By Bessie Sullivan
In the warmer months when people are using their seasonal homes we are a small library system trying to serve a much larger group of people. Our population swells by three times in the summer but fortunately people using our services are patient and understand the fluctuating strain on our resources. We do make every effort to offer as much as we can during the summertime to serve the volume.
To that end we have been fortunate to receive grants and donations that will allow us to hire summer students enhance our programming and buy specialized collections and equipment.
We are also able to expand our hours so that the Minden Hills and the Dysart branches will be open from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.on Mondays from July 8 until Aug. 26 with exception of Aug. 5 for the civic holiday.
We will start handing out TD Summer Reading Club packages in all branches during the last week of June.
The TD Summer Reading Club is Canada’s biggest bilingual summer reading program for kids of all ages interests and abilities. This free program is co-created and delivered by more than 2000 public libraries across Canada including all our branches. It celebrates Canadian authors illustrators and stories and is designed to inspire kids to explore the fun of reading their way – the key to building a lifelong love of reading.
Children (and their caregivers) can participate anytime anywhere – at local public libraries across Canada as well as at home online on the road or wherever their summer takes them.
Participants explore recommended reads; track their own reading; connect and share with others across the country; read books online; join in activities; collect reading incentives; write jokes stories and book reviews and more. There are great resources for those with print disabilities as well as for pre-readers and their families. It has been proven that children who read through the summer are more prepared for school in September.
In support of the summer reading club there will also be family story times running from July 2 until Aug. 30 at the Dysart Minden Stanhope and Wilberforce library branches.
Those same branches will host mini-makers which is an introduction to various technologies explored through playing and making. As our world becomes more and more reliant on technology coding and programming are becoming necessary skills. Our programs incorporate all aspects of STEAM (Science Technology Engineering Arts and Math) that help young learners develop a comfort level with technology and creativity.
The portable library will be at Stanhope Heritage Day on July 17 and the Wilberforce Agricultural Fair Aug. 9. As always there will be handouts and activities that introduce what the library has to offer you. One beautiful day this summer there just might be an outdoor pop-up event near you and on rainy days we often offer additional children’s activities at our Dysart and Minden branches. Following us on Twitter or Facebook ensures that you always know what is going on at the library.
Adult programming will continue during July and August including Afternoons with Ancestors which allows you to research your family history using the Ancestry database with assistance from the Haliburton Highlands Genealogy Group. Bring your questions and find your lineage.
Tech Time provides you a safe environment to explore whatever issues you are having difficulty with or topics you want to learn.
You are not alone: lots of people have difficulty with their cellphones tablets and computers. Sometimes we also don’t know the answers but together we can explore technology and figure things out.
Topics for Tech Time can include: cell/tablet/computer basics email social media online shopping ebooks photos video messaging privacy and security etc.
All our programs and events can be found on our website haliburtonlibrary.ca; you can also subscribe to receive our events newsletter right to your inbox.
We would love to see you this summer at the Haliburton County Public Library or at one of our outreach events!
