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Some in-branch programs require registration with your library card. Please log in with your library account or follow this link to apply for a card online. You can also apply for a card in person at any of our 33 locations.

  • Library and Archives Canada Alfred Pellan Room

    Tuesday Nov 28, 2023 at 7:00pm
     minutes

    Join us for a book launch presented in collaboration with the Ottawa International Writers Festival and Library and Archives Canada.

    From one of Canada’s most beloved performing artists comes an audacious work of non-fiction that explores the stories that shape us and the reach that the past can have across generations.

    Growing up north of Toronto, R.H. Thomson’s imagination was captured by romantic notions of war. He spent his days playing with toy soldiers on the carpet of his grandmother’s house, recreating the Battle of Britain with model planes in his bedroom or sitting at the local theatre watching World War II B movies—ones that offered a very clear perspective on who were the heroes and who the villains, which side were the victors and which the vanquished.

    In By the Ghost Light, R.H. Thomson offers an extraordinary look at his family’s history while providing a powerful examination of how we understand war and its aftermath. Using his family letters as a starting point, Thomson roams through a century of folly, touching on areas of military history, art, literature and science, to express the tragic human cost of war behind the order and calm of ceremonial parades, memorials and monuments. In an urgent call for new ways to acknowledge the dead, R.H. has created “The World Remembers,” an ambitious international project to individually name each of the millions killed in the First World War.

    Epic in its scope and incredibly intimate in its exploration of lives touched by the tragedy of war, By the Ghost Light is a truly original book that will challenge the way we approach our history.

    Venez assister au lancement de livre présenté en collaboration avec le Festival international des écrivains d’Ottawa et Bibliothèque et Archives Canada.

    Un des artistes du spectacle les plus appréciés au Canada nous livre un audacieux ouvrage dans lequel il se penche sur les récits qui façonnent notre identité et sur l’influence du passé au fil des générations.

    Pendant son enfance dans le nord de Toronto, R. H. Thomson est habité par une vision romantique de la guerre. Il joue par terre avec des figurines de soldats dans la maison de sa grand-mère, ou reconstitue la bataille d’Angleterre avec des maquettes d’avion dans sa chambre. Parfois, il se rend au cinéma du quartier et regarde des films de série B sur la Deuxième Guerre mondiale, dans lesquels il est très facile de distinguer le bon du méchant et le vainqueur du vaincu.

    Dans By the Ghost Light, R. H. Thomson jette un regard exceptionnel sur l’histoire de sa famille et analyse de manière poignante notre compréhension de la guerre et de ses conséquences. Prenant les lettres familiales comme point de départ, Thomson étudie un siècle de combats insensés, abordant des sujets comme l’histoire militaire, l’art, la littérature et la science. Il décrit ainsi le coût tragique de la guerre, au-delà du calme et de la discipline observés pendant les prises d’armes ou devant les monuments. Dans un appel urgent pour rappeler la mémoire des défunts, R. H. Thomson a créé « Le monde se souvient », un ambitieux projet international visant à nommer chacune des millions de personnes tuées pendant la Première Guerre mondiale.

    Par son originalité, son étendue impressionnante et son exploration très intime des vies touchées par la tragédie de la guerre, By the Ghost Light nous pousse à nous interroger sur notre vision de l’histoire.

  • Colorful picture of people conversing, with different shape bubbles above their heads

    Wednesdays, Nov 29, 2023 - Dec 20, 2023
    6:30pm
    60 minutes

    4 sessions remaining

    Every Wednesdays from 6:30-7:30 pm

    September 13th- December 20th

    Practice your English conversation skills in a relaxed and friendly environment. All levels are welcome in this free program.

  • Blue background, 4 diverse kids, a kite and ballons

    Saturday Dec 02, 2023 at 10:00am
    420 minutes

    Come join us for a day of fun at the library. Between stories, cake, magic and furry friends, there will be something for everyone. All ages are welcome for these free events. Bring your family and friends, we hope to see you there! 

    SCHEDULE:

    10:20 am - Ribbon Cutting

    10:30-11:00 am - Bilingual Family Storytime

    11:00-11:30 am - Stay and play in the program room

    1:00-1:30 pm - Body painting, button making

    1:30-2:30 pm - Magic show with John Pert

    2:30-3:00 pm - Cake and hot chocolate, more body painting, button making

    3:00-4:00 pm - The Zoo Crew (with live animals you can touch!)

    4:00-4:30 pm - Cake, hot chocolate, coloring, button making

    4:30 pm-  End of the event

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    Viens te joindre à nous pour une journée remplie d'activités à la bibliothèque. Entre des histoires, du gâteau, de la magie et des animaux adorables, il y en aura pour tous les goûts! Tout le monde est bienvenue pour ces programmes gratuits. Amène ta famille et tes amis, on a hâte de vous voir!

    HORAIRE

    10h20- Inauguration de l'espace avec la coupe du ruban

    10h30-11h00 - Heure du conte en famille bilingue

    11h00-11h30 - Stations de jeux dans la salle des programmes

    13h00-13h30 - Maquillage, création de macarons

    13h30-14h30 - Spectacle de magie avec John Pert

    14h30-15h00 - Gâteau et chocolat chaud, plus de maquillage et de macarons 

    15h00-16h00 - The Zoo Crew (avec de vrais animaux que tu pourras toucher!)

    16h00-16h30 Gâteau, chocolat chaud, coloriage et macarons 

    16h30 -  Fin de l'événement

  • Pile of books with children reading, yellow background

    Saturday Dec 02, 2023 at 10:30am
    30 minutes

    Stories, rhymes and songs for children of all ages and a parent or caregiver, all revolving around a party theme to celebrate the opening of our new children section at the Rideau library. 

    Saturday, December 2

    10:30-11:30 am

    Drop-In

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    Des histoires, des rimes et des chansons pour les enfantgs de tout âge accompagné de leur parent ou gardien. L'heure du conte sera festive puisqu'elle célèbrera l'ouverture de notre nouvelle section jeunesse à la succursale Rideau!

    Samedi 2 décembre

    10h30 à 11h30

    Sans réservation

  • Black background, deck of cards, red curtains, magic wand and stars

    Saturday Dec 02, 2023 at 1:30pm
    60 minutes

    Join us for a magical and fun-filled afternoon with magician John Pert!

    Saturday, December, 2

    1:30-2:30 pm

    Drop-In, Everyone Welcome

    Free

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    Rejoignez-nous pour un après-midi magique et amusant avec le magicien John Pert!

    samedi 2 décembre

    13h30-14h30

    Sans réservation,  Tout le monde est bienvenue

    Gratuit

  • Orange and yellow background with animal cartoons

    Saturday Dec 02, 2023 at 3:00pm
    60 minutes

    Celebrate the new children section at the Rideau branch with The Zoo Crew! This program will feature LIVE animals, including the chance to touch some.

    Youth of all ages are welcome to this free bilingual program!

    Part of a whole day event! The zoo crew will offer a program between 3:00-4:00 pm

    377 Rideau Street, Ottawa

    Rideau branch, Ottawa, Public LIbrary, Main Floor

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    Viens célébrer notre nouvelle section jeunesse à la succursale Rideau avec Le Zoo Crew! Ce programme spécial met en vedette de vrais animaux que tu auras l’occasion de toucher!

    Les jeunes de tout âge sont les bienvenues à ce programme bilingue gratuit.

    Cet événement fait partie d’une journée d’activités.

    Le Zoo Crew offrira son programme de 15h00 à 16h00.

    377 rue Rideau, Ottawa

    Succursale Rideau, Bibliothèque publique d'Ottawa, Étage principal 

  • Tuesday Dec 19, 2023 at 1:30pm
    60 minutes

    Pack your bags and prepare for the first chapter in a tour around the world! Joins us every third Tuesday until June 2024, where we will discuss a title set in a different country and/or written by a foreign author.

    When you pick up a copy of September's title, you will receive a Traveler's Guide to keep with you for the year, in which you may keep notes as you read, draw something from the book that has inspired you, or bring up points you'd like to discuss during the meet-ups.

    At every meeting you attend, you will get your "passport" stamped. We hope to see you well-traveled by summer 2024!

  • slim white-covered book on a round wooden table

    Thursday Dec 21, 2023 at 11:00am
    60 minutes

    Veuillez nous joindre le 3e jeudi de chaque mois pour des rencontres conviviales afin de discuter des livres de langue française.

  • Open book on a table

    Thursday Dec 21, 2023 at 7:00pm
    60 minutes

    Come join us the 4th Thursday of every month for lively discussion on a variety of English-language books.

  • magnifying glass on top of orange-tinted map of the earth

    Tuesdays, Jan 16, 2024 - Mar 19, 2024
    1:30pm
    60 minutes

    3 sessions remaining

    Registration opens on Friday, December 1, 2023 - 9:00am

    Continuing from the fall session, all aboard for the next leg of our tour around the world, with Japan, Mexico, and Sri Lanka! Join us the third Tuesday of each month until June 2024, where we will discuss a title set in a different country and/or written by a foreign author.

    When you register, we will reserve a copy of the book for you - no need to place a hold, unless you would like to enjoy the book in a different format. When you pick up your copy, you will receive a Reader's Passport to keep with you for the year, in which you may keep notes as you read, draw something from the book that has inspired you, or bring up points you'd like to discuss during the meeting.

    At every meeting you attend, bring your "passport" to have it stamped. We hope to see you well-traveled by summer 2024!