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
Summer Reads, Community Impact: Shop the June Friends of the Library Book Sale
Some books are destined for a second chapter. This June, the Kelowna Friends of the Library invite readers to discover pre-loved books, puzzles, and games while helping fund the programs and services that make the library such an important part of community life. It’s a win for readers, libraries, and books looking for their next home. Proceeds from every sale help fund Summer Reading Club, year-round programs for children, teens,…
Win a Kobo! Adult Summer Reading Club 2026
From beach reads and backyard page-turners to audiobooks on road trips, summer has a way of creating a little extra space for stories. The Okanagan Regional Library’s Adult Summer Reading Club is back for its sixth year, and we’re inviting readers across the region to dive into an ocean of books, activities, and discoveries. Running from 15 June to 14 September 2026, this year’s challenge follows our Under the Sea…
Discover Pride Month Picks on Kanopy
June is Pride Month, and Kanopy’s Celebrate Pride Month collection offers a thoughtful lineup of films, documentaries, and stories exploring identity, creativity, friendship, family, and community. Whether you enjoy heartfelt coming-of-age stories, award-winning documentaries, indie favourites, or powerful performances, Kanopy’s curated collection makes it easy to discover something new from home—all free with your ORL library card. Here are a few standout titles to add to your watchlist this month:…
Beyond the Expected: Contemporary Indigenous Storytelling in Canada
National Indigenous History Month is an opportunity to explore stories, histories, and voices from Indigenous creators across Canada. This year, we’re taking a slightly different route through the collection. Instead of focusing on novels, memoirs, or historical nonfiction, this reading and viewing list highlights contemporary Indigenous storytellers working across poetry, graphic novels, film, and other creative genres. These creators are producing bold, funny, imaginative, lyrical, unsettling, and deeply original work…
Summer Reading Club 2026 Is Making Waves!
Something big is making waves at the ORL! Summer Reading Club 2026 begins June 15, and this year’s theme is Under the Sea. From glowing twilight waters to mysterious ocean trenches, Summer Reading Club invites children, teens, and families to dive into a summer filled with stories, creativity, learning, and adventure. Even better? ORL branches across the region are hosting an ocean of exciting Summer Reading Club programs and special…
From Gallery Walls to Library Shelves: New VPAG Exhibitions, New Reading List
The Okanagan Regional Library (ORL) and the Vernon Public Art Gallery (VPAG) are once again connecting gallery walls with library shelves through a newly curated reading list inspired by VPAG’s upcoming exhibitions. Whether you’re drawn to contemporary art, storytelling through image and texture, Indigenous perspectives, or the creativity of emerging young artists, this collection invites you to continue the experience beyond the gallery space. The reading list accompanies four upcoming…
Explore Stories from Around the World with LOTE4Kids
From bedtime stories in Punjabi to video read-alongs in American Sign Language (ASL), LOTE4Kids brings thousands of children’s stories from around the world to the ORL’s Online Resources. Whether your family speaks more than one language at home, you’re helping a child learn English, or you simply want to explore stories from different cultures, LOTE4Kids opens the door to a world of multilingual storytelling. Every story includes narration by native…
Asian Heritage Month: Stories to Explore, Voices to Celebrate
Asian Heritage Month offers an opportunity to recognize and celebrate the many cultures, histories, and contributions of people of Asian descent in Canada. It’s also a chance to explore the richness and diversity of stories that span continents, generations, and lived experiences. Observed each May, Asian Heritage Month acknowledges the long and ongoing presence of Asian communities in Canada. From early migration and settlement to the vibrant, interconnected communities we…
Meet Jennifer Cooper: Stories of Strength, Sport, and Changing the Game
There’s something exciting about meeting an author, especially when their stories are full of bold ideas, big energy, and a willingness to challenge the rules. This spring, the ORL’s Youth Services team is bringing that experience straight to your screen with our second online author visit of the season. On 11 May, readers of all ages are invited to meet Jennifer Cooper, a writer who knows a thing or two…
Staff Picks: Books We Love This Spring
There’s something about spring that pairs perfectly with a good story, a comfortable reading spot, and the promise of “just one more chapter.” Our staff have been browsing the shelves and keeping an eye on upcoming titles, discovering new and forthcoming releases worth sharing. The result? A mix of 2026 fiction and nonfiction that feels just right for the season: thoughtful, engaging, memorable, and frequently surprising. Explore our latest Staff…
Summer Reads, Community Impact: Shop the June Friends of the Library Book Sale
Some books are destined for a second chapter. This June, the Kelowna Friends of the Library invite readers to discover pre-loved books, puzzles, and games while helping fund the programs…
Win a Kobo! Adult Summer Reading Club 2026
From beach reads and backyard page-turners to audiobooks on road trips, summer has a way of creating a little extra space for stories. The Okanagan Regional Library’s Adult Summer Reading…
Discover Pride Month Picks on Kanopy
June is Pride Month, and Kanopy’s Celebrate Pride Month collection offers a thoughtful lineup of films, documentaries, and stories exploring identity, creativity, friendship, family, and community. Whether you enjoy heartfelt…
Beyond the Expected: Contemporary Indigenous Storytelling in Canada
National Indigenous History Month is an opportunity to explore stories, histories, and voices from Indigenous creators across Canada. This year, we’re taking a slightly different route through the collection. Instead…
Summer Reading Club 2026 Is Making Waves!
Something big is making waves at the ORL! Summer Reading Club 2026 begins June 15, and this year’s theme is Under the Sea. From glowing twilight waters to mysterious ocean…
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.