In this issue:
- Letter from CELA’s Executive Director
- Awards Update
- CELA updates its policies
- Powassan and District Union Public Library wins the TD Accessibility Award
- Canadian authors love romance!
- New technology update: Victor Stratus 2
- The world's beautiful game
- Canada loses two authors
- Books to promote at your library
- Reading for Truth and Reconciliation
- Getting ready for Summer Reading Clubs
- Webinars
- Featured title for adults: I Am Not a Robot: my year of using AI for (almost) everything
- Top five books
- Featured title for kids: Kwesi and Nana Ruby learn to swim
- Top five for kids
- Top five for teens
- Service tip: Update your website!
- Holiday hours
- Stay connected!
Letter from CELA’s Executive Director
Summer library season is just around the corner. And we know this because Summer Reading Clubs are kicking off across the country in the next few weeks with programs, activities and great reading adventures planned to engage kids in the wonderful world of reading. Libraries work hard to make their Summer Reading Clubs welcoming and inclusive, and program sponsors like the TD Summer Reading Club support those efforts with accessible materials. If there is a young person with a print disability in your life, encourage them to check out what’s available at their local library this summer and to speak to the staff to learn about accessible programs and resources.
We were delighted earlier this month to recognize the Powassan Public Library in Ontario who won the TD Summer Reading Club Accessibility Award for their creative and welcoming summer program last year. Read more about their efforts in our newsletter.
If you are looking for last minute ideas, we have suggestions and resources for your summer reading club program in this newsletter.
We’re looking forward to summer for many reasons, including the release of our new Strategic Plan. Our staff and Board have been hard at work on this new plan which will guide our work for the next 5 years. We will be sharing this new plan early this summer.
Along with updating our plan, we have been revising our policies. Our new Collections and Privacy policies and our Acceptable Terms of Use have all been revised and are available on our website. These updates provide our users, libraries and our various partners and colleagues with a clearer understanding of the ways CELA makes decisions, offers our services, and protects the personal information of our users.
Lastly June is a month of celebration including Pride Month, as well as National Indigenous Peoples Day. We are proud that our collection continues to grow to include and reflect stories from all communities including the 2SLGBTQ+ and Indigenous, Inuit and Métis communities across Canada. Accessibility is important not just in formats but also in the ability to see ourselves in the stories available to us.
Happy reading!
Laurie Davidson, Executive Director
Awards update
Congratulations to the three Canadian authors named to the shortlist for the Leacock Medal for Humour.
- Meredith Hambrock for She's a Lamb
- Susin Nielsen for SNAP
- Mark Waddell for Colin Gets Promoted and Dooms the World
The Cure for Drowning by Loghan Paylor, which won Canada Reads, has also been named to the shortlist for the 2026 Rakuten Kobo Emerging Writer Prize.
The Indigenous Voices Award shortlist has been announced. Congratulations to Tracey Lindberg whose book The Cree word for love: Sakihitowin is one of the many recognized by these awards. Also nominated:
- Five Seasons of Charlie Francis by Danica Roache
- CoyWolf by Colin Wolf
Some prestigious international awards have been announced.
Scottish author Ali Smith has won the 2026 Dublin Literary Award for her novel Gliff. Smith has previously won the Women's Prize for Fiction for How to be both.
And Shuangzi Yang won the International Booker Award for her novel Taiwan travelogue, which she hopes one day can be read in China.
CELA updates its policies
CELA has recently updated its Privacy Policy, the Acceptable Use Policy, and the Collections Policy.
The updated policies are effective May 28, 2026.
Our original policies have been in place for many years and our goal in updating them was to make them more clear and specific, and to have them reflect the changes in best practices around online and library services.
For example, in the Privacy Policy we have provided more details about how user information will be used, shared and protected, and we have outlined in detail how a privacy breach would be handled by our team.
In our Collections Policy, we have clarified our criteria for selecting materials, and outlined in more detail the process if a user would like to have us reconsider a title.
In the Acceptable Use Policy, we have added clarity in our definition of users and how they use our services, website and collections.
While the intent and the execution of the policies have not changed substantially, the details provided within them has expanded. We encourage our users, libraries and partners to read these updated policies in full to better understand the way CELA makes decisions, protects user information, and offers our services.
Continued use of CELA services as of the effective date of May 28, 2026, constitutes acceptance of the revised policies.
Powassan and District Union Public Library wins the TD Accessibility Award
Congratulations to the team at the Powassan and District Union Public Library in Ontario. They are the winners of this year’s TDSRC Accessibility Award, which was presented at the Marigold Library Conference in mid May.
This small community library put together an impressive submission outlining the many ways they worked to create an inclusive summer reading club program.
Breya Market-Matthews, Communication and Program Coordinator at Powassan and Union District Public Library says "We were honoured to be the recipients of the 2025 CELA Award, we have always strived to create a space and programs that are accessible to everyone. To be recognized for these efforts makes us very proud.
We plan to invest our earnings of $2,000 into converting some of our computer room into a maker space and making our children's play area more accessible. Both of these upgrades to our space will make our current offerings more accessible and functional for our youth!"
Canadian authors love romance!
With the success of Heated Rivalry and Carley Fortune's books, "Canada is a ‘hotbed’ for romantic literature" according to a recent piece on CBC Books. Supported by the flourishing online BookTok and Bookstagram communities, Canadian romance authors are being recognized for their abilities to tell stories in new and fresh ways.
Interested in finding new romance titles? Browse our romance category!
New Technology Update : Victor Stratus 2
Humanware’s newest device, the Victor Stratus 2, is now available. The Victor Stratus 2 is very similar to the Victor Stratus 4M but offers improvements such as a more modern hardware platform that includes Bluetooth and a better speaker, and can be used with CELA’s Direct to Player service.
In addition, the Victor Stratus 2 has a cartridge option, but at this time CELA does not offer services for the cartridge.
CELA is currently working on a guide to help our patrons use the Victor Stratus 2 with CELA books, as this new device’s navigation is slightly different than the 4M. Our Contact Centre is able to assist users to configure these devices for use with CELA.
The world's beautiful game
Promote the World Cup with some great reads. We've collected soccer stories and biographies to get folks ready to cheer!
The Voyageurs: The canadian men's soccer team's quest to reach the world cup by Joshua Kloke
World Cup Fever: A soccer journey in nine tournaments by Simon Kuper
Short soccer stories for kids: 30 tales of field and fame igniting passion and teamwork in young readers by Finn Manning
Read the full list of suggested titles.
Canada loses two authors
Alan Bradley, author of the Flavia de Luce mystery series, has died at the age of 87.
Perhaps best known for his 11-year-old heroine, amateur detective and aspiring chemist Flavia de Luce, he won numerous awards including the Crime Writers' Association Debut Dagger Award, the Dilys Winn Award, the Arthur Ellis Award, the Agatha Award, and others for the first Flavia book The Sweetness at the Bottom of the Pie.
The Flavia de Luce series now has 11 books and has been translated into more than 30 languages.
The final installment of the Flavia de Luce series, Numb Were the Beadsman’s Fingers will be released in November. And the movie adaptation of The Sweentess at the Bottom of the Pie will be released later this year.
In addition to his writing, Bradley was a founding member of the Saskatchewan Writers Guild, and served as its chair.
On April 30, Canadian children's book author Nhung N. Tran-Davies passed away from cancer. Arriving in Canada in 1979 as a refugee of the Vietnam War, Tran-Davies was met at the airport by a young girl who gave her a doll. Many years later, she met Syrian refugees at the airport with a doll for a young girl. This story became the inspiration for her children's book The Doll. Her other books include A Grain of Rice, as well as the picture books Ten Cents a Pound and Green Papayas, which was nominated for the TD Canadian Children's Literature Award in 2024.
Our condolences go out to the family, friends and fans of these two Canadian authors.
Reading for Truth and Reconciliation
The inspiring story of a young girl's resilience and survival at residential school. Shirley is only five years old when she is taken away by the Indian agent to live at a residential school. She loves learning, but she is not there by choice. From the first day walking up the long, lonely stone steps of the school building, life is hard and full of rules.
Separated from her brothers and sisters, she is truly on her own. Shirley is very brave, but there is no one she loves to hold her at night when she is afraid. No one to tuck her in and comfort her. Shirley keeps going despite the sadness. She makes friends and has adventures. And most of all, she looks ahead to summertime, when she will be able to return to her family and the happiness of home.
Read Shirley: an Indian residential school story by Joanne Robertson in our collection.
Books to promote at your library
Are you looking to promote some new accessible titles in your newsletters, social media feeds, or as part of an in-branch display?
Download the list of promotable titles and share it with your communications team.
Find the new list, updated monthly and featuring links to new books in our collection, on our For Libraries page.
Getting Ready for Summer Reading Clubs
Summer Reading Clubs bring a lot of excitement to libraries, but we know they are also a lot of work. We often hear from users how much they appreciate the work libraries put in to making programs and events accessible for everyone.
Here are a few things that might help you and your team this summer.
- The TDSRC Plan for Accessibility page provides an overview of the accessible features of this year’s program.
- The recording of our webinar Summer reading for everyone: Make your Club accessible for kids with disabilities is now available on our YouTube channel and has great suggestions for any summer reading club program.
- Here’s an accessible event checklist – perfect for advance planning and a check on the day of your event.
- If you or your staff are wondering how to create a respectful space, here are some tips for interacting with people with disabilities.
- Remember to check the CELA collection for summer reading club books in accessible formats and mention them in your communications, in-library displays and during your programming. You can find the lists on our Summer Reading Club page as soon as they are revealed.
Webinars
We host a series of webinars on Zoom to help users access CELA services, to stay up to date on new technologies and to learn more about accessible reading. Most of our webinars are recorded.
On the Webinars for you page, you will find upcoming webinars. On that same page you will find links to other CELA video resources available on our YouTube channel.
How to transfer CELA materials to various devices
Do you have library patrons who need support transferring CELA books and magazines to their devices? Or want to learn how to transfer CELA materials onto library-owned devices so you can loan them out to eligible patrons? Join us for a live 60 minute workshop to guide you through the process of transferring books and magazines from CELA onto different devices.
To register for this workshop select the link below:
Decolonize Reading: Promote Accessibility
How can libraries better support Indigenous patrons with print disabilities? This library chat session brings together Indigenous knowledge and accessibility to answer that question. Danielle Big Canoe Snake of Chippewas of Rama will share perspectives on the intersection of Indigenous identity, disability, and colonization. Cora Payne, Outreach Manager for CELA, and Andrea Blake, Outreach Assistant will join Danielle in this conversation. This session will highlight both the cultural importance of accessibility and practical tools libraries can use to decolonize their approach to disability and reading.
Learning objectives:
- Describe how colonization has shaped current perceptions of disability and how these differ from traditional Indigenous understandings.
- Identify practical ways your library can provide accessible reading options to Indigenous patrons with print disabilities.
- Apply culturally respectful practices to promote reconciliation through library services and collections that include Indigenous perspectives and accessible formats.
To register for this session select the link below:
Wednesday June 10 1:00-2:00pm EDT
Client Access Support webinar
Join us for this webinar describing CELA’s Client Access Support program. The Client Access Support program is designed for professionals who require access to CELA's collection in order to assist individuals with print disabilities. This would include recreational and rehabilitation therapists, private tutors, support workers in long-term care and seniors’ residences. Public library staff are also welcome to register for this webinar.
This webinar will cover:
- Eligibility criteria for access to CELA
- How to sign up for a CAS account
- How can your clients access CELA resources
- Formats & reading devices available
- Where to go for help & more information
- Brief site tour of celalibrary.ca
To register for the webinar select the link below:
Getting Started with Accessible Reading Canada: Listen to CELA Audiobooks with Alexa
Join us for a live webinar introducing Accessible Reading Canada, a new way for CELA patrons to enjoy CELA audiobooks using Alexa-enabled smart speakers. This 60-minute session will walk you through how to use voice commands to search, browse, and listen to audiobooks from your CELA Direct to Player Bookshelf using the Accessible Reading Canada Alexa skill.
This webinar will cover:
- What Alexa-enabled smart speakers are and how they work
- How to set up and use the Accessible Reading Canada skill
- How to use voice commands for browsing and reading
- Where to find help guides and additional support
After the presentation, there will be a Q&A session to ask additional questions. This session will be recorded.
To register for the online Zoom webinar please select the link below and fill in the registration form. To attend by phone, please call the Contact Centre at 1-855-655-2273.
Featured title for adults: I Am Not a Robot: my year using AI to do (almost) everything
What happens when intelligent machines aren't just in our pockets but are also drive our cars, make our decisions, fold our laundry, and educate our kids? You've heard the hype: AI will make us healthier, give every child a personalized tutor, run our businesses more efficiently, return hours of free time to our overworked brains, and make discoveries previously unimagined by humankind.
The AI future is going to be unlike any other technological revolution. But what does that really mean? And will AI truly make life better? To find out, award-winning journalist Joanna Stern surrendered her life to artificial intelligence for one year. The results are both hilarious and unsettling. I Am Not a Robot is like a time machine trip to the very near future, where AI promises to be your doctor, chauffeur, teacher, masseuse, coworker, therapist, financial planner, chef, housekeeper, and even... romantic partner. Your colleague might be using ChatGPT to write emails at work, but Joanna used AI tools and robots to do household chores, to manage her health, and to transport her family on vacation. If there was a decision to make or a task to do, she let AI go first. Along the way, she conducted exclusive interviews with the tech leaders building this future, then reported back from the front lines as your funny, no-nonsense tour guide. Of course, tech's sunny promises never tell the whole story, and that's what Joanna is here to share. This book offers less hype, more clarity, and as little jargon as humanly (or robotically) possible. It's an AI guide for ordinary people--not the tech bros who tried to sell you a cruise to the metaverse or an NFT of a cartoon monkey. After a year of living as a human lab rat, Joanna delivers one of the clearest-and funniest-pictures yet of what's really happening and what it means for you.
Top five books
Most popular with our readers last month:
- The Cure for Drowning by Loghan Paylor, Fantasy
- Theo of Golden: a novel by Allen Levi, Friendship stories
- Bloodlust by Sandra Brown, Suspense and thrillers
- Wild People Quiet by Tara Gereaux, Indigenous peoples in Canada fiction
- Liberty Street by Heather Marshall, Historical fiction
Featured title for kids: Kwesi and Nana Ruby learn to swim
Kwesi likes spending time at the lake with his friends, except there's one tiny problem... he can't swim. But guess what? Neither can Nana Ruby! When she comes over for dinner one night, she tells Kwesi about when she moved from Ghana to the US and the history of segregation that kept her out of pools and caused a fear of water among many Black people.
"So I will never learn how to swim?" Kwesi asks. But Nana Ruby tells him they will call on the strength of Mami Wata, the sea creature of West African legend, to conquer their fears together. This touching intergenerational story teaches the importance of naming, acknowledging and facing fears.
Read Kwesi and Nana Ruby learn to swim by Kobina Commeh in our collection.
Top five for kids
Most popular with kids last month:
- Fantastic Mr. Fox by Roald Dahl, Movies and television tie-in
- My Weird School: Books 1-10 (series) by Dan Gutman, Jim Paillot, Humourous fiction
- Emil and the Detectives by Erich Kästner, Mysteries and crime stories
- The complete chronicles of Narnia (series) by C. S. Lewis, Pauline Baynes, Adventure stories
- Melodie the music fairy: The Party Fairies Book 2 by Daisy Meadows, Fables and fairy tales
Top five for teens
Most popular with teens last month:
- Realm Breaker by Victoria Aveyard, Fantasy
- A Walk to Remember by Nicholas Sparks, Gentle romance
- Dancing After TEN by Vivian Chong, Georgia Webber, Disabilities fiction
- The Dark Won't Wait by David A. Poulsen, Mysteries and crime stories
- Love Me or Miss Me by Dream Jordan, Multicultural fiction
Service tip: Update your website!
Do you have up-to-date information about CELA on your website?
Please take a moment to check that the following is reflected in your website description about CELA services:
- CELA no longer offers CDs. We do offer physical braille and print-braille, and Envoy Connect reloading by mail.
- CELA now offers more than 1.5 million titles, including bestsellers, award winners, nonfiction books and titles for all ages.
- CELA recently added a smart speaker option using Amazon Alexa. More information can be found on our website.
- Check out our recently updated Outreach Toolkit for more suggestions and specific content which can be used on your website.
If you have any questions, don’t hesitate to contact Member Services at members@celalibrary.ca or call us at 1-855-655-2273 and use option 2.
Holiday hours
CELA and the Contact Centre will be closed on Wednesday, July 1 for Canada Day. We will reopen with regular hours on Thursday, July 2.
Stay connected!
Visit CELA's social media, including Instagram, X (formerly known as Twitter), Facebook, YouTube and our blog, for more news about what's happening in the world of accessible literature.