What if we told you that you could access free courses with real-time instruction, trendy kitchen tools, Radon monitors, mobile printing services and even day-use park passes all for free? Sounds like a dream, right? With an Oxford County Library card, it doesn’t have to be! There are fourteen branches across Oxford County for you to discover and their services reach far beyond your standard print books (although, of course they have those too).
Circulating Materials
Let’s talk circulating materials. You can browse and borrow standard print books in a variety of genres but did you know you can also sign out large-print books, books on C.D.s and magazines? On top of that, they have an entire section to explore on their website called “Cool Stuff to Borrow”. You will find that you can borrow everything from ukuleles and the aforementioned park passes to board games, electricity meters, a projector, kitchen gadgets and small appliances, STEM maker kits for kids, and even hiking kits!
E-Resources
Ready for a new hobby? Oxford County Library has a massive selection of online resources for you to access right from home for free. This includes everything from courses in candle making to Quick Books with live instructors who will respond to your questions and track your progress through Universal Class. Get up-to-date service and repair information for thousands of domestic and imported vehicles through Auto Repair Source. Use resources like CreativeBug to find thousands of award-winning art and craft video classes from cake decorating to macrame. Brainfuse HelpNow for online homework help for students in grade K-8 is offered daily. You can also find practise tests, support for adult learners, writing assistance, and skill building. Brainfuse JobNow offers access to live job coaching, interview practice, resume labs, career resources and so much more! Are you a high school student looking to practice for your exams or a parent trying to keep their kids schooling on track? Library cardholders also have access to resources like Ontario ExamBank that allow you to take practice tests for curriculum K-12. The possibilities to grow and enjoy are endless.
Want to relax? Oxford County Library has awesome entertainment resources to watch movies, listen to music, and even enjoy live concerts! They also offer online options for e-books and audiobooks if you’re not able to make it to a branch or Ox on the Run stop.
Services
Oxford County Library is dedicated to servicing the community with unique opportunities to connect, discover, share and become. In fact- that’s their motto! While there are lots of services that the library offers to the community, we wanted to highlight the book mobile.
Ox on the Run
Ox on the Run is OCL’s mobile outreach program and is a mini library on the run! All year long, Ox on the Run visits playgrounds, parks, community centres and events across the County. When parked they will provide access to Wi-Fi, help with library resources, library card registration, storytimes, crafts, and activities for all ages.
OCL’s book mobile is excited to get out and about - keep an eye out for their upcoming stops here.
Local History
Have you ever wondered about the story of Oxford County or even about your own family tree? Dedicated staff from Oxford County Library have done the heavy lifting for you! Visit their website for historical photos, stories by communities, newspaper indexes, local directories and more. If you’re curious about digging up some of your own heritage, you can now access Ancestry.com through the library for free.
Programs + Events
All year long, Oxford County Library offers programs and events for adults, teens, children and families. This includes book clubs, adult craft sessions, storytimes, movie screenings, and so much more! Also be sure to check out their system wide programs like Summer Reading Club, Teen Book Boxes, Oxford Reads, and 1000 Books Before Kindergarten. Find the full list of events on their Program Calendar.
Get Started
If you’re ready to connect with the Oxford County Library, you can sign up for your library card by visiting one of the 14 locations. See a list of locations an hours here.