Looking for fun and educational STEAM activities you can do at home?
You can find activities incorporating Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Math (STEAM) created by our library staff.
STEAM Newsletter Archive
Read our STEAM Newsletters for a ton of library recommended STEAM activities, podcasts, programs and more for all ages!
Activity of the Month Archive
Get printable instructions for one very special ORL original Activity of the Month. Each month we’ll take you on a STEAM adventure. There’s something here for everyone!
Events
Okanagan Regional Library Board Elects 2026 Leadership
Kelowna, BC – 18 February 2026 — The Board of Trustees of the Okanagan Regional Library (the ORL) convened for its Annual General Meeting and Regular Board Meeting on 18 February 2026, electing its 2026 Board leadership and approving key governance initiatives that support responsible innovation and organizational accountability. At the Annual General Meeting, trustees elected the following members to Board leadership positions for 2026: Board Chair: Tasha Da Silva,…
Make Waves With Summer Reading Club 2026
Something big is making waves at the ORL. Summer Reading Club 2026 is on its way, and this year’s theme is Under the Sea. Launching system-wide on Monday, June 15, 2026, this beloved annual program invites children and families to dive into a summer of stories, imagination, and discovery. A Journey Through the Ocean This year’s adventure is inspired by the many layers of the ocean, with weekly sub-themes drawn…
You’re Invited! The Librarians Film Screening and Panel Discussion
Freedom to Read Week is a time to celebrate the right of Canadians to read what they choose, and to recognize the vital role libraries play in protecting access to diverse ideas and perspectives. To close out Freedom to Read Week 2026, the ORL is partnering with Okanagan College and UBC Okanagan to co-organize a special screening of the award-winning documentary The Librarians. The event takes place Saturday, February 28,…
Our Valentine Is A Love Of Learning
Valentine’s Day usually focuses on roses and romance. But there are many kinds of love worth celebrating. This year, why not fall in love with learning? The Okanagan Regional Library is full of opportunities to discover something new. Whether you’re curious about technology, eager to try a creative hobby, or ready to build a new skill, there’s something waiting for you on our shelves, online, or in one of our…
Love The Princess In Black? Try These Next!
If The Princess in Black is on constant repeat at your house, you’re not alone. Brave heroes, secret identities, monsters, and a healthy dose of silliness make it a favourite for emerging readers. Our Head of Youth Services has gathered a list of incredible reads for kids who want more action, more humor, and more plucky protagonists saving the day. If your reader is ready to turn the page to…
The Quiet Work Behind Great Libraries
When people think about libraries, they often picture shelves of books, quiet tables, and welcoming public spaces. Less visible is the steady, behind-the-scenes work that helps make those spaces possible. Across the Okanagan, library services are supported not only by staff, but by dedicated volunteers who take on the essential tasks that keep things running smoothly. Sorting donations. Moving boxes. Coordinating logistics. Managing storage. Showing up week after week, often…
A Big Thank You to Summerland’s Kid Café Crew
Family Literacy Day is all about showing how learning can happen through everyday experiences, and the Summerland Branch’s Kid Café did just that. During the in-person activity, children stepped into different roles as servers, cashiers, and diners. They read menus, took orders, used play money, and served real snacks, building reading, writing, and math skills along the way. One family shared especially kind feedback after attending the program, thanking branch…
Advocating for Libraries: The ORL CEO’s New Provincial Leadership Role
The ORL’s CEO, Danielle Hubbard, has been elected Vice Chair of the Association of BC Public Library Directors (ABCPLD). The ABCPLD is a professional association that represents public library systems across British Columbia and serves as a key collective voice for the sector. The association plays an important advocacy role for public libraries. Its work includes raising shared concerns, identifying policy priorities, and advocating for sustainable funding and support. By…
Soup’s On: Cozy Stories for Soup-er Kids!
Soup’s on! From overflowing cooking pots to flying spoons, soup (for some reason?) has a habit of turning up in the most memorable children’s stories. Put together by the ORL’s soup-er duper Youth Services Librarians, the ORL Reads list Soup-er Books for Soup-er Kids rounds up titles that celebrate slurps, spills, and the kind of kitchen chaos young readers love. These stories are made for reading aloud, giggling through, and…
AI Introduction: Clearer Questions Equal Better Answers
Artificial intelligence tools are becoming part of everyday life. People are using them to plan trips, write emails, explore new topics, and organize ideas. But if you’ve ever felt disappointed or confused by the answers you received, the issue may not be the tool itself. It may be the question you asked. This post launches the ORL’s AI Basics series with a simple starting -point: learning how to provide clearer…
Okanagan Regional Library Board Elects 2026 Leadership
Kelowna, BC – 18 February 2026 — The Board of Trustees of the Okanagan Regional Library (the ORL) convened for its Annual General Meeting and Regular Board Meeting on 18…
Make Waves With Summer Reading Club 2026
Something big is making waves at the ORL. Summer Reading Club 2026 is on its way, and this year’s theme is Under the Sea. Launching system-wide on Monday, June 15,…
You’re Invited! The Librarians Film Screening and Panel Discussion
Freedom to Read Week is a time to celebrate the right of Canadians to read what they choose, and to recognize the vital role libraries play in protecting access to…
Our Valentine Is A Love Of Learning
Valentine’s Day usually focuses on roses and romance. But there are many kinds of love worth celebrating. This year, why not fall in love with learning? The Okanagan Regional Library…
Love The Princess In Black? Try These Next!
If The Princess in Black is on constant repeat at your house, you’re not alone. Brave heroes, secret identities, monsters, and a healthy dose of silliness make it a favourite…
Visit Our Makerspaces
Want more hands-on STEAM experience?
At ORL Makerspaces, you will find equipment and tools for projects, digital media creation, and exploring and learning new technology.
Use Creation Stations for digital design or animation; cut hundreds of different materials for custom DIY projects with our Cricut Makers; and you can even print three-dimensional objects using our 3D printers.
To see all the equipment offered, how to book a maker station, and to find your nearest library location with a Makerspace, check out ORL Makerspaces.
Details
Under 14? Your parent or guardian who is an ORL Maker must come with you to use the equipment.
Are you between 14 and 18? You must have your legal guardian sign your Makerspace Waiver & Guidelines [PDF] agreement.