The Ontario Library Association is celebrating its 125th anniversary this year. As part of the celebrations, the Forest of Reading team is looking for video submissions that highlight some very special members of our community, library professionals! Through this initiative, young readers will have the opportunity to interview a library professional in their community.
Through this process, students will learn from their interviewee, express their creativity through videography, and have a chance to be featured through the Forest of Reading platform.
How to Get Involved:
- Ask your library professional 5 questions (see our list below!)
- Video your library professional’s response (note: please ensure they repeat the initial question before answering)
- Get creative and edit the video in your own style
- Send your submission as a video file (MP4 or MOV) to lmcleod@accessola.com (we recommend using WeTransfer or Dropbox)
Questions:
- If you could describe your role in the library in three words, what would they be?
- What or who inspired you to become a library professional?
- What’s your favourite memory of working in the library?
- How do you hope students feel when they leave the library after talking with you?
- Why are school libraries so important and why do they need to be protected
Q: Who needs to be included in the video
A: No students are to be shown in the video. Only the library professional should be visible.
Q: What should the submission include?
A: Please rename the file to include the student’s name and school, for example: “Gemma – Mapleview Public School.MP4”
Make sure to include: the student’s name, school/library, library professional’s name, a contact person’s email address in the submission.
Q: Can I submit something I made with a friend?
A: Individual and/or group submissions will both be accepted.
Q: Is there a limit on how many pieces we can submit?
A: There is a limit of one submission per school.
Q: Can anyone submit a piece?
A: Anyone who has registered for this year’s Forest of Reading program is eligible to submit. If you’d like to participate in these interviews and aren’t yet registered for the program, we encourage you to register here to join in on the fun!
Prize: Selected video submissions will enter a social media poll, and the winning interview will be featured on the Forest of Reading website and social media.
Deadline: April 15, 2026.
Please Note: The winner grants permission for the Ontario Library Association to use the submission for any purpose related to the Forest of Reading program.
For more information, please contact forest@accessola.com
