text reads "Read the update on ocul.on.ca/news".
September 15, 2025 at 1:26 PM
ocul-libraries.bsky.social
📚 Back to the stacks! 📚

Wishing all our academic library colleagues a fantastic first day of fall term!
A collage of 9 Ontario university libraries. At the centre of the collage is a green rectangle and white text that says "Wishing our Ontario university library colleagues a great start to the new academic year!"
September 2, 2025 at 12:38 PM
ocul-libraries.bsky.social
Looking for a space to talk about the intersections of AI ethics & academic librarianship?

Join our new "Beyond the Algorithm" reading club!

Hosted alternating months starting in Sept., this reading club is open to any academic library worker.

Learn more & sign up: ocul.on.ca/ai-ethics-re...
A brown background with the text "Announcing 'Beyond the Algorithm' - a reading club on AI ethics and academic librarianship'. Under the text is the OCUL logo. To the right of the text are white over-ear headphones resting on top of a stack of three books.
August 26, 2025 at 1:55 PM
ocul-libraries.bsky.social
A new report from OCUL shows how and why Ontario library professionals use AI tools in their day-to-day work — and their perspectives on these evolving technologies.

Download the report and dive into our findings ➡️ oculsp.ca/aiml-report
A dark green background and at the top of the image is the OCUL logo. Below the logo is white text that says "Survey Report - New report shows how Ontario library professionals are using AI tools in their day-to-day work." Two donut charts show examples of the survey results. The chart on the left shows that 72% of professionals "Use AI in their library work." The chart on the right shows that 28% of professionals "Don't use AI in their library work." A call-to-action at the bottom of the image has a green box with the text "Download the report" next to an arrow pointing to a second green box with the URL "oculsp.ca/aiml-report".
August 20, 2025 at 6:45 PM
ocul-libraries.bsky.social
Did you miss the Collaborative Futures Mini Conference earlier this month?

The recording and updated speaker slides are now online! ➡️ oculsp.ca/tqt2m

Five "show and share" talks covered topics including deduping bib records as potential overlap analysis and remediation targeting legacy records.
A dark green background with various multi-coloured circles in the top-right and bottom-left corners. At the centre of the dark green background is a logo for the Ontario Council of University Libraries (OCUL) and under the logo in white text is "Collaborative Futures Mini Conference, watch the recording: oculsp.ca/tqt2m"
July 30, 2025 at 12:51 PM
ocul-libraries.bsky.social
It's Collaborative Futures Mini Conference Day!

Last call to join us online starting at 9:30 am ➡️ event agenda & Zoom registration: oculsp.ca/tqt2m

The Mini Conference is a space for library workers to learn about remediation targeting legacy records, deduping and overlap analysis, and more.
A dark green background with a white OCUL logo followed by the text: Collaborative Futures Mini Conference, Tuesday, July 8, 9:30 am - 12 pm Eastern Time, Learn about best practices for working with collaborative academic library tech like Alma, Primo VE and Omni.
July 8, 2025 at 12:15 PM
ocul-libraries.bsky.social
There's still time to sign up for the Collaborative Futures Mini Conference!

Ont. academic library workers can learn best practices for collaborative library tech and projects.

Date & Time: Tuesday, July 8, 9:30 am - noon Eastern Time
Format: Online via Zoom

Info & registration: oculsp.ca/tqt2m
A dark green background with a white OCUL logo followed by the text: Collaborative Futures Mini Conference, Tuesday, July 8, 9:30 am - 12 pm Eastern Time, Learn about best practices for working with collaborative academic library tech like Alma, Primo VE and Omni.
June 25, 2025 at 2:13 PM
ocul-libraries.bsky.social
We're thrilled to share that Catherine Davidson, @ontariotechu.bsky.social University Librarian, is the recipient of our Excellence in Leadership Award!

Read about Catherine's remarkable leadership and contributions to the academic library community: oculsp.ca/pv6oi

🎉Congratulations Catherine!
A light green background with three vertical stripes of varying weights and colours. On top of the strips is a photo of Catherine Davidson in a striped button-down shirt and smiling at the camera. To the right of the photo is the text "University Librarian Catherine Davidson honoured with OCUL Excellence in Leadership Award"
June 16, 2025 at 4:12 PM
ocul-libraries.bsky.social
There's still time to register for the free Accessibility Symposium 2.0, hosted by the OCUL Accessibility Community.

Featuring a keynote from @amandaleduc.bsky.social, join this June 17-19 virtual event to explore topics shaping accessibility in academic libraries.

Registration: oculsp.ca/bu8k2
A photo of Amanda Leduc wearing a green button-down shirt and a light grey cardigan. Her brown hair is down and she's smiling at the camera while leaning against a tree. Next to Amanda's photo is the text: Accessibility Symposium 2.0, June 17-19 2025, virtual event, keynote speaker: Amanda Leduc, disabled author and disability rights advocate. Beneath the text is the OCUL logo.
June 9, 2025 at 1:11 PM
ocul-libraries.bsky.social
With deep gratitude, we're thrilled to share this year's committee and subcommittee appointments!

Nearly 30 library workers have joined OCUL groups to contribute their expertise to the development and delivery of innovative, equitable library services.

Read the announcement: oculsp.ca/5okih
A magenta and light seafoam green patterned background with a dark green square in the center. Inside the green square is the OCUL logo and the text "Announcing the 2025 Governance Group Appointments"
June 4, 2025 at 2:23 PM
ocul-libraries.bsky.social
Curious about what's happening at OCUL?

Sign up for our email news and get updates delivered to your inbox!

Learn about OCUL Visiting Researcher projects, updates on our AI and Machine Learning Program, member news, and more.

Subscribe: ocul.on.ca/newsletter-s...
A laptop, notebook and Air Pods sitting on a desk. At the centre of the desk is a cell phone with its screen showing a message preview of the OCUL email newsletter.
June 3, 2025 at 1:09 PM
ocul-libraries.bsky.social
The Collaborative Futures Mini Conference agenda is live!

Join us July 8 to learn about:

🔧 Workflows & tools for remediation projects.

🔎 How to ID library search tool issues & use data to inform tech changes.

✅ Problem-solving interlibrary loan processes.

Info & registration: oculsp.ca/tqt2m
A dark green background with a white OCUL logo followed by the text: Collaborative Futures Mini Conference, Tuesday, July 8, 9:30 am - 12 pm Eastern Time, Learn about best practices for working with collaborative academic library tech like Alma, Primo VE and Omni.
June 2, 2025 at 2:29 PM
ocul-libraries.bsky.social
Registration is open for this year's Collaborative Futures Mini Conference!

Join Ontario academic library colleagues to learn about collaborative technology projects and best practices.

📅 Tuesday, July 8 (9:30 am - 12 pm ET)
📍 Online via Zoom

Register now: oculsp.ca/jtj40
A dark green background with circle shapes in the top-right and bottom-left corners of the image, and the text: Collaborative Futures Mini Conference, Tuesday, July 8, 9:30 am - 12 pm, Learn about best practices for working with collaborative academic library tech like Alma, Primo VE and Omni.
May 21, 2025 at 1:54 PM
ocul-libraries.bsky.social
Have you registered for the Accessibility Symposium 2.0?

This online 3-day event will explore critical topics in improving accessibility and the experiences of people with disabilities using, and working in, libraries in the higher ed landscape.

Registration and info: oculsp.ca/8pkhp
The OCUL logo on a white background. Below in a larger font is "The OCUL Accessibility Community presents Accessibility Symposium 2.0." At the bottom right, is "June 17-19, 2025 | Virtual event"
May 20, 2025 at 2:24 PM
ocul-libraries.bsky.social
Calling all academic library workers!

Share your perspectives on AI use in your library and help us better understand AI and machine learning in academia.

Survey link: oculsp.ca/aimlsurvey

Your feedback will inform training and resources in OCUL’s AI and Machine Learning Program.
A burgundy and white graphic promoting a survey for academic library workers and AI use. A large white question mark sits to the left of a green rounded rectangle containing the text "Share your insights on the use of AI in academic library settings." The OCUL logo and website address (ocul.on.ca) are at the bottom.
May 14, 2025 at 12:44 PM
ocul-libraries.bsky.social
We had the chance to join in the @trentuniversity.bsky.social "AI Hopes and Fears" speaker series last year and can't wait for their AI mini-conference on April 7.

It's free, online or in person, and a half day of learning.

Mini-conference registration and info: aiminiconference.sched.com/about
Two abstract landscapes generated by AI and the text: Between Hope and Fear - an artificial intelligence mini-conference
March 25, 2025 at 3:32 PM
ocul-libraries.bsky.social
We're thrilled to announce Kari Weaver as our AI and Machine Learning Program Manager!

Starting April 1, Kari joins OCUL for a 2-year term to build AI and machine learning competency, knowledge, and skill levels among university library staff in Ontario.

Read more: ocul.on.ca/kari-weaver-...
A light green background with a head shot of a woman wearing a purple blouse and smiling at the camera, followed by the text: OCUL Appoints Kari Weaver as AI and Machine Learning Program Manager.
March 19, 2025 at 1:55 PM