Ontario unveils millions for arts,“ Kate Taylor, James Adams, The Globe and Mail, Toronto, ON, 3-Apr-08, A-9

“Other grants include $10-million toward a planned expansion of the Toronto Reference Library, $15-million for the operations of the Southern Ontario Library Service and $5-million to Knowledge Ontario, a cultural and educational organization providing digital content through public libraries.”

“Chat in real time with a librarian,” Sue Dickens, Niagara This Week, Thorold, ON, 11-Jan-08

“Knowledge Ontario, a library initiative and provincially funded project, is creating an information infrastructure for Ontario's citizens. The council's unwillingness to support equitable access to information through proper funding of our libraries places Windsor-Essex's position within this access framework in jeopardy, to the detriment of our citizens.”

“Library adds services for businesses,” Cynthis Gamble, The Independent & Free Press, Georgetown, ON, 12-Sep-07

“Library cards give patrons access to the library’s online catalogue and Knowledge Ontario databases, print collections, Internet computers and self-help services such as renewal and reservation of library materials.”

“World of knowledge is available with a computer and a library card,” Clair Hanman, The Independent & Free Press, Georgetown, ON, 3-Apr-07, p.1

“Just recently, through the generous support of a provincial government sponsored initiative called Knowledge Ontario, we have been able to vastly expand the number of databases that you can access with your library card. Now, the mere mention of "online databases" probably does not make you want to stand up and cheer, so let me boil it all down into one word: magazines...For example, in just 15 minutes of searching, I was able to find an article about sunflowers suitable for a second grader, a recipe for creamy orzo with asparagus and proscuitto, a knitting pattern for an iPod cozy (I kid you not!), advice about how to fix my '06 Corvette's squealing brakes (that is if I had an '06 Corvette!), a thorough assessment of whether or not the Toronto Maple Leafs will make the playoffs, instructions for strengthening my quadriceps through side-step shoulder raises, a fascinating description of using quantum topography to determine the state of superconductors, and numerous movie reviews of The Last Mimzy. ”

“Northumberland libraries get $168,000,” Vince Versace, Northumberland News, Cobourg, ON, 12-Apr-06

“Looking at the bigger picture, Oakville Images is part of a larger digitization movement that is sweeping Ontario and Canada, and is proud to utilize the software developed for Knowledge Ontario by Walter Lewis, Knowledge Ontario Technical Committee member and Manager of Support Services for the Halton Hills Public Library.”

Press Releases; Excerpts from press releases sent to the Citizen newsroom, The Ottawa Citizen, Ottawa, ON, 15-Jan-09

“The Ottawa Public Library (OPL) is the newest member of askON, the real-time research and information service staffed by Ontario's libraries. askON uses real-time chat technology to connect visitors with experienced librarians who can help find authoritative online information on a broad range of subjects for free. ”

Studying Anne's impact; U of G conference to examine author L.M. Montgomery's impact on Canada and world [Cached], Thana Dharmarajah, The Guelph Mercury, Guelph, ON, 21-Oct-08

“Georgina Public Libraries, with branches in Keswick, Sutton and Pefferlaw, have embraced innovative technology to enhance their ability to serve the community of Georgina by joining askON, an interactive information and research service for Ontarians offered by public libraries in the province. ”

“Libraries to offer online chat ask-a-librarian service,” Waterloo Region Record, Kitchener, ON, 27-Jun-08

“BilbioCommons, a new social discovery system for libraries that replaces all user-facing OPAC functionality, allowing for faceted searching and easier user commenting and tagging, has gone live n Oakville, ON, a city of 160,000 outside Toronto. ”

“Library forum is a wealth of information,” Alison Bell, Niagara This Week, Thorold, ON, 12-Sep-08

“The link to the collection is at ourontario.ca, which is sponsored by the government of Ontario.”

“Ball team from the '30s,” Jon Fear, Waterloo Region Record, Kitchener, ON, 21-Jun-08, W-11.

Images available on OurOntario.ca: search:

Anne of Green Gables finally makes her way into the 21st century, The National Post, Don Mills, ON, 21-Oct-08, AL-4

Images available on OurOntario.ca: search:

“Celebrate Oakville's heritage with the launch of Oakville images,” The Oakville Beaver, Oakville, ON, 26-Jan-07, p. 18

“Looking at the bigger picture, Oakville Images is part of a larger digitization movement that is sweeping Ontario and Canada, and is proud to utilize the software developed for Knowledge Ontario by Walter Lewis, Knowledge Ontario Technical Committee member and Manager of Support Services for the Halton Hills Public Library.”

Historical society museum embraces digital age, Niagara This Week, Thorold, ON, 22-May-09

“Library users, said Richardson, most want "easy readers' advisory," a better way to get recommendations and to connect with people online. Beth Jefferson, BiblioCommons' founder, told LJ that the system makes it easier for users to comment--not "review"--and tag items wherever they are in the system--a more seamless approach than a product like LibraryThing for Libraries or WorldCat. In BiblioCommons beta testing at several libraries, the top five users who commented and tagged had never participated in "the social web," Jefferson said. She acknowledged that some functions are not yet implemented in the product, such as excerpts from books, but said the prime issue is "discovery tools.”

BiblioCommons Emerges: “Revolutionary” Social Discovery System for Libraries, Norman Oder, Library Journal, 19-Jul-08

“BilbioCommons, a new social discovery system for libraries that replaces all user-facing OPAC functionality, allowing for faceted searching and easier user commenting and tagging, has gone live in Oakville, ON, a city of 160, 000 outside Toronto. ”

“Ontario turns a page toward library-sharing system,” Cathy Matyas, The Record, Kitchener, ON, 10-Dec-03, A-12

“The Ontario Digital Library is based on inter-library co- operation, on the sharing of resources across sectors, and a provincewide consortium for the purchase of electronic information…Why is the Ontario Digital Library a good idea? Because it will move us a step closer to providing equitable access to information resources for Ontarians. It will establish libraries of all types as local points of entry to this information, and will demonstrate the strength of a model that is based on shared funding, shared decision- making and shared accountability. And right now, that's a really good first step.”

“Waterloo library board lobbies candidates to improve services,” Carol Goodwin, The Record, Kitchener, ON, 7-Nov-03

“The Ontario Digital Library is based on inter-library co- operation, on the sharing of resources across sectors, and a provincewide consortium for the purchase of electronic information…Why is the Ontario Digital Library a good idea? Because it will move us a step closer to providing equitable access to information resources for Ontarians. It will establish libraries of all types as local points of entry to this information, and will demonstrate the strength of a model that is based on shared funding, shared decision- making and shared accountability. And right now, that's a really good first step.”

“Decision must not be rushed,” chief librarian says, Carol Goodwin, The Record, Kitchener, ON, 23-Aug-03, J-2

“Matyas is representing public libraries on the Ontario Digital Library project…Next month the province will be presented with a strategic plan to provide "equitable and seamless" access to digital information for Ontario's 10 million people, she said.”

“Libraries are striving to cross the great digital divide; U of G librarian drafted proposal for a provincial digital library,” Kerry Thompson, Daily Mercury, Guelph. ON, 16-Aug-02

“Matyas is representing public libraries on the Ontario Digital Library project…Next month the province will be presented with a strategic plan to provide "equitable and seamless" access to digital information for Ontario's 10 million people, she said.”