The collection

Climate Justice Corner

The Climate Justice Corner is a small area in the Main Library that is a ‘go-to place’ for you to find books, information, resources and items, whether you are looking to shrink your carbon footprint, get involved in community activities and efforts, or broaden your understanding.

Nature Discovery Backpacks

Borrow a Nature Discovery Backpack and get ready for your family's next outdoor adventure! These backpacks are Ontario-curriculum linked and contain activities and field equipment to help you explore local nature and the wildlife that live there. The backpack activities are targeted for grades 7-12 but will be enjoyed by adults, too! 

Decades of Classics 

Movies remain a standard type of entertainment but not everyone can afford to pay for streaming services. Watching older films can remind viewers of simpler times, feature fewer CGI and tap into emotions or nostalgia. This Decades of Classics curated collection is meant to make finding nostalgic classics easy to discover.

Decodables 

Decodable books are written in a format that builds reading skills and confidence in all readers, but especially struggling readers and those with Dyslexia. This is accomplished by encouraging learners to read ordered books while they increase their knowledge of letter and sound combinations building on what they already know. GSPL offers a large selection of juvenile decodable titles, as well as decodable titles aimed at teens.

Dual Language 

Dual Language Books combine two languages and images where appropriate. When a story is presented in two languages; it makes the lesser-known language less intimidating. GSPL includes language combinations: English or French and Arabic, Chinese, Cree, Inuktitut, or Braille. Available formats include board books, picture books, fiction, non-fiction, and Read Along books. 

Film Festival

Movies remain a standard type of entertainment but not everyone can afford to pay for streaming services. Independent movies, foreign films, and local productions offer different types of watching experiences. This curated Film Festival collection highlights the diversity of our film collection and makes these parts easy to discover. Loan period is 3 weeks.

Grab and Go bags 

Grab and Go bags include curated bilingual subjects like: the Arts, Science and Technology, or Social Studies library materials. Grab and Go bags have activities that target Grade 4 – 5 learners and can come with:

• Books
• DVDs
• Puzzles
• Magnifying glass
• Solar robot kits

Backpacks live at our Lively and South End libraries. However, Grab and Go kits will be delivered to any library of choice when you place a hold in advance. Grab and Go bags loan period is up to three weeks and must be returned to any open front-desk library.

Grab and Go Story Time bags

Grab and Go Story Time bags includes a folder of suggested rhymes and songs and a curated set of books selected from the Forest of Reading’s Blue Spruce Award, geared to children 0 – 6 years of age. These bag kits are designed for:

• Caregivers on a quest to find a bag of quality picture books easily and quickly
• To encourage parents to read to and expose their child(ren) to books, stories, words and songs.
• To promote early literacy and the importance of reading and story time in the lives of busy families.

Grab and Go bags loan period is up to three weeks and must be returned to any open front-desk library.

Immersive Readers 

Immersive reader kits include a mixed reality book with coloured illustrations and 3 streaming videos - via QR codes, and one cardboard virtual reality (VR) viewer to be paired with an Android or IOS smartphone, inside a clear plastic bag.These immersive reality books are on the shelves in the Copper Cliff and Valley East library branches, but you can place a hold and have it delivered to your preferred library location.

Juvenile Large Print 

Youth large-print books make the process of visualizing information easier for readers, which can lead to reading more often and for longer periods of time. Large print is also beneficial because of its simplicity and accessibility. Loan period is 3 weeks. 

Mixed Format Taster

This Mixed Format Taster curated Floating Collection is meant to highlight the diversity of some of our offerings across all locations and to help people find out about them, even if they can only find them in the branch for a short period of time. All items can be reserved for future enjoyment after the collection floats away. 

Read Along Books 

Our Read Along Books combine picture books and non-fiction titles with audio recordings that capture children’s attention and make learning and literacy development fun. Read Along Books feature a picture book with a permanently attached reader - No need for computers, tablets, or CDs — children simply push a button to listen and read. GSPL offers 2 versions: Vox and Wonderbooks. Both feature a picture book with a permanently attached reader. These Read Along Books are on the shelves in Chelmsford, South End, and Valley East library branches, but you can place a hold and have it delivered to your preferred library location. 

Television Show Sampler  

Television remains a standard type of entertainment but not everyone can afford to pay for access. Providing access to past and present television shows allows patrons to broaden their horizons. This Television Show Sampler (TV DVD - Season 1 or box set) curated collection is meant to highlight its presence making these parts easier to discover. 

Local History

The Local History collection includes resources of tremendous value to the rich history of Greater Sudbury and, therefore, must be viewed within the Main Library. Some of the books about local history are available for checkout in our regular, circulating collection.

Maps

The Map collection is located on the Research Level of the Main Library in the Reference, Genealogy, and Mary C. Shantz Local History Collection. Atlases, gazetteers, as well as current and historical maps are available for onsite consultation. Our map collection is national in scope, though the library does have some international atlases in its circulating collection.

Microfilm and Microfiche

The microfilm and microfiche collection of the Greater Sudbury Public Library is available only on the Research Level of the Main Library. This collection is essential to individuals who are interested in genealogy and local history.