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TL8-3Larry 38 Ontario School Library Association Press Conferences The story around OLA's Action Plan was the impetus around the third press conference this school year, this one at Queen's Park in partner- ship with NDP Education critic Rosario Marchese. Did you or any of your family see any of the coverage? Kendra Godin-Svoboda, Stephen Abram, Mike Ridley, Larry Moore along with Mr. Marchese had a powerful message about school libraries. As an aside, this collaboration was continued at Rosario's "Parliament for the People" held a month later in Guelph, where I was invited by Janet Kaufman, last year's Ontario College and University Library Association President, to be part of a panel presenting concerns about educa- tion policies of the present government to an attentive audience of some thirty-five people. The most recent of the press conferences that OSLA has participated in and/or hosted to meet the crises in school libraries was in mid-June. This time it was a call from The People For Educ- ation. They are so alarmed by the data in their most recent Tracking Report 2001 that shows that school libraries suffered a further decrease since their last survey, they called us to participate. Portfolio: PUBLICATIONS led by Cheryl Dinnin Sandra Hughes, Editor of The Teaching Librarian for the past five years and a former President of our Association, shares her final Editor's column with us on page 5. It has been a very successful five years and we say thank you to her for her estimable efforts. We congratulate Sandra on her appointment as Vice-Principal. Here we have another teacher-librarian whom we are delighted has been accepted into administration. With the reorganization of Council, the changing times and the retirement of Editor Sandra, Cheryl has been asked to explore this publication and the other publication efforts of your Association. Besides The Teaching Librarian, she is looking at OSLA's contributions to OLA's official magazine Access and to the possible expansion of our efforts into other education journals. Cheryl conducted a survey of TALCO, brainstormed with a team, and, through the OSLA listserv, called for mem- bers to volunteer for a new, broadly mandated OSLA Publications Board. The Board meets for the first time in early August. A FEW NOTES IN CLOSING AQ Courses: Faculties of Education and School Librarianship Teachers and teacher-librarians continue to regis- ter for AQ courses in unprecedented numbers. There's a faith out there that although time has changed things, time will also change things again and school library programs will be revital- ized. I wonder if in addition classroom teachers recognize the value of the knowledge and skills of teacher-librarianship in their own right. The Future As you can see dear members, Council 2001 has a lot of energy, and a strong sense of commitment and direction. Remember, you are invited - indeed urged to respond to the call and join this dynamic team. And so we continue to face challenges, notdespondent but with the absolute convic-tion that school library programs will be revitalized and energized with fresh vision because our children and youth need that. We share convictions of the efficacy of effective school library teaching programs and the impor- tance of the teacher-librarian role along with sup- port staff. Remember, voices of concern about the impact of funding cuts on school libraries are growing in number and volume. I know that they have not yet stirred the Harris Conservative government away from its agenda of budget cuts. But the impact of the cutbacks is hitting home and the spotlight on the state of school libraries has engaged other groups, augmented this past year by parents, opposition political parties and the larger library community. n n n PRESIDENT'S REPORT OSLA PRESIDENT 2000, 2001