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
Three Most Underrated Online Resources
Think you know everything your ORL library card can do? You might be surprised. The ORL’s Online Resources give you free access to everything from newspapers and research tools to online courses, streaming video, and investment information. There’s a lot in there, which means a few great resources don’t always get the attention they deserve. So, which ones are flying under the radar? Here are three of our most underrated…
Beyond Books: Celebrate Literacy Month at the ORL
September is Literacy Month in British Columbia, and while books are certainly part of the celebration at the ORL, literacy reaches well beyond the page. It’s understanding a news story, navigating a new app, comparing prices, learning another language, interpreting information, managing money, and figuring out how things work. Reading and writing are at its heart, but literacy gives us the skills to learn, communicate, solve problems, and make sense…
Top 3 Underrated Makerspace Tools
Some Makerspace tools naturally attract attention. A laser cutter? Very cool. A 3D printer turning a digital file into an actual object? Also very cool. But tucked among the headline-grabbers are a few Makerspace tools that deserve considerably more love. Whether you want to mend a favourite shirt, create digital art, launch a podcast, record music, or finally tackle that creative project you’ve been thinking about, these three underrated Makerspace…
ORL Reads Children’s Booklist: Be Prepared, Forest Fires
Wildfires are part of life in many of the communities the ORL serves. They can also bring big questions for children. Our latest ORL Reads list brings together 26 picture books and non-fiction titles that can help families learn about forest fires, preparedness, firefighters, and what happens in the natural world before, during, and after a fire. Books for Questions Big and Small How do animals respond to wildfire? What…
Summer Reading Club 2026: There’s Still Plenty of Summer Left!
Summer has a funny way of sliding by. One minute, school is out and the whole summer stretches ahead. The next, someone mentions September and everyone wonders where July went. Good news: Summer Reading Club 2026 is still making waves at the ORL, and there’s plenty of time to squeeze more reading, exploring, creating, and library adventures into the season. Already participating? Nice work! Forgot about your Reading Tracker for…
A Larger Digital Bookshelf Has Arrived: Meet the Palace Project!
One of our favourite things is connecting people with books they’ll love. Sometimes it’s the title you’ve been waiting months to read. Sometimes it’s an old favourite you’re ready to revisit. And sometimes it’s a book you had never heard of that suddenly needs to come home with you now. The Palace Project gives our communities another way to make those discoveries in one easy-to-use app. New to the ORL,…
A Final Splash of (Adult) Summer Reading Club Fun
Summer may be sailing by, but there’s still plenty of time to make a splash in the Okanagan Regional Library’s Adult Summer Reading Club. If you’ve been participating all summer, now is a great time to check your progress, complete a few more activities, and make sure you’re collecting every ticket you’ve earned. If you haven’t joined yet, don’t worry—there’s still time to dive in before the challenge ends on…
Temporary Library Closures Due to Wildfire
Library Service Update – Aug 10th 2026 The Summerland Library remains closed until further notice due to the ongoing wildfire situation. We’re pleased to share that the Peachland Library will reopen tomorrow and will be open during its regular scheduled hours. Thank you for your patience and understanding as we continue to prioritize the safety of our communities and staff. ___ Due to wildfire activity in the area and out…
Summer Doldrums? New Youth Services Reading Lists To The Rescue!
Halfway through summer. Games have been played. Adventures had. Snack cupboard raided. Siblings pestered. If you’re hearing “I’m bored!” on repeat, the Okanagan Regional Library is here to help. Our Youth Services team has created two brand-new reading lists filled with books that are anything but boring. Whether your young reader loves laugh-out-loud adventures, edge-of-your-seat mysteries, fantasy worlds, unforgettable characters, or stories they’ll want to read in one sitting, there’s…
Discover VPAG’s New Exhibitions and Curated Reading List
Art has a way of sparking curiosity, and curiosity doesn’t end when you leave the gallery. This summer, the Vernon Public Art Gallery (VPAG) and the Okanagan Regional Library (ORL) are bringing gallery walls and library shelves together. To complement their current exhibitions, VPAG has created a special reading list featuring books from the ORL collection, giving you another way to explore the ideas, materials, and themes behind the work.…
Three Most Underrated Online Resources
Think you know everything your ORL library card can do? You might be surprised. The ORL’s Online Resources give you free access to everything from newspapers and research tools to…
Beyond Books: Celebrate Literacy Month at the ORL
September is Literacy Month in British Columbia, and while books are certainly part of the celebration at the ORL, literacy reaches well beyond the page. It’s understanding a news story,…
Top 3 Underrated Makerspace Tools
Some Makerspace tools naturally attract attention. A laser cutter? Very cool. A 3D printer turning a digital file into an actual object? Also very cool. But tucked among the headline-grabbers…
ORL Reads Children’s Booklist: Be Prepared, Forest Fires
Wildfires are part of life in many of the communities the ORL serves. They can also bring big questions for children. Our latest ORL Reads list brings together 26 picture…
Summer Reading Club 2026: There’s Still Plenty of Summer Left!
Summer has a funny way of sliding by. One minute, school is out and the whole summer stretches ahead. The next, someone mentions September and everyone wonders where July went.…
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.