Service Delivery Framework: Service commitments

Ottawa Public Library service channels

Facilities

Facilities are the physical spaces where the library offers services, with dedicated areas for collections, programs, staff support, creative spaces, and community use. The facilities channel includes rural, local and district branches.

Rural branches

Rural branches serve a specific village and the surrounding rural area. They are smaller branches that focus on local community needs.

Ottawa Public Library’s rural branches are: Carp, Constance Bay, Fitzroy Harbour, Greely, Metcalfe Village, Munster, North Gower, Osgoode, Richmond, Vernon

Local branches

Local branches serve neighbourhoods in and around the city, including downtown, inner urban, outer urban, and suburban areas.

Ottawa Public Library’s local branches are: Alta Vista, Backburn Hamlet, Carlingwood, Centennial, Emerald Plaza, Elmvale Acres, Hazeldean, Manotick, North Gloucester, Orléans, Rideau, Rockcliffe Park, Rosemount, Stittsville, St. Laurent, Sunnyside, Vanier

District branches

District branches are larger branches that serve both a local neighbourhood and the surrounding region. They are located in outer urban or suburban areas and act as hubs for both local and rural branches.

Ottawa Public Library’s district branches are: Beaverbrook, Cumberland, Greenboro, Main, Nepean Centrepointe, Ruth E. Dickinson

Mobile services

Mobile services are delivered to the community through Bookmobile, offsite visits, and Home Services.

Virtual services

In addition to physical spaces, Otttawa Public library offers virtual services online through the library website, the library catalogue, email, and social media.

Collections: Collections include everything you can borrow. They support your reading, learning, and exploration. They include books, films, music, video games, and accessible or language-specific materials.

Click on the items listed below to view where they are available.

French children's collection

Available: District branches, local branches, rural branches, virtual services, mobile services

English children's collection

Available: District branches, local branches, rural branches, virtual services, mobile services

French teen collection

Available: District branches, local branches, virtual services, mobile services
*Planned: Rural branches

English teen collection

Available: District branches, local branches, rural branches, virtual services, mobile services

French adult collection

Available: District branches, local branches, virtual services, mobile services
*Planned: Rural branches

English adult collection

Available: District branches, local branches, rural branches, virtual services, mobile services

Other formats and types of collections

For example, films, music, games

Available: District branches, local branches, rural branches, virtual services, mobile services

Specific collections that are not transferable to other locations

For example, Chromebooks, access passes, telescopes

Available: District branches, local branches, rural branches, mobile services

Accessible collections

For example, Large print, DAISY, Braille

Available: District branches, local branches, rural branches, mobile services

Language-learning collections

Available: District branches, local branches, virtual services
May be available: Rural branches, mobile services

Indigenous languages collections

Available: Virtual services
May be available: Local branches, rural branches, mobile services
*Planned: District branches

Multilingual collections

Available: District branches, virtual services
May be available: Local branches, rural branches, mobile services

Musical instruments

Available: Nepean Centrepointe, Main, Cumberland, Greenboro
May be available: Mobile services
*Planned: District branches

Creative space equipment

Available: Nepean Centrepointe
May be available: Mobile services
*Planned: District branches

Expertise: Expertise supports your access to information and services, helping you connect with the community. Employees ensure access in a welcoming and inclusive way and provide guidance for collections, programs, spaces, or tools.

Click on the services listed below to view where they are available.

Services in French

This includes the option to connect with a Library employee who speaks French, if French services are not available on site.

Available: District branches, local branches, rural branches, virtual services, mobile services

Services in English

Available: District branches, local branches, rural branches, virtual services, mobile services

Support for OPL collections, programs, spaces, and tools

Available: District branches, local branches, rural branches, virtual services, mobile services

Specialized support for unique collections, programs, spaces, and tools

Available: District branches
May be available: Local branches, rural branches, mobile services, virtual services

General reference support by appointment

Available: District branches, local branches, virtual services
*Planned: Rural branches, mobile services

Referrals to relevant community services

Available: District branches, local branches, rural branches, virtual services, mobile services

Services offered in collaboration with community organizations

May be available: District branches, local branches, virtual services
*Planned: Rural branches, mobile services

Programs: Programs support your learning, growth, connection, and love of reading. They include language, literacy, life skills, creativity, and leisure offerings for all ages.

Language and literacy programs - French

*Planned:

Children's program at district branches (weekly), local branches (weekly), rural branches (monthly)
Teen program at district branches (monthly), local branches (monthly), rural branches (quarterly)
Adult program at district branches (monthly), local branches (monthly), rural branches (quarterly)
Mobile and virtual programs for adults, teens, and children (occasionally)

Language and literacy programs - English

Available:

Children's program at district branches (weekly) and local branches (weekly)

*Planned:

Children's program at rural branches (monthly)
Teen program at district branches (monthly), local branches (monthly) and rural branches (quarterly)
Adult program at district branches (monthly), local branches (monthly) and rural branches (quarterly)
Mobile and virtual programs for adults, teens, and children (occasionally)

Life skills and/or creativity and leisure programs - French

*Planned:

Children's program at district branches (monthly), local branches (quarterly), rural branches (quarterly)
Teen program at district branches (monthly), local branches (quarterly), rural branches (quarterly)
Adult program at district branches (monthly), local branches (quarterly), rural branches (quarterly)
Mobile and virtual programs for adults, teens, and children (occasionally)

Life skills and/or creativity and leisure programs - English

*Planned:

Children's program at district branches (monthly), local branches (quarterly), rural branches (quarterly)
Teen program at district branches (monthly), local branches (quarterly), rural branches (quarterly)
Adult program at district branches (monthly), local branches (quarterly), rural branches (quarterly)
Mobile and virtual programs for adults, teens, and children (occasionally)

Specialized programs for unique collections, spaces, tools

*Planned:

District branches (quarterly)

*May be available:

Local branches, rural branches, mobile services

Spaces: Spaces support your engagement with staff and library services. Spaces can be used individually or collaboratively for learning, leisure, creativity, and connection. Some spaces are dedicated, which means they are built to serve a single purpose. Some spaces are multi-purpose, which means they are flexible and can serve more than one purpose.

Collection spaces

For example, book shelves and display furniture.

Dedicated spaces available: District branches, local branches, rural branches, mobile, virtual

Expertise spaces

For example, staff service hubs.

Dedicated spaces available: District branches, local branches, rural branches
Multipurpose spaces available: Mobile services

Program spaces

Rooms or areas to hold events and programming.

Dedicated spaces available: District branches
*Dedicated spaces planned: Local branches
Multipurpose spaces available: Rural branches

Tool spaces

For example, computer area or printer area.

Dedicated spaces available: District branches, local branches, rural branches
Multipurpose spaces available: Rural branches

Collaborative spaces

For example, an area with tables for group work.

Dedicated spaces available: District branches
Multipurpose spaces available: Local branches, rural branches

Individual Spaces

Includes study carrels.

Dedicated spaces available: District branches
Multipurpose spaces available: Local branches, rural branches

Creative Spaces

For example, the Imagine Space.

*Planned dedicated spaces: District branches

Spaces for shared/partner use

For example, community offices.

*Planned multipurpose spaces: District branches

Tools: Tools support tasks and creative exploration within library spaces. They include computers, internet access, specialized software, printing and copying, and other resources you can use to learn or create.

Computers and internet access

Including desktops and/or laptops.

Available: District branches, local branches, rural branches,
May be available: Mobile services.

Printing and copying resources

Printers, scanners, and/or copiers avaialable for public use.

Available: District branches, local branches, rural branches

General creative tools

For example, Lego wall, craft supplies

Available: District branches, local branches, rural branches,
May be available: Virtual, mobile services.

Dedicated creative space tools

May be available: Mobile service points.
*Planned: District branches