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The Idea Exchange library catalogue lets you search for print books, e-Books, e-Audiobooks, games, Unusual Things to Borrow, and more. A library card is required to borrow material.

JSTOR provides access to peer-reviewed, academic articles, scholarly e-books, and more. Contact Ryan for remote login credentials.

Search Gale Online Resources to find academic, peer-reviewed articles and scholarly books. Contact Ryan for remote login credentials.

Sora provides access to exclusive e-books and e-audiobooks available only to Bennies students. Your username is your student/staff ID, and your password is your birthday in MMDDYYYY. Can’t find what you’re looking for? Contact Ryan to request a title.

Databases

Bennies Resources

Bennies resources are for Bennies students only. They can be accessed anytime you’re using the school network. For remote access (i.e. to be able to access from home), please contact Ryan for the login details.

Blooms Literature: A rich collection of classic e-books, reference entries, and resources on writing and reading.

Source Reference: This resource includes both reference texts and instructional videos, tutorials on the research process, and more.

Science Online: Offering a comprehensive overview of a broad range of scientific disciplines, this reference tools contains learning modules, videos, diagrams, and even interactive experiments.

ChiltonLibrary: This tool provides access to repair, maintenance, and service information for most vehicles on the road today. Contains service bulletins, repair manuals, wiring schematics, and more.

World Religions: Learn all about world religions through sacred text, primary source, reference content, videos, and more.

Writer’s Reference Centre: This tool provides users with a convenient one-stop location for all of the tools necessary to write and research effectively.

Drama Online: Access playtexts, images, video, and more from classic playwrights like Shakespeare to modern masters like Caryl Churchill.

CPI.Q Canadian Periodicals: Search this leading index of Canadian Periodicals, which includes full-text of hundreds of major publications, including Globe and Mail and Maclean’s.

Canadian Points of View Reference Source: Explore all sides of controversial current issues to develop your own perspective.

Opposing Viewpoints: Build your critical thinking and debate skills by exploring all sides of the hot-button topics of the day. Features viewpoint essays, reference articles, interactive maps, and more.

Encyclopedia Britannica – School: Access the world’s leading encyclopedia, written by experts and tailored for secondary students.

Britannica Image Quest: Search for rights-cleared images to use in your work.

Explora: Find high quality articles and primary sources for your research project.

Learn 360: Access educational videos, topic centers, and learning games. Access using your WCDSB network login.

Idea Exchange Resources

Idea Exchange resources require a library card to access. If you have a library card, login with your library membership (barcode) number and your 4 digit PIN number. For help accessing resources, please contact Ryan.

Creativebug: Creativebug is your online crafting home. Learn how to paint, knit, crochet, sew, and more with online video classes.

Libby: Access thousands of e-books, e-audiobooks, and magazines from your device or desktop browser. Download the Libby app here.

Hoopla: Use Hoopla for movies, music, e-books, and more. Stream titles immediately or download them for later.

Kanopy: Stream over 30,000 movies, from the hottest indies to Hollywood classics.

Novelist: Looking for a good book to read? Find book reviews, plot summaries, reading suggestions, and award winners.

PressReader: Enjoy unlimited access to over 5,000 newspaper and magazine titles, from more than 120 countries, in over 60 languages. Publications are offered in full-colour, full-page format, just like reading the print version.

Transparent Language: Learn a new language from home or on the go with comprehensive learning pathways from Transparent Language. Practice your English or choose from over one hundred other languages, from Afrikaans to Zulu, including American Sign Language, Ojibwe, and French

Websites

The open web can also be a great place to find information! Here are a few websites that you may find helpful. Remember to critically evaluate all information you discover online. Remember that most webpages aren’t a scholarly source, but you may find Open Access scholarly content on the open web. Contact your teacher or your librarian if you have any questions.

Catholic Resources

Catechism of the Catholic Church: This searchable, online edition of the Catechism summarizes the doctrine of the Church.

The Holy See: Visit the Vatican’s official website to learn more about Church history or aspects of the faith.

Catholic Answers: Catholic Answers is a media ministry that answers questions about Church teachings. Includes explainers on various aspects of the faith from the original Catholic Encyclopedia (published until 1912) as well as opinion pieces.

Reference Sites

The Canadian Encyclopedia: Provides accurate, up-to-date reference information about Canada and Canadians. Includes 25,000 articles (with more added each month!) written by more than 5,000 expert contributors.

Open Access Scholarship

What is “Open Access”?: Learn about Open Access (OA) scholarly publishing from the Open Society Foundations.

Open Library: This collection of textbooks, lesson plans, and more from eCampus Ontario contains nearly 30,000 Open Educational Resources for use by teachers.

Google Scholar: Google Scholar is Google’s search engine for scholarly work. Most search results won’t include the full text of the article, but it does include some Open Access content.

Directory of Open Access Journals: Use this index to search for Open Access journals published around the world.

OpenDOAR: Many academic articles are available in Open Access ‘repositories’ at the authors’ institutions. Search OpenDOAR to find a repository.

Contact the School Librarian

School Librarian: Ryan Orr

Email: rorr@ideaexchange.org

Phone: 519-740-6294 ext. 303

Can’t find what you’re looking for?
Contact Ryan with your questions.

Library Hours

School Access only (closed to public):
Monday to Friday  8:00-10:00am

Clemens Mill Library (open to public):
Monday – Thursday 10:00am to 8:30pm
Friday 10:00am to 5:30pm
Saturdays 9:30am to 5:30pm
Sundays: 1:00-5:00pm*

*Closed Sundays from Victoria Day until Labour Day

Land Acknowledgement

St Benedict’s is situated on the traditional home of the Haudenosaunee, Anishinaabe and Neutral People. We acknowledge the enduring presence and deep traditional knowledge, laws and philosophies of the Indigenous Peoples with whom we share this land today.

Waterloo Region is situated on the Haldimand Tract.

Learn more about Truth and Reconciliation, including the 94 Calls to Action, by visiting the National Centre for Truth and Reconciliation.