OCUL

@ocul-libraries.bsky.social

We're the Ontario Council of University Libraries (OCUL).

OCUL provides academic libraries with shared services and technology infrastructure to support teaching, research and learning success.

Visit our website: https://ocul.on.ca/

@ocul-libraries.bsky.social

Privacy, security, data governance, and data sovereignty remain barriers to adoption, with lots of questions about where data are stored and who controls them. Local control over infrastructure, data, and decision-making represent a potential path to more trustworthy and accountable library AI use.

@ocul-libraries.bsky.social

2 values-aligned AI use cases came from participants: Accessibility, where AI can expand access and reduce barriers to info in ways that reflect library values, and Discoverability, through improved metadata, description, archival processing, multilingual services, and access to hidden collections.

@ocul-libraries.bsky.social

Consortium-level guidance was seen as a means to grow collective learning and shared expertise, while reducing duplication of efforts and creating greater confidence in AI decision-making. Participants want to see AI-focused committees and communities of practice, plus PD on AI capacity building.

@ocul-libraries.bsky.social

Values-aligned AI use was consistently raised across the focus groups, with library workers being open to explore AI applications in their day-to-day library work, but in ways that are ethical, well-governed, and preserve their professional expertise.

@ocul-libraries.bsky.social

Earlier this year, we held 18 focus groups across the Ontario academic library community to get a deeper understanding of what's changed in library workers' experiences and perspectives on AI and machine learning. So what did we learn?

A dark green background and a large maroon rounded rectangle centred within it. Near the top left is a white OCUL logo. In the upper right, a lime-green rounded panel contains the underlined heading “NEWS & UPDATES.” The main lime-green area displays the large black headline “Values-Aligned AI in Academic Libraries – Findings from the OCUL Focus Group Report”. Along the bottom are five small green line-art icons on white squares, depicting a microphone, an open book, a light bulb, a document with a maple leaf, and 2 speech bubbles with dots. White text at the lower right reads “Read the report on ocul.on.ca/news.”
@crkn-rcdr.bsky.socialReposted by @ocul-libraries.bsky.social

📖 Do you have a fascinating collection in your library that would benefit from digitization, or that would be a great fit for Canadiana?

Apply to CRKN’s Member Digitization Projects initiative this fall! Applications are open until November 27.

Learn more at our website: bit.ly/4x94zdR

The words "Apply to the Member Digitization Projects Initiative. Deadline: November 27, 2026" appear over images of historical documents.
@nisoinfo.bsky.socialReposted by @ocul-libraries.bsky.social

Our draft Accessibility Remediation Metadata (ARM) standard is now available for public comment! The deadline for feedback is November 9.

Thank you to our ARM Working Group members for their efforts to help make educational resources more accessible to all: www.niso.org/press-releas...

Cover page of NISO Z39.107-202x, ISSN 1041-5653, titled "Accessibility Remediation Metadata." Beneath the NISO logo and tagline "How the information world connects," the abstract explains that the standard provides a vocabulary for expressing how, and how far, a resource has been remediated to be more accessible to people with disabilities. It is offered in both human-readable and machine-readable forms.
@scholarsportal.bsky.socialReposted by @ocul-libraries.bsky.social

The September Scholars Portal Newsletter is here! Highlights from this edition include:

🔷Updates on GeoPortal, Scholaris, Ask, and Borealis
🔷New journals, books & Odesi datasets
🔷A Spotlight on Ask the Library
🔷Bug fixes & new features

Catch up here: oculsp.ca/2jl0c

Scholars Portal Newsletter
@ifla.orgReposted by @ocul-libraries.bsky.social

Only one week to go to send your feedback about IFLA's current volunteers model ⏰

Whether you are (or have been, or will be!) a volunteer, a partner, or a member, we want to hear from you! Click on the link below, fill in the survey, and let your voice be heard.

https://tr.ee/1LdtBD

@crkn-rcdr.bsky.socialReposted by @ocul-libraries.bsky.social

A connected PID ecosystem needs everyone’s participation. The Canadian PID Strategy outlines actions for researchers, publishers, funders, institutions, and infrastructure providers to support PID adoption, reduce administrative burden, and improve research connections.

🔗 bit.ly/4hqLjo1

#PIDs

Graphic to present the Canadian PID Strategy
@westernu.caReposted by @ocul-libraries.bsky.social

Did you know the world map you've likely used your whole life grossly exaggerates the sizes of some countries? 🗺️

#WesternU GIS research scientist Liz Sutherland explains why the Mercator map projection distorts land size – and what the UN is doing about it: news.westernu.ca/2026/09/merc...

An example of a Mercator projection map (Strebe/Wikimedia Commons) Equal Earth map showing country boundaries (Wikimedia Commons)
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