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2/24/2020 May For Your Benefit https://ola.informz.ca/informzdataservice/onlineversion/pub/bWFpbGluZ0luc3RhbmNlSWQ9OTU4NzQz 1/8 Get the most out of your OLA membership Problem viewing this email? Click here. , your membership number is .     Ontario Making the Largest Investment in Public Libraries in a Generation On May 4, Minister of Tourism, Culture and Sport, Daiene Vernile, was at the Kitchener Public Library to formally announce the new support for Ontario's libraries through the 2018 Ontario Budget. Notably, this funding includes an investment of $28 million over three years to create a provincial Digital Public Library - which will make digital library services available for free through Ontario's Public Libraries. This funding also includes an increase in the Public Library Operating Grant (PLOG) of $17 million per year for the next three years. This investment marks the end of a more than two-decade long funding freeze for Ontario public libraries. READ THE FULL PRESS RELEASE HERE >> READ OLA'S PRESS RELEASE ON THE ONTARIO 2018 BUDGET HERE >> You CAN be a Voice for Ontario's Libraries. We can help. The 2018 Ontario Provincial Election is taking place on June 7th! Elections are a critical opportunity for Ontario's Library sector to engage with candidates to demonstrate the extensive value that today's public, school and First Nations libraries provide in communities large and small across Ontario. Help make sure that every candidate understands the importance of Ontario's libraries and is committed to being a champion for their local libraries. We need you to: • Meet with candidates! • Ask tough questions! • Engage your community! Taking action is easy and we can help! Check out OLA & FOPL's Elections Toolkit now, for step- by-step guides, tips, resources and examples of how you can make an impact this election season! https://news.ontario.ca/mtc/en/2018/05/ontario-making-the-largest-investment-in-public-libraries-in-a-generation.html?utm_source=ondemand&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=p http://www.accessola.org/web/Documents/Advocacy/Library%20Media%20Release%20Ontario%20Budget%202018.pdf https://librariesvote.ca/