Tara Wong, OPL CEO advised that OPL is trying to form further connections within the community to receive feedback from other organizations regarding why people may or may not have an interest in working for OPL.
Ms. Wong identified that reaching broader groups is a dynamic issue and some positions have specific education requirements. Current staff are encouraged to look at an education in library sciences to allow broader options for a library based career. The Board suggested that OPL work with schools on recruitment.
It was noted that the Halton Multicultural Council has been helpful in trying to promote diversity. OPL believes that staff should reflect the community they serve.
There are no barriers with applicants who have acquired foreign credentials, as training can fill any gaps. OPL is looking to hire staff with more diverse language options. The Board would like to know what languages are spoken amongst current staff.
OPL does not track languages spoken amongst cardholders, however the most recent census can be explored to help staff be more mindful of what demographic OPL serves. OPL tracks usage of multilingual collections and partners with community groups to provide feedback on what to add to multilingual collections.
The Board noted that perhaps partnerships with Neyagawa and Dorval can be explored.