I’m sure you’re missing in person programs at the library just as much as we are!  To fill the void, library staff have been working hard at creating online programming to connect with our library family through the summer.  If you’ve been joining us on Facebook you’ll be familiar with our Maker Mondays and storytimes on Wednesday mornings.  We’ve recently added Friday morning online puppet shows as another way to bring you the stories and the staff that you love.

I’d like to share details of the current line up of family programming with you as we start thinking about what we will be offering this fall. 

For Maker Mondays we prepare a fun activity that you can do at home.  We’ve had all kinds of things from an egg drop challenge to making rain in a jar!  Each Monday there is a new activity to try out and all of the past activities are available on our Facebook page.  

Story times can be found on Facebook at 10:30 am on Wednesdays.  The themes and offerings vary depending on who is presenting each week. Each storyteller has their own unique style.  Most have chosen to record their stories and then premiere them on Facebook.  This allows us to have pages displayed well when reading the stories, but some staff do a truly live story time on Facebook.  You’ll see the staff personalities come through as some use music or flannel boards to enhance the stories they’re telling.

Our newest offering is Friday morning puppet shows. These shows also begin at 10:30 am.  Staff have safely recorded the shows and then recorded the audio after the fact.  We know that for many families, puppet shows are a highlight of our summer programming so we worked hard to find a way to make them work in our current reality. 

The videos of the story times and puppet shows remain on our Facebook page and can also be found on our YouTube channel after the premiere.  This is one of the benefits of online programming – if you can’t make it at the scheduled time you can enjoy it later!

In tandem with the programming we’re providing other activities.  We have weekly Summer Reading Challenges posted on our Facebook page, we’ve added Beanstack for all ages reading challenges, and of course there is still the option of joining the TD Summer Reading Club.  Our next activity is creating Take and Make simple crafts for kids.  These will be available at the no contact holds pick-up table for some screen free fun!  

There’s always something new at your library whether in person or online.  We hope you enjoy the programming we’re putting together and look forward to seeing your faces at the no contact holds pick-up table – currently available at both the Waverley and Mary J.L. Black locations.  Place your holds online or by calling staff at 684-6814. Then wait for the phone call which lets you know that your hold is available for pick up. 

Ruth Hamlin-Douglas – www.tbpl.ca. If you have a comment about today’s column, we would love to hear from you.