Effective December 26, 2020: All branches are closed to the public, except for library returns and Library Takeout for contactless holds pickup. Learn More

Learning with OPL

With all the changes to the back-to-school season, one thing that remains the same is that OPL is committed to supporting our community. With your library card, you have an abundance of resources and programs to help students with school.

Check out the list below for just some of our online learning tools, resources and virtual programs.

Note: This is not a complete list of resources and programs. To see everything offered through OPL, visit the Online Resources and Program Calendar.

Online Learning Resources

To access the resources below, first log onto the OPL website with your library card and then click on the links below, so you will be automatically be signed in through your library card.

For Kids

  • Encyclopedia Britannica offers an online version which includes video clips, magazine articles, interactive exercises and activities for students.
  • French language online resources through OPL
  • KanopyKids offers unlimited access to high-quality movies, TV shows, documentaries, courses and more.
  • Hoopla offers instant streaming and downloadable children’s movies, television shows, audiobooks, and music.
  • Khan Academy is a free website that offers expert-created content and resources for every course and level.
  • Little Pim is an online language learning system for ages 0-6.
  • TumbleBook Library offers interactive eBooks for kids in English, French and Spanish

Teens

  • Academic OneFile gives you access to millions of peer-reviewed, full-text articles from the world’s leading journals and reference sources with extensive coverage of the physical sciences, technology, medicine, social sciences, the arts, theology, literature and other subjects.
  • Canadian Encyclopedia Online provides access to complete text and multimedia of the Canadian Encyclopedia courtesy of Historica. Also includes the Youth Encyclopedia of Canada and the Encyclopedia of Music in Canada.
  • Canadian Periodical Index Quarterly offers access to many full-text Canadian magazines and newspapers, including selected articles from the Globe & Mail
  • Encyclopedia Britannica offers an online version which includes video clips, magazine articles, interactive exercises and activities for students.
  • French language online resources through OPL
  • Gale eBooks provides access to downloadable reference eBooks and encyclopedias available 24/7 on a vast array of topics
  • Hoopla offers instant streaming and downloadable children’s movies, television shows, audiobooks, and music.
  • Kanopy offers unlimited access to high-quality movies, TV shows, documentaries, courses and more.
  • Lynda.com is an online learning platform featuring thousands of online courses taught by industry experts including: 3D printing, business, photography, coding and more.
  • Mango Languages teaches practical conversation and simulates the way people learn when immersed in a foreign culture.
  • Scitable is a free online teaching and learning portal from the publishers of the journal “Nature”.
  • TeenBookCloud is an online collection of over 600 titles for middle school and high school students. This collection contains Young Adult/Teen novels, classics, poetry, short stories, Young Adult/Teen audiobooks, graphic novels, plus educational videos from National Geographic.

eBooks and Audiobooks

  • cloudLibrary has a growing collection of eBooks and audiobooks for adults, teens, and kids. Listen or read on your computer, smartphone or tablet through the mobile or desktop app.
  • AudioBookCloud is an online collection of over 1000 streaming audiobooks. Aimed at students from kindergarten to high school, the collection includes full-length unabridged classics, fiction and non-fiction books.
  • CELA catalogue for those with print disabilities CELA has Canada’s largest collections of books and online resources for people who have difficulty reading print due to a visual, physical, or learning disability.
  • Novelist Plus is a comprehensive resource for discovering new fiction titles. Browse by age, genre, award-winners, and more.

Virtual Programs to Support Learning

OPL has a variety of educational virtual programs to keep children and teens engaged, spark their imagination and complement school learning.

Kids Programs

  • Family Storytimes An engaging program focused on supporting preschool early literacy.
  • Fan Club A program for school age children celebrating favourite genres, characters, authors, and series.
  • Kids Library Club Inspired by the Ontario Curriculum providing school-age children with social connection and learning opportunities.
  • Mini Makers Connecting preschoolers and Kindergarteners with early literacy skills and building their fine motor skills and creativity through story, art, and crafting.

Teen Programs

  • Lunch & Learns Learn about new technologies through lunchtime webinars.
  • Podcast Club An intergenerational program bringing together teens and adults to discuss engaging podcasts.
  • Tech for Teens Programs linking teens to new creative technologies.
  • Youth Library Leaders Youth can make a difference in their community by advocating for the library and bringing a youth perspective to library programs and services.

Also available – activities and use of various creative technology and equipment in our Creation Zone, by appointment only.

Other Online Resources

How-to Tutorials

We have a variety of short how-to videos about using our online resources

Stay Connected with OPL