Alexis Millar is the former Digital Marketing Specialist at the Edmonton Public Library. This article was originally published on Tuesday, Dec. 20 2022 and was recently updated by an EPL staff.
Looking to add a little ho-ho-ho to the holidays. We have some great resources to get you in the festive spirit and keep the fun going into the new year!
1. Stream Holiday Classics
While you might already know that you can sign out DVDs, opens a new window from EPL, did you know that you can also stream movies and other videos?
Easily access popular holiday movies through Kanopy, such as A Christmas Carol, An American Santa, Christmas at the Kranks and Black Christmas. They even offer a Festive Fireplace to provide the perfect Yule Log ambiance.
We also have Kanopy Kids so the whole family can enjoy a night of age-appropriate flicks. While you can watch on a computer, tablet or mobile device, both services have apps on various TV platforms.
Who needs Netflix, when you’ve got a library card?
2. Make a New Dish
Take a trip around the world through food this holiday season. Take your taste buds to Puerto Rico and try making Arroz con Gandules or to the Philippines and enjoy Bibingka (Filipino rice cake). You can also make other holiday staples like Bûche de Noël (Yule Log), Christmas Trifle or Latkes (Potato Pancakes). Take a culinary journey with AtoZ World Food!
Check out our huge selection of cookbooks. Many are available in both physical and eBook formats.
Don’t have time for cookbooks? Did you know our free 72-hour online pass to the New York Times includes New York Times Cooking? The New York Times Cooking section includes continually updated holiday recipes that range from hearty 5-star timesavers to memorable classics with deep flavour.
3. Listen to some Festive Music
Stream more than 125,000 albums or 1.9 million tracks with Naxos Music Library.
They have a wide variety of classical and choral holiday music, including Season of Light , Songs of Joy & Peace by Yo-Yo Ma, O Holy Night by Friar Alessandor and Chanukkah In Story and Song.
Looking for some more classical music scores? Music Online: Classical Scores Library can help. You can stream Messiah, Marche Des Trois Rois Mages, Psallite (Vieux Noël) and Cantate pour le temps de Noël.
If eclectic holiday tunes are more your thing, check out the Naxos Music Jazz database. It features a mix of Jazz, Pop, and even some Metal holiday music.
4. Capture Family Memories
Want to take better family photos this holiday season? Use LinkedIn Learning to access video courses such as Simple Photo Edits on Your Phone and Taking Great Photos With Your Phone. You can also tune in for weekly tips and tricks with Mobile Photography Weekly.
Additionally, Gale Courses offers courses like Photographing People With Your Digital Camera and Introduction to digital scrapbooking — great for turning your holiday memories into cherished keepsakes.
Looking for more holiday content? We have lists, events and resources to keep the festive fun going.
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