Beth Lyons speaks to Maria Martella and Margie Wolfe about the creation of the Save School Libraries Coalition, the role school libraries and Canadian books plays in the education of students, the legacy of devaluing and defunding of school libraries over decades and the most recent alarming closures of school libraries in response to the pandemic. The panel discusses the need to advocate for school libraries, work to educate families and caregivers of how school libraries support their children’s education.

Maria Martella- owner of Tinlids
https://www.tinlids.ca/

Margie Wolfe- publisher and owner of Second Story Press
https://secondstorypress.ca/

The Save School Libraries Coalition:
African Heritage Educators’ Network (AHEN)
Annick Press
Association of Canadian Publishers (ACP)
The Canadian Children’s Book Centre (CCBC)
Canadian School Libraries (CSL)
Canadian Society of Children’s Authors, Illustrators & Performers (CANSCAIP)
A Different Booklist
International Board on Books for Young People — Canadian Section (IBBY Canada)
Ontario Book Publishers’ Organization (OBPO)
Larry Swartz – Literacy Instructor Ontario Institute for the Study of Education (OISE)
Ontario Library Association (OLA)
Ontario School Library Association (OSLA)
Second Story Press
Tinlids Inc.
The Writers’ Union of Canada (TWUC)

Primary Contact:
Anita Brooks Kirkland
Chair, Canadian School Libraries
www.canadianschoollibraries.ca
anitabk@bythebrooks.ca
519-503-9388
299 Canterbury Drive
Waterloo, ON N2K 3C1

Books mentioned in this episode:
The Surprising Power of a Good Dumpling by Wai Chim