Looking to bring your creative visions to life—without breaking the bank? Check out Ottawa Public Library’s Imagine Space, your one-stop maker hub packed with cutting-edge tools and free to access!
From 3D printers for inventive prototypes, to custom T-shirt presses for wearable art, and sewing machines for projects big or small, you’ll find everything you need to unleash your inner innovator. And more !
In 2025, overcome your fears and dare to do the impossible! If you are between the ages of 9 and 18 and you like to write, tell stories or share your feelings through drawing or poetry, the Awesome Authors contest is for you!
From January 15 to February 28, you have the opportunity to submit one (1) entry per category. The seven categories are: short story, poetry, comic, nouvelle, poésie, bande dessinée and book cover.
Feeling musical? Borrow an instrument from OPL's Musical Lending Library and start strumming your way to stardom.
We’ve released the highly anticipated list of OPL’s most-requested books of 2024. These annual lists for adults, teens, and children highlight the titles that captured readers' attention this year, curated from the number of hold requests placed at OPL in English and French between January 1 and December 1, 2024. From exciting new releases to beloved classics, the lists offer something for everyone. Explore the selections and discover insights provided by OPL’s knowledgeable Content Services team about these must-read titles.
Adult (English)
On Wednesday, December 11, City Council approved the Ottawa Public Library (OPL) 2025 budget of $64.895M which includes funding for operating and capital activities. The 2025 Library budget enables OPL to provide and expand the services the community relies on for learning, leisure, information, and connection.
Calling all sports fans—your ultimate playbook for premium sports coverage is now available for free! Whether you’re cheering for the Senators, staying updated on the Raptors, or following international soccer, The Athletic offers in-depth coverage, exclusive interviews, and expert analysis—all accessible with your Ottawa Public Library card.
Have you ever wished there were a way for your kids to use audiobooks without cd players or devices with screens? Now kids can experience the magic of books that can read themselves with Ottawa Public Library’s newest collection: Read-alongs, the books that talk! The Read-along collection consists of print books with a simple audio player built in, that can be charged with any micro-USB charger. Parents and children can listen to the stories while flipping through the pages and looking at the words and pictures.
There’s a certain magic in flipping through the pages of a book or scrolling through an eBook, and letting yourself be transported into new worlds, both real and imagined. This magic, this joy of reading, is something we, at Ottawa Public Library (OPL), celebrate and share daily.
In response to recent challenges to materials in libraries across North America, some public libraries have been declaring themselves "Book Sanctuaries", a movement that began in September 2022 when the Chicago Public Library declared themselves a space for endangered stories and called for others to do the same. A Book Sanctuary is a physical or digital space that actively protects the freedom to read.