Off the Shelf welcomes The Giocoso Strings - Dec. 12

Off the Shelf, our popular story-reading series, returns Mon., Dec. 12 at a special time - 7:00 pm - for a Christmas-themed evening of readings - and music!

Members of Theatre Night in Merrickville will be sharing favourite seasonal short stories and poetry for adults and older children. This month's readers are Brian Fitzpatrick, Martin Green, and Alyson Reid. To make the evening extra-special, TNIM is delighted to welcome The Giocoso Strings to the program. The Giocoso Strings, a popular Merrickville string "quartet plus", will be playing a selection of favourite Christmas music and carols.

As always, Off the Shelf is held at the Library. Light seasonal refreshments will be available. There is no charge, but donations are appreciated. Space is limited and sure to fill up fast - reserve your seat today (613-269-3326 or merrickville_library@bellnet.ca).

Christmas Raffle - Get your tickets now!

Your chance for the perfect Christmas gift! Buy a ticket in the Friends of the Library’s Christmas Raffle!

This year there are 3 great prizes to be won:

• 1st Prize - a gift basket and gift certificate (total value $350) from Mrs. McGarrigle’s Fine Food Shop
• 2nd Prize - a Rustic Loveseat (value $300) from Applegarth Arbours Studio
• 3rd Prize - a gift certificate (value $50) from Elements Bistro.

Tickets are $2 each / 3 for $5, and are available at Mrs. McGarrigle's and the Library.
The draw will be held on Thurs., Dec. 15th at 11:00am at Mrs. McGarrigle’s.

Treat yourself and support your library!  Someone’s going to win – why not you?!

Thank you to Mrs. McGarrigle’s, Applegarth Arbours Studio, and Elements Bistro for so generously donating these wonderful prizes.

"Read to Every Kid Every Day" is back!

The Read to Every Kid Every Day campaign is back for its 3rd year!

The premise behind this award-winning program (a joint effort of libraries, OEYCs and other children’s agencies across Leeds & Grenville) is simple: Reading to children from the earliest age contributes to greater success in school and in life - and it's fun.

Based on the idea of “Canada Reads”, parents/caregivers read the 10 selected picture books to their children (books available at Merrickville Public Library, as well as other libraries and OEYCs).  Then the kids vote for their favourite! 

This year's 10 titles promote key skills for reading success, as well as being lots of fun to read.

• Bear Snores On  (Karma Wilson)
• Big Bear Hug  (NIcholas Oldland)
• Dogs Don't Wear Sneakers  (Laura Numeroff)
• I'm the Biggest Thing in the Ocean  (Kevin Sherry)
• The Little Mouse, the Ripe Red Strawberry, and the Big Hungry Bear (Audrey Wood)
• Pete's a Pizza  (William Steig)
• Pinkalicious  (Victoria Kann)
• Rhyming Dust Bunnies  (Jan Thomas)
• Sing a Song of Mother Goose  (Barbara Reid)
• Wiggle  (Doreen Cronin)

Contest runs until January 20, 2012.

The winning book will be announced on Family Literacy Day, January 27. 

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

Halloween Fun at the Library!

Halloween Howl 

Join us Sat., Oct. 29 at 10:00 am

for a Halloween story & music program

featuring stories, rhythm instruments, songs,

lots of audience participation, and a snack! 

Fun for ages 10 & under (& a parent).
Please call or email to register (613-269-3326 or merrickville_library@bellnet.ca ).

Get Library Updates by Email or RSS

Missed hearing about a great Library Program?
Want to know what New Books have arrived?

You can now get automatic email or RSS feed notification of Updates to our Library Blogs:

• What's Happening (upcoming programs & events)
• New Books
• Teen Book Blog

It's easy!  Just go to the blog and scroll down the left-hand menu to the "Follow by Email"  or "Subscribe" (for RSS) links.  You can also share our updates on Facebook and Twitter.

eBook & eAudiobook Seminar - Oct. 15

The library will be holding a free seminar on eBooks & eAudiobooks on Sat. Oct. 15 at 10:00am, to be followed by a drop-in technical support Q&A at 11:00am. 

The seminar gives an introduction to the libraryʼs eBook & eAudiobook services, and will cover how you can borrow them through the library's website and how to transfer them to eBook readers, iPods, and other portable devices. Patrons who are already familiar with these services are invited to stop by for the following drop-in question and answer hour for help with any questions or technical problems.

eBooks and eAudiobooks are growing in popularity; come find out how to get them @ your library . Visit the library's website and see the large collection available through OverDrive & Ebscohost, two of the many eResources being offered at the Library through funding from the Ontario Ministry of Tourism and Culture.

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)