91¾«Ñ¡ is pleased to announce that the eighth biennial TMC Symposium (TMC8) will take place in Toronto, Ontario on Friday January 31 and Saturday February 1, 2025. The symposium is presented in partnership with the Ontario Library Association (OLA), Ontario School Library Association (OSLA), and The Association of Library Consultants of Ontario (TALCO).

Part 1: 91¾«Ñ¡â€™s Research Toolkit Crash Course An overview of research through the lens of the 91¾«Ñ¡ Research Toolkit.

Part 2: Tales of Treasure Mountain Get an idea about papers that have been presented at Treasure Mountain Canada, a school library learning commons symposium and think tank. What was required as a writer/co-writer, how they approached their research.

91¾«Ñ¡â€™s Research Toolkit Webinar is offered by the British Columbia Teacher Librarians’ Association.

TMC7 Theme: Post-Pandemic Library Learning Commons: From Crisis to Intervention

91¾«Ñ¡ is pleased to announce that the seventh biennial TMC Symposium (TMC7) will take place in New Westminster, British Columbia on Friday October 21 and Saturday October 22, 2022. The symposium is presented in partnership with the British Columbia Teacher Librarians’ Association (). BCTLA’s Fall Conference will be on Friday October 21, and TMC7 will kick off that evening and carry on for the full day, Saturday.

TMC invites researchers, school library practitioners, educational leaders and policy-makers to move forward together and collaboratively explore ideas, inspire each other and build collective knowledge of the learning commons approach as part of sustainable school improvement.

TMC7 Call for Papers

We recognize the outstanding contributions so many of you are making to teaching and learning in Canada. Your work needs to be recognized by the greater education community – and documented, so that it can become part of the debate.

For TMC7, we invite exploration and research papers on issues in school library learning commons practice that speak to future possibilities for the library learning commons, post-pandemic. We suggest either teacher action research and/or academic research related to the theme and strands.

TMC7 Theme: Post-Pandemic Library Learning Commons: From Crisis to Intervention

TMC7 Sub-Themes:

• Increasing development of the virtual LLC and the development of innovative participatory learning opportunities
• Ensuring infusion of digital literacy skills and global competencies
• Continued growth in diversity awareness and action such as collection development, with an emphasis on diversity and inclusion
• Attention to how the library supports wellness for both staff and students
• Expanding the engagement of students in making and doing in the physical and virtual LLC
• Outreach to the school community to inspire reading and learning

Is your district or school library association looking for a way to celebrate accomplishments and inspire further progress? Would you like to contribute to professional research to further the advancements of school library learning commons in Canada? Are you concerned about the future of education and the role school library learning commons can play?

If yes then 91¾«Ñ¡ has a perfect leadership opportunity for you and your school district or association. We are looking for a host for the next Treasure Mountain Canada (TMC) symposium. TMC is a school library research symposium which brings researchers, writers, leading thinkers and practitioners together every second year to highlight, analyse, debate and study current research and scholarly authorship to promote continuous improvement in school librarianship and the evolution of the learning commons in Canada. Find out more about TMC:

• Read the introduction to TMC 4 papers to discover the history and future aspirations of this important biannual event. .
• Visit the to connect to past symposiums and study the thoughtful research papers that have contributed to building six years of research to support the work of school libraries in Canada.
• Explore the success of hosted in Toronto by OLA at Super Conference 2016.

Please consider the many benefits of taking on this important task as the next host of TMC:

• Inspiration for your membership to contribute their success stories and research
• Opportunities for professional leadership
• Collaboration and networking with school library professionals across Canada
• Contributions to the growth of school library learning commons
• Home grown research to share with district decision makers
• National recognition for your local work
• Opportunity to shape the future

What do we need from the host district/association?

A local planning committee supported by TMC planning committee and 91¾«Ñ¡ would shape the symposium. The TMC planning committee will look after the call for papers, peer reviewing and publishing of papers as well as program at the actual symposium. We welcome program and speaker suggestions  from the local committee so that the event truly supports the local needs as well as national. The local group usually works to find facilities and other supports needed. A facility to support physical and virtual collaboration is key to success as this is not a typical conference but a participatory event where we need flexible spaces, furnishings and robust internet, much like a school library learning commons. The event has traditionally taken place over two days with a dinner scheduled in between to help build community and celebrate our work together. Other than that we welcome creative ideas and solutions from our local hosts.

Past Symposiums

We’d love to hear from you!

TMC 5 is waiting to be hosted by a school district or school library association in Canada in late 2017 or early 2018.

If you are interested in this opportunity to shape the future or you have questions please contact TMC co-chairs:

Carol Koechlin: koechlin@sympatico.ca
Anita Brooks Kirkland: anitabk@bythebrooks.ca