Ottawa Public Library is the largest English/French bilingual library system in North America, with a collection of over 2.5 million items. The user base of the library is extremely diverse, ranging from newborns to seniors and representing a broad cross-section of the city’s cultural and economic diversity. The mission of the library is to nurture the love of reading and the pursuit of knowledge. People use the resources of the Ottawa Public Library to read, think, learn, interpret, imagine and connect with each other and the world.
Through a competitive process, 76design brought to life the potential for the library to connect with kids in a way they had not imagined. 76design’s innovative solution was to build a safe and secure online book club community that enables kids (and only kids) to publish book reviews, join each other’s book clubs, create their own book-themed games, and much more. This ambitious community website also includes an extensive array of literacy-enhancing flash games for pre-schoolers.
The new site, launched in October of 2007, has made incredible strides in helping the library reach its key objectives which include:
- A bilingual site that promotes the development of literacy skills, encourages a love of reading, promotes critical thinking and creativity.
- A space for children to connect with their peers and fosters social development
- Allow for creative expression through sharing and storytelling
- Promote seasonal activities and tie-ins with in-branch programming
- Protect the privacy of children
In 2008 this site was awarded a Webby Official Honoree for the “Youth” category. Other OF’s in this category included BarbieGirls, The Cartoon Network and Playhouse Disney.
