Online Resources

Use our free online resources for consumer research, online classes, language learning, newspaper reading and more.

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  • Watch

    Access Video on Demand

    Access Video on Demand is a streaming video platform with a focus on educational films. The collection includes 41,213 videos, 331,668 video segments and 1,094 subject categories. The topics range from Arts and Humanities, Business and Economics, Science, Mathematics and Technology, Social Sciences, Careers and Trades, Health and Wellness, Home and Family, and Archival films and newsreels. Many popular documentaries originally produced for National Geographic, HBO, PBS, BBC, TED Talks, Nova, Rick Steves’ Europe, Scientific American, and more are included. Closed-captioning and interactive transcripts are available on many titles. Customers need a valid OPL card in order to access the service. Engage, inform, and entertain with its vivid and appealing new design of Access Video On Demand! Includes unlimited, simultaneous usage; in-library use and remote access.

    Content Language
    English
    Help Guide(s)
    Access Video On Demand Support
    Privacy and Terms of Use
    Privacy Policy
    Terms of Use
  • Research

    Ancestry Library

    A collection of thousands of individual genealogy databases from many different institutions. It includes American, Canadian and U.K. sources as well as some for Australia, New Zealand and Europe. Canadian coverage includes major sources such as the censuses from 1851 to 1916, Ontario civil registration of births, marriages and deaths, and the Quebec Drouin Collection (courthouse copies of parish registers). German records include passenger lists for many people leaving Eastern Europe. New databases are constantly being added.  Many of the sources are digitized.  Bring a USB flash drive to download your records.

    Ancestry Library: available for in-library use only

    Important Notice: You can access Ancestry Library Edition in our library branches through desktop computers provided by our library or your own personal laptop, tablet, or mobile phone. (Remote access is not supported.) 

    Content Language
    English
    Privacy and Terms of Use
    Privacy Policy
    Terms of Use
  • Learn

    AtoZ World Food

    Learn more about food in history and culture while discovering thousands of traditional recipes from 174 countries.

    AtoZ World Food features:

    • 6,500 + Recipes
    • 750 + World Beer Reviews
    • 13,000 + High Quality photos
    • 500 + Ingredient Articles
    • 850 + Future Culture Articles
    • 6 Food Glossaries
    • Personal Recipe Book

     

    Content Language
    English
    Privacy and Terms of Use
    Privacy Policy
  • Listen

    Audiobook Cloud

    A large assortment of streaming audiobooks that are always available. Includes fiction and nonfiction material for both adults and children.

    Content Language
    English
    Privacy and Terms of Use
    Privacy Policy
    Terms of Use
  • Research

    FamilySearch Affiliate Library

    FamilySearch is the largest genealogy organization in the world sponsored by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Millions of people use FamilySearch records, resources, and services to learn more about their family history.

    Ottawa Public Library is now a FamilySearch Affiliate Library, this designation means library clients will now have greater and more convenient access to the wealth of genealogical resources available through FamilySearch at our 33 branches.

    Benefits of an Affiliate Library

    • Due to contractual obligations, some images are only viewable online through FamilySearch centers and Affiliate Libraries
    • Through the affiliate program, OPL customers have access to over 350 million additional records that are otherwise restricted

    This resource is available for in-library use only.

    Please note that each individual client must log into FamilySearch using their own unique username and password. There is no institutional login. 

     

    Beginning April 30, 2026, clients will be required to sign in to access the FamilySearch Catalog. To help prepare for this change, a notification banner has been added to the top of the FamilySearch Catalog landing page for clients who are not signed in.

    This update is being implemented as part of ongoing efforts to improve website security and ensure appropriate access to records.

    Content Language
    English
    Help Guide(s)
    Why do historical records have access limitations?
    What are the image restrictions in Historical Records?
    Affiliate Library Additional Resources
    Frequently asked questions
  • Read

    Flipster eMagazines

    Access today's edition of popular magazine titles including Maclean's, Scientific American, Time, People, and others.

    • If you are experiencing difficulty accessing magazines, please check "Tips on how to access magazines from Flipster" under our Help Guide
    • Starting from May 18, 2023, Forbes is available on the Flipster eMagazine Platform
    • Starting from Oct.1, 2022, seven new eMagazines will be added to the Flipster platform. They are Backcountry; Sports Illustrated, Travel & Leisure; Fine Woodworking; Fine Gardening, Threads & Fine Homebuilding.
    • Effective on Nov.1, 2022, the following three magazines : Azure ; Canadian House and Home, and Hello! Canada will be available on Overdrive Magazines Platform and no longer available on Flipster eMagazine Platform
    • Martha Stewart Living, Do It Yourself, and Rachael Ray in Seasons are discontinued on Flipster by the publisher.  However, some back issues are still available for you to view.
    • Effective on Nov.1, 2023, Black Girl Magazine and  Teen Black Girl Magazine are no longer available on Flipster eMagazine Platform.  However, some back issues are still available for you to view.
    • Beginning in July 2025, no new issues of Allrecipes magazine will be published, However, you will still have full access to all back issues.
    Content Language
    Bilingual
    Help Guide(s)
    Getting Started with Flipster
    Introducing the New Flipster User Interface
    Flipster Fundamentals
    Flipster Help
    Privacy and Terms of Use
    Privacy Policy
    Terms of Use
  • Read

    Teen Book Cloud (TumbleBookCloud)

    A collection of Graphic Novels, eBooks, classic literature, National Geographic videos, educator resources and audiobooks, perfect for middle school and high school students. It features adjustable online text and complete audio narration. Sentences are highlighted as they are being read and the pages turn automatically. These read along books are great for reluctant readers and also help ESL students develop language skills.All of our students and customers will have unlimited access to this fantastic collection.

    TumbleBookCloud Jr is no longer active. Any k-6 titles from this resource are available on TumbleBook Library. There were some titles in TumbleBookCloud Jr. (TBC JR) that were created to the upper middle schoolers, those are available on Teen Book Cloud.

    Content Language
    English
    Privacy and Terms of Use
    Privacy Policy
    Terms of Use
  • Read

    The Athletic

    The Athletic, a New York Times company, delivers in-depth sports coverage of your favorite teams and leagues. 

    Access includes everything from breaking news and live commentary to long-form features, exclusive interviews, podcasts and more.

    Please note there are a total of 56,000 redemptions available for OPL clients. Each redemption provides 24-hour access to the resource.

    Clients must be registered and logged in to gain access.

    Content Language
    English
    Help Guide(s)
    How to activate your access to The Athletic
  • Read

    TumbleBook Library

    Collection of online books created by adding animation, sound, music and narration to existing picture books from major children's book publishers and designed to develop a love of reading in children.  The books can be read by parents to their children or read by a child.  Games, quizzes and other activities are included to help develop reading skills.  TumbleBookLibrary can be used in English, French and Spanish.

    TumbleBookCloud Jr is no longer active. Any k-6 titles from this resource are available on TumbleBook Library. There were some titles in TumbleBookCloud Jr. (TBC JR) that were created to the upper middle schoolers, those are available on TeenBookCloud.

    Content Language
    English
    Available Apps
    Apple
    Google
    Privacy and Terms of Use
    Privacy Policy
    Terms of Use
  • Learn

    TumbleMath

    TumbleMath is a comprehensive collection of online math, story and picture books that includes full narration and animation. Lesson plans and quizzes are available and specifically written to address math standards.

    Content Language
    English
    Privacy and Terms of Use
    Privacy Policy
    Terms of Use
  • Learn

    TVO Learn

    TVO Learn is a free online digital learning environment that offers comprehensive resources to support learning  for both Elementary (K-8) and Secondary (9-12) students.

    TVO Learn resources are created or curated by Ontario Certified Teachers and go through equity and inclusion reviews by curriculum and subject-matter specialists. All content aligns with the K-12 Ontario curriculum. Learning materials are designed in compliance with the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act. TVO Learn is approved by the Ontario Ministry of Education.

    Content Language
    Bilingual
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