The archives of Canada’s History Magazine, formerly the Beaver and its children’s magazine Kayak are available online for free. This archive includes issues from 1920 to 2020. Kayak issues are available in both English and French.

The McLennans of Petersfield site was created in 1997 and is presented it its original formatting. All internal links should work but some links to external sites or email addresses may not work as expected. Errors can be reported to info@cbrl.ca.

CBC Corner – Discover the best Canadian shows, stories & more

CBRL is very happy to announce that we’ve added a new digital resource to our website! Developed especially for public libraries, CBC Corner is a digital portal that brings CBC’s audio, video and news content together in one place for a more streamlined experience.

Have a few minutes? Not sure what you are looking for or just want to browse around? With trusted news, local stories and radio shows, entertaining TV shows, documentaries, movies, award-winning podcasts, latest sports news and special reports, and much more, CBC Corner has something for everyone and every taste!

Do you have children? CBC Corner has tons of safe, educational and entertaining content for children and youth of all ages including tv shows, free online games, fun quizzes and activities as well as news articles made by kids for kids. As a parent, you will also find cool and simple crafts ideas, healthy recipes, and easy ways to learn through play!

Interested in other languages? CBC Corner offers, through the daily multilingual service RCI, news in five of the most commonly spoken foreign languages in Canada (Mandarin, Punjabi, Tagalog, Arabic, Spanish).

CBC Corner is also a very valuable resource for those looking to learn or refine their French, or even their English skills, through our free Canadian language learning app, Mauril!

And if you’re looking for French content, CBC Corner also allows you to explore all of this en français with audio, video and news from Radio-Canada!

These are just a few examples of all the great content you can find! You will find a link to CBC Corner on our Digital Library page, or you can click here to check it out!

NNELS

NNELS (National Network for Equitable Library Service) is a growing collection of downloadable audiobooks and other accessible formats available for people with print disabilities.

NNELS titles can be used on a wide variety of devices, including handheld envoy connect audiobook players, Daisy players, computers, phones and tablets.

Cape Breton Regional Library already has made many NNELS titles available on DAISY-CDs, find out what is currently available on DAISY-CDs.

For more titles registered users can log into the NNELS website to see all NNELS titles.

Required Forms

One of the following forms must be printed, completed, and returned to a library branch to be able to borrow NNELS material:

• Competent Authority Form ; or
• Self-declaration Eligibility Form

Help and Troubleshooting Guides

View Tutorials on the NNELS website  for instructions on how to download books and transfer them to compatible devices such as DAISY CD players or digital players like the Victor Stream.

For more information see our Accessibility Page

Accessibility

Library Accessibility News

DAISY Portable Player – Victor Reader Stream 2

Featuring a fully tactile interface, the Victor Reader Stream 2 is a handheld digital audio player to enjoy your media content. This assistive device designed for people are blind or… Read…

Read More

Portable Magnifier – Optalec Traveller HD

The Optelec Traveller HD mobile electronic magnifier is a useful tool for people with low vision. Optelec offers several options for magnification and contrast display, making reading and viewing phot…

Read More

Pocketalker Personal Amplifier

The Pocketalker Ultra Personal Amplifier amplifies sounds closest to the listener while reducing background noise. It is ideal for one-on-one conversation, small-group and television listening, or con…

Read More

Fidget Kit on the Go

Introducing new mini fidget kits from the library! Now you can fidget on the go, wherever you go, thanks to our portable fidget kits that provide a variety of sensory… Read More »Acc…

Read More

Accessibility Statement

We aspire for our libraries to be welcoming, inclusive, and accepting public spaces to all people. Through this work, all Nova Scotians will have full and equitable access to spaces, services, resources, programs, and employment/volunteer opportunities offered by public libraries.

Accessibility Plan & Reports

The Interregional Advisory Committee for Library Accessibility (IACLA) is proud to release the multi-year IACLA Accessibility Plan for six regional libraries, including Cape Breton Regional Library.

• Library-Accessibility-Plan 2022: PDF
• Library-Accessibility-Plan 2025 PDF (Plain language translation coming soon)
• 2023-24 IACLA Activity Report: PDF | MP3
• 2022-23 IACLA Activity Report: PDF | MP3

Website Accessibility

At CBRL, we know that the online experience we create needs to be welcoming and inclusive to people with a wide range of abilities. This includes those who rely on assistive technology to access online services, in addition to individuals with cognitive and digital-literacy challenges.

We strive to maintain compliance with Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.1 level AA on our website. This is an ongoing process. Some of our efforts include:

• Our website team includes accessibility and usability criteria for any new design feature or improvements to existing features.
• Staff contributing website and social media content are provided guidelines and training on how to ensure content is accessible.
• Text Equivalents — We are working to ensure that images are accessible to people who use screen readers and other assistive technology by using appropriate alternative text.
• Site Structure — We are working to ensure that appropriate headings are used so that people can use the site with assistive technology.
• Keyboard Access — Improving keyboard access for non-mouse input devices.

Our website is always evolving and we hope to continue to make the site more user-friendly and accessible for everyone. We welcome feedback on how we can make improvements. Please send any feedback on website accessibility to info@cbrl.ca

Accessible Collections for Print Disabilities

CBRL offers a variety of reading materials for people who find it difficult to read standard print books.

What is a Print Disability?

 A print disability is defined as:

• Severe or total impairment of sight or the inability to focus or move one’s eyes.
• The inability to hold or manipulate a book.
• An impairment relating to comprehension.

Formats Available

Our Library Branches have a wide range of materials in alternate formats including:

• Audiobooks on CD and MP3-CD
• Audiobooks on Playaways
• Braille
  • There are a variety of ways to receive Braille books. Electronic Braille is available for download from CELA and NNELS. Hard copy braille (e.g. Braille embossed on paper) can be borrowed:
    • By requesting Braille through SamePage Libraries. (Mostly children’s books)
    • Through the NNELS Distributed Braille Collection. Specific titles can be requested via Interlibrary Loan.
    • Through CELA (sent in the mail)
• DAISY Audiobooks & accesssible EPUB through CELA & NNELS
• Digital Library Apps (Many of our Digital Library apps also have features to improve accessibility. For example PressReader has a feature for listening to newspaper and magazine articles. The Libby app also has some accessibility features.)
• Large Print Books

CELA and NNELS

As a Library member with a print disability, you can register to borrow accessible items from the Centre for Equitable Library Access (CELA) and National Network for Equitable Library Service (NNELS).

Many of the books available through CELA and NNELS are in DAISY format. DAISY is an audiobook format books that can be played on DAISY CD Players or Digital Daisy Players which can be borrowed from the library. There are also apps available for iOS and Android devices which will play these files.

Additional Formats available include:

• Accessible EPUB which can be read by Braille display or listened to via text-to-speech apps.
• Electronic Braille which can be read by Braille display
• Hard Copy Braille

CELA

The CELA Collection includes more than 450,000 items on a range of subjects and genres for all ages—all professionally-produced for people with print disabilities. There are French and English options, and a special focus on Canadian titles and First Nations literature.

Eligibility

You are eligible to borrow from the CELA Collection, if you’re a Library member with a print disability and you live within Cape Breton or Victoria County.

Registration

You can register by visiting us in person at any of our locations and self-identifying as a person with a print disability. You can also self-register online. You will need to have your library card number to register. CELA will confirm your registration and give you access to the collection within 5 business days. Proof of disability (CNIB card or doctor’s note) is required to access some of CELA’s collections. Please inform library staff if you have registered for CELA and did not receive a welcome email or phone call from them.

How it works

Once you are registered for CELA, you can borrow items designed specifically for people with print disabilities including:

• Books
• Magazines
• Newspapers
• Described videos

Most CELA Collection titles can be downloaded. You can read using DAISY-formatted audio, e-Text, described videos, and braille. You can read more about compatible devices and software on the CELA website.

CELA’s Direct-to-Player service allows for automatic downloading of titles to apps available on iOS and Android devices, as well as WiFi enabled DAISY reading devices.

CELA also offers their own home delivery service so you can receive books on CD in the mail.

Help & Troubleshooting

• Downloading DAISY Books to your Computer (CELA website)
• Transferring DAISY Books to a Victor Reader Stream (CELA website)
• Using CELA’s Direct-to-Player Service (CELA website)
• More Tutorials on CELA’s website (CELA website)

If you have questions or need support, call any of our locations or call CELA directly at 1-855-655-2273.

NNELS

NNELS is a growing collection of downloadable audiobooks and other accessible formats available for people with print disabilities.

NNELS titles can be used on a wide variety of devices, including computers/ laptops, iPads, iPhones, Android devices, MP3 players, DAISY readers, and can also be burned on to CDs.

Cape Breton Regional Library already has made many NNELS titles available on DAISY-CDs, find out what is currently available on DAISY-CDs.

For more titles registered users can log into the NNELS website to see all NNELS titles.

Required Forms

To begin using NNELS, one of the following forms must be printed, completed, and returned to a library branch.

• Competent Authority Form ; or
• Self-declaration Eligibility Form

Help and Troubleshooting Guides

• Downloading a NNELS Digital Book (Links to NNELS website)
• Transferring Books to Victor Reader Stream or USB
• View More Tutorials on the NNELS website 

Equipment to Borrow

Available equipment includes:

• Envoy Connect Player. The Envoy Connect Player is any easy to use intuitive audiobook player for CELA or NNELS books. Learn More about the Envoy Connect.
• DAISY CD Players (Victor Reader Stratus) Reserve through the online catalogue or by phoning 902-562-3161.
• DAISY Digital Players (Victor Reader Stream). Reserve through the online catalogue or by phoning 902-562-3161.
  • Introduction to Victor Reader Stream (handout included when borrowing device)
  • Quick Tips for the Victor Reader Stream (handout included when borrowing device)
  • Transferring Books to the Victor Reader Stream
  • Audio/Video Lessons on using the Victor Stream Reader
• Optelec Traveller HD – For magnifying print books, newspapers and more.
• Pocket Talker Personal Amplifier
  • The amplifier is designed to amplify sounds closest to the listener while reducing background noise.  Simply plug in earphones, adjust volume and tone. It can be used with or without hearing aids. It is useful for one-on-one conversations, or small group listening situations (i.e.bookclub, meetings, or library information sessions) 
• Playaway Pre-loaded audiobooks
• iPads

Borrow By Mail & Seniors Facilities

The library offers a Borrow by Mail service for anyone who lives more than 15 km from a library branch or anyone in CBRM and Victoria County who has a disability or illness which prevents them from being able to visit a library branch.

Library materials are also delivered to some residential care facilities and seniors homes on a regular basis. Phone our borrow by mail staff, 902-562-2028 for more information on these services.

Libby

Borrow ebooks, audiobooks, and magazines to read on your phone or tablet using the Libby app by OverDrive. It’s free and easy to get started for new users and a streamlined experience for users transitioning from the Overdrive app.

Get Started with Libby

Download or open Libby on your device:

• iOS devices: Apple App Store
• Android devices: Google Play
• Amazon Fire tablets: Amazon Appstore
• Windows, Mac, and Chromebooks: libbyapp.com
  Note: libbyapp.com works best in up-to-date versions of Chrome, Safari, Firefox, and Edge.

Libby Help/Faq

• Register for a free Libby Webinar
• Read the FAQ for switching from Overdrive to Libby

Overdrive Website

Some desktop/laptop computer users may prefer to continue browsing for books on the Overdrive Website.

Kanopy

Stream thoughtful and entertaining classic films, world cinema, TV series, documentaries, and popular movies.

By using this service, you accept this service’s Terms of Service and Privacy Policy.

GET STARTED

Good to Know

• You have 10 tickets to use each month for watching movies from Cape Breton Regional Library on Kanopy. Tickets reset on the first of each month. Unused tickets do not roll over to the next month. Learn more about Kanopy Tickets.
• Kanopy Kids collection allows for unlimited viewing for all Kids films for 30 days after first play.
• No holds or waitlists.
• Available as an app and through your Smart TV.

Getting Started

1. Go to the Library’s Kanopy website. You will need to enter your Library Card number and PIN.
2. Create a Kanopy account using your email address and creating a password. The first time you create your account, a verification email will go to the email address you provided. Once you click on the link sent to the provided email address, you will need to add your Library Card number and PIN.
3. If you’ve already created an account, log in using the email and password you provided. You can then search, browse, or select a film from the curated collections to watch.
4. Your play credits display on the top right corner of the screen. It is not considered a play until you begin to watch the selected film.

Download the App or Watch on your Smart TV

The Kanopy app is available for iOS and Android devices

Download the app from Google Play or the Apple App Store

Download the app and then create a Kanopy account using your email address and creating a password. The first time you create your account, a verification email will go to the email address you provided. Once you click on the link sent to the provided email address, you will need to add your Library Card number and PIN.

You can then search, browse, or select a film from the curated collections to watch.

If you have a Smart TV, you can use Kanopy as an app, or by connecting your computer to your television via HDMI.

Need Help?

You can check out Kanopy’s Help Page for the most common problems and solutions or watch a video tutorial to learn how to use Kanopy.

Printable Help Pages

How to create an account (pdf)

Using Kanopy from a web browser (pdf)

Using Kanopy Kids (pdf)

Privacy and Terms of Use

Kanopy is a commercial service whose policies concerning privacy and user information differ from that of Cape Breton Regional Library. For more information, please read their Privacy Policy and Terms of Use.

GET STARTED

Hoopla is like having your public library at your fingertips.
Anytime. Anywhere.

This page has been updated to reflect the Hoopla Borrowing Limits effective May 1 2025.

Cape Breton Regional Library offers 3 hoopla borrows per month.

Learn More about Hoopla with our Video Tutorial

Try hoopla today by downloading the “hoopla digital” app on your Apple, Android or Kindle device.

You can also access Hoopla from a desktop computer or laptop by going to the hoopla website: hoopladigital.com.

Hoopla: What you need to know

• You can borrow up to 3 titles a month. Limits reset on the first day of each month. Unused checkouts do not rollover to the next month.
• Items will be automatically returned when the loan period is over so there are never any fines.
  • Movie and TV content is available for 3 days.
  • Music albums are available for 7 days.
  • Audiobooks, eBooks and comics are available for 21 days.
• There are no holds or wait lists.
• You can return an item early but this does not allow you to borrow more than 3 items per month.
• In addition to monthly borrowing limits, the library has a daily budget cap on Hoopla that resets at midnight. If you try to borrow something after the daily budget cap has been reached you will see the following error message: ‘The collective daily borrow limit set by your library has been reached and will reset at midnight.’ Browse and add titles to your favourites so that you can easily access content when the daily cap resets.
• Content can be streamed from the internet or, if using the hoopla app, downloaded for offline use.
• Streaming from hoopla uses your data. A regular-length movie uses about 1GB; an album uses about 35 MB of data.
• A Kids Mode is available with content that hoopla has selected for children up to age 12. Once you are logged in, go to your settings in the right hand of the screen and select Kids Mode.

Setting up a Hoopla Account:

From hoopladigital.com select Get Started or Sign Up:

• Enter your email address and create a password.
• Choose Cape Breton Regional Library
• Enter Your Library  Card Number without any spaces and enter your PIN (by default the PIN is the last four digits of your phone number)
• If you don’t have a Library Card you can sign-up for one online.  Please note it can take up to 48 hours to process online library card applications.

Need More Help? Visit hoopla’s help page.   Or email info@cbrl.ca for questions about your library card.

CELA is an accessible library service for people with print disabilities.

CELA’s collection includes award winners, best sellers, fiction and non-fiction with a special emphasis on Canadian authors and stories, and favourites for kids and teens. Patrons have access to close to 50 newspapers and 150 DAISY magazines which are available on the same day they are published.

If you or someone you know has a print disability watch the tutorial below to learn more about CELA’s library services. Or visit the help page on CELA’s website.

See the library’s Accessibility page for more info.

PressReader news & magazines accessible anywhere , anytime with your library card!

With over 7,000 publications from over 100 countries in 60+ languages, PressReader is the leading digital newspaper and magazine provider for premium content. As a Cape Breton Regional Library patron, you will have on and off-site access courtesy of your local library. Explore titles such as Cape Breton Post, The Chronicle Herald, The National Post, The Guardian, Washington Post, Forbes, and much more from all over the world.

Pressreader can be accessed through and internet browser (on a PC or Mac) or through the mobile app.

Good to Know

• PressReader has the largest selection of global publications.
• You can use built-in text-to-speech feature to listen to articles.
• Individual articles and issues can also be translated into other languages.
• You can search for publications as well as do an advanced search to research a topic.
• You can alternate between Page View and Text View.

Download the App

You can access PressReader on Apple  and  Android devices.

• To use the app from home, you will need to follow these instructions:
• Download and open the app.
• Look for the Sign in icon at the bottom.
• Select to sign in through Library or Group.
• Search for Cape Breton Regional Library.
• Enter your Library Card number and PIN.
• PressReader will then prompt you to create an account with your name, email and a password – You can cancel this prompt if you don’t want to create an account or if you have trouble with the process.
• You will have 30 days of access to PressReader prior to having to sign in again.
• When you sign in again you will only need your library card number and PIN.

Visual Guide to Signing in with your Library Card

The following screenshots demonstrate how to log in with your library card:

Step 1

 Click on Sign In and select “Libraries & Groups”

Step 2

Search for Cape Breton and select Cape Breton Regional Library

Step 3

Enter your Library Card number without any spaces, and then enter your PIN

Phone your local library or the Sydney Branch (902-562-3161) if you cannot remember your PIN.

Step 4

Cancel the account creation prompt if you do not wish to create an account or if you get an invalid password message.

Getting Started from a Desktop or Laptop Computer

• Go to the PressReader.com.
• Click on the Sign in button on the upper right side of your screen.
• Click on Library or Group and search for Cape Breton Regional Library.
• Enter your Library Card number and PIN and click Sign in.
• If prompted, enter your email address and create a password.
• You will be prompted to log in every 30 days.
• When you sign in again you will only need your library card number and PIN.

Need Help?

For more help and advanced features, please visit the PressReader help page or submit a support request to PressReader.

Privacy and Terms of Use

PressReader is a commercial service whose policies concerning privacy and user information differ from that of the Cape Breton Regional Library. For more information, please read PressReader’s Privacy Policy and Terms of Use.

Part of CBRL’s Nova Scotia Collection, the diaries of Melvin S. Huntington were donated to the W.W. Lewis Memorial Library in Louisbourg. The diaries, although not complete, span the period from the late 1800s to 1961. They provide an interesting view of life in Louisbourg during that time, including current affairs that were of interest at that time, such as the shipping industry, weather, world news and  events in people’s lives.

The Library has transcribed these diaries to make them available online to a wider audience.