Canada Day: ORL locations will be closed on Friday, July 1, for Canada Day. Regular hours resume on Saturday, July 2.
View our guidelines for visiting the library.
All ORL Branches are closed on statutory holidays.
Have a question? Call us at 250-762-2800 during open hours. For eBook, resource or reference help email help@orl.bc.ca or call 1-844-649-8127.
In-person Story Time programs will begin again the week of July 11. Drop-in then to join the fun! Or try Family Story Time @ Parkinson Recreation Centre, which runs until June 24!
Ages newborn to 18 months | Tuesdays | 10:15 AM to 10:45 AM or 11:30 AM to 12:00 PM
Baby Time is our joyful early literacy program that helps grow the roots of a lifelong love of language. Bond with your baby through the power of song and rhymes!
July 12 to August 16
Ages 18 months to 3 years | Mondays OR Wednesdays | 10:15 AM to 10:45 AM
Toddler Time helps young children develop early literacy skills through fun stories, rhymes and songs based on simple concepts.
July 11 to August 17
Family | Thursdays OR Saturdays | 10:30 AM to 11:00 AM
Join us for fun stories, rhymes, puppets and songs that will get the family dancing, singing and learning together.
July 14 to August 19
Family | Fridays | 10:00 AM to 10:30 AM
Join us in the Spartan Room at Parkinson Recreation Centre (1800 Parkinson Way, Kelowna) for fun stories, rhymes, puppets and songs that will get the family dancing, singing and learning together.
April 22 to June 24
Ages 0 to 5 | June13 to September 9
Join the Let's Read Together: Summer Reading Challenge! Starting June 13, pick up your Reading Log at the library to participate or download the Reading Log here. When you finish the Reading Log, you get a free book and the chance to win a grand prize. See the calendar for a complete list of summer programs!
Preschool | July 6, July 8, July 9 | 11:00 AM to 11:30 AM
Holy moley! Join us for a silly puppet show based on the book Mrs. Mole, I'm Home! by Jarvis. Pick up your free tickets at the Children's Information Desk starting June 20.
Families | Tuesdays | 6:30 PM to 7:10 PM
Pyjama Story Time will remain virtual. Featuring longer books, songs, puppets and rhymes. Don’t forget your stuffie! Designed for ages 3-6 but all ages welcome. This program will be presented on Microsoft TEAMS. Registration required.
April 5 to June 14
See our Event's Calendar for our full selection of programs.
Ages 6-12 | Select Fridays | 2:30 PM to 4:30 PM
Drop-in to build something epic using our impressive Lego collection! Your creation will be displayed at the library for all to admire. Guides, books, and optional themes and challenges will be available.
June 10
Ages 6-12 | Select Tuesdays | 3:30 PM to 4:30 PM
Join us for hands-on activities and experiments that explore exciting STEAM concepts: Science-Technology-Engineering-Arts-Math! Registration required.
June 14
School Age | June 21 | 3:30 PM to 4:15 PM
Drop-in to listen to Indigenous legends and stories presented by special guests at this oral Story Time program. Recommended for children ages 6-12 years and their parents/caregivers, but all children are welcome.
School Age | June13 to September 9
Starting June 13, join Summer Reading Club by picking up your Summer Reading Club package, which includes your Reading Log and Challenge Tracker, or register online at bcsrc.ca. You will earn a book and a medal when you complete your reading goal! You can also enter your name into a draw for a chance to win a grand prize by completing fun challenges. See the calendar for a complete list of summer programs!
Teens
Ages 13+ | Thursdays, monthly | 4:00 PM to 5:00 PM
Teen Advisory Group (TAG) is a place where you can share your ideas about the library’s teen programs, services and collections! Join a group of like-minded teens and geek out about books, play games, plan future programs, and help make the library a better place for all teens in the community. Registration required.
June 9
Ages 13+ | June 13 to September 9
We challenge you to read, get creative, go outside and explore! Starting June 13, pick up your Teen Summer Playlist Challenge at the library or download it at https://www.orl.bc.ca/stc and complete the tasks provided. You can then enter your name into one of our grand prize draws! See the calendar for a complete list of summer programs!
Some programs are offered virtually, in-person or a hybrid of both. Please pay attention to the description to see how it is being offered.
The library uses Teams for its online programming. Visit our Teams introduction document to learn how it works.
While all library programming is free to attend, we will occasionally instruct patrons to bring their own materials. Please read program descriptions carefully for all the information you'll need. Feel free to email us at kelowna@orl.bc.ca if you have any questions or concerns.
Jump to:
Special Events
Book Clubs & Literary Events
Culture
Technology Training
Genealogy
Games Nights
MakerSpace
Kelowna Reads Book Club
Book Club is back! We will meet the third Thursday of the month, 2:00pm in person, 7:00pm online.
April 21st: “A Town Called Solace” by Mary Lawson
May 19th: “From the Ashes” by Jesse Thistle
June 16th: “Project Hail Mary” by Andy Weir
Please email Jen at jenniferwhite@orl.bc.ca if you would like to participate, or if you have any questions.
Happy Reading!
March 19, April 9 | 10:30 am to 12:00 pm..
Do you like French literature? Do you like to talk about literature in French? Join our virtual Literary Café Club and share a common passion, while enjoying a coffee, a tea, or a hot chocolate at home!
The program is open for all levels of French. Registration Required
March 25, April 8, 3:30 PM - 4:30 PM
Registration required
Join our Virtual French Conversation group, to practice your French conversation skills and meet new people. Activities, games and special topics for all levels of French speakers.
Tuesdays starting at 6pm | Drop-In
Practice your conversational language skills! / ¡Practica tus habilidades de lenguaje conversacional!
Join us weekly to practice your English or Spanish in a relaxed, friendly environment. / Únase a nosotros semanalmente para practicar su inglés o español en un ambiente relajado y amigable.
Thursday, April 21, 3:30 PM - 4:30 PM
Registration Required
It’s time to get crafty! If you're a craft lover, join us for creative projects. Whether you love to paint, sew, or hot glue, whether you love working with fabric, tissue paper, wood, ceramics, or scrapbook paper, there’s something for everyone, at every skill level.
In-Branch Tech Help Appointments
You can now book one-on-one tech help appointments with a librarian! Whether a Kobo eReader, phone, tablet or computer, we can teach you the skills you need to navigate the digital world and connect to the library's resources. Contact us to set up your appointment.
Please note that staff are limited in what they can offer. We cannot excessively handle your device or set it up for you! Further restrictions will be communicated when you sign up.
For brief inquiries or general eBook help or troubleshooting, feel free to call our help line at 1-844-649-8127 or email us at help@orl.bc.ca and one of our tech experts will assist you.
Visit our Facilities and Services tab to see what in-branch resources we have.
Family History Forum - Virtual
Every fourth Tuesday of the month from 6:30 PM to 8:00 PM
Join us for monthly topics hosted virtually by the Kelowna & District Genealogical Society! They will cover a variety of fascinating topics related to family history. Please visit our events calendar to register and receive the Zoom login information necessary to participate.
Join our ORL Events Discord Server! Feel free to organize something yourself or suggest something to the admins.
Drop-in Chess
Every 2nd and 4th Thursday starting at 6pm | Drop-In
Begins June 9th
The classic game of strategy! Join us every 2nd and 4th Thursday to master your moves or challenge your peers in this casual drop-in event. Chess boards and pieces provided but feel free to bring your own. All skill levels welcome!
Join us in the Makerspace to create, invent, tinker, explore and discover using a variety of tools and materials - such as our 3D printer, Cricut cutter, digitization station, recording studio and more!
Visit the Facilities and Services tab for more information.
Please visit our Re-Opening Safety Measures page to see which library services may be altered due to our COVID-19 safety protocols.
Visit our system-wide Makerspace Page to view the services we offer.
Those under 14 must be accompanied by a parent/guardian maker. Contact or visit the Branch to learn more.
Visit our reservation platform, Spaces, to view and reserve times for specific Makerspace devices.
The Makerspace is open by appointment only during these hours:
Please note that some of our equipment have reduced hours compared to others.
We look forward to welcoming you back!
Please note that due to current Public Health Orders, there are additional requirements that renters must agree to follow in order to be eligible to book library spaces.
Renter agreements (required due to Public Health Orders)
I, as the meeting organizer / host, agree to the following:
We have a variety of bookable and rental spaces in the Kelowna Library. All meeting spaces have free Wi-Fi. Some have presentation equipment available.
Please download and read Kelowna Library Rental Spaces Information Document for complete information, or call the library at 250-762-2800 with any questions.
Click here to view a basic map showing the locations of all our meeting rooms.
You can reserve a meeting room online at https://orl.evanced.info/spaces, at least two days in advance and up to two months in advance. Library staff will approve your booking based on availability.
Small Meeting Rooms
Available during branch open hours only. Rooms are as is - no office supplies, A/V equipment or additional furnishings provided.
We currently have two small meeting rooms available to book. These rooms are free, hold up to 12 people, and can be booked up to 2 months in advance.
Classrooms
Available during branch open hours only. Setup and take-down (exception of A/V equipment) is the responsibility of the renter. Can be booked up to 2 months in advance.
There is one classroom available for rent on the second floor. It can be rented on its own, or with the adjacent room to form one large meeting space (Great Room). The classrooms have glass walls which can be opened or closed to change the configuration of the space.
If 20+ attendees, all refuse must be taken by the renter.
The library features a large event space on the second floor comprising the two classrooms. The furniture is flexible in this space and it can be rearranged to accommodate a variety of functions. Please inquire for more details about this space.
Setup and take-down (exception of A/V equipment) is the responsibility of the renter.
Please contact the branch at 250-762-2800 for further information or to book a room.
The library features 13 public computer terminals which grant 1 hour of internet time. Use your library card to log in or speak with staff to receive a temporary computer pass. Extensions may be granted provided there are enough free terminals available. Visit our general Computers and Internet Access page for more details.
The library also has complimentary Wi-Fi. Simply connect to the "ORL" wireless network and agree to our terms and conditions to begin.
From soft seating to chairs at tables, the library has many places to sit during your visit.
The ORL partners with the Kelowna & District Genealogical Society to offer assistance with family history research and hosts a special in-branch library of historical and genealogical material. Access their catalogue of resources here or visit in person.
The Kelowna branch of the ORL features a collection of archival material on microfilm, including newspapers and government records, as well as a microfilm reader donated by the Friends of the Library. Inter-library requests are also available. Please submit a request with staff and we will try to locate records for you.
The library holds the following records in microfilm format:
Globe & Mail, January 1992 – 2020
Kelowna Courier, July 1904 – December 2017
BC Directories, 1860 – 2001
BC Birth Registrations (including “delayed” and “Indian”), 1858 – 1903
BC Marriage Registrations, 1872 – 1932
BC Death Registrations, 1872 – 1988
Canada Census Records, 1666 – 1916
Archives of Ontario Indexes to Births, Marriages & Deaths:
MS 931, reels 1-28 (births, 1869 - 1906)
MS 934, reels 1-27 (marriages, 1873 - 1921)
MS 937, reels 1-28 (deaths, 1869 - 1931)
We can provide an introduction to the library or tailor the visit around a project/assignment.
Contact us today to see how we can help your class.
Daycares/Preschools must register if they wish to attend a storytime.
To book a free tour for kids contact Kelowna Youth Services Department 250-762-2800 or klysreference@orl.bc.ca.
Groups of adults can enjoy a tour at the library too!
ESL classes, retirement homes, book clubs and more can contact Kelowna Reference for further information.
To book a free tour for adults contact the Kelowna Reference Department 250-762-2800 or klreference@orl.bc.ca.
The library offers exam invigilation. Students must book 2 weeks in advance and follow all health and safety regulations as described by our policies and BC health officials. The library will provide a computer with internet access if needed.
We offer 3 hour timeslots in the following days and times:
Please speak with Kelowna staff to book a time. Restrictions apply.
The Kelowna Friends of the Library, a non-profit organization formed in 1988, is registered under the Society Act of British Columbia and the Canada Income Tax Act.
Persons interested in libraries are encouraged to volunteer with Friends as we support the downtown Kelowna, Mission & Rutland branches through our fundraising book sales and joint activities.
Funds raised significantly support Summer Reading Club and year-round programming for babies to toddlers to teens plus guest speakers & events for adults; and enhanced facilities at the three branches.
Towards their various year-round book sales, Kelowna Friends accept donations of gently used books to their *NEW* sorting house at #114-2476 Westlake Road, West Kelowna, V1Z 2V2. This new Friends location is next to the Rose Valley Veterinary Hospital. Volunteers are on duty to review and accept items at this new location on Fridays, from 9:00 to 11:30 AM.
PLEASE NOTE: There is presently a dropbox available for your good used books at the ORL Administrative Centre at 1430 K.L.O. Road. And we're pleased to let you know a 2nd dropbox is now operational outside the Parkinson Rec Centre!
Kelowna Friends' major fundraiser, the Great Okanagan Book Sale, takes place in November each year. The Kelowna Friends sponsor an endowment fund with the Central Okanagan Foundation.
For volunteer and donation information, please visit www.kelownafol.ca, or email Friends at fol4k@hotmail.com.
Follow Kelowna Friends on Facebook to keep updated on their latest activities and read posts on ORL, libraries, reading & literacy.
Directors of Kelowna Friends of the Library hold meetings rotated between the three branch libraries, at 5:30 PM on the second Monday of each month. No board meetings are held in July & August.
The society's AGM is held on a Saturday in late November. For further information, please email fol4k@hotmail.com.
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