ADVOCACY
Provincial Elections Impact School Libraries
Provincial elections in Manitoba carry immense potential to uplift our school libraries – the cornerstones of knowledge and growth.
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Equitable Resource Allocation:
Elections empower us to choose leaders who champion fair funding for school libraries across divisions. This commitment ensures access to high quality books, digital resources, and inviting reading spaces, alongside the presence of full-time teacher-librarians and dedicated library technicians in every school.
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Igniting Curiosity:
Elected officials wield influence over curriculum. Vote for candidates who understand how school libraries deepen subject understanding, spark curiosity, foster critical thinking, and ignite a lifelong love for learning.
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Inclusivity and Diversity:
Election results can influence the diversity of school libraries. Supporting leaders who prioritize collection diversity and intellectual freedom fosters empathy, open-mindedness, and human rights.
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Empowering Library Professionals:
Provincial elections present an opportunity to underscore the roles of teacher-librarians and library technicians. Education-focused representatives understand the value of these professionals as mentors, curators of resources, and champions of free expression.
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Lifelong Learning and Literacy:
Each ballot has the potential to amplify the impact of school libraries in Manitoba. With our votes, we stand for empowered learning environments that uphold intellectual freedom, embrace diversity, and ensure that every school has access to dedicated teacher-librarians and skilled library technicians to promote the skills and habits of lifelong learning and literacy.
Collection Diversity
and Intellectual Freedom
Need help with Collection Diversity and Intellectual Freedom? Our Toolkit for Diverse Collection Development and Intellectual Freedom in Manitoba Schools may be helpful.
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Looking for quick information about how to respond to a book or resource challenge? Our Responding to Challenges document offers quick tips and essential information, including a sample letter that you can edit.
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The Manitoba Library Association (MLA) and the Manitoba School Library Association (MSLA) have issued the following statement in light of the recent active harassment of public school boards and public library boards in Manitoba:
The Manitoba Library Association (MLA) and the Manitoba School Library Association (MSLA) condemn the harassment of public library boards and public school boards as an attack on public education and intellectual freedom. We stand with school, academic and public library professionals and affirm our commitment to diversity, equity, and the safeguarding of the peaceful exchange of ideas. Recent incidents, like the disruptive protest during a Louis Riel School Division school board meeting in Winnipeg and the harassment of employees and Board members of the South Central Regional Library headquartered in Winkler, underscore the urgent need to address this issue.
Such harassment disrupts the vital work of all library professionals and hinders access to diverse educational resources. We affirm the right of library staff and professionals to maintain collections that serve the needs of all members of their communities, including members of the 2SLGBTQQIA+ community.
We reject all forms of harassment and intimidation and advocate for inclusive communities where every member of the community is respected. It is crucial for community leaders to support their libraries and defend the principles of open education, intellectual freedom, inclusivity, diversity, and equal access to information. Together, we can support our diverse and democratic society that upholds these values and ensures the flourishing of knowledge, understanding, and respectful dialogue.​​​​
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Manitoba Library Association’s Public Libraries Intellectual Freedom and Anti-Censorship Toolkit was created in response to censorship and defunding challenges in the South Central Regional Library system in Fall of 2022 and Spring of 2023.
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Access the toolkit here.
