Fall 2025 Newsletter
Fall Newsletter
A Message from the LAA President
It’s been a busy summer for the LAA Board, and I want to thank you—our members—for your patience as many of our new board members, including me, settled into their roles. It took us a little time to get everyone onboarded, but we’re now digging into the priorities of our 2025 Strategic Action Plan. This is a challenging moment for LAA, but with your support I’m confident we can build a strong and sustainable future together.
On the advocacy front, we have been working tirelessly to respond to Ministerial Order 34/2025 on the selection and availability of school library materials. Thank you to our Past President Laura Winton for being the face and voice of LAA on this issue. As an association, we continue to stand firmly by the belief that school librarians, teachers, administrators, and school boards—not politicians—are best positioned to make decisions about library collections. Restricting access to materials is censorship, plain and simple, and it harms students’ right to learn and grow.
One of the things I’m most excited to share is the launch of our Library Technicians and Information Support Professionals Division. Approved by the Board in August, this division will open up new opportunities for professional development, networking, and connection. Over the coming months, you’ll see a new webpage and online forum, as well as details on how you can join and participate. They also plan to strengthen ties with students in the Library and Information Technology programs at SAIT and MacEwan, building the future of our profession.
As we look ahead to our 2026 budget, the Board is having some important conversations about sustainability. That means taking a hard look at our spending, but also being creative about ways to diversify our revenue. These are not decisions we’ll make alone—we’ll be looking to you, our members, for input as we explore the options and chart the best path forward.
Finally, we are in the process of applying for grant funding to launch a Symposium and Fireside Chats Series in 2026. These events will focus on growing library leaders at all levels, and once we have funding confirmed, we’ll be asking members to join a working group to help us shape the series.
Thank you for your ongoing support of LAA. Together, we’re building something strong for the future. If you have any questions or concerns please feel free to reach out to me at president@libraryassociationalberta.com
Warmly,
Megan Ginther
President, Library Association of Alberta
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LAA Board Positions
Bailey Randolph (Director) and Miranda Johnson (2nd Vice President) have had to resign from their LAA Board positions due to changes in their lives. We want to thank them both for their hard work on our board and wish them all the best.
Our bylaws state the following:
A vacancy in the office of President shall be filled for the balance of the respective term by the Vice President. A vacancy in any other office may be filled for the balance of the respective term by a replacement appointed by a majority vote of the Board.
Therefore, we are seeking nominations to fill these positions for the remainder of this term until our AGM in 2026. We invite all eligible members to consider nominating themselves or a colleague for these important roles. Serving on the LAA Board is a rewarding opportunity to contribute to the growth and success of our association and the library community in Alberta.
We look forward to your nominations and thank you for your continued support of the Library Association of Alberta.
Submit your nominations by Oct, 10, 2025 using this form.
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Professional Development
Stronger Together Conference: Update
The Stronger Together Library Conference is just less than two weeks away, and tickets are almost gone! With just under 450 library professionals already registered, this is your chance to join Alberta’s biggest library event of the year.
What’s new this year?
We can’t wait to welcome you and 450+ other library professionals to the DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel West Edmonton on October 8–9, 2025, for two days of inspiring sessions, networking opportunities, and innovative ideas to strengthen libraries across our communities.
- More engaging sessions
- More time to network
- Two amazing keynotes: Timothy Caulfield (Wednesday) and Pam August (Thursday)
- New and exciting vendors
- Enjoy hot breakfast and lunch both days, library-focused exhibitors, and top-tier accommodations.
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Membership Perks
As the cooler weather sets in, now’s the perfect time to take advantage of exclusive Perkopolis perks to make your season cozier. From creating a warmer home to refreshing your wardrobe and even simplifying mealtime, you’ll find savings designed for sweater weather.
Perkopolis is our employee perks program, giving you access to exclusive savings on shopping, tickets, travel, and more all year round.
Visit the Perkopolis section of our website to learn more about accessing these perks!