Inclusion and Diversity

Discover the ORL’s Expanded World Languages Collection

The ORL’s digital collection has gone global. We’ve added nearly 2000 new ebooks and e-audiobooks to our World Languages Collection, making it easier than ever to discover books in the…

Celebrating Disability Pride Month at the ORL

Libraries are places where everyone should feel welcome to discover, learn, create, and connect. This July, the ORL is celebrating Disability Pride Month by recognizing disability as a natural part…

What the Research Says: Libraries Matter More Than Ever

What do libraries contribute to their communities? It’s a question that feels easy to answer…until you try to put it into words. Is it the books? The quiet corners? The…

Black History Month Reads at the ORL

Black History Month invites readers to explore stories, histories, and voices that reflect the depth and diversity of Black experience. To mark the month, ORL librarians have curated several ORL…

Come On Down! (The Benefits of Just Being Here)

Screens are a constant part of daily life. They help us learn, work, and stay connected, but they also mean many of our interactions happen alone, even when others are…

Phyllis’ Story and the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation

Each year on 30 September, Canadians mark the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation. The day is both solemn and hopeful: it honours the children who never returned from residential…

Reflecting on Gender Equality Week 2025

Gender Equality Week 2025 takes place from September 21 to 27, offering Canadians an opportunity to celebrate progress in gender equity while reflecting on the barriers that remain. Since being…
A Barbie with a blue cape and ORL logos standing beside a bookshelf.

Super Librarian Barbie: From Toy Bin to Tastemaker

Picture it: a dusty thrift store bin. A plastic action figure, mildly scuffed, moderately poseable, entirely overlooked. Then came a library card and a creative Maker Educator with a cool…

Why Emancipation Day Matters in Canada

August 1 marks Emancipation Day in Canada, the date the Slavery Abolition Act of 1833 came into effect across the British Empire in 1834. Officially recognized by the House of…

Understanding Disability Pride

Every year in July, Disability Pride Month celebrates persons who experience disability, their identities and culture, and their positive contributions to society. The event aims to change the way people…