Ontario Library Association

What Ontario Library Association does

The Ontario Library Association (OLA) is a non-profit membership association founded around 1900 and headquartered at the Centre for Social Innovation in Toronto, Ontario. OLA serves library professionals across all five major Ontario sectors — public, school, academic, health, and special libraries — through a federation model organized into sector councils (OCULA, OHLIA, OLBA, OSLA, OPLA) and a network of volunteer committees. The organization operates at stable scale with 35 employees and is a registered Canadian charity (Charitable Registration: 10779 8159 RR 0001).

OLA's core products are organized around three pillars: professional development (the annual OLA Super Conference, the Copyright Symposium, The Education Institute, School Libraries Connect, and the Super Conference Callback webinar series), literacy and reading programs (Forest of Reading, Canada's largest recreational reading program; I Read Canadian), and advocacy/community platforms (Dear School Library, First Nations Public Libraries program, government relations). The underlying technology stack is modest: OLA relies on E-Tech Computing using Advanced Solutions International (ASI) technologies to host its online e-commerce platform for membership, event registration, and product sales, with The Library Marketplace serving as the dedicated storefront for merchandise including the 125th anniversary Tour Passport.

Revenue is generated through five primary streams: annual membership dues (individual and associate levels), event registration and conference fees, sponsorships and exhibits (driven by a dedicated Partner Development Officer), and merchandise sales via The Library Marketplace. The go-to-market model is event-driven and community-led, with Toronto Public Library, the Canadian Federation of Library Associations (CFLA), and the Ontario Historical Society among named partners. OLA does not publish revenue figures and does not maintain a parent company, subsidiaries, or external funding rounds.

Name

Ontario Library Association

Legal name

Ontario Library Association

Website

https://accessola.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1900

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

The Ontario Library Association is a non-profit membership association founded circa 1900, serving Ontario library professionals across public, school, academic, health, and special sectors through a federation model. It generates revenue from membership dues, conferences, sponsorships, and merchandise, and operates programs including Forest of Reading and the OLA Super Conference.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Professional Association Services for Library Sector

NAICS

Professional Organizations (81392), Business, Professional, Labor, Political, and Similar Organizations (8139)

SIC

Services-Membership Organizations (8600), Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Libraries, Archives & Special Collections (BPAGAHAF)

akta.pro secondary industries

Library, Reading Motivation & Independent Reading Programs (EDAMAJAO), Library User Services & Information Support (Reference, Research Help, Instruction Support) (EDAEAGAL), Library-Based Learning Programs (Public Libraries) (EDAAAFAA)

Keywords

• Library association
• Professional development
• Membership organization
• Library conferences
• Reading programs

Headquarters

HQ city

Toronto, Ontario

HQ country

Canada

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Membership Dues: Annual membership fees providing voting rights, committee participation, event discounts, and access to professional development programs. Membership is annual from the month of signup, non-refundable and non-transferable.
2. Event Registration and Conferences: Revenue from Super Conference, sector-specific conferences (OCULA, OHLIA, OLBA, OSLA), symposia, workshops, and virtual events. Fees vary by event with member discounts.
3. Sponsorships and Exhibits: Partner Development Officer drives revenue through exhibitor booths, sponsorships, and advertising across OLA programs including Super Conference Expo and Forest of Reading Festival.
4. Associate Membership: Business and corporate associate memberships supporting OLA through partnership and participation in OLA programs and events.
5. Publications and Merchandise: The Library Marketplace sells OLA merchandise including the Library Tour Passport (celebrating OLA's 125th anniversary). Revenue supports OLA member services and advocacy.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

The Ontario Library Association is a non-profit membership organization that provides professional development, networking, advocacy, and programming for library and information professionals across Ontario. Its core offerings include annual membership with voting rights and event discounts, the OLA Super Conference (the premier annual library conference), the Forest of Reading program (Canada's largest recreational reading initiative), sector-specific councils for public, school, academic, health, and special libraries, mentorship through MentorMatch, and an online marketplace for merchandise.

Product overview

The Ontario Library Association operates as a professional association offering a portfolio of interconnected programs and services for the library sector. The core offerings include the annual OLA Super Conference and the Forest of Reading program (Canada's largest children's reading program), supported by The Library Marketplace for merchandise and The Education Institute for professional development. Additional programs include I Read Canadian for Canadian literature promotion, Dear School Library for advocacy, and membership services providing access to community groups, awards, mentorship, and volunteer opportunities. Events range from virtual sessions like School Libraries Connect and Copyright Symposium to in-person Library Tours of special collections.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Forest of Reading: Canada's largest reading program celebrating the love of reading and recognizing exceptional Canadian authors and illustrators
• OLA Super Conference
• The Library Marketplace
• The Education Institute - The Partnership
• I Read Canadian
• Dear School Library

Products and services

• OLA Membership Annual membership for individuals working in the library field, retired library professionals, library school students, job seekers, friends of the library, and institutional key contacts. Members receive voting rights, event discounts, committee participation, and access to professional development programs across OLA's network.
• OLA Super Conference

Quantifiable outcome

• Forest of Reading is Canada's largest reading program celebrating exceptional Canadian authors and illustrators
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers6 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Five partnerships are on record, tiered core, major and minor.

• E-Tech Computing (ASI)coreTechnology or IntegrationE-Tech Computing utilizing Advanced Solutions International (ASI) technologies hosts OLA's online services, providing the e-commerce platform for membership management, event registration, and product sales. This technology partnership enables OLA's digital operations including the member portal and store.
• Toronto Public LibrarymajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerToronto Public Library partners with OLA for various programs including participation in Pride Parade, co-hosting events, and collaborating on AI literacy initiatives. TPL presented at Super Conference Callback series on their AI Upskilling Initiative.
• CFLA (Canadian Federation of Library Associations)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerOLA works with CFLA through representation on committees and joint initiatives. OLA staff co-present IFLA webinars with CFLA leadership on science and technology topics.
• Ontario Historical SocietyminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe OLA Special Libraries Committee tours the John McKenzie House, home of the Ontario Historical Society, as part of the Connect & Explore Library Tours program.
• First Nations Public LibrariesmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerOLA maintains a dedicated program area for First Nations Public Libraries, providing specialized support and advocacy for this underserved sector.

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Chartered Institute of Library and Information Professionals (CILIP): The UK professional body for library, information, and knowledge professionals. CILIP is the established international analog to OLA, providing membership, accreditation, advocacy, and learning programs for an entire country's library workforce at significantly larger scale.
• American Library Association (ALA): The largest library association in the world, serving US library professionals with conferences, advocacy, standards, and awards. ALA is a scaled-up analog of OLA with substantially broader scope but directly comparable offerings including annual conferences, intellectual freedom advocacy, and professional development.

Direct peers

• Saskatchewan Library Association (SLA): Provincial library association for Saskatchewan with comparable membership, advocacy, and professional development programs. SLA is a smaller-scale analog of OLA serving library professionals in a single Canadian province.
• British Columbia Library Association (BCLA): Provincial library association serving British Columbia library workers. BCLA is one of OLA's closest geographic and structural peers, operating with a similar mix of membership, advocacy, conferences, and sector support across public, academic, and school libraries.
• Canadian Federation of Library Associations (CFLA-FCAB): National umbrella federation for Canadian library associations. CFLA is the closest direct peer as it operates at the national level with a similar federation-style mission; OLA is explicitly a member and partner, making it the most comparable Canadian library association structure.
• Manitoba Library Association (MLA): Provincial library association for Manitoba. MLA operates on the same nonprofit, membership-driven model as OLA, offering conferences, awards, and advocacy for library professionals across sectors.
• Library and Information Association of New Zealand Aotearoa (LIANZA): National library and information association for New Zealand. LIANZA is a close international analog to OLA, combining membership services, sector councils, advocacy, conferences, and professional development for library professionals nationwide.
• Alberta Library Association (ALTA): Provincial library association for Alberta. ALTA mirrors OLA's structure as a membership-based organization serving library professionals across multiple sectors within a single Canadian province.
• Atlantic Canada Library Association (ACLA): Multi-provincial library association serving the Atlantic provinces of Canada. ACLA offers a comparable membership, conference, and advocacy model to OLA, though operating across four smaller provinces rather than one large one.

Others

• International Federation of Library Associations and Institutions (IFLA): The global umbrella organization for library associations. IFLA is a peer in mission and form (OLA co-presents IFLA webinars through CFLA) but operates at the international rather than provincial level, making it a structural reference point rather than a direct competitor.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/c/ONLibraryAssoc
• Facebookfacebook.com/accessola
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/ontario-library-association
• Instagraminstagram.com/ontariolibraryassociation

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Ontario Library Association