Can I borrow books by using a Christmas card? Can I feed books to my dog? Where can I find books about dinosaurs? 

During their visit to a local library or mobile library, first graders will:

• Get to know the library and practice using public services.
• Learn to take care of their library card, PIN and library materials.
• Take their first steps in information retrieval and get to know literature from fiction to non-fiction and from magazines to other library materials. Receive their first booktalk.
• Be encouraged to ask for advice from the library staff.

Step into the world of the book, get excited and read!

• The children's age group and reading skills are taken into account in booktalks. The books presented will enrich a child's vocabulary and strengthen their creativity and imagination.
• The booktalker will tell about books in an inspiring way. Participants share reading experiences and get excited about stories together.

Booktalks can be organized at the library, schools or online.

Guidance on how to retrieve information at OUTI Web Library

At the workshop, pupils will learn about a fifth grader named Risto, who is struggling with information retrieval. Risto loves the Diary of a Wimpy Kid books. Pupils will practice information retrieval at the web library with the help of Risto and the Diary of a Wimpy kid books.

Each autumn before the autumn break Oulu City Library organizes online booktalks for those grades that do not have guided Library Route group visits. Online booktalks are targeted to primary school pupils in grades 2, 4 and 6. Online booktalk recordings can be found on the library YouTube channel.

Using the Library and Online Information Retrieval at OUTI Web Library

Pupils can practice using the library and retrieving information also with the help of their teacher. Learning modules contain videos and assignments. The materials are also available at Qridi.

Grades 1-2 Taitava kirjastokettu (in Finnish)

Grades 3-4 Kirjastomestari tutkimusretkellä (in Finnish)

Grades 5-6 Tiedonhaun taitaja (in Finnish)

Online Information Retrieval

Grades 4-6 Verkkotiedon jäljillä (in Finnish)

Information retrieval guidance strengthens pupils' skills to independently use OUTI Web Library. Pupils will get to know library materials and e-materials. Pupils are guided in assessing the reliability of information and in using Eväitä opiskeluun online materials. Read more about Eväitä opiskeluun (in Finnish).

Teachers can also choose a booktalk instead of an information retrieval guidance session for their seventh graders. Booktalkers will present relevant and diverse young adult literature. The book genres include for example fantasy, thrillers and romance. In addition to fiction, we can also organize booktalks on non-fiction books or other library materials.

Booktalks can be organized at the library, schools or online. Read instructions on how to reserve a booktalk (in Finnish).

Each autumn before the autumn break Oulu City Library organizes online booktalks for those grades that do not have guided Library Route group visits. Eighth graders receive a booktalk on genres, whereas ninth graders receive a booktalk on non-fiction. Online booktalk recordings can be found on the library YouTube channel.

Library provides lower and upper secondary school pupils with a website containing an extensive guide on information retrieval called Eväitä opiskeluun. On the website, pupils can find information on for example library information retrieval, advanced search on Google, image search, referencing and copyrights. Pupils can use the website independently, or their teacher can utilize it in teaching information retrieval.

The learning module available on the website is called Valopäät verkossa (in Finnish). Pupils can do assignments independently or with their teacher's guidance. The learning module can also be found at the Qridi learning environment.

The goal of the learning module is for the pupil to:

• use different information sources and search methods
• utilize library materials and services and use web library independently
• learn to respect copyrights
• examine and compare the reliability of different information sources and obtain a critical attitude towards information