Friends of the Ottawa Public Library Association

Friends of the Ottawa Public Library Association Join FOPLA and become a friend to the Ottawa Public Library today.

As advocates for the Ottawa Public Library, FOPLA helps promotes a strong public library system in the community. We participate in annual budget debates at Ward and City Council meetings, and take every opportunity to publicize the library, its programs and its services. We consider all 33 OPL branches to be part of a highly efficient system operating at reasonable cost when compared to similar m

unicipal libraries across Canada, and we wish to build upon and protect that achievement. As promoters of literacy, FOPLA helps build library collections in both official languages, improve library accessibility, and sponsors children's reading and writing programs. We also publish pot-pourri, an annual bilingual anthology of children’s poetry and short stories, to inspire our youth. FOPLA makes significant donations to OPL every year, with most funds coming from the operation of used bookstores, self-serve bookshelves in library branches, and specialty book sales run by our dedicated volunteers. Most of the funds we raise are put toward library materials and services not covered by OPL's municipal budget.

06/10/2026

Classical music lovers, this one's for you.👀
We received an impressive donation last week and we are offering over 30 boxes of Classical music CDs, all from one owner.

Huge selection. Bargain pricing, by the box.

It is too large for us to offer in our usual ways. Send email enquiries to [email protected]

This offer won't last long.

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Get ready to stack your shelves! 🇨🇦 🎉Our Mammoth Sale is back on Saturday, June 20th with  featured tables of Canadian f...
06/06/2026

Get ready to stack your shelves! 🇨🇦 🎉

Our Mammoth Sale is back on Saturday, June 20th with featured tables of Canadian fiction, non-fiction, and DVDs. Bring your biggest tote bag and look for some All Canadian talent at 100 Tallwood Dr. from 10 am to 2 pm

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Sue Guarda, an amazing leader in the community and long time manager of the Cumberland bookstore, passed away on Friday ...
05/31/2026

Sue Guarda, an amazing leader in the community and long time manager of the Cumberland bookstore, passed away on Friday after a lengthy and courageous battle with cancer. She will be missed.
Our condolences to her family and friends.

Councillor Luloff wrote the post below which captures the many contributions Sue made and the energy she brought to it all.

https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1EcCZuzUjt/?mibextid=wwXIfr

I was heartbroken to learn that Sue Guarda has passed away.

Sue was bright, colourful, caring, loving, hard-working, and deeply devoted to our community. She had a spark that drew people in, brought people together, and helped make good things happen.

For decades, Sue gave so much of herself to others. Alongside her family, and following in the footsteps of her parents, Al and Helen Tweddle, she helped build, support, and strengthen the community she loved so deeply.

Sue was involved in everything. She showed up, pitched in, encouraged others, and gave freely of her time, her energy, her heart, and her unmistakable spirit. Through her dedication to the community association and so many local efforts over the years, she represented the very best of grassroots leadership.

She also fought cancer with extraordinary strength and courage for many, many years. Through it all, she remained so fully herself: full of life, full of colour, full of love, and full of care for the people around her.

Sue touched so many lives, and our community is better because she was part of it.

My deepest condolences to Sue’s family, her friends, her neighbours, and everyone who had the good fortune to know and love her. She will be deeply missed, but she will be with us always in everything we do to support one another and build a better community.

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J’ai appris avec beaucoup de tristesse le décès de Sue Guarda.

Sue était lumineuse, colorée, attentionnée, aimante, travaillante et profondément dévouée à notre communauté. Elle avait cette étincelle qui rassemblait les gens, les inspirait et contribuait à faire avancer de belles choses.

Pendant des décennies, Sue a donné énormément d’elle-même aux autres. Aux côtés de sa famille, et dans les traces de ses parents, Al et Helen Tweddle, elle a contribué à bâtir, soutenir et renforcer la communauté qu’elle aimait tant.

Sue s’impliquait dans tout. Elle était présente, elle mettait la main à la pâte, elle encourageait les autres et elle donnait généreusement son temps, son énergie, son cœur et son esprit si reconnaissable. Par son dévouement envers l’association communautaire et tant d’initiatives locales au fil des ans, elle représentait ce qu’il y a de meilleur dans le leadership communautaire.

Elle a aussi combattu le cancer avec une force et un courage extraordinaires pendant de nombreuses années. À travers tout cela, elle est demeurée pleinement elle-même : pleine de vie, pleine de couleur, pleine d’amour et pleine d’attention pour les gens qui l’entouraient.

Sue a touché tant de vies, et notre communauté est meilleure parce qu’elle en a fait partie.

Mes plus sincères condoléances à la famille de Sue, à ses amis, à ses voisins et à toutes les personnes qui ont eu la chance de la connaître et de l’aimer. Elle nous manquera profondément, mais elle sera toujours avec nous dans tout ce que nous faisons pour nous soutenir les uns les autres et bâtir une communauté meilleure.

05/22/2026

😍Books, books and more books! And puzzles! And DVDs and CDs!! We are all set up and ready for tomorrow's Mammoth sale.
Saturday May 23 from 10 am to 2 pm at 100 Tallwood. Come and get your summer reading vibe on.😎
100 Tallwood Drive.
Free parking available.

"Books are a uniquely portable magic."   Stephen KingFOPLA volunteers agree with Mr. King and we will offer over 5,000 b...
05/21/2026

"Books are a uniquely portable magic." Stephen King

FOPLA volunteers agree with Mr. King and we will offer over 5,000 books, including a very good offering of his, at our next monthly Mammoth sale.
We will also have a tableful of donated jigsaw puzzles. At least 30,000 pieces worth!

Come join us on Saturday, May 23rd, from 10:00 am to 2:00 pm at the James Bartleman Centre, 100 Tallwood Drive.

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🌿🌞FOPLA Volunteers recommend: 'Our Green Heart'  by Canadian author, Diana Beresford-Kroeger. An exploration of the symb...
05/16/2026

🌿🌞FOPLA Volunteers recommend: 'Our Green Heart' by Canadian author, Diana Beresford-Kroeger. An exploration of the symbiotic bond between humans and forest ecology.
Just one of the thousands of gently used books that will be on offer at our next Mammoth sale, Saturday May 23rd from 10 am to 2 pm at 100 Tallwood.

Free parking available

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Going, going...gone!With the help of a portion of FOPLA's $750,000 Ādisōke capital fund gift to Ottawa Public Library / ...
05/06/2026

Going, going...gone!

With the help of a portion of FOPLA's $750,000 Ādisōke capital fund gift to Ottawa Public Library / Bibliothèque publique d'Ottawa, the stained glass window from the original 1905 Carnegie built library was successfully removed from the Main branch this week in preparation for reinstallation in a very special location at the new central facility. The window honours literature, writers, and readers.
The monies for the gift were raised entirely by Friends volunteers from used book sales and through the generosity of Friends’ donors and members.

In celebration of National Indigenous History Month, FOPLA is pleased to sponsor a film screening of The Long Walk and Q...
05/04/2026

In celebration of National Indigenous History Month, FOPLA is pleased to sponsor a film screening of The Long Walk and Q&A with local actor Joshua Odjick! Sunday, May 3, 2026, at 3:00 PM, at the Bytowne Cinema.
Visit: https://booking.biblioottawalibrary.ca/en/long-walk-film-screening-and-qa-joshua-odjick-and-claudia-jurt to learn more.

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Join us for an afternoon film screening of Stephen King's The Long Walk, followed by a Q&A with actor Joshua Odjick and mentor Claudia Jurt, in celebration of National Indigenous History Month!

05/02/2026

🎧 Hear Every Word! Countertop hearing loop systems are now available at Stittsville and Nepean Centrepointe branches! 🔗https://tinyurl.com/36sndje7

✨Look for the blue ear symbol at the front desk and let us know how it worked for you. Your feedback will help us provide more accessible Library services. 🎉
🔗https://tinyurl.com/35k9d5d9 💙



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🎧 Chaque son compte! Des boucles auditives sont maintenant disponibles aux succursales Stittsville et Nepean Centrepointe! 🔗https://tinyurl.com/yc668wd5

✨Repérez le symbole d’oreille bleue au comptoir et faites-nous part de votre expérience. Vos commentaires nous aideront à rendre les services de bibliothèque encore plus accessibles.🎉
🔗https://tinyurl.com/wn4x44dh 💙

Address

100 Tallwood Drive, Room 149
Ottawa, ON
K2G4R7

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