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From Ruth E. Dickinson, Ottawa Public Library
Visit the Library website for our hours of operation, to access online resources, browse books, search programs and events, and more!
May 31, 2023
News from Ruth E. Dickinson: your local library branch
Visit the Library website for our hours of operation, to access online resources, browse books, search programs and events, apply for a library card, and more! News from Ruth E. Dickinson: your local library branch Visit the Library website for our hours of operation, to access online resources, browse books, search programs and events, apply for a library card, and more! 📚 Reading Buddies Do you have children in grades 1-3? Would you like them to read more? Join our weekly Reading Buddies program in June! Each child will be paired with a volunteer for fun and interactive read aloud sessions. Together they will share the joys of reading in a friendly, encouraging, and enthusiastic environment. Mondays in June at 5:15 pm. Space is limited so register today! 🌞 Coming Soon: The 2023 TD Summer Reading Club! 🌞 Summer is almost here and with it comes the TD Summer Reading Club (SRC) for children up to 12 years old! A combination of in-person and virtual programming will take place throughout the summer engaging children in the fun of exploring ideas and their imaginations! Starting Monday June 12, families can visit their local OPL branch to pick up their child’s summer reading kit and to register for any number of in-person and virtual programs. You can also register for programs online through the OPL website starting at 10 am on Monday June 12! Kids can take part anywhere—at their local Ottawa Public Library branch as well as at home, online, or wherever summer takes them. 📕 Apprendre à lire avec la collection Une syllabe à la fois Votre enfant apprend à lire? Venez explorer nos premières lectures! En vedette : la collection Une syllabe à la fois. Cette collection de petits livres propose des textes adaptés faciles à décoder et à comprendre. Avec six niveaux de lecture et 70 livres, votre enfant vivra des réussites en lecture et goûtera au plaisir de lire! 🌳 "Check Out" Nature at the Library 🌳 Did you know you can borrow an Ontario Parks 2023 Annual Vehicle Permit with your library card? Each pass entitles a vehicle to enter any provinicial park for free for day access (depending on parking availability). For more information on how to use the permit, please click here.
You can find them with OPL's other Access Passes that provide free general admission to museums, parks, and other sites of interest in the Ottawa area.
To provide equitable access, passes are Express items and cannot be put on hold. You can check out 1 pass at a time for up to 7 days.
📘 Learn to read in French with Une syllabe à la fois Is your child learning to read in French? Check out our new collection of French early readers: Une syllabe à la fois. This collection of little books offers adapted texts that are easy to decode and understand. With six reading levels and 70 books, your child will develop their reading skills and experience the joy of a good story!
🚸Just For Kids
Take yourself on a virtual fieldtrip withJust for Kids! With over 8000 videos to choose from, you’ll find instruction in the arts, music, animals, hobbies, math, science and much more. From learning to read to learning to code, this interactive video database also features many of your favourite television characters from TVOKids and PBS.
Previous Updates
May 2023
May 26, 2023
📚 Reading Buddies 📚Do you have children in grades 1-3? Would you like them to read more? Join our weekly Reading Buddies program in June! Each child will be paired with a volunteer for fun and interactive read aloud sessions. Together they will share the joys of reading in a friendly, encouraging, and enthusiastic environment. Mondays in June at 5:15 pm. Space is limited so register today! 📐 Homework HelpLooking for tutoring and homework help for children? Drop in on Tuesday evenings from 6:30 pm to 7:30 pm (until June 13, 2023). For children in grades 1 to 8. This program is provided in partnership with Frontier College. 🎉 FOPLA's Mammoth Book Sale!Friends of the Ottawa Public Library Association is hosting their monthly Mammoth Book Sale this Saturday May 27 from 10 am to 2 pm at 100 Tallwood Drive. Take advantage of great deals on used books, CDs, DVDs, and audiobooks in great condition for sale at a fantastic price!
Can't make it in person? Try FOPLA's online store: Kindreads.com
Buy online and ship to your home or they offer free local pickup at 100 Tallwood Drive in Nepean or the Bookends used bookstore in the Beaverbrook Branch
🎍 Spring Plant Swap Did you start too many seedlings? Have some extra perennial or houseplants? Bring them to the Ruth E. Dickinson Branch Spring Plant Swap and take some other plants home! We'll be set up outside of the branch near the main entrance from 1:00 pm to 5:00 pm this Saturday May 27. Please don't forget to clearly label your plants. 🍽 Asian Heritage Month: Virtual Cooking Show 🍽Please join us for a virtual cooking show with local chef Joe Thottungal from popular restaurants Thali and Coconut Lagoon on Tuesday May 30 from 7:00 pm to 8:00 pm. Watch as he demonstrates three dishes: Asparagus Thoran, Chicken Kadai, Pomegranate and mint Raita from his new cookbook "My Thali". Register here to reserve your spot! 🔳 Lego Block Party / Ça dé ‘bloc’Calling all Lego enthusiasts! Drop in between 1:30 pm and 4:30 pm on Friday June 2 to create and build with Lego. For kids 5 to 12 years old.
May 16, 2023 📚 1000 Books Before Kindergarten 1000 Books Before Kindergarten (1BBK) is a free bilingual literacy program for newborns, babies, toddlers, and preschoolers. The goal? Read 1000 books with your little one before they start Kindergarten. Visit us in branch to pick up a reading log!
To track your progress, colour/check a book cover on the reading log for every book that you read to your child (titles can be repeated!)
Every time you reach 100 books, show us your log sheet, and we will give you:
a new reading log
a die cut shape so you can fill in your child’s name and the number of books read so far
filled in die cut shapes will be posted along the wall in the Children's hallway
🏅 How to be a Climate Optimist by Chris Turner wins the Shaughnessy Cohen Prize! Chris Turner is the2023 winnerof the Shaughnessy Cohen Prize for Political Writing! How to be a Climate Optimist: Blueprints for a Better Worldis a "self-help guide for the planet and a masterclass in brisk, vivid storytelling" says the Jury for the Canadian nonfiction prize. Borrow it from OPL, as well as all2023 nominees and past winners. All great nonfiction reading! 🍽 Cook and Tell! 🍽 Calling all foodies! Love trying new recipes? Join our Barrhaven "Cook and Tell" Cookbook Club on select Thursdays at 3:00 pm! Try a recipe from each month’s cookbook selection and tell us what you think!
May 25: 15 Minute Meals by Jamie Oliver
June 22: Project Fire by Steven Raichlen
🏥 South Nepean Satellite Community Health Centre: Information on Services & ProgramsJoin us on Thursday May 25 from 5:00 pm to 7:30 pm on the second floor of the branch to learn more about programs and services for children, youth, families and older adults in the Nepean area. 🎍 Spring Plant Swap 🎍 Did you start too many seedlings? Have some extra perennial or houseplants? Bring them to the Ruth E. Dickinson Branch Spring Plant Swap and take some other plants home! We'll be set up outside of the branch near the main entrance from 1:00 pm to 5:00 pm on Saturday May 27. Please don't forget to clearly label your plants. Let the gardening season begin!
May 10, 2023
☑️ AccessAbility Day 2023 ☑️ May 31 will be the City of Ottawa’s 20th AccessAbility Day and is a part of National AccessAbility Week (May 24-June 3). This week is an opportunity to celebrate the diverse community of persons with disabilities across Canada, recognize their achievements, and highlight the work being done to remove barriers and make our communities more inclusive and accessible. In collaboration with the Canadian Accessibility Network and the Institute of Public Administration of Canada – National Capital Region, the City of Ottawa proudly presents a Canada-wide discussion on accessibility policies and key issues. Our keynote speaker will be Stephanie Cadieux, Canada’s Chief Accessibility Officer, and the event will feature many engaging presenters from various governmental sectors, as well as civil society advocates. This free virtual event is open to the public. Join us on Wednesday May 31, 2023 from 12 pm to 2 pm on Zoom. To register please click here. The Ottawa Public Library is proud to be a part of this event and we hope to see you there!
OPL has put together a list of print, electronic, web, and audiovisual non-fiction resources that discuss current issues and pivotal figures in the disability justice and rights movement
✅ Accessibility at the Ottawa Public Library OPL is dedicated to making its resources accessible to people with disabilities, specifically through its services and collections, including:
📘 Accessible collections: large print books, audiobooks, children's braille, and more can be requested and delivered to any branch
⌨ Assistive technology and equipment: each of OPL’s 33 branches has at least one assistive workstation
🚐 Homebound Services: Ottawa residents who are unable to visit the Library regularly due to age, illness or disability can sign up to receive a monthly delivery of OPL materials
📆 If you require longer borrowing periods due to a disability, consider applying for Accessibility Status to have your borrowing periods extended
🔎 The resources of the Centre for Equitable Library Access (CELA)
If you have questions or need assistance, please contact Accessibility Services at accessibility.office@BiblioOttawaLibrary.ca or 613-580-2424 ext. 28321
🎬 Friday Flicks Join us for a screening ofMeet the Patels(2015) in honour ofAsian Heritage Monthon Friday May 19 at 4 pm! This film is rated PG: Parental Guidance. Recommended for ages 14+. Don't forget to stop by our special book displays for adults and children when you visit us! 💬 OPL 2022 Annual Report: Setting Up For Renewal 💬 2022 was a year of major transition for the Library. OPL has a new Chief Librarian/CEO, the 2019-2022 term of the OPL Board ended, and the Library now has one of the strongest intellectual freedom position statements in North America. The Library remained a vital part of the community -- thanks to the people of Ottawa who support and make use of the Library! Please read the report online for more information about the Library’s impact in 2022. Thank you to everyone for making 2022 another successful year at OPL! 👨💻 Gordon Korman Virtual Event Calling all teachers! OPL would like to invite you and your class to join our virtual author event with Gordon Korman on Friday May 26 from 9:30 am to 10:30 am! Registeryour class as soon as possible to reserve a spot! For elementary school students grades 3 and up
Gordon Korman will discuss brainstorming, developing characters, dialogue, and humour. He will then answer questions submitted in advance by classes from across Ottawa
Submit your class' questions by Friday May 19 by email to programdevelopment@biblioottawalibrary.ca
We are encouraging all classes/students to read at least one book by Gordon Korman before the event. This year he published his 101st book!
May 5, 2023
🌸 OPL Celebrates Asian Heritage Month! 🌸
Throughout the month of May, the Ottawa Public Library will be celebrating Asian Heritage Month. OPL invites everyone to discover the legacy and diverse cultures of Asia through educational and cultural programs at OPL. In celebration of this year’s Asian Heritage Month 2023, the Ottawa Public library is offering programming that honors and celebrates people from diverse, vibrant, and growing communities have contributed to every aspect of Canadian life, including the arts, science, sports, business, government, and of course, the labour movement. Thank you to the various Asian communities who have shaped our communities for the better! This month we celebrate and learn from you!
🎦 Sunday May 7: Join us at Ben Franklin Place to watch 2 movies! Registration required.
From 11:30 am to 2:00 pm the Indonesian Consulate will present the film “5 cm”
From 2:30 pm to 4:30 pm the US Embassy will present the documentary film "Donut King"
🎬 Friday May 19 at 4:00 pm: Join us at the Ruth E. Dickinson branch for a screening of Meet the Patels (2015)
🥘 Tuesday May 30 at 7:00 pm: Please join us for a virtual cooking show with local chef Joe Thottungal from popular restaurants Thali and Coconut Lagoon. Watch as he demonstrates three dishes: Asparagus Thoran, Chicken Kadai, Pomegranate and mint Raita from his new cookbook "My Thali". Registration required.
Reading books from OPL’s collection is another great way to discover the richness of Asian-Canadians' contributions to our cultural life:
📘 Mois du patrimoine asiatique: adultes; ados; enfants
📕 Asian Heritage Month: adults; teens; children
📚 Ruth E. Dickinson Recommends: Rise by Jeff Yang
The history of the Asian diaspora in North America often brings 3 things to mind: railroads, laundry, and Chinese food - but there is so much more to the story! Rise is part textbook, part graphic novel, and part love-letter to influential Asian-Americans in recent history. You’ll recognize familiar faces in this book and learn how they’ve defied systemic racism and stereotypes to shape the global modern culture.
🦉 Contes en famille – les mercredis à 10 h 15 🦉
L'heure du conte et les bibliothèques vont de pair! Les heures du conte font partie intégrante de l'alphabétisation précoce en initiant les jeunes enfants aux livres, aux comptines, à la musique, et plus encore. Rejoignez-nous à la succursale Ruth E. Dickinson pour notre Contes en famille, offert en français, les mercredis matins à 10 h 15.
Storytime and libraries go hand-in-hand! Storytimes act as an integral part of early literacy education by introducing young children to books, rhymes, music, and more. Please join us at the Ruth E. Dickinson branch for our French family storytime, Contes en famille, on Wednesday mornings at 10:15 am.
✅ Financial Literacy: Planning for Retirement
Join us on Wednesday May 10 at 11:30 am for a free retirement planning session with CPA Canada. Participants will learn how to become proactive and start retirement planning early. Drop-in program (registration not required).
⚙ Barrhaven Builder's Club
Get creative with our Gears, Gears, Gears, Magformers, Keva Planks, Lego, Meccano, K'nex, VEX Robotics and more! Drop-in between 3:30 pm and 5:00 pm on Friday May 12 to build, construct, engineer and design with us. Open to ages 5+
🎍 Spring Plant Swap 🎍
Did you start too many seedlings? Have some extra perennial or houseplants? Bring them to the Ruth E. Dickinson Branch Spring Plant Swap and take some other plants home! We'll be set up outside of the branch near the main entrance from 1:00 pm to 5:00 pm on Saturday May 27. Please don't forget to clearly label your plants. Let the gardening season begin!
April 2023
April 28, 2023 ✍ Congratulations to the Winners of the 2023 Awesome Authors Writing Contest! ✍ This year, with an extraordinary record of 739 entries, judges Catherine Austen, Apollo the Child, Amelinda Bérubé, Pierre-Luc Bélanger, and Éric Péladeau had the difficult task of deliberating and selecting the winners of the 2023 Awesome Authors writing contest! The winning texts will be published in an anthology called Pot-Pourri which will be available at the end of this year. The Library gratefully acknowledges the generous support of the Friends of the Ottawa Public Library Association in making this contest possible. Family, friends, writers and bibliophiles, please join the Library in congratulating the winners of the 2023 Awesome Authors writing Contest! 🎹 Online Music Lessons for Library Clients Did you know that you can borrow musical instruments for free from the Main, Nepean Centrepointe, Cumberland, and Greenboro branches at the Ottawa Public Library? Whether you’re just starting out or interested in improving your skills, OPL has many resources to help you including online music lesson resources. Check out Hoopla, Kanopy, LinkedIn Learning, and Access Video on Demand for videos on how to play various instruments, sing, learn music theory, how to record music, use editing software and more! 💬 Wanted: French Conversation Group Volunteer for JuneThe Ruth E. Dickinson branch is currently looking for an adult volunteer to facilitate our French Conversation Group on Thursday evenings in June (1, 8, 15, 22, 29) from 6:30 pm to 8:00 pm. Must be 18+ with a fluent or advanced knowledge of spoken French. Interested applicants can apply online through Better Impact 🚐 Homebound Services 🚐Did you know that the Ottawa Public Library offers a free monthly delivery service for customers who are unable to visit a library branch? Ottawa residents who are unable to visit the Library regularly due to age, illness or disability can sign up for Homebound Services and receive a monthly delivery of OPL materials. Customers can request their own material or staff can select materials based on each customer’s interests. The library delivers to individual homes, retirement residences, and long-term care facilities within the City of Ottawa. Please note: a minimum commitment of three months is required. Register online here. Questions? Need more information? Please contact Homebound Services by phone at 613-580-2944 or email at Homebound@BiblioOttawaLibrary.ca🎉 FOPLA's Mammoth Book Sale!Friends of the Ottawa Public Library Association is hosting their monthly Mammoth Book Sale this Saturday April 29 from 10 am to 2 pm at 100 Tallwood Drive. Take advantage of great deals on used books, CDs, DVDs, and audiobooks in great condition for sale at a fantastic price!
Can't make it in person? Try FOPLA's online store: Kindreads.com
April 21, 2023
🌍 Celebrate Earth Day 🌍 Happy Earth Day! Visit us at the library and check out our book displays for children and adults! Can't make it in? Take a look at these book recommendations available from OPL:
Picture Book City: Tales of Nature & the Environment - Books for kids who love learning about our Earth and what makes it special
STEM Storytime: Plants & Animals - For the young reader in your life who is curious about nature and all its beauty
Hooray for Pollinators! Welcome Spring and bee thankful for pollinators big and small
Jour de la Terre / Earth Day - bilingual books for children
Earth Day: books and DVDs for adults
Celebrating Earth Day: Books for a Zero Waste Life 📚 Ruth E. Dickinson Recommends (for Kids!): Resist by Tom Palmer Taking place in 1943 in Velp under Nazi-occupied Netherlands, Resist is inspired by the true story of Audrey Hepburn. The main character, Edda, decides to work for the resistance after the Germans murdered her uncle and captured her brother. Such work, however, does not come without risks. Delivering illegal resistance newspapers and performing illegally to raise money can easily get her killed if caught. Readers will appreciate Edda’s courage, bravery and strength to stand up against oppression during a time of darkness, hardship and brutality. A must-read for ages 8-12 who enjoy historical fiction and war fiction! 📖 Canadian Children's Book Week 📖 Canadian Children’s Book Week focuses on promoting reading to children all across Canada. This year, from April 30 to May 6, join OPL to celebrate Canadian authors and books! OPL will feature virtual visits from two Canadian authors – Shauntay Grant and Mireille Messier. We hope that your family or classroom can tune in for one or more of these programs as we continue to work together to promote a love of reading in our children across this great land.
Mireille Messier: Le lundi 1 mai 2023 à 10h00 en français (en ligne) - Insectes, bestioles ou bibittes?. Elle transmettra sa passion pour la nature et les petites bêtes avec ses histoires passionnantes
Shauntay Grant: Thursday May 4 - My Fade is Fresh at 10:45 am and Africville at 1:00 pm in English (on Zoom) She will guide the children through her books and her experiences
Read and discover: bilingual book recommendations for Canadian Children's Book Week 2023!
🏅Carol Shields Prize for Fiction 2023 The Carol Shields Prize for Fiction is a major new English-language literary award to celebrate creativity and excellence in fiction by women and non-binary writers in the United States and Canada. Browse the 5 finalists in their recently released shortlist, all available in OPL's collection! Have a favourite? Check back after May 4 to see who takes home the prize! Looking for other award winners? Click here! 🏥 South Nepean Satellite Community Health Centre: Information on Services & Programs Join us on Thursday April 27 from 5:00 pm to 7:30 pm (and monthly on select Thursdays) on the second floor of the branch to learn more about programs and services for children, youth, families and older adults in the Nepean area.
April 13, 2023 🎨 Community Arts & Crafts SwapCalling all crafters! Celebrate Earth Day by bringing in all those art supplies you don't need and swapping them for new ones! Help divert materials from the landfill and give them a chance to be used by someone else. How does it work?
Drop off your new (or like new) donations of arts and crafts materials at the Ruth E. Dickinson Branch during our hours of operation until Friday April 21, 2023
Come back on Saturday April 22 from 10 am to 12 pm for the swap!
🌼 Thank You,