Online Resources

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

Displaying 1 - 12 of 15
  • Learn

    Creativebug

    Learn how to paint, knit, sew, and much more. Creativebug offers thousands of award-winning arts & crafts free video classes and workshops. They are all taught by recognized design experts and artists.

    Categories include Knitting, Crochet, Art & Design, Paper, Sewing, Quilting, Jewelry, Kids, Food & Home, Holiday & Party, and include beginner and advanced classes.

    Videos are completely ad-free. All have public performance rights and can be used by library programs to broadcast virtual Craft-A-Longs via Zoom, Facebook Live, YouTube, etc. Creativebug adds a minimum of 35 pieces of new content a month.

    You can create an account using your email address.

    Dec.16,2025

    We are aware that some clients are experiencing intermittent issues with the Creativebug video player. In certain cases, clients may be logged out when trying to access a video.

    If this happens, simply log back in with your library card and PIN from the CreativeBug library landing page, and the issue should be resolved.

    This is a temporary measure while Creativebug works to identify and fix the root cause. We appreciate your patience and understanding.

    Once the issue has been fully resolved, we will provide an update to let you know.

    Thank you for using Creativebug through the Ottawa Public Library.

    Content Language
    English
  • Watch

    Hoopla

    This digital media service provides customers access to motion picture films, television shows, complete music albums, graphic novels & comics, and BingePasses. The collection includes current and past hits, as well as classics. There is a variety of genres to choose from, with something for all ages. Let's be connected, inspired, and entertained together every day!

    • The collection is not permanent – titles get pulled and new content is added all the time.
    • Customers can stream or temporarily download up to 4 titles per month per card. The download feature is available exclusively on mobile devices, through the app.
    • The borrowing period for movie and TV content is between 48-72 hours (2-3 days), music albums (considered as one item) are 7 days, and comics collection is 21 days.
    • Titles are available instantly with no holds, waitlists, or late fees.
    • Borrowed titles are automatically returned following the borrowing period.
    • Hoopla is accessible from your computer, laptop, or wireless device.
    • Customers must register for an account with an email address and a valid OPL card number, in order to access the service.
    • The data used to stream Hoopla from the Internet at home or from your mobile device will count towards your Internet service provider’s monthly bandwidth cap. Watching a regular-length movie uses about 1GB of data for each stream of standard definition video. Streaming an album uses about 35 MB of data.

    Due to rising costs from increased usage and higher prices per item, we’re adjusting Hoopla’s borrowing limits to ensure sustainable access for all clients.

    Now, the monthly credit for Hoopla has been  reduced from 6 to 4 credits per month.

    By popular request, hoopla is now available on Android Auto! Listen to music more safely and easily using your vehicle's in-dash display.

    There are two types of BingePass available on Hoopla now. Each checkout of an individual BingePass offers Unlimited Streaming for 7 days with a single borrow

    • The Great Courses BingePass: Gain access to hundreds of popular online courses from leading experts and professors. The robust platform includes courses on language, history, travel, fitness, nutrition, personal and professional development, and more.
    • Curiosity Stream BingePass: Access thousands of High-quality and engaging documentaries, films, shows, and series covering science, nature, travel, history, and more. Curiosity Stream has something for everyone - including an entire Curiosity KIDS collection tailored for younger learners

     

     

     

     

  • Watch

    Kanopy

    Kanopy offers a large collection of high-quality films and documentaries from art-house classics to world cinema, all available to play on your PC, phone, tablet, and digital media player.

    Each client will have 8 tickets per month to watch films on Kanopy. Kanopy Kids is not included in the ticket system, and you can access its content without using any tickets

    • With this update, Next to the play button, clients will see how many tickets a title will use and how long they will have access to it before pressing play.
    • Episodic content will be labeled so clients know they are getting an entire bingeable season for the ticket value.
    • Ticket-free content, including titles in Kanopy Kids, will be labeled as 0 tickets

    Due to rising costs from increased usage and higher prices per item, we’re adjusting Kanopy’s borrowing limits to ensure sustainable access for all clients.

    The monthly ticket allowance for Kanopy has been reduced from 12 to 8 tickets per month.

    • The Kanopy app is available for both mobile and TV devices.
    • Kanopy can now be found in the Extras section of the Overdrive Libby app.
    • The Kanopy app and all the ways for you to browse, stream, and enjoy videos from Kanopy remain unchanged.

    Sometimes Kanopy requires the re-verification of a library card, but instead of the messaging that one would see in Libby (like being asked to re-enter a PIN), Kanopy blocks the card until the card can be checked again. 

    Please follow the instructions: reactivating a library membership 

     

     

  • Learn

    LinkedIn Learning for Library

    LinkedIn Learning for Library is an upgrade to the previous Lynda Library product, providing continued lifelong learning opportunities for all of our Clients.

    Over 16,000 video tutorial courses led by experts in Business, Creative, and Technology. Some tutorials are available in English, French, German, Japanese, Mandarin, Portuguese, and Spanish.

    Customers will now have access to the following:

    1. Engaging content for every customer, with over 16,000 courses in 7 different languages
    2. A simple, time-saving login flow for customers that only requires a library card number and PIN, without the need for a LinkedIn profile
    3. An updated, easy-to-use, intuitive interface
    4. Previous course history from Lynda.com
    • From March 31st, 2022, any clients who have not yet logged into LinkedIn Learning for Library will not have their Lynda history migrated over.
    • The LinkedIn Learning mobile application is now available for library clients. After downloading it from the app store, They will select Sign in with their library card to log in. 
      Enter the "library ID" as "ottawa" after www.linkedin.com/learning-login/go/ and then click Continue and enter the library card # and PIN
    • For course completions, the clients will see the course completions in their history and get a certificate, however, their  Personal Identifier Information (PII) will not appear on the certificate. i.e. clients will not get a certificate in their name,
    • The library version of LinkedIn Learning can’t connect with the client's personal LinkedIn account.
    Content Language
    English
  • Learn

    MAURIL : Digital Platform for Learning French and English

    Mauril is a new, free digital platform to help clients learn English and French.

    • 100% Canadian French and English
    • Exercises designed for all levels
    • Progress at your own pace
    • A wide range of stimulating, entertaining , and captivating content from CBC/Radio-Canada
    • Improve oral comprehension and integrate language knowledge in everyday life
    • Feel more confident using French or English in any context 

     

    Getting started with Mauril is easy. Download the app on Apple and Android mobile phones and tablets, or use the website version. Simply create a profile and access your learning journey from any device, whenever and wherever you wish!

    The platform is called Mauril to pay tribute to the Honourable Mauril Bélanger, the former Ottawa-Vanier MP who championed official languages in Canada. It is financed and endorsed by the Government of Canada, this new tool is designed and deployed by CBC/Radio-Canada, in collaboration with a committee of pedagogical experts..

    Content Language
    Bilingual
  • Watch

    Medici.tv | EDU

    The world's premier resource for classical music videos, it gives you unlimited and simultaneous access to stunning live events streamed every year from the world’s most prestigious venues. Plus, it offers thousands of concerts, operas, ballets, documentaries, master classes, Jazz, and many more films from the 1940s through to the present day. Available on all digital devices anytime, anywhere.

    The new Jazz music collection is available now. You can simply click the 'Jazz' tab at the top of the Medici.tv home page.

    You can change the language setting to English, French, Spanish, and Russian

    A new feature on Medici. tv: you can create your individual account. For more detailed info, please click  the help guide link

    Medici.tv|EDU  iOS mobile app & Android mobile app are now available!

    Download it at no cost, sign in using your existing individual account, and cast the extensive on-demand catalog and live streams to your TV with Airplay or Chromecast.

  • Learn

    Mozaik

    Free and unlimited online courses in French. Learn languages, sewing, singing, coding for kids, watch documentary films, and more! Find audiobooks, BD (graphic novels) on the Nextory app, as well as games such as sudoku and crossword puzzles.

    Content Language
    French
  • Listen

    Naxos Music Library

    Offers streaming access to over 1 million tracks of classical music. Can be accessed from any computer, anywhere, anytime with your library card. Also features an app that can be used on iPhones, iPads and Android devices.

    This product is limited to 20 simultaneous users. If you have trouble logging on you may wish to try again later.

    In order to properly end a session and free up a user count, please click on the Log-Out button.

     

    • Mobile App activation code is : OttawaPLpd12WDP  1. Download App 2. Select "Connect with your institution. 3. Type in the above activation code, 4. Click "SUBMIT" 5. Create account. 6. Check your email to activate Naxos Music Library personal playlist account.
    •  
    • Your access to the mobile app will be temporarily deactivated if you haven't logged into the web version of the service via our library's authentication system for six months. You can re-activate your account in the following steps:
    • Log in to Naxos Music Library through our website using your library card and PIN
    • Navigate to the Playlists section of the website
    • Login to your Member Account to re-activate your account
    •  
    •  
    • Naxos Music Library has been upgraded from Standard Sound Quality (128kbps) to Premium Sound Quality (320 kbps) The default setting is Premium Sound Quality, but you can unselect the premium and convert to standard.