The Ottawa Public Library (OPL) card is one of the most underused free resources available to Ottawa students. Most people know libraries have books — fewer realize that an OPL library card also provides free access to streaming video platforms, research databases used by journalists and lawyers, language learning software, online courses, newspaper archives, consumer research tools, and study space at 33 Ottawa branch locations. All of this is included in a free card available to any Ottawa resident. Here's everything your library card actually unlocks.
How to Get an Ottawa Public Library Card
Getting a card requires you to be an Ottawa resident (which includes students living in Ottawa while attending school). Apply:
- In person: at any of the 33 OPL branch locations — bring proof of your Ottawa address (lease, utility bill, or even a piece of official mail) and ID. A card is issued immediately
- Online: temporary digital access is available through biblioottawalibrary.ca while you wait for a physical card. Full access activates when you visit a branch to verify your address
The card is free. There are no annual fees. Overdue fines were eliminated by OPL — there is no financial penalty for returning items late, though items not returned eventually result in replacement charges. New or first-time library users living within Ottawa's boundaries qualify.
Free Digital Resources That Most Students Don't Know About
Streaming Video (Kanopy and Access Video on Demand)
OPL provides free access to Kanopy — a streaming platform with thousands of films including documentaries, classic cinema, independent films, and a dedicated education-focused library. Kanopy is available to all OPL cardholders and streams directly in a browser or the Kanopy app with no additional cost. The Access Video on Demand database (available through OPL's online resources portal) provides over 40,000 academic and educational videos covering Arts and Humanities, Business and Economics, Science, Social Sciences, and Careers and Trades — useful for supplementing coursework in specific subject areas.
Online Research Databases
OPL provides access to databases that would cost hundreds of dollars per year to subscribe to independently. Through biblioottawalibrary.ca/databases, library cardholders access:
- Canadian Newsstream — full-text searchable archive of major Canadian newspapers including the Ottawa Citizen, Globe and Mail, Toronto Star, and National Post. Useful for tracking news by topic, researching current events for essays, and finding historical coverage
- Business Source — business, economics, and industry research database. Useful for commerce, economics, and social sciences students
- Consumer reports databases — product research and consumer information used by financial journalists and planners
- Legal information databases — for students doing legal research outside academic library access
- Genealogy databases — Ancestry.ca and related tools accessible for family history research
eBooks and Audiobooks (Libby / OverDrive and Hoopla)
OPL uses Libby (powered by OverDrive) for eBook and audiobook lending and Hoopla for additional digital content. With your library card:
- Borrow eBooks and audiobooks on your phone, tablet, or e-reader through the free Libby app — no physical trip to the library required
- Popular titles have waitlists (like physical books); classic and less-in-demand titles are available immediately
- Hoopla has a monthly borrow limit (10 items) with immediate access — no waitlists. Includes eBooks, audiobooks, comics, and streaming music
- For students working through required readings, the library often has digital lending copies of course-adjacent texts that supplement (though may not fully replace) specific course editions
Online Courses (LinkedIn Learning)
OPL provides free access to LinkedIn Learning — an online course platform with thousands of professional development, technical, and creative courses. Topics include coding, data analysis, project management, graphic design, public speaking, Excel and Google Sheets, and hundreds of other practical skills. Access through the OPL databases portal with your library card. For students wanting to build technical skills that aren't covered in their degree, LinkedIn Learning through OPL is a zero-cost alternative to paid learning platforms like Coursera or Udemy.
Language Learning (Mango Languages)
Mango Languages is a library-provided language learning platform available to OPL cardholders — similar to Rosetta Stone or Babbel, covering dozens of languages through interactive lessons. For students studying French (relevant for federal government career paths in Ottawa), supplementing coursework with Mango's French-English interface provides additional practice at zero cost.
Newspapers (PressReader)
PressReader provides digital access to thousands of newspapers and magazines in full-layout format — including international newspapers in original languages. Access through OPL's digital resources with your library card. Useful for students in journalism, political science, international relations, and language studies who need access to current international press.
Ottawa Public Library Study Spaces
OPL's branch network provides 33 locations across Ottawa with free study spaces. Key branches for students:
| Branch | Location | Student Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Ottawa Central Library (new — expected 2025/2026) | Downtown Ottawa | New flagship facility replacing Metcalfe branch; significantly expanded study and program space |
| Sunnyside Branch | 1049 Bank Street, Old Ottawa South | Near Carleton and the Glebe; popular with Carleton students |
| Rideau Branch | 377 Rideau Street | Near uOttawa and Sandy Hill; central for east-end students |
| Carlingwood Branch | 281 Broadview Avenue | West Ottawa; accessible for students living in Merivale/Bells Corners area |
| Greenboro Branch | Greenboro area, south Ottawa | Accessible via O-Train Trillium Line |
Library branches provide free WiFi, computer terminals (bookable in advance), and quiet study zones. Unlike university libraries, Ottawa Public Library branches don't require a student card — any OPL cardholder can use any branch. For students who can't access campus libraries on weekends or during non-academic periods, OPL branches are a reliable study space alternative.
Free Programs at Ottawa Public Library
Beyond resources, OPL runs free programs available to Ottawa residents including students:
- English conversation groups — free drop-in English conversation practice facilitated by library staff. Useful for international students improving conversational English outside the academic context
- Digital literacy workshops — free workshops on using library databases, researching online, and navigating digital tools. Particularly useful for students new to academic research
- Tax clinic support (CVITP) — OPL branches host Community Volunteer Income Tax Program (CVITP) clinics during tax season (February–April), providing free tax filing assistance by trained volunteers. Students can get their returns filed at no cost through these clinics
- Makerspace and technology access — select branches have makerspaces with 3D printers, recording equipment, and digital tools available for booking
- Social prescriber consultations — OPL's social prescriber program connects library users with community health and social services — an unusual offering that reflects the library's role as a community hub beyond book lending
How to Use the Ottawa Public Library as a Study Space and Research Tool
Most students use their university library for academic work and ignore the Ottawa Public Library entirely. The overlap between what the two systems offer is smaller than students assume — and the OPL provides several things the university library doesn't:
Study rooms and quiet spaces
OPL branches have study rooms that can be reserved in advance — useful when campus library study rooms are fully booked during exam periods. The Sunnyside branch (1049 Bank Street, near Carleton and the Glebe) is particularly well-positioned for students in that area. Rideau branch (377 Rideau Street) is the closest major OPL branch to uOttawa's Sandy Hill campus. Book study rooms through the OPL website or by calling the branch directly — rooms are booked by the hour and typically require only an OPL card to reserve. Walk-in seating is also available without booking at most branches during normal hours.
Research for non-academic purposes
University library access ends when you graduate. During your studies, there's a category of research — personal finance, consumer decisions, rental research, career research — that university databases don't serve well. OPL's consumer research databases (Value Line, IBISWorld through OPL in select years, and business databases) provide the kind of market and product research used by journalists and financial analysts. These are practically useful for students making purchasing decisions, researching employers for job applications, or doing industry research beyond their coursework.
Interlibrary Loans and Cross-Library Borrowing
OPL participates in interlibrary loan programs — if OPL doesn't have a specific book you need, they can request it from another Ontario public library through the provincial system. Additionally, Carleton and uOttawa students can check whether their academic libraries have reciprocal borrowing arrangements with the Ottawa Public Library — in some cases, university library cards also provide OPL database access or vice versa. Ask at your campus library's reference desk about cross-library agreements.
Physical media that streaming doesn't cover
OPL's physical collection includes DVDs, Blu-rays, CDs, and music materials that aren't always available on streaming platforms. For film studies, music students, or anyone looking for a specific title that isn't on Netflix or Kanopy, the physical collection may have it available for free borrowing. The catalogue is searchable at biblioottawalibrary.ca — check availability and reserve online for pickup at your preferred branch.
Printing and digital access for students without equipment
OPL branches have public computer terminals and printing services available at low per-page cost. For students who don't have a printer at home (or who don't want to pay campus printing costs for large print jobs), OPL branches provide a low-cost printing alternative. Computer terminals are accessible without advance booking on a walk-in basis, or bookable for specific time slots when demand is high (exam periods).
How do Ottawa students get an Ottawa Public Library card?
Visit any of the 33 Ottawa Public Library branches with proof of your Ottawa address (a lease, utility bill, or official mail to your Ottawa address) and any government-issued ID. The card is issued on the spot at no cost. Students living in Ottawa while attending Carleton or uOttawa qualify as Ottawa residents for library card purposes regardless of whether their permanent home address is in another city or province. Temporary digital access is also available through the OPL website while you arrange an in-person visit to confirm your address.
Can students access university library databases through Ottawa Public Library?
OPL's databases (Canadian Newsstream, Business Source, Access Video on Demand, and others) are separate from university library databases but complement them. For academic journal access and specialized research databases, your Carleton or uOttawa student credentials provide access to much larger academic database collections (JSTOR, Web of Science, PubMed, etc.) that OPL's general public databases don't cover. OPL is strongest for newspapers, streaming video, consumer research, business databases, eBooks, and practical skill-building resources. Use your university library credentials for academic research and your OPL card for newspapers, current events, audiobooks, LinkedIn Learning, and supplementary reading.
Does Ottawa Public Library have study spaces available to students?
Yes — all 33 OPL branches have public study space available to anyone with a library card. No advance booking is required for open seating; computer terminals and some private study rooms can be booked in advance through the OPL website or by calling the branch. OPL branches are open evenings and weekends when campus libraries may be closed or at reduced hours. Free WiFi is available at all branches. OPL study spaces do not require a student ID or university affiliation — any Ottawa resident with a library card can use any branch's study areas.
