New - Museum of Nature Passes!

The Library is excited to announce that we now have Family Passes to the

Canadian Museum of Nature. 

Family passes allow 5 people (max. 2 adults) to visit the museum for free. 
Members can borrow a pass for 1 week.

The Library continues to offer passes to:

• The Canadian Museum of Civilizaton
• The Canadian Museum of Science and Technology
• The Canadian War Museum
• and the local  history museums of the Ottawa Museum Network

Contact the library for more information
(613-269-3326 or merrickville_library@bellnet.ca)

Homework eResources demos this fall!

The library is offering demos and tutorials of the homework eResources available on our website in September and October. 

Researching your school assignments has never been easier!
Contact the library for your login to access from home or anywhere – you’ll be glad you did! 

We have easy-to-use online encyclopedias, reference books & magazine/newspaper collections for all grade levels, K-12 (& French language).

Take a look!
For Elementary Students:  (see our Kids' Page)
TumbleBooks/TumbleReadables:
Animated picture books kids can listen to, or read along with - plus read-along books for all reading levels.

PebbleGo:
225+ animals and science topics. Written for emerging readers, articles include narrated text and video clips.

KidsInfoBits:
Easy-to-read, full-text content on a variety of subjects from reference sources & magazines.

World Book Online:
Includes full-text encyclopedia, multimedia, games and activities.
-also available in French - World Book Decouverte!

Canada in Context:
Reference, magazines & more covering many subjects - with a focus on Canadian topics.

The Canadian Encyclopedia:
A first source for information on all Canadian topics for students. 

World Book Discover:
A collection of resources for differentiated learning including read-aloud, text translation, video, and clear, easy-to-read information.

For High School Students:  (see our Teen Page)
Canada in Context:
Reference, magazines & more covering a variety of subjects - with a focus on Canadian topics. 

Canadian Points of View:
Essays & articles take opposing view-points on a variety of controversial issues.

Literature Resource Centre:
Great for literature courses. Includes overviews, critical essays, author biographies.

Teen Health & Wellness:
Covers physical, mental, & social health topics. Informative & easy to use for school or personal interest.

Virtual Reference Library:
E-versions of reference books in a variety of subjects.

Career Cruising:
Excellent resource for "Careers" class or to plan your future. 

Grzmek's Animal Life: Multi-media animal encyclopedia - includes habitats & more.

World Book Online:
Includes encyclopedia, multimedia, e-book, and primary source databases, fully integrated in a single search.

The Canadian Encyclopedia:
A comprehensive first source for information on all Canadian topics for students.

TumbleBooks help struggling readers!

If your child is having difficulties with reading, try TumbleBooks or TumbleReadables (with books for older kids) - the links are on our kids page:

http://village.merrickville-wolford.on.ca/mpl/kids.html

The June edition of School Library Journal has a great article on how a school used Tumblebooks with emergent readers, with remarkable results.

The students using Tumblebooks leapt ahead of their peers. Last November, three months after starting the project, the average fluency rate for the Tumblebook group was 23 percentage points higher than that of the control group. Students using the ebooks had moved from a Lexile level of K to M. By January, the entire group of children in the ebook program had achieved fluency to the point that they were "exited" from her pull-out sessions and integrated back into their regular classrooms. It took the control group two months longer.

She credits the success to the ebooks' ability to narrate the story, while allowing students to feel like they're in control of what and when they read. "When students repeatedly have a strong model of fluency, the more they hear that, the better they get it".

Brenda Carter Memorial Art Workshop this Saturday!

As part of the library's TD Summer Reading Club, the Library will be holding a double Art Workshop for Kids in memory of internationally-renowned local artist Brenda Carter. The art workshops will run on

Sat. July 23

10:30 in the morning for kids 4 - 8 years old  

1:00 in the afternoon for kids 9 years & up.

Tying into this year's Reading Club's theme “Splash - Celebrate Summer”, local artist Debbie Alexander will lead the morning workshop in painting an underwater mural to hang in the library - and yes, there will be finger-painting! In the afternoon workshop, the older kids can join Debbie to learn to make origami sea creatures to decorate our mural and take home.

Register at 613-269-3326 or merrickville_library@bellnet.ca - space is limited!

Summer Reading Fun @ the Library!

Calling all kids to our

Splash - Celebrate Summer!

TD Summer Reading Club!

Kids joining the Club receive a poster, activity book, and stickers!

Enter one of our summer prize draws for each book you read - plus fish for a reading reward when you return your books! Collect all 9 stickers by the end of the summer and win a poster.

Visit our “Club House” anytime for fun with board games, puzzles, & a puppet theatre - and to pick up more books!

Reading Club Programs and Activities:

Join us for crafts & activities related to our reading program on Thursday afternoons (1:00 – 2:30 pm) - starting July 7. Activities include underwater crafts (yes, sharks!), chalk drawing, water gun play, a sailboat visit, a beach party, and a special nature program with Andrea Howard.

Can't make it on Thursdays? The library has these other special programs in July (contact the library to register):

Juice Jam:
Join us for a Juice Jam music program with Polly Beach on Sat. July 9, at 10:00 am. Songs, rhythm instruments, lots of audience participation, and a snack for ages 9 and under.

Brenda Carter Memorial Art Workshop for Kids:
As part of our summer program, the Library will be holding a double Art Workshop for Kids in memory of artist Brenda Carter on Sat. July 23!
In our morning workshop at 10:30, Debbie Alexander will lead kids 8 and under in painting an underwater mural to hang in the library - and yes, there will be finger-painting!
In our afternoon workshop at 1:00, kids 9 and up can join Debbie to learn to make origami sea creatures to decorate our mural and take home.
Register early - space is limited!

StoryTime:
StoryTime for ages 6 and under (and a parent/caregiver) continues through the summer! July 8 will be our monthly ToddlerTime. Themes for July are: Picnics, Summer, Fish, and Trees!

Summer reading programs have been shown to preserve and enhance literacy skills over the summer - they encourage kids to read for pleasure and develop the reading habit. The TD Summer Reading Club is an annual program sponsored by the Toronto Dominion Financial Group.

Join the Search for Alien Life - @ the Library

Ever wonder if we are alone in the universe? Join us for "Are We Alone?": the Search for Alien Life, a presentation by Frank Hitchins, area resident and long-time space enthusiast, on Mon. June 20, 7:00 pm at the Library.

This fascinating presentation explores how we are looking for life elsewhere in the universe, and is suitable for adults and older children. There is no charge for this event, but contact the library (613-269-3326 or merrickville_library@bellnet.ca ) to reserve your seat.

New Program - Off the Shelf

Who says stories are just for kids? Don't miss Off the Shelf: Stories for Grown-ups on Monday, June 13 at 7:30 pm. 

Off the Shelf, a presentation by Theatre Night in Merrickville in conjunction with the Library, features readers sharing captivating short stories and poetry for your listening pleasure. Join us at the library as stories are brought to life by our readers: Martin Green, Heddy Sorour, & John Mundy! 

This is the first of what we hope will be an ongoing monthly series. Refreshments will be available. There is no charge, although donations will be gratefully accepted. 

Contact the library (613-269-3326 or merrickville_library@bellnet.ca ) to reserve your seat, as space is limited.