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We recommend

All of OPL’s staff recommendations in one page. You can browse the different lists based on topics, format or genres, or you can read some of the more detailed blog posts about specific items. If you can’t find what you are looking for, you can always #AskALibrarian online or in a branch!

 

Recent Staff Lists

Coups de cœur 2021

Date Created:
18/11/2020
By
OPL_BPO_Zoe

Canada Reads 2021 Contenders

Date Created:
14/01/2021
By
Collection_Development

Fête/ Holiday: Noël / Christmas

Date Created:
14/01/2021
By
Program1Karine

Short & Not So Sweet

Date Created:
13/01/2021
By
abbeyclark

LOANS STARS January & February 2021 Top Picks

Date Created:
12/01/2021
By
charmaine_library

Sunnyside Bookworms 2019-20

Date Created:
09/01/2021
By
Caitlin_Sunnyside

Fun Books to Boost Your Mood

Date Created:
08/01/2021
By
abbeyclark

2021 books

Date Created:
08/01/2021
By
Munster_Display

Novel Pandemic Novels

Date Created:
08/01/2021
By
abbeyclark

The One and Only Ivan

Date Created:
06/01/2021
By
bandblair

Mental Health for Teens

Date Created:
06/01/2021
By
bandblair

North Gloucester - January Staff Picks

Date Created:
05/01/2021
By
NG_Celia

Series for the Kid at Heart ♥

Date Created:
05/01/2021
By
celiarheault

Broaden Your Horizons!

Date Created:
05/01/2021
By
celiarheault

CBC All in a Day Book Panel...

Date Created:
05/01/2021
By
Collection_Development

Good Clean Fun

Date Created:
05/01/2021
By
abbeyclark

World War II

Date Created:
04/01/2021
By
celiarheault

They Liked It!

Date Created:
04/01/2021
By
celiarheault

Pierre Lapin

Date Created:
02/01/2021
By
Biblio_Kris

Great New Horror Books

Date Created:
02/01/2021
By
abbeyclark

ASW Reading Circle 2021/22

Date Created:
30/12/2020
By
booksgalore

Un album pour les jeunes chaque jour!

Date Created:
30/12/2020
By
CMCAT

A picture book every day!

Date Created:
30/12/2020
By
CMCAT

Les coups de coeur de Danielle McDonald

Date Created:
29/12/2020
By
CD_Librarian

Spotlight on...

Explore with new books in non fiction and YA fiction

https://secure.syndetics.com/index.aspx?isbn=9780358206675/MC.GIF&client=sepup&t...

The Sediments of Time : My Lifelong Search for the Past
https://secure.syndetics.com/index.aspx?isbn=9780063019867/MC.GIF&client=sepup&t...

Under the Open Skies : Finding Peace and Health in Nature
https://secure.syndetics.com/index.aspx?isbn=9780889955776/MC.GIF&client=sepup&t...

Larkin on the Shore : A Novel
https://secure.syndetics.com/index.aspx?isbn=9781529342680/MC.GIF&client=sepup&t...

Stop Reading the News : A Manifesto for A Happier, Calmer and Wiser Life
https://secure.syndetics.com/index.aspx?isbn=9781939100412/MC.GIF&client=sepup&t...

The Bookweaver's Daughter
https://secure.syndetics.com/index.aspx?isbn=9780062936790/MC.GIF&client=sepup&t...

Sitting Pretty : The View From My Ordinary Resilient Disabled Body
https://secure.syndetics.com/index.aspx?isbn=9780228003694/MC.GIF&client=sepup&t...

Who Was Doris Hedges? : The Search for Canada's First Literary Agent
https://secure.syndetics.com/index.aspx?isbn=9780190657215/MC.GIF&client=sepup&t...

You Talkin' to Me? : The Unruly History of New York English

Biographies Beyond Obama

Eager to read "A Promised Land"? Then try these just-arrived memoirs and biographies--fascinating looks at lives both public and personal.

https://secure.syndetics.com/index.aspx?isbn=9780307961167/MC.GIF&client=sepup&t...

Red Comet : The Short Life and Blazing Art of Sylvia Plath
https://secure.syndetics.com/index.aspx?isbn=9781631491665/MC.GIF&client=sepup&t...

The Dead Are Arising : The Life of Malcolm X
https://secure.syndetics.com/index.aspx?isbn=9781773860404/MC.GIF&client=sepup&t...

Small Courage : A Queer Memoir of Finding Love and Conceiving Family
https://secure.syndetics.com/index.aspx?isbn=9781324006756/MC.GIF&client=sepup&t...

Kant's Little Prussian Head and Other Reasons Why I Write : An Autobiography in Essays
https://secure.syndetics.com/index.aspx?isbn=9781681374826/MC.GIF&client=sepup&t...

Self-portrait
https://secure.syndetics.com/index.aspx?isbn=9780807035320/MC.GIF&client=sepup&t...

Odetta : A Life in Music and Protest
https://secure.syndetics.com/index.aspx?isbn=9781602233218/MC.GIF&client=sepup&t...

The Secret Life of A Black Aspie : A Memoir
https://secure.syndetics.com/index.aspx?isbn=9781550818536/MC.GIF&client=sepup&t...

Approaching Fire
https://secure.syndetics.com/index.aspx?isbn=9780062992031/MC.GIF&client=sepup&t...

Reclaiming Her Time : The Power of Maxine Waters

New picks for kids

https://secure.syndetics.com/index.aspx?isbn=9780358359531/MC.GIF&client=sepup&t...

Lights on Wonder Rock
https://secure.syndetics.com/index.aspx?isbn=9780525555551/MC.GIF&client=sepup&t...

Lubaya's Quiet Roar
https://secure.syndetics.com/index.aspx?isbn=9781525304903/MC.GIF&client=sepup&t...

Your House, My House
https://secure.syndetics.com/index.aspx?isbn=9781641702508/MC.GIF&client=sepup&t...

Florence and Her Fantastic Family Tree
https://secure.syndetics.com/index.aspx?isbn=9780593301586/LC.GIF&client=ottap&t...

Stand up! Speak up! : a story inspired by the Climate Change Revolution
https://secure.syndetics.com/index.aspx?isbn=9781525302350/MC.GIF&client=sepup&t...

Snow Song
https://secure.syndetics.com/index.aspx?isbn=9781616899509/MC.GIF&client=sepup&t...

Nasla's Dream

Resources for relaxation and well-being

Good books and good music - a perfect combo after a stressful week!

https://secure.syndetics.com/index.aspx?isbn=9781912559053/MC.GIF&client=sepup&t...

Happy Half-hours
https://secure.syndetics.com/index.aspx?isbn=/MC.GIF&client=sepup&type=xw12&oclc...

Hope@home
https://secure.syndetics.com/index.aspx?isbn=9780735240421/MC.GIF&client=sepup&t...

Nothing Much Happens : Cozy and Calming Stories to Soothe your Mind and Help You Sleep
https://secure.syndetics.com/index.aspx?isbn=/MC.GIF&client=sepup&type=xw12&oclc...

Dream songs : the essential Joe Hisaishi
https://secure.syndetics.com/index.aspx?isbn=9781645670520/MC.GIF&client=sepup&t...

Mindful Embroidery : Stitch your Way to Relaxation With Charming European Street Scenes
https://secure.syndetics.com/index.aspx?isbn=/MC.GIF&client=sepup&type=xw12&oclc...

Peaceful Piano
https://secure.syndetics.com/index.aspx?isbn=9781784883522/MC.GIF&client=sepup&t...

Plant Therapy
https://secure.syndetics.com/index.aspx?isbn=9781571313652/MC.GIF&client=sepup&t...

World of Wonders : In Praise of Fireflies, Whale Sharks, and Other Astonishments

What Do We Do Now?

New norms and reframing life under pandemic conditions - how do we find our strength? Reading books, of course!

https://secure.syndetics.com/index.aspx?isbn=1771682280/LC.GIF&client=ottap&type...

Alone together : love, grief, and comfort in the time of COVID-19
https://secure.syndetics.com/index.aspx?isbn=9781982132071/LC.GIF&client=ottap&t...

Keep moving : notes on loss, creativity, and change
https://secure.syndetics.com/index.aspx?isbn=9781771088831/LC.GIF&client=ottap&t...

Brighten the corner where you are : a novel inspired by the life of Maud Lewis
https://secure.syndetics.com/index.aspx?isbn=9780593086674/LC.GIF&client=ottap&t...

Meditations with cows : what I've learned from Daisy, the dairy cow who changed my life
https://secure.syndetics.com/index.aspx?isbn=9781524852429/LC.GIF&client=ottap&t...

The multi-hyphen life : work less, create more, and design a life that works for you
https://secure.syndetics.com/index.aspx?isbn=0762499680/LC.GIF&client=ottap&type...

Word wise : say what you mean, deepen your connections, and get to the point

News about books and reading from staff

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CBC's All in a Day Book Panel

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The first All in a Day Book Panel of the year features OPL's Ann Archer and Sean Wilson of the...
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Happy 250th birthday Beethoven!

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Every year December brings celebration, and this year marks the additional celebration of Beethoven’s 250th birthday. While the actual day...
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CBC's All in a Day Book Panel

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On Monday, December 7 th , CBC's All in a Day book panel, featuring OPL's Ann Archer and Sean Wilson...
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How to Pronounce Knife wins the Giller!

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Souvankham Thammavongsa won the 2020 Scotiabank Giller for her book of short stories How to Pronounce Knife. In a virtual...
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CBC's All in a Day Book Panel

By Collection_Development

On Monday, November 2 nd , CBC's All in a Day Book Panel, featuring OPL's Ann Archer and Sean Wilson...
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Milkman by Anna Burns Wins Dublin Literary Award 2020

By CD_Librarian

Anna Burns has scored her second big literary prize for Milkman , after also winning the 2018 Man Booker Prize...
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 / Books and reading, Parenting, Pandemic Parenting

Storytimes go home for families!

By ProgramDevelopment

Dear parents and guardians, We miss you dearly in the branches. While we’ve seen many of you online at our...
Staff Blogs

A Mind Spread Out on the Ground by Alicia Elliott won the 2020 Evergreen Award

By CD_Librarian

Alicia Elliott's A Mind Spread Out on the Ground wins the 2020 Evergreen, an award that is voted on by...
Staff Blogs
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CBC's All in a Day Book Panel

By Collection_Development

On Monday, October 5th CBC's All in a Day Book Panel, featuring OPL's Ann Archer and Sean Wilson of the...
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 / Books and reading

October is…Adopt a Shelter Dog Month!

By charmaine_library

“Such short little lives our pets have to spend with us, and they spend most of it waiting for us...
Staff Blogs

Ottawa Book Award 2020 Finalists - Congratulations!

By CD_Librarian

There are many familiar faces and titles on the Ottawa Book Awards' list of finalists: Karen McBride for Crow Winter...
Staff Blogs

Washington Black Shortlisted for the Dublin Literary Award!

By CD_Librarian

Esi Edugyan's Washington Black has the honour of being shortlisted for the International Dublin Literary Award in 2020. The Ottawa...
Staff Blogs
 / Books and reading, Read a book

Summer Thrillers

By charmaine_library

Nothing beats a sunny day outside, enjoying the soft breeze and a really good book! That summer feeling doesn’t have...
Staff Blogs

International Booker Winner - The Discomfort of Evening

By CD_Librarian

A Dutch novel, The Discomfort of Evening has won the prestigious International Booker Prize in 2020. A debut that became...
Staff Blogs
 / Books and reading, Read a book

Love is in the air…. during romance awareness month

By charmaine_library

“If you live to be a hundred, I want to live to be a hundred minus one day, so I...
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 / Read a book, Take a virtual trip, Books and reading

Beach Reads

By charmaine_library

Summer 2020 has been an unforgettable summer, although, not in the way most of us would like. Quarantining, and social...
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 / Books and reading, Read a book

Wild West Fall Picks: What We’re Reading, Listening to & Watching

By charmaine_library

This past summer has been quite unlike the many we have seen before. With the pandemic, changes to schooling, working,...
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 / Read a book, Study at home, Learn something new
Picture of 2 siblings reading books outside.

French immersion: Resources for a French-filled summer!

By ProgramDevelopment

Is your child enrolled in a French immersion class? Do you want them to keep practicing over the summer without...
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Josephine Cox dies at 82 - with more than 60 books to her name

By CD_Librarian

Josephine Cox wrote a small library of family sagas, and sold more than 20 million copies. Her popular style captured...
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 / Read a book, Watch a movie, Read a magazine
shelf of new books

Christmas in July – New items are here!

By OPL_BPO_Comms

It is wonderful to see all the shiny new library items coming in – and doubly exciting n ow that...
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CBC's All in a Day Book Panel

By allison_library

On Monday, July 6th, CBC's All in a Day Book Panel, featuring OPL's Ann Archer and Sean Wilson of the...
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 / Read a book, Books and reading

Evaristo and Carty-Williams: First Black Authors to Win Top British Book Awards

By CD_Librarian

Bernardine Evaristo and Candice Carty-Williams have won top prizes at the British Book awards for Author of the Year, and...
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Happy Canada Day!

By CD_Librarian

Celebrate that we are safe in Canada doing our best in this unusual time of COVID-19. Keep your distance, wash...
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 / Read a book, Books and reading

Introducing the Summer Reading Club Prize Draw

By cindy_program

In past summers, library branches across Ottawa had ballot boxes in their children’s departments for kids to enter a draw...

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