Out On The Shelf - Queer Library and Resource Centre

10/09/2026

🗳️ YOU ASKED, WE LISTENED!

Our Guelph Votes 2026 resources are now available as FREE printable PDFs! 🎉

We've made two of our voter education guides available to download, print and share:

🗳️ Your Quick Guide to Voting: An intro to what you need to know about what, when, where and how to vote in Guelph's municipal election.

🏳️‍⚧️ Trans and Gender-Diverse Voters: Answers to common questions about name changes, identification, voter information and accessing support.

We know that navigating elections can feel overwhelming, especially if you're voting for the first time or have questions about the process.

Our goal is to make voting information accessible, easy to understand and available to everyone.

💚 Download a copy for yourself, print one for a friend, or share these resources with your community!

🔗 Find both guides on our website:
https://www.outontheshelf.com/education-and-resources/resources/

📅 Election Day: October 26, 2026
Advance voting starts this weekend! October 10 - 18
You can find advance voting locations at: https://guelph.ca/city-government/mayor-and-council/municipal-elections/2026-municipal-and-school-board-elections-voting-locations/

Your community. Your voice. Your vote.

Visit: guelph.ca/vote for more information!

Out on the Shelf is non-partisan. Our voter education resources are intended to help community members access information and make their own informed decisions.

10/09/2026

🗳️ GUELPH VOTES 2026 | OOTS SENT OUT INVITES!

At Out on the Shelf, we believe community voices deserve to be heard by the people seeking to represent us.

That's why we invited all six Guelph mayoral candidates to meet with us, learn about the experiences and priorities of Guelph's 2SLGBTQIA+ communities, and discuss their approach to community representation.

So, who engaged?

We're sharing an update on our outreach, including who responded, which meetings have taken place, and which conversations are still being arranged.

Our goal is simple: transparency and accountability.

We also recognize that engagement with OOTS is just one part of a much bigger picture. Whether a candidate has met with us, responded to an invitation, or participated in past community events does not tell the whole story of their values, priorities, or commitment to our communities.

We encourage everyone to look beyond this post. Explore candidates' platforms, ask questions, and consider the issues that matter to you.

💚 OOTS remains non-partisan. We do not endorse or oppose any candidate. Sharing these interactions is about keeping our community informed, not telling anyone how to vote.

📲 Swipe to see where things stand as of October 9.

Your community. Your voice. Your vote.

Election Day: October 26, 2026
Advance Voting: October 10 - 18

Visit:
🔗 guelph.ca/vote
for more info.

Note: On election day you are able to ride transit for free! Check out Guelph Transit for more info.

10/07/2026

10/06/2026

🗳️ GUELPH VOTES 2026: YOUR QUICK GUIDE TO VOTING
Never voted before? Not sure where to go, what to bring, or whether you can vote?

We’ve got you. Swipe through ➡️
Municipal elections decide who represents you at City Hall and on your school board and those decisions show up in our everyday lives: housing and development, transit, roads, parks and recreation, public spaces, city services, local policies and how municipal dollars are spent.

For 2SLGBTQIA+ people, local decisions can also affect access, safety, representation and belonging in the spaces and services we use every day.

📅 WHEN?
Election Day is Monday, October 26, 10 a.m.–8 p.m.
Want to vote early? Advance voting runs October 10–18. City Hall has advance voting throughout that period, with additional ward locations available October 16–18.

📍 WHERE?
Your voting location depends on your ward. Use the City’s voting map to find yours.
On Election Day, Guelph City Hall is also a Vote Anywhere location, so you can vote there regardless of your ward.

✅ CAN I VOTE?
You can vote if you’re 18+, a Canadian citizen, and live in Guelph. You may also qualify if you or your spouse own or rent property in Guelph.
Renters and eligible students can vote too. And not having a permanent address does not automatically mean you can't vote.

🪪 WHAT DO I BRING?
Bring identification showing your name and qualifying Guelph address. Photo ID is not required

📋 CHECK THE VOTERS’ LIST NOW
Until October 9, you can check, add or update your information online or at City Hall. If you miss that deadline, eligible voters can still apply to be added to the list through Election Day

♿ NEED ANOTHER WAY TO VOTE?
Guelph also offers Vote by Mail, Vote from Home and proxy voting for eligible voters. Some of these options have an October 9 application deadline, so check now if you think you may need one.

Find all the info here: guelph.ca/vote

From there you can check the voters’ list, find your ward, find your voting location, see who's running and explore accessible/alternative voting options.

Your vote is yours. Our goal is to make sure you have the information you need to use it. 🏳️‍🌈🏳️‍⚧️

10/05/2026

We have some exciting news! Our ✨Exploratory Gender Group✨ is back!

This peer-led program co-creates a space for community members to;
🦋 Explore their identities
🌞 Learn from each other and share stories
❤️‍🔥 Build connections in an affirming environment

This multi-week program is for trans, non-binary, gender diverse, and questioning folks. Together we’ll discuss gender identity, transition, navigating healthcare, and more.

This group meets you where you’re at—whether you have just started exploring your gender identity, have transitioned, or are looking to connect with community! 🫶🏽

Starting the week of October 25th and running until the week of December 13th, we will be offering this program at TWO different locations! 🥳

In Elora
📆 Sundays from 1PM - 3PM starting October 25th
📍Sparrow’s Nest Makerspace

In Guelph
📆 Mondays from 6PM-8PM starting October 26th
📍OOTS Library inside Old Quebec St. Shoppes

Register + access more details via the link in our bio!

Have more questions? 💬 Reach out to us through Instagram or by email at [email protected].

10/02/2026

Unfortunately cold and flu season is already impacting us, and we've had to close again today, October 2, due to lack of volunteer availability. 🤒

We will be open again tomorrow, October 3, for our regular library hours from 2-5 PM. Apologies for the inconvenience, we'll see you tomorrow! ❤️

10/01/2026

Hey folks! Unfortunately we are closed today due to volunteer availability - but we will be open tomorrow during our usual hours (5-8pm) 💕

Sorry for the inconvenience!

09/26/2026

Looking for q***r graphic novels? 📖 We have them! 📖

❤️ Join us today from 10 AM - 6 PM during The Dragon's Comics Jam, and see which graphic novels and other books we have FREE to borrow! 🥳

09/23/2026

Thank you community FEWD and The SEED Guelph for generously providing snacks for the community!

Hungry and need a snack? Stop by during our library hours or come in for programming and grab yourself a snack courtesy of Community FEWD and the SEED ❤️

09/23/2026

Our Q***r Writing Group is back again next week! ❤️

✍️ Join us at Out on the Shelf from 5-8 PM on September 29 for our drop-in writing space.

✍️ This is a space for writers to work side-by-side, with the opportunity to share what they're working on or ask for feedback.

✍️ But don't worry, sharing and getting feedback are not required - if you just want a quiet space to work alongside like-minded people, this space is for you too!

If you have any questions feel free to contact us. See you next week! 🌟