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Love. Art in front of the National Library of Canada on Wellington Street. Photo by Robyn Paton.
Love. Art in front of the National Library of Canada on Wellington Street. Photo by Robyn Paton.

Ottawa Books & Library Guide

There's much more to Ottawa's literary community than big box stores like Chapters. Ottawa has plenty of independent book stores, an active literary community, and even an annual writers festival.

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Libraries

Independent Book Stores

After Stonewall (370 Bank, 567-2221)
Book Baskets Canada
Book Bazaar (417 Bank, 233-4380)
Books Canada
Books on Beechwood (35 Beechwood Ave, 742-5030) Staff Blog
Bytown Bookshop
Canterbury House Book Store
Central Computer Books
Coin Du Livre (1657 Cyrville Rd, 746-1242)
Collected Works (Wellington @ Holland)
Dragon Tail Bookshop
Haven Books (43 Seneca, 730-9888)
Librairie du Centre (435 Donald 747-1553)
LIbrairie du Soleil (33 George, 241-6999)
Mother Tongue Books (1067 Bank, 730-2346)
National Gallery of Canada Book Store
Nicholas Hoare
Octopus Books
Perfect Books
Place Bell Books
Polish Bookstore in Ottawa
Renouf Books (1-5369 Canotek Rd., 745-2665)
Salem Storehouse
Serendipity BOoks and Gifts (1337-B Wellington, 722-3400)
Singing Pebble Books (202-A Main, 230-9165)
Weekend Reader (1315 Wellington, 729-5281)
World of Maps and Travel Books (1235 Wellington, 724-6776)

If you know the web sites for any of the stores below, please send them to us.

Book Den (263 MacLaren, 236-3142)
Shirley Leishman Books (Westgate Mall 722-8313)
The New Octopus Bookstore (116 Third Ave, 233-2589)
Girol Spanish and Portuguese Books (120 Somerset W, 233-9044)
All Books (327 Rideau, 789-9544)
Livres Disques Etc. (450 Rideau, 888-320-8070)
Daniel Leclerc 1116 Wellington, 722-3488)
Bay Used Books (68-A Robertson Rd, 829-7157)
Ecclesiastical Bookstore/Librairie Ecclesiastique (223 Main, 751-4015)
Crosstown Traffic (593-C Bank, 234-1210)
Perfect Books (258-A Elgin, 231-6468)
Birder's Corner (101-2 Beechwood Ave, 741-0945)
Garden of Light (163 Laurier Ave E, 235-2727)
Sunnyside Bookshop (113 Murray, 241-0943)
Health Sciences Book Store (501 Smyth, 737-8847)
Also: not at all an independent book store, but lots of people are searching for the web site for Chapters. Here is is: chapters.indigo.ca

Comic Books

Dark Age Comics
Myths Legends & Heroes
Silver Snail
Back Copies - 742-0255
Cave Comics - 739-7831
Entertainment Inké - 841-5531
Fandom II, 162 Laurier Avenue West, (613) 236-2972
Infinte Earths Collectables - 283-0145
Infinity Entertainment - 247-1131
The Comic Book Shoppe
The Wizard's Tower - 569-3317

Antiquarian & Used Books

Campus Book Stores

Writing & Translation Services

Ascribe Writing Communications
Clive Pyne Book Indexing
Devonia Technical Writing
Ottawa Storytellers
"This association exists to promote the art of storytelling in our community, to nurture and inspire both beginning and experienced storytellers, and to provide tellers and listeners of all ages with opportunities to come together to share and enjoy stories."
Ottawa Translation
The Writing Coach
Writer's Deadline Mailing List

Publishers

Local Writers & Books

Writing & Literary events

Ottawa Independent Writers
ARC Magazine
Bywords.ca
Capital Crime Writers
Capital Crime Writers has over seventy members who meet on the second Monday, holding workshops and inviting guest speakers. Over the years there have been forensic pathologists, lawyers, police officers, private investigators, script writers, editors - the list goes on.
Kanata Writers' Group
Literary Events
National Capital Letters
Ottawa Science Fiction Society
Ottawa Writing Resources
Students for Literacy Ottawa
The Bookworm (blog by Donald Ermen, Ottawa Sun)
Writers' Deadline (mailing list)
Writers Festival

Books about Ottawa

Ottawa: The Unknown City by rob mclennan
Ottawa may be our capital city but it's also a place of contradictions—the official version offers numerous, beneficent historic sites, institutions, museums, and galleries, but there are other stories to be told. In this latest edition of Arsenal's Unknown City series of alternativecity guides for both locals and tourists, Ottawa comes alive as a diverse, quirky town that may look like a government city on the surface but boasts a small-town charm. The book charts a course through the city's hidden landmarks, shopping, dining, and nightlife hot spots, as well as secret histories that will come as a surprise even to life-long locals.
Secret Ottawa by Laura Byrne Paquet. Secret Ottawa reveals a side of the capital that most visitors-and many locals-never see. Find out where you can spot a blue heron at sunrise, eat Sri Lankan string hoppers, buy armour or angels, or work out at 3:00 a.m. From cycling to sundials, and waterfalls to wine, Secret Ottawa is your guide to the city's hidden treasures.
Frommer's® Ottawa by Louise Dearden. Covers everything Ottawa has to offer, including visual and performing arts, historic monuments, and world-class outdoor sports and recreation.
Capital Dining by Anne DesBrisay. Ottawa’s top restaurant critic and the author of the Citizen’s popular “Dining Out” column, Anne DesBrisay recommends over 150 restaurants in the National Capital Region. This is the second edition of Capital Dining—new and updated for 2008.
Capital Walks: Walking Tours of Ottawa by Katharine Fletcher.
Ottawa with Kids by James Hale. The complete family travel guide to attractions, sites and events in Ottawa.
The Lobster kids' guide to exploring Ottawa-Hull by John Symon. Whether you're a parent, an educator or a tourist, if you're caring for children between the ages of 1-12, this book is the perfect answer. More than 100 suggestions for fun-filled family activities in the National Capital Region.
Frommer's® Ottawa with Kids by Louise Dearden. Reveals the most fun and educational experiences for kids in Canada's capital. It's full of incredibly detailed tips - right down to which hotels offer cribs and rollaway beds and which restaurants offer high chairs.
The Hike It Bike It Walk It Drive It Guide: to Ottawa, the Gatineau, Kingston & Beyond by Ann Campbell. Features a variety of outdoor daytrips in Eastern Ontario and Western Quebec. Contains maps, directions, up-to-date info and contact phone numbers.
Ottawa: A colourguide by Carol Martin. Museums, festivals, Parliament Hill, accomodation, heritage sites, dining, recreation, shopping, galleries.
Ottawa-Gatineau Film & Video Registry. A who's who guide to Ottawa's growing film industry.