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Teaching Librarian 15.indd 12 Ontario School Library Association nce upon a time (1982) there was a resource document, Partners in Action: The Library Resource Centre in the School Curriculum. It was good, it was celebrated, and it made a difference. It was a beacon showing teachers and librarians how they could work together. Sadly, the clouds of budget cuts, the funding formula, and staffing restraints began to obscure the view of the Partners document. The days of school libraries dimmed and we entered a gloomy wasteland (welcoming the Harris government, solidifying the dark and dreary forest already encircling the school library), and many despaired. Surrounded by gloom, we realized we had to get to work. For 10 years, OSLA, in conjunction with teacher-librarians, consultants, and parents, laboured to inform everyone about the state of school libraries. Research was conducted, conversations took place, letters were written, and some glimmer of hope emerged. School libraries were mentioned in the revised curriculums, year-end money was given to all school libraries for collection renewal two years in a row; we were being discussed again in places where it mattered. Then a chance encounter: the President and Vice President of OSLA were invited to a soiree at the Ministry of Education, and had a wonderful opportunity to talk face-to-face with the Minister of Education. The Minister was understanding, interested, and wanted to know more. The above reads like a fairy tale, and in some ways it is. But that chance encounter with Kathleen Wynne, Minister of Education, did lead to a meeting between representatives of OSLA, TALCO, the Ministry of Education, and the Literacy and Numeracy Secretariat. At the end of the meeting further information was requested, and that information was provided. The possibility of a support document for school libraries seemed close. In late April 2007, the OSLA executive received a letter from the Ministry of Education informing them that a grant of $70,000 was being issued to the OSLA to enable the writing of a Support Document for School Libraries. A management team consisting of the executive of the OSLA and representatives of the OLA was struck, and work began. A writing team representing a cross-section of the educational community was created. Included are representatives from OISE, OSSTF, administrators, teacher-librarians, TALCO, OSLA, and OLA. Through initial meetings, a proposed outline was produced, and initial research and writing took place. Then, a think tank took place bringing together four outstanding leaders in school libraries and education and the writing team. The experts: Ross Todd, whose work on evidence-based practice in Australia and in the United States has changed the advocacy and evaluation processes of school libraries around the world; David Loertscher, virtual professor at San José Fairy Tales Do Come True The New School Library Resource Document 'Think Tank' participants (from left) Roberta Henley, Ray Doiron, Michele Regina, Hetty Smeathers, Peggy Thomas, Lisa Weaver