by Marian Barnett and Karen Gallo
At your community library this month, an art display featuring the work of Donna Wuksinic, Joyce Rivet and Kim Minear is on view for all to enjoy until April 25. Meanwhile, the library has a wonderful collection of art books to inspire and instruct aspiring painters, drawers and crafters.
The library will be partnering with the Community Garden in an event for kids of all ages. They can experience seed starting, story time, and art and craft activities. The Community Garden will have an information booth. Children are to be accompanied by an adult for this event which is coming up on Saturday, May 4 from 10 am to 12 pm.
There are many new books for every age group. For children there’s the ‘Mysterious Benedict Society’ series, and Geronimo Stilton’s ‘Mouse King’ series. The Young Adult section continues to grow with such additions as: ‘Kingdom of Ash’ by Sarah J. Maas; ‘P.S. I Still Love You’ by Jenny Han; ‘Rebel of the Sands’ by Alwyn Hamilton; ‘End of Days’ by Eric Walters.
In the adult category, readers will enjoy the latest Ian Rankin or Steve Robinson thriller. Danielle Steel’s ‘Beauchamp Hall’ is a romantic escape novel for those who enjoy ‘Downton Abbey’ type of settings. New books by popular writers C.J. Swanson, Tatiana Rosnay, Ian Hamilton, Geraldine Brooks, Rupi Kaur can also be found. Of course, there are many inspiring gardening books for those who just can’t wait to get out there.
Avid readers followed the annual Canada Reads event where the winning book was ‘By Chance Alone,’ a Holocaust memoir by Max Eisen. CBC called it “the one book that will move all Canadians.” All five of the contending books this year dealt with weighty issues, and they are available now at your library.
If you haven’t used the Overdrive service yet, give it a try. On those nasty weather days when you can’t get out to the library, how convenient to borrow a book and have it appear on your iPad or other device. Staff will help you to get started.
Instead of disappearing as was predicted, libraries across Canada are being redesigned to meet the needs of the modern patron. The Halifax Central Library, the new Calgary Central Library and Cambridge, Ontario’s “Idea Exchange” fashioned from the Old Post Office are stunning examples of this trend. Recreation and education are available in the newly formatted spaces. Digital literacy builds on print literacy. And your little library at 50 Meredith Street West in Little Current can proudly claim to be part of the new direction where people of all ages are invited to come for an experience beyond books.
