OCUL

@ocul-libraries.bsky.social

We're the Ontario Council of University Libraries (OCUL). OCUL provides academic libraries with shared services and technology infrastructure to support teaching, research and learning success. Visit our website: https://ocul.on.ca/

Our latest Reading Room newsletter is out! Featured are an update on a shared evidence-based acquisitions program, our response to the COU AI Task Force report, and what's happening at OCUL. Read the Aug. 2026 issue and subscribe to get news and updates in your inbox: ocul.on.ca/newsletter

A blue-green background with transparent circles in the top-left and bottom-right corners. Down the centre is the text: Read the August 2026 issue, Reading Room - Your Ontario Council of University Libraries Newsletter, subscribe and find the newsletter archive at ocul.on.ca/newsletter.

Last call to sign up for next week's session on AI-assisted coding to help scale up scholcomm workflows in libraries! Hear from Pascal Calarco (UWindsor) on how AI tools supported 4 library projects across federated scholarly infrastructure. Session info & registration: ocul.on.ca/ai-exchange-...

A blue-green background with semi-transparent circle shapes in the top-left and bottom-right corners. At the top is a white wordmark for the Ontario Council of University Libraries (OCUL). Under that are 2 bright green rounded rectangle boxes stacked vertically. The first box has bold black text that reads: AI Exchange Program. The second box has black text that reads: Scaling Up Library Workflows with AI-Assisted Coding Solutions; Wednesday, August 5, 2-3 p.m. Eastern Time, Online via Zoom.

This year's Collaborative Futures Mini Conference is almost here – but there's still time for you to sign up! Join us next Tues. July 7 for sessions on making data discoverable, managing e-book interlibrary loaning, and improving accessibility. Schedule & registration: ocul.on.ca/collaborativ...

Dark green background with differently sized circles around the border. Text reads: One week to go! OCUL Collaborative Futures Mini Conference; Tues. July 7, 2026; 9-11:30 a.m. Eastern Time; online via Zoom. At the bottom is bold text that reads: Register at ocul.on.ca.

Out now: Latest edition of the #IFLA Journal! Volume 52, No. 2 (June 2026) explores how #libraries and information institutions are responding to rapid technological, social, and policy transformations across diverse global contexts. Learn more and download your copy: https://tr.ee/A6KiyJ

Cover of the June 2026 IFLA Journal, Volume 52, Number 2, now available online at IFLA.org.

Curious how AI can help streamline library workflows across federated scholcomm infrastructure? Sign up for our Aug. 5 AI Exchange and learn how AI-assisted coding supports 4 scalable projects at Leddy Library. Open to any academic library worker! Registration & details: ocul.on.ca/ai-exchange-...

A blue-green background with semi-transparent circle shapes in the top-left and bottom-right corners. At the top is a white wordmark for the Ontario Council of University Libraries (OCUL). Under that are 2 bright green rounded rectangle boxes stacked vertically. The first box has bold black text that reads: AI Exchange Program. The second box has black text that reads: Scaling Up Library Workflows with AI-Assisted Coding Solutions; Wednesday, August 5, 2-3 p.m. Eastern Time, Online via Zoom.

Last call for you to join us as Associate Director in charge of Publishing Services! If you are questioning yourself, you should apply anyway! Many folks opt out of applying for roles like this because they think they are not good enough. Give yourself a chance!

Public Knowledge Project@pkp.sfu.ca · 2mo ago

Apply by June 5th to join PKP as Associate Director in charge of Publishing Services: Help folks using PKP software for independent, scholar-led #ScholarlyPublishing get hosting and other services so they can increase the reach, quality and diversity of their work for the global public good! ⤵️

Last call to sign up for our June 10 event on AI tools that support library video production. The OCUL AI Exchange is no-cost and open to anyone working in academic libraries. These online sessions showcase real-world applications of AI tools to help you decide which make sense for your own use.

OCUL@ocul-libraries.bsky.social · 3mo ago

Join the next OCUL AI Exchange session and leave with a clearer understanding of AI tools that support video production – and the confidence to decide which ones make sense for your own library projects. Online event details and registration: ocul.on.ca/ai-exchange-...

A blue-green background with semi-transparent circle shapes in the top-left and bottom-right corners. At the top is a white wordmark for the Ontario Council of University Libraries (OCUL). Under that are 2 bright green rounded rectangle boxes stacked vertically. The first box has bold black text that reads: AI Exchange Program. The second box has black text that reads: Leveraging AI in Video Production; Wednesday, June 10, 2-3 p.m. Eastern Time; Guest speaker: Joel Rivard.

Join us online Tuesday, July 7 for a half-day of learning from library peers about how they're making data discoverable, managing e-resources, and more! The Collaborative Futures Mini Conference is open to any Ont. post-secondary library worker. Agenda & registration: ocul.on.ca/collaborativ...

A dark green background with colourful circle shapes scattered around and a white Ontario Council of University Libraries (OCUL) wordmark at the top followed by white text that reads: Collaborative Futures Mini Conference; Tuesday July 7 2026, 9 a.m.-12 p.m. Eastern Time; Online via Zoom; Registration and agenda at ocul.on.ca.

We took a behind-the-scenes tour of #UofT’s Robarts Library with librarian & podcast host Jesse Carliner, who explored the brutalist icon’s history & secrets, including the question he gets most: is Robarts sinking under the weight of all those books? Spoiler: It’s just a myth 🎧

Our online community discussions for this month's reading club are coming up fast! 1️⃣ Tues., May 26, 1-2 p.m. ET 2️⃣ Thurs., May 28, 10-11 a.m. ET Sign up to share your POV on how design choices affect interactions with & expectations of AI tools like research assistants: ocul.on.ca/may-2026-ai-...

OCUL@ocul-libraries.bsky.social · 4mo ago

Our reading club for May digs into Human-Centered Design – examining how AI systems can reinforce bias and mistreatment, especially toward traditionally feminized professions like librarianship. Learn more & sign up for 1 of 2 community discussions: ocul.on.ca/may-2026-ai-...

A brown background and in the bottom-right corner is a row of three books upright and with colourful spines. On top of the books rests a pair of white over-ear headphones. To the left of the books and headphones is the text: Beyond the Algorithm Reading Club, May topic: Human-centered design and AI. Beneath the text is a white wordmark for the Ontario Council of University Libraries (OCUL).

Borealis will be undergoing a scheduled systems upgrade on Monday, May 25 and will be unavailable between 9:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. Eastern Time. We will notify you when the upgrade is complete and access is restored. Thank you for your patience!

Borealis, The Canadian Dataverse Repository - SERVICE DISRUPTION May 25 from 9 a.m. -5 p.m. ET