Library Services FAQs

  • Education Services

    • Educator library cards are free and created for classroom use and teaching support.
    • Classroom Collection orders and courier/library staff delivery services available as part of Educator services related to an Educator card
    • Easily apply for an Educator card online. Educator cards will be created in 2-3 business days and can be sent by courier to your school. If you have any questions, please email schoolservices@wbrl.ca. 
    • Limited to educators employed at Centre-Nord, FMPSD, FMCSD, Northland School Division No. 61, Parkland School Division (Fort Chipewyan, Keyano College, and other educational institutions including accredited homeschools and daycares.

    WBRL educator cards are available for all educators within the Wood Buffalo region, including educators employed at FMPSD, FMCSD, Centrenord, Northland School Division No. 61, Parkland School Division (Fort Chipewyan campus only), Keyano College, Accredited Daycares and other educational institutions (including certified homeschools).  

    To encourage access and awareness of the public library resources for students, WBRL offers free library cards for all students through their classroom teacher.

    WBRL can provide a classroom teacher with an electronic student library card application form to print and distribute to their students.  

    Students under the age of 16 must take the form home and have it completed and signed by parents/guardians.  

    Teachers can collect the completed forms, scan and send by email to schoolservices@wbrl.ca.  Staff will create cards for the students within 10-14 days and deliver them to the school for the classroom teacher to distribute to students.

    Library cards are free and allow access to all of our physical (books, media, video games, kits, etc.) when students visit the library, as well as access to all of our online resources (including eBooks and educational resources such as SOLARO).

    WBRL staff can visit your school/class to promote literacy and to showcase our collections and online resources.  All sessions are free and can be tailored to suit the specific needs of the classroom or event. To schedule a visit please contact schoolservices@wbrl.ca.

    With an educator card, teachers can request a number of titles to supplement their classroom library, focus on a topic of study, or materials for a specific age group using the Classroom Collection Request form.  WBRL will drop off the materials to the school and pick them up when the class is finished with them.  Visit our Educator page for more information.

    WBRL can support regional educators in the following ways:

    • Providing access to educator cards for teaching support, including relief from lost item fees during classroom use
    • Providing access to library cards for students through the classroom teacher (ideal for those students whose families may not be able to physically visit the library to set up an account)
    • Provide resources specific to the needs of teachers through classroom collection orders
    • Library courier service to drop off and pick up library materials directly to schools
    • Available electronic online resources useful for instruction (such as Tumblebooks, SOLARO, Career Cruising)
    • School visits
    • Tours of the library

    Are you a teacher in the Wood Buffalo Region?  Let us know other ways we may be able to support you and your students!  Contact schoolservices@wbrl.ca

    Pre-booked group exam proctoring sessions will be offered Wednesday evenings 4:30-7:30pm and *Saturdays 10:15am-1:15pm. (*temporary May 3-August 23)

    To book an appointment for a proctored exam, or if you have specific questions you would like answered prior to booking a proctored exam, please fill out the Exam Proctor Request Form.  A request must be received by the library 2 weeks in advance of a desired exam date. Please note, submitting this request form does not guarantee an exam booking. The Supervisor in charge of Exam Bookings will check availability and contact you regarding the details to set up your exam.

    Fee - $40 (sitting 3 hours in length,  4 hour exam session may be available on request depending on staff availability). 

    • The exam proctor and library will not be held responsible for any interruptions to the exam due to unforeseen circumstances such as internet connection issues, loss of power, disruption by other exam takers and/or technical issues.
    • The exam session may include up to 4 exam takers in the room during one session. 
    • Exams can be hand written or online.  The library does provide a laptop and wifi - all other required materials must be provided by the exam taker.
    • Exam writers must disclose on request form if they are a close relative or family friend of WBRL staff as your testing organization may not allow invigilation of your exam by such staff members.

    A classroom collection order supports educators with library collection items to be used in their classrooms. 

    To submit a classroom collection order, an educator fills out the online form.  *Teachers must have an educator card to submit a classroom collection order.*

    Quick picks allow educators to select of set of 20 books with one quick click. The varied titles will be gathered by library staff and delivered by library courier to your school. The Library courier will pick up the items from your school when you are finished with them and are ready to place a new order!

    Quick pick bundles typically can be delivered to your school within a week by library courier (in town) or by staff during an outreach visit (rural communities). Please allow requests for Fort Chipewyan 10-14 days to be delivered by Municipal Courier.

    Some restrictions may apply. Circulating technology are not borrow-able using an Educator Card or through a Classroom Collection Order.  

     Educators can also request specific titles or authors, general subjects, curated theme packs,  content specific to reading level, or resources such as DVDs and Audiobooks by emailing schoolservices@wbrl.ca 

    Yes, WBRL offers tours to assist students in learning what the library has to offer.  A tour can be booked in advance for a class by emailing schoolservices@wbrl.ca or by completing the online tour request form.  

  • Accessible Services

    No. Both services will ask you to identify your category of disability (visual, physical, or cognitive) but don’t require documentation to support your self-identification.

    WBRL has a collection of DAISY Discs on our second floor. These can be browsed in person and checked out via the Service Desks. (They are not searchable in our online catalogue.) DAISY Discs are only available to patrons that have identified as having a print disability.

    1. Sign up for a library card.
    2. If you have a print disability, let the WBRL staff know at the Service Desk. They will add a code to your card indicating you are eligible for the service.
    3. Register for CELA or NNELS.

    If you need assistance contact the WBRL Service Desk.

    Centre for Equitable Library Access (CELA) and National Network for Equitable Library Services (NNELS) offer free accessible format materials to public library users (braille, DAISY, e-text, MP3, etc.) with print disabilities.

    A print disability prevents or inhibits a person from reading conventional print. It can be the result of:

    • a learning disability, such as a perceptual disorder that impacts reading ability
    • a physical disability, such as the inability to hold or manipulate a book
    • a visual disability, such as vision loss or the inability to focus or move one’s eyes