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Teaching Librarian will be presented at our Annual General Meeting in February for approval by our membership. Additionally, our OSLA Council members have worked to create a Mission Statement that articulates the vision and direction for our association of professionals. Changes to The Education Institute A major source of professional development for our members, The Education Institute, continues to grow in variety and content, and now offers increased sessions to address the needs of our membership. Liz Kerr has been appointed as the Education Director for OLA, leading the development of The Education Institute as part of her portfolio. She brings a wealth of knowledge and expertise to the position, and extensive experience in the field of teacher-librarianship. OSLA has helped to facilitate an improvement to the structure of the OLA Continuing Education Committee, so that it now includes the presence of 3 designated OSLA representatives. Such a structure should help ensure the continued delivery of future sessions that address our member's needs. Modifications to the Forest of Reading® Program This year featured the addition of Silver Birch Express to the Forest of Reading®. It was introduced to address the needs of students in the transition between Blue Spruce and Silver Birch, and provides evidence of the dynamic nature of our library community. Details on Silver Birch Express and the other reading programs are available on the OLA Web site www.accessola.com under the 'Reading Programs' link. There has also been a refinement to program timelines to allow for an earlier announcement of the reading program nominees. This has provided participating schools and students with additional time to maximize reading opportunities. Other exciting news for the Forest of Reading® includes an official launch during Super Conference, allowing students an opportunity to celebrate literacy and meet some of the authors. Likewise, a change in the format of the culminating activities is in development, with plans for a gathering at Harbourfront in the spring of 2007, so that all of the Forest of Reading® program venues can be integrated into one large celebration. The Establishment of Knowledge Ontario The great news about Knowledge Ontario is that it will provide access to a wealth of digital resources, including components such as Resource Ontario and Our Ontario. Further details about this initiative are available on-line at www.knowledgeontario.ca. Access to these digital resources will contribute to the renewal of the library's role in our society. These on-line subscription products will provide a better degree of equity to regions of the province that were previously under-serviced. On a personal note, I believe that Knowledge Ontario can be a key component in helping to alter public perceptions of school libraries. Knowledge Ontario requires people in schools to facilitate the effective use of this resource with students. Teacher- librarians are in an instrumental position to become experts in promoting access to this rich source of quality information. Teacher-librarians can act as agents of change and renewal in promoting equitable access to information and digital services throughout the province. As Nelson Mandela has eloquently stated, "Education is the most powerful weapon which you can 2006 OSLA COUNCIL Michael Rosettis President St. Augustine Catholic High School York Catholic District School Board michael.rosettis@ycdsb.ca Peggy Thomas Vice-President Toronto District School Board peggy.thomas@tel.tdsb.on.ca Anita Brooks Kirkland Past President Waterloo Region District School Board anita_brooks-kirkland@wrdsb.on.ca Petra Smith Secretary-Treasurer Our Lady of the Lake High School York Catholic District School Board petra.smith@ycdsb.ca Sharon Armstrong Waterford District High School Grand Erie District School Board sarmstro@fc.gedsb.net Anne Coleman Durham District School Board anne_coleman@durham.edu.on.ca Jim Neill Gananoque High School Upper Canada District School Board jim.neill@sympatico.ca Sharon Rowlandson Rainbow District School Board rowlans@rainbow.edu.on.ca Deborah Kitchener Bayview Secondary School York Region District School Board girardl@learn.ycdsb.edu.on.ca Deborah Braithwaite Oakridge Junior Public School Toronto District School Board dbraithw8@rogers.com Linda White Glendale High School Thames Valley District School Board lwhite@tvdsb.on.ca 56 Ontario School Library Association