Get Connected
Welcome to the Barrie community! The Barrie Public Library offers a variety of services for newcomers, including online programs and digital resources.
Visit Information Barrie for information for newcomers related to immigration, citizenship, housing, employment, English language learning, healthcare, childcare, transportation, recreation, education, and more.
Join our Newcomer Email List
Don't miss a thing! Sign up to receive information about upcoming programs and services for newcomers in the Barrie area. You may unsubscribe from the list at any time.
Become a Member
If you live, work or study in Barrie, live in Oro-Medonte, are a Georgian College student, or belong to the Midland or Orillia Public Libraries, you can register for a free library card.
Multilingual Resources
Adult Collection
Our adult multilingual and French collections consist of fiction and non-fiction books, DVDs and magazines in a variety of languages, including French, German, Hindi, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Polish, Punjabi, Russian, Spanish, Tagalog, Urdu and Vietnamese. Not all languages have all 3 item types.
Children’s Collection
Our Children’s collection contains books in French, Arabic, Chinese, German, Italian, Korean, Polish, Russian, Spanish, Tagalog, Ukrainian, and Urdu.
Programs
We have free programs specifically for newcomers - from conversation practice to citizenship classes. View our upcoming programs below, or visit our online calendar to register.
Multilingual Book Club
Broaden your reading horizons! Through book talks, share which corner of the world you are reading from, your favourite authors and your culture. Registration required.
Citizenship Study Group
Studying for the Canadian Citizenship Test? Join our free study group to prepare for the exam with fellow students. Registration required.
English Conversation Club
Practice English, meet new friends, and learn more about life and culture in Canada. Challenge yourself to build your speaking confidence! Library staff will lead small group discussions via telephone or Zoom conference to help you build your vocabulary, improve your confidence, and practice your conversation skills. Registration required.