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Community Outreach Librarian Tabitha Waithaka has a key role working with the library’s programs and resources for newcomers and ESL teachers. While her office is located at the Main Library downtown, Tabitha spends time out in the community, including visits to classrooms. She gives presentations to classes of newcomers to talk about using the library, including how to obtain a library card, find books or materials of interest, and informing the students of programs and workshops at the library they can attend for free. To find the newcomer section, click on “Are you interested in…” then select “New to Canada.” You will find a menu list of information sources for newcomers. Tabitha is also involved in the selection of library resources for newcomers. Funding from Citizenship and Immigration Canada has enabled the library to obtain additional ESL and related materials of interest to newcomers. Teachers may request a copy of the most recent list of these resources from Tabitha. Computer Resources The library has a variety of computer resources that can be accessed remotely at home or in the classroom, by using your library card bar code and PIN. There are programs to develop reading, writing, grammar and study skills, including “Active Reading,” “Business Writing,” “Study Skills Success” and “Tense Buster.” There are options within each program to select topic and level, along with practice exercises, and an audio component for some sections. To learn about Canada, “My Canada” has information geared to beginner, intermediate and advanced students about the history, geography, government and culture of Canada. In “Learning Express Library Canada,” you can select “Citizenship” and take a practice citizenship test. “CareerAim” is a Canadian job search database. The “TumbleBook Library” has electronic animated books for children in English, French and Spanish. “Mango Languages” has modules to teach English with translation in several languages, or you can learn a variety of other languages. Library Settlement Workers Library Settlement Workers are available at several library branches throughout the city, and can help anyone in need of settlement information. Flora Wu is a settlement worker at the Main Library two days a week, and at Nepean Centrepointe three days. She will provide information about library resources for newcomers, or answer a range of questions someone might have about settling in Canada. Flora speaks Mandarin, Cantonese and English, and is also a settlement worker with the Ottawa Chinese Community Service Centre. If needed, she will conduct an individual interview with a client at the library to address their settlement information needs. To find the locations and languages spoken by other library settlement workers, as well as contact information, you can go to the “Speak to a Library Settlement Worker” link in the Newcomers to Canada section. Flora can be reached at 613–899–3128. Other Resources
The Ottawa Public Library has much to offer teachers and newcomers. You can
explore the website at http://www.biblioottawalibrary.ca
To arrange a visit to your classroom, or for more information about the library’s services for newcomers, you can call Tabitha Waithaka,
Community Outreach Librarian, at For a PowerPoint tour of some of the Ottawa Public Library website pages devoted to Newcomers to Canada, please visit “Resources/Links,” found on TESL Ottawa’s home page, and then select “Ottawa Public Library". Click on the InfoGuides |
Whether you physically enter a branch of the library or go through the portal of
their website, the Ottawa Public Library welcomes you to a wealth of resources for teachers and students
of English as a Second Language. The focus of this article is to explore the resources relevant to newcomers
and ESL teachers, including the Library Settlement Partnership Program. 
Two other noteworthy resources that can be found in the newcomer section of the library’s
website include “Getting to Know the Library” by Chris Harwood, and “Your Library Video.” “Getting to Know the Library” has both a student
and instructor manual, with 65 activities on topics related to using the library. It can be accessed online and reprinted for instructional
purposes. The library video can be viewed online and is available in 17 languages, including English and French. It is about 12 minutes in
length and explains various aspects of library services to newcomers.