Me & My Library

What does Ottawa Public Library mean to you?

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  Finding Warmth in Winter: A Day at the Library

  by Soungui & Alycia Koulamallah , about 2 months ago

  On cold winter days, my husband and I love to escape into the warmth of the downtown library. There's something so cozy about browsing the shelves, discovering new books, and then settling in to read while staying snug inside. It’s one of our favorite ways to enjoy the quiet of winter, surrounded by stories, ideas, and the peaceful atmosphere that only a library can offer.
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  The Equalizer

  by cecOmine, about 2 months ago
  Hello, I write to explain the importance of libraries in my life.

  The primary reason for my love of libraries is that prior to retiring, I taught English at the high school level. Books were and are my life. There was something wonderful that happened when I had a library day and set my students loose in our school library. They could not get in fast enough and before long, even my reluctant readers were off in a corner with a book or a magazine. Escaping the tyranny of chairs and desks, they could sprawl anywhere on the carpet and... Continue reading
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  The OPL has enriched my life in a multitude of ways

  by Janet Ginsburg Cohen, about 2 months ago
  I started visiting the Carlingwood branch of the OPL in the mid 1950s.

  I had a dear cousin who worked as a librarian there and it made my visits that much more special.

  Over the years I was a consistent borrower of books and I took advantage of the excellent reference section.

  I also was grateful for various tutorials that helped my with technology and typing skills.

  I am so very grateful to have so many branches and services available.

  Long may our libraries prosper.

  
  

  
  
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  OPL Helps Strengthen our Community

  by iSisters, about 2 months ago
  

  As a volunteer at a tiny Ottawa-based charity serving marginalized women, girls and gender diverse people, I know that every penny counts. That's why the free access that the Ottawa Public Library provides to services like "Grant Connect" is so important. With free access while in the library, a volunteer like me can help determine the fundraising plan for our grass-roots non-profit. This helps us put more of our donor dollars towards the services needed by our learners!
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  Shaped my teenage and young adult years

  by rallee, about 2 months ago

  There wasn't much to do in Stittsville when I was a kid, but the library was a short bike-ride away and best of all: free. My parents never minded if I were to run out of the house yelling "I'm going to the library!" It was a frequent occurrence in the summer time, and I would borrow as many books as I could carry home to read all summer long.

  When I was a teen, I loved having access to the music library; I would listen to a set of CDs, make up dances, and lay in my bedroom singing... Continue reading
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  Brain Fog

  by elspeth54, about 2 months ago

  A library five minutes away from home is essential to my health and well-being. Stopping by to browse, pick up a Hold, perhaps attend a program, or simply spend some time reading in a lovely environment, is always a welcome gift, available almost any day of the year. The library is a vital space for seniors, especially those living alone, for anyone facing a life-limiting illness, and for caregivers. Isolation can literally kill you, and there are many experiences in life that can lead to loneliness.

  A close friend of mine was diagnosed with stage 4 lung cancer, and the... Continue reading
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  Team work

  by mvg_0, about 2 months ago

  Good afternoon, we use the Ottawa Public Library Auditorium in downtown Ottawa as a gathering space for large meetings. We bring our group together to present information, listen to each other and meet those who may not be located downtown. It's a great space to hold award presentations, outside agencies and just to simply come together in one space. The Auditorium has been a valuable resource over the years - it's great.
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  Libraries Save Lives

  by NMarbles, about 2 months ago

  I don’t know where my love of libraries started. My love of books started early. By the time I was 12, I was reading things way too inappropriate for a girl my age; King, VC Andrew’s, TeenBeat 😂 (Thats’s showing my age but it was 1987 🤷‍♀️) I was skipping school to hang out at the local library when I was in grade 8. My high school English teacher gifted me a book of poems graduating year and I studied English at Carleton. So, I’ve always loved books and their many houses. When I moved to Barrhaven 19 years ago... Continue reading
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  I am the books I read

  by Garry B., about 2 months ago

  I started school at age six in Chatham Ontario. I walked the half-mile to Central School and because I had already learned to read, I crossed the street to the local library and was a regular borrower of children's books. I remember enjoying Raggedy Ann and Andy and, until I left Chatham for college, I was a regular visitor to the Chatham library. By age twelve I was in love with science fiction and devoured the newly published works of Heinlein, Asimov, and Bradbury, to name a few.

  Now, as an octagenarian here in Ottawa. my taste is in nonfiction... Continue reading
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  A Cradle to Grave Community Resource

  by meimaa, about 2 months ago
  Entering motherhood, I worked part-time and took my two children to the Rosemount branch library regularly for baby and toddler time programs with Jennifer. We enjoyed participating in the programs, checking out books and meeting other parents and children from the neighbourhood. It is such a valuable meeting place for parents who may feel isolated at home with young children.

  My children continued to visit the library on their own as young children, became too cool for it as teens and are now making their way back to different branches to browse the shelves.

  I went back to working full-time... Continue reading