A-Z Resources

This historical newspaper (Calgary Herald) provides genealogists, researchers and scholars with online, easily-searchable first-hand accounts and unparalleled coverage of the politics, society and events of the time.

Primary Source Research Database with 69 unique primary sources including extensive resources related to First Nations and Indigenous Peoples, the Associate Press Collections, Smithsonian Collection Online, Archives of Human Sexuality and Gender, and more!

Freely available to all Albertans.

Discover your family history and trace your genetic roots with Ancestry Library.

Access 128 million Canadian family records, as well as 7 billion genealogical records from 100 countries across the globe!  Collections include military publications, census data, pictures, stories, and more.

Leaving WBRL September 30.

Enjoy access to The Athletic, a New York Times company, and get in-depth sports coverage of your favourite teams and leagues. Access includes everything from breaking news and live commentary to long-form features, exclusive interviews, podcast and more. 

Explore through your favourite browser or find the app through your device's app store. 

To access:

1. Log out of any existing The Athletic account before clicking on the Redemption URL in your browser.
2. Once you click the URL, click "Redeem Gift".
3. You will be prompted to create a new account or log in to your current account.
4. If using the app, follow steps 1-3 in the browser first, then log into the app.
5. Free access is only granted in 24-hour intervals. After 24 hours, click the link again to reactivate. 

Beanstack is a web and mobile app that tracks reading for all ages and creates a reading culture in our community.  There are activities and challenges for readers and sometimes even prizes for challenges.

Watch a video tutorial to learn more about Beanstack.

Career Cruising is a bilingual, interactive resource designed to guide individuals through the career exploration and education planning process.

Includes detailed occupation profiles and comprehensive post-secondary education information, job descriptions and search guide, resume and portfolio builder, and interview prep.

A national database of post-secondary schools (Canada and U.S.), including detailed information on colleges, universities, and other training opportunities is also available.

Watch a video tutorial.

Discover the best Canadian shows, news and stories!
This digital portal allows you to discover trusted news, entertaining TV and radio shows,
educational kids content, news in foreign languages and much more.

Unique, free digital collection from CBC highlighting news, audio and video content for kids and adults

● Continually updated throughout the day

● Accessible to everyone

● Engaging interface that inspires discoverability

● Easy to explore, with navigation by subjects of interest and by services

● Optimized for computers, tablets and mobiles

Unique, free digital collection from CBC including french language content highlighting news, audio and video for kids and adults

● Continually updated throughout the day

● Accessible to everyone

● Engaging interface that inspires discoverability

● Easy to explore, with navigation by subjects of interest and by services

● Optimized for computers, tablets and mobiles

WBRL is a member of the Centre for Equitable Library Access (CELA). CELA offers accessible digital and physical formats for residents who have a print disability (vision, mobility, and comprehension impairments that prevent someone from reading a traditional book). Patrons can register for a print-disability library card through the WBRL Service Desk. After registering, cardholders can register for CELA on their own or with help from the Service Desk.

CELA Educator Access is also available for many educational institutions to support students with print disabilities.

Check out the Getting Started guide. 

Limited to WBRL cardholders with a print disability.

Perfect for lovers of graphic novels, comics, and even picture books! Comics Plus features thousands of titles for all ages.

• Unlimited, simultaneous checkouts
• Every title is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week for offline reading

 Consumer Reports provides purchasing information on a wide variety of products for the consumer. In today's rapidly evolving world new technologies, products and services are entering our lives daily.  Make better purchasing decisions with Consumer Reports, with money saving advice and tips, product ratings and reviews, and recommendations.

Watch a video tutorial.

Fiero Code is sponsored by Suncor. 

Discover the power of coding with Fiero Code, a fun and engaging platform designed for learners of all ages - from kids to adults. Dive into Scratch and Block Coding, HTML, CSS, JavaScript, Python, SQL, Game Development, and more! With step-by-step lessons, hands-on projects, and exciting challenges, Fiero Code makes learning to code accessible and rewarding.

Check out this video overview. 

Frontier Life gives you access to primary sources on the migration of Europeans and colonial frontier regions from the 16th to 19th centuries.  Online resources include documents, images, maps, chronology and more!

Watch a video tutorial.

Find new funders. Target better prospects. Track your relationships.

Grant Connect is a database designed to connect organizations with funders, providing up-to-date information on grant programs, application guidelines, financial history, and decision makers.

Leaving WBRL October 31.

hoopla is an all in one digital media resource that allows you to download and stream movies and TV shows, music, eAudiobooks, eBooks, and comics to enjoy on your computer, tablet, phone, or SMART TV!

hoopla features hundreds of thousands of titles, from Hollywood blockbusters to best selling artists and authors — not just the hits, but the niche and hard-to-find as well — all accessible from your computer or mobile device.

hoopla items have no holds or waitlists. 

Watch a video tutorial to learn more about hoopla.

Number of checkouts: 10 per month

Loan time: 21 days

Leaving WBRL September 30.

Kanopy is an on-demand streaming video platform that offers films, TV shows, educational videos, and documentaries.

• Each patron will be allotted 25 tickets per month, and each piece of content is assigned a ticket value. Patrons can use as much content as they want each month with their tickets. (Content ranges from 2-4 tickets)
• Patrons have access to the full Kanopy catalog that has 31,000 titles and is growing by 500+ titles per month.
• This includes access to the Kanopy Kids collection too!

Although Kanopy is owned by OverDrive, you must create a separate account for Kanopy. 

eBooks, eAudiobooks, eMagazines?  Libby has it all for you!

Libby (Powered by OverDrive) makes downloading OverDrive content to your mobile phone or tablet easier than ever. Find the Libby app in your device's app store. 

You can also access OverDrive using your favourite browser to view the OverDrive Catalogue on our website .

Number of checkouts: 5 at a time

Number of holds: 10 at a time

Loan time: 14 days maximum (Return early if you're finished!)

Watch a video tutorial .

Learn how to use library online resources, and other technology skills, with this series of video tutorials! These tutorials, created by Niche Academy, provide quick, bite-sized videos that can help you learn everything you need to know to get started. No login is required.

National Network for Equitable Library Service (NNELS) is an online public library of downloadable eBooks and eAudiobooks for WBRL cardholders with print disabilities ((vision, mobility, and comprehension impairments that prevent someone from reading a traditional book). Patrons can register for a print-disability library card through the WBRL Service Desk. After registering, visit the NNELS catalogue to download material directly or request assistance at the WBRL Service Desk.

View the online tutorials.

Limited to WBRL cardholders with a print disability.

Looking for what to read next? NoveList provides access to read-alike information for your favourite fiction books and helps you find your next great read!

Hey Kids, Looking for your next great read, or wondering the order of books in a series?  NoveList can help!

NoveList K-8 features grab and go booklists and series information for students in kindergarten through eighth grade and helps parents, teachers, and librarians improve literacy, connect reading across curricular areas, teach reading and writing concepts, and engage young readers.

Access thousands of eBooks, eAudiobooks, and eMagazines through the OverDrive website. 

You can also access OverDrive content on your mobile device through the Libby app.

Number of checkouts: 5 at a time

Number of holds: 10 at a time

Loan time: 14 days maximum (Return early if you're finished!)

The Prairie Indigenous eBook Collection brings together over 200 titles from publishers in Manitoba, Saskatchewan, and Alberta. Powered through the Read Alberta eBooks platform, this resource increases access to stories by Indigenous authors and writings about Indigenous culture. 

PressReader connects you to thousands of global newspapers and magazines as soon as they’re available on shelves. There are no limits on the number of issues you can download to your device to read anytime, anywhere. The collection is updated consistently with new journals, newspapers and magazines.

Explore through your favourite browser or find the app through your device's app store. 

Please note: Free access through the app is only granted in 48-hour intervals. After 48 hours, sign back into the app with your library credentials to continue access.

Watch a video tutorial.

Instant access to more than 2,000 eBook and eMagazine titles from Alberta publishers. Features a variety of genres including literary fiction, graphic novels, poetry, drama, mystery and more!

Solaro - the one stop shop for student learning support.

Learning content on Solaro is age appropriate, aligned with Alberta Curriculum standards (Grades 3-12), and provides the same great Alberta specific curriculum information found in their Key and SNAP guides in an interactive format. Practice with quizzes and tests, take notes, and create flashcards!

Access through your web browser on your computer or device.

You may be prompted to log in with your Library Card number and PIN when you reach the site.

Watch a video tutorial.

With 140+ Languages for English speakers, including 30+ indigenous and endangered languages, this database is user-friendly and intuitive for your learning, including listening, reading, speaking, writing, and typing. You will be a master in no time!

Includes:
-synced progress through app and web browser
-35+ languages for ELL learners
-Kids Speak program for children 4-7
-and more!

Check out the tutorial.

TumbleBooks is an eBook site for kids with over 1100 titles for kindergarten to grade 6. TumbleBooks includes animated and talking picture books, read-along chapter books, non-fiction titles, graphic novels, math stories and more!

Stories are available in English, Spanish, and/or French and can be accessed on your computer or through your device's app store. 

Watch a video tutorial.