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Bruce County Public Library is delighted to announce its participation in two innovative programs this holiday season that are open to public support: Food for Fines and the Tree of Warmth.

Tree of Warmth is offered in all 17 Branches on Monday, November 13, and will run until Friday, December 1. The public can participate in the program by donating new, unwrapped, warm articles of clothing for children ages 0-18. The clothes will then be donated to the Dorrel Young Fund, ensuring that kids in need stay warm during winter.

Food for Fines is a popular, long-running Library initiative and will be returning on Monday, November 27 and running until Friday, December 8. This year, they are excited to add the Bookmobile to the list of branches collecting donations. This is an excellent opportunity for Library patrons to make a positive impact by donating non-perishable food items. For every food item donated, $5 will be applied to overdue fines, up to a maximum of $25. This helps clear overdue fines and contributes to local food banks and assisting families in need.

These programs reflect the library’s commitment to the communities they serve, spreading joy and helping those in need. Join them in making a difference and sharing in the spirit of giving this holiday season.

Bruce County Public Library will host a virtual workshop on fraud protection for Seniors. This event will take place on Tuesday, November 7 at 2pm. You have the option to attend online from your home or watch the presentation in person from the Port Elgin and Chesley Branches. A representative from the Chartered Professional Accountants of Canada will host the workshop. 

The Fraud Protection workshop is an excellent addition to BCPL’s lineup of senior-friendly events. It will equip seniors with the knowledge and tools to protect themselves from common scams and fraud in an increasingly digital world. The representative facilitating the program brings a wealth of experience to ensure that participants receive accurate and up-to-date information on fraud prevention strategies. 

Registration is not required, and the workshop can be experienced from the comfort of your own home. Email Libraryinfo@brucecounty.on.ca for a meeting link. Alternatively, if you wish to attend the program in person, you can pop into the BCPL Chesley and Port Elgin Branches. With a diverse range of programs, services, and materials, BCPL plays a big part in community growth. Library programs are always free, which helps overcome barriers that seniors may experience in gaining the valuable education needed to stay safe online.  

Digital connection is increasingly important to Canadians’ lives; BCPL has taken the initiative to provide ongoing valuable resources and programs that help empower seniors to stay safe online. In addition to the fraud prevention workshop, BCPL offers other programs designed to enhance digital literacy. These programs include Tech Coach, which provides one-on-one sessions with Library Staff on how to use online Library Resources or to gain help with everyday tech issues. BCPL asks that you contact your local Branch to discuss your concern and book a time. Another popular series of programs is Digital Literacy, which can cover various topics around tech, from smartphones, tablets and internet basics, and additional Break the Fake classes. These programs occur in a group setting and aim to help seniors and adults become more comfortable with today’s technology. Visit their online events calendar to find a program near you and pick up a paper calendar on your next visit to your local Branch.

The moment we have all been waiting for has finally arrived! Bruce County Public Library would like to officially announce the Launch Party for the BCPL Bookmobile! This exciting event promises to be filled with fun, music and laughter as we celebrate the community’s newest treasure.

Patrons, families, and everyone in the community are invited to join them for this free, joyful event celebrating the Bookmobile. The Bookmobile aims to enhance community access to Library resources and promote a love of reading among children and adults alike.
The launch party will occur on Saturday, October 21, from 10am to 1pm, at the BCPL Port Elgin Branch. BCPL has planned an unforgettable day of events for the entire family. This celebration promises to be a memorable experience for all ages, including remarks and ribbon cutting with esteemed guests from Bruce County, the Library Board, and Bookmobile sponsors. Get ready to be transformed into the magical and mythical through the face painting art of Willows Whymsies. Panzerotti and Sunshine will bring the music with their unique Folk Rock style for kids, while a special Little Mermaid will make a grand appearance.

“We’re thrilled to invite the community to our upcoming launch party of the new Bookmobile! It’s not just a vehicle, it’s a gateway to knowledge and adventure. We have been patiently waiting for the chance to celebrate and are overjoyed to watch the Bookmobile become a reality,” said Library Director, Brooke McLean.

The Bruce County Public Library Bookmobile is in its first week of travel that kicked off in Tobermory and Lion’s Head on Tuesday, October 10. To get the Bookmobile’s schedule, visit our website at library.brucecounty.on.ca.

Bruce County Public Library is overjoyed to announce the arrival of the long-awaited Bookmobile! The BCPL Bookmobile is a mobile library designed to bring the joy of reading and learning directly to underserved communities throughout Bruce County.

The Bookmobile will begin visiting stops on the Fall/Winter schedule on Tuesday, October 10.  You can visit the Library website for a route calendar. Route locations were carefully chosen to ensure maximum outreach to neighbourhoods with limited access to traditional Library services. When selecting stops, remote communities, senior isolation and mobility, and financial barriers were taken into consideration.

“We are excited to introduce the Bookmobile as an extension of our Library. Through a mobile Branch, we can effectively provide equal access to literature, education, and technology to all members of our communities. We are immensely grateful for the generosity of our donors, who made the Bookmobile a reality,” said Library Director Brooke McLean.

“It is exciting to see the amazing learning and recreation opportunities provided by our Bruce County Public Library be shared with more residents across the County. The new Bookmobile service will offer significant access and resources to our underserved communities,” added Bruce County Warden Chris Peabody. ‘Thank you to Library Staff and our Bookmobile sponsors for helping bring this opportunity to life.”

Patrons can expect a collection of books, DVDs, and educational materials, including tech kits. The Bookmobile is also outfitted with a free Wi-Fi hub and wireless printing. The Bookmobile staff are dedicated to creating a safe and welcoming space and assisting patrons of all ages. The Bookmobile will surely be a promising hub of learning and imagination for everyone.

BCPL plans to announce the official launch party date shortly and invites everyone to find a nearby stop location to see the Bookmobile in person. Route schedules are available on our website at library.brucecounty.on.ca. Remember to watch for it on the road and give them a wave!

Celebrate Canadian Library Month and Ontario Public Library Week with Bruce County Public Library! This year’s theme is “Libraries for Life.” From newborn to school-aged, new adult to seniors, libraries have something for everyone. Rediscover your library by visiting any BCPL branch in October. Sign up for a card, borrow an item or attend a program to earn a ballot for a gift bag containing a BCPL-branded picnic blanket, a $15 gift card to Indigo and a book-themed ornament.

Libraries truly do have something for everyone and offer many services and collections that may come as a surprise. From fishing rods to snowshoes, Museum passes to robots, libraries now offer far more than books. BCPL offers a conversion station to digitize old VHS tapes, photos, and slides, as well as 3D printers and Cricuts.

BCPL also supports lifelong learning through programming, collections, and digital databases, providing valuable resources and initiatives that enrich the lives of their patrons. In October, attend one of their Local Author Events. Barry Robinson, author of A Seagull Named Papa, an inspiring and fascinating read that will change the way you see yourself and the world around you, will be visiting the Lion’s Head Branch on Friday, October 13 at 11 am, and the Tobermory Branch, Tuesday, October 17 at 11am. Another highly anticipated event is a sit-down discussion with Katherine Martinko about her book Childhood Unplugged, as she offers practical advice on getting your children off screens & finding balance. This event will occur at the Port Elgin Branch on Saturday, October 21, at 2pm. 

Library Director Brooke McLean said “Libraries level the playing field by providing free access to all. This access to information, to services such as free internet and digital literacy training, and to educational programming, leads to opportunity. Our local libraries are one of the last free community spaces, places where social inclusion and cultural awareness thrive.”

We encourage everyone to take time to visit their local library in October. Visit the Bruce County Public Library website to stay up to date on programs and special events happening in your area.

Bruce County Public Library (BCPL) is thrilled to announce the outstanding success of its 2023 Summer Reading Club, which shattered all previous years’ records with an incredible 280,142 minutes of reading logged.

BCPL held their annual Summer Reading Club kick-off event at the Lucknow Branch on June 17 this year. This much-anticipated event started with the always entertaining Magic of Scott Dietrich and author readings with Dorothy Ladd and Doug Archer. Throughout the day, families could experience science through STEAM activities with NII while being transformed into mythical creatures through the face-painting talents of Wyllow’s Whimsies. It was a perfect way to start summer.

Branches hosted weekly Summer Reading Club meetings all summer long based on a theme that fell under the summer heading of ‘Check It Out!’ Each meeting included staff-created programs with literacy-focused activities, games, and Story Times. There were also many special programs and visits to the Branches all through the summer. Canadian Raptor Conservatory brought their Birds of Prey show to Tobermory and Port Elgin Branches, and an incredible 173 people came out to visit the Scales Nature Reserve’s reptiles and amphibians presentation at Chesley Park.

This year, the Summer Reading Club introduced BINGO through the online reading challenge platform Beanstack. Beanstack auto-filled the reader’s card as they earned virtual reading and activity badges. Kids who finished the entire card by completing 40 hours of reading and all eight activities received an additional book prize. Forty-four children across Bruce County reached this milestone!

‘The response from the community has been truly heartwarming, as we all worked together to combat the summer slide. We couldn’t be prouder of our readers for their enthusiasm and our Library staff who promoted the magic of reading weekly through their Summer Reading Club meetings,’ said Program Coordinator Nancy Kuhl.

You can participate in reading challenges all year long online through Beanstack. Beanstack is a free service provided by the Bruce County Public Library. It is a fun way to track your reading, complete challenges, and win prizes!

Bruce County Public Library is thrilled to announce the generous donation from the Nuclear Waste Management Organization (NWMO) of a cutting-edge hydroponic unit. The Teeswater Branch will permanently display the unit, where it will be available for patrons to help themselves to herbs and leafy greens that will be grown there.

The hydroponic unit is an indoor garden with a built-in watering system and LED lights. Watering and lights are on a timer system that ensures plants have everything they need to produce an array of healthy herbs and vegetables indoors, with little supervision. This is a valuable addition to the BCPL’s Seed Libraries, launched earlier this year. The Seed Libraries have been an astounding success, with over 600 packages picked up from the Library. This has offered library patrons a unique opportunity to learn and engage in sustainable gardening practices.

The NWMO is a not-for-profit organization responsible for designing and implementing Canada’s plan for safe, long-term nuclear fuel management. NWMO has been an active supporter of Bruce County Public Library as a major contributor to their Bookmobile project, and purchasing a 3D printer in the fall of 2020.

“We are immensely grateful to NWMO for their ongoing support and donation of the hydroponics unit; this addition to our Seed Library program aligns perfectly with the program’s goal to provide educational resources and empower Bruce County residents to embrace food sustainability. We look forward to seeing its positive impact on our patrons,” said Library Director Brooke McLean.

Seed Libraries can be found at the following BCPL Branches:
Chesley
Kincardine
Lucknow
Southampton
Teeswater
Tobermory
Walkerton
Wiarton

Seed Libraries are free to use with your BCPL card. Getting a card is easy, and there is no charge. You can visit your local Branch to register or sign up online at getacard.brucecounty.on.ca. Donating back to the Seed Library is not a requirement, but there are labelled envelopes for patrons to return harvested seeds. New to gardening? Bruce County Public Library carries a large selection of books and other resources to help get you started, as well as in-person and online events to help patrons learn about planting and harvesting seeds.

Visit their website at: library.brucecounty.on.ca to find event dates and links to resources like the BCPL YouTube page, which contains many educational videos.

Bruce County Public Library has refreshed its Ozobots collection thanks to a generous donation from the Society of United Professionals. The Society has been a long-running supporter of Bruce County Public Library with past donations towards one of their 3D Printers, the Bookmobile project, and the first round of Ozobots in 2015.

Ozobots are small robots that integrate coding and play using a hands-on approach. They do not require an app or device and respond to their colour-coded markers. The Ozobots follow the line drawn on printer paper and change their behaviour depending on the line’s colour. Due to the simplicity of their nature and the lack of additional technology required to run them, Ozobots are the most accessible introduction to coding for children. 

“Ozobots enrich and grow our STEAM programs and help inspire patrons through a fun and interactive introduction to coding and problem-solving. We are incredibly grateful to the Society of United Professionals for their continued generosity and ongoing support of tech-based Library programming,’ said Digital Initiatives Coordinator Jeremy Clark.

The previous collection of Ozobots has been added to BCPL’s non-traditional items for patrons to check out and learn at home, while the 12 new robots will be used for in Branch programs and special events throughout Bruce County. Interested in learning more about STEAM-based items available for borrowing with your BCPL Library Card? Visit their website at https://library.brucecounty.on.ca/non-traditional-items for the most up-to-date list and to reserve yours for pick up at your local Branch. 

Chantry Island Chambettes helped propel early literacy with Bruce County Public Library (BCPL) through a generous donation to their ongoing Me, You, and a Book Too initiative. 

Me, You and a Book Too is a free baby bag that has been running since 2016. It has been one of the Library’s more popular programs and is very close to reaching an incredible milestone of 1,500 bags given to Bruce County families. These bags contain literacy materials like books, posters, and baby’s first library card inside reusable bags. 

Chantry Island Chambette’s donation of $1,000 will help Bruce County Public Library keep up with the bags’ ongoing popularity. This generous donation will be used to purchase new board books to include in the bags. Library staff carefully choose books to ensure that parents receive quality literacy materials. 

“Literacy begins at birth, and Bruce County Public Library wants to give Bruce County babies the necessary building blocks to help literacy flourish. We are always so happy to hear from families who have found this initiative to positively impact their growing families,” says Program Coordinator Nancy Kuhl. 

Me, You and a Book Too bags can be picked up from your local Library Branch. To learn more, visit our website at https://library.brucecounty.on.ca/me-you-and-a-book-too. 

The TD Summer Reading Club is back at Bruce County Public Library!  Join us for our kick-off party taking place Saturday, June 17, from 10 am to 3 pm, at the Lucknow Branch.

This free, full-day party will feature the Magic of Scott Dietrich and in-person interactions and readings with local authors Doug Archer and Dorothy Ladd. You can get your face painted by Wyllow’s Whimsies or enjoy an immersive story told through music with Mystic Drumz. Family favourites NII, EarlyON, and the Bruce County Museum & Cultural Center will also return. Plus, crafts and activities to engage kids and adults alike all day. 

The kick-off party signifies the first registration day for the 2023 TD Summer Reading Club season. BCPL will bring back Beanstack this year, a web and mobile app that tracks reading. For those unable to make it to the kick-off, or their local Branch, registration can be done 100% online through Beanstack. 

BCPL will keep the fun going all summer, with branches hosting weekly themed programs. Each program will have corresponding badges to earn for attending. The more badges you win and minutes you log, the better your chances to win prizes throughout July and August. 

TD Summer Reading Club was officially launched in 1996 and is now Canada’s largest bilingual children’s summer reading program. This free club is currently run in over 2,000 public libraries across Canada and works to celebrate Canadian authors, illustrators, and stories. SRC is a large part of the Bruce County Public Libraries’ summer programming. In 2022 they reported that their registration doubled from 2021. Patrons logged over 215,000 minutes read, resulting in over 2500 badges and 1200 rewards handed out to Bruce County kids.

“Summer reading clubs have proved essential in encouraging reading in children and bridging the summer slide that many students experience during summer break, ” said Program Coordinator Nancy Kuhl.

You can visit: https://library.brucecounty.on.ca/summer-reading-club/ to view the 2023 SRC brochure for the Branch closest to you.