The Blue Mountains Public Library News August 2023

Watch the award-winning Blue Mountain Pottery film on the big screen

Thursday, July 27 at 7pm at the L.E. Shore Gallery

Watch our latest award-winning Blue Mountain Pottery documentary film "Blue Clay" on the big screen!

Made from the clay of the Blue Mountains, Blue Mountain Pottery began in 1953 with the hands of skilled immigrant craftsmen. Discover the legends of BMP, how it saved the Blue Mountain ski resort, and through its remarkable journey still lives on today. Explore the unique shapes, colours, places and faces of Blue Mountain Pottery!

Entry by $5 donation.

Sign up to watch Blue Clay
The Gallery at L. E. Shore

Gallery application deadline for 2024 exhibits is August 31

The application window for our 2024 Exhibit Schedule is OPEN! Individual artists, as well as groups, of all mediums are welcome to apply.

Artists interested in showing in 2024 should complete the application no later than August 31. Applications are available in paper format at The Gallery at L.E. Shore and virtually on our website.

Apply to exhibit
Sasha the dog

Story time with Georgian Triangle Humane Society

Friday, August 4 at 11am

Join us at the Library for a special Story Time with Sasha and Molly. We will read fun stories, sing songs, and have lots of fun together.

Ages 0-5 and their caregivers. Siblings and older children welcome. Drop-in.
Bring pet food for the food drive

Woof N' Whiskers animal food drive

We've teamed up with the Georgian Triangle Humane Society for their Woof N' Whiskers Animal Food Drive. If you're in the area, swing by the L.E. Shore Library to drop off any dog food, cat food, litter, and bedding, treats, or toys you'd like to donate.

It feels good to know you're helping our furry friends in need!
Cat playing with its toy

Celebrating cats DIY

Tuesday, August 8 at 11:30am

In honor of International Cat Day, the Library is hosting a super fun and easy cat toy DIY. Join in on the fun and show your love for all the kitties out there! Ages 8 and up. Registration required.

Sign up for Celebrating Cats
Doggie and his treat

Make a no-bake dog treat

Saturday, August 26 at 11am

We are wrapping up our month of celebrating our woof and whiskers pets and friends with a fun No-Bake Dog Treats DIY. Psst... you can eat these too!
Ages 8 and up. Registration is required.

Sign up to make Dog Treats
Washi tape wallets

Washi tape wallet DIY

Saturday, August 12 at 11:30am

Celebrate International Youth Day at the Library with a fun Washi Tape Wallet DIY. Get creative, hang out, and have fun! Registration is required. Ages 12 and up.

Sign up for Washi Tape Wallet

Kids Clubhouse fall registration opens August 21

Registration for our after-school Kids Clubhouse program OPENS Monday, August 21st at 10am.

Registration closes Monday, September 4. The fall session runs from Tuesday, September, 12 to Tuesday December 19, 2023.

Sign up for Kids Clubhouse
The Scottish Gaelic Diaspora with Camryn Ruthven

The Scottish Gaelic diaspora

Friday, August 11 at 6pm in the L.E. Shore Gallery

Ever thought about our communities’ Scottish roots? Join us on August 11 at 6pm in the Gallery as local youth Camryn Ruthven unearths local Grey-Bruce Gàidhlig (Scottish Gaelic) heritage through story/song and honouring the ancient ways in this modern era. The Scottish Gaelic Diaspora: Healing through Reclamation is a unique presentation is not to be missed!

There is a $5 donation for entry.

Sign up for this event
Save the Date for Fossil Discovery: August 25

Fossil Discovery at the Museum

Friday, August 25 at 2pm

More information to follow. Check our Event Calendar on August 5 for more information and to register.
Make a Splash Summer Photo Contest - Send your best photos of water-related fun in the Georgian Bay area to LibraryPrograms@TheBlueMountains.ca Include your name and age. Contest ends August 31st.
Space

Astronomy unleashed!

Thursday, August 10 at 7pm 

Astronomy Unleashed, a presentation by the Royal Astronomical Society -Toronto Centre, is set to begin at 7pm at the L.E. Shore Library. After the presentation (weather permitting), we will head down to the CARR Observatory for a night of star gazing. Remember we will be outside, dress accordingly and closed toe shoes are recommended.

Registration is required for this event as space is limited. Family friendly program.

Sign up for Astronomy Unleashed!

Science extravaganza with the Nuclear Innovation Institution Explore Team

Thursday, August 10 at 11am

Join us at L.E. Shore Library at 11am for our Explore Science Extravaganza! Everyone is welcome for an amazing science demonstration that you can participate in. Try some fun new experiments and learn interactively with The Nuclear Innovation Institution Explore Team.

Registration is required. Ages 8 and up.

Sign up for Science Extravaganza
It's not too late to view the Summer Invitational!
Exhibits at the Museum

Have you visited the Craigleith museum since in reopened?

The Craigleith museum has all new exhibits with great local stories and fun interactive displays. The museum is open Tuesday-Friday 12-5, Saturdays 10-4, and Sunday 12-4. Visit to learn more about the community you live in.

Learn more about museum exhibits

Ashley

Tech help available online and in person

At 1pm every Wednesday, Ashley posts an instructional video to YouTube and Facebook. Here are the topics for August:

August 2: Deleting Personal Data from Google
August 9: Logging into the Library Catalogue
August 16: Using our Catalogue for Kids
August 23: I Want to Borrow an eBook. What's Next?
August 30: Local History Resources

From 2-4pm on Wednesdays, drop-in tech help is available at L.E. Shore Library.

Watch Wired Wednesday on YouTube
Nosy Parker by Lesley Crewe

Great books you've never heard of

Library staff share books that will uplift your spirit and brighten your day. Grab a cup of tea, and dive into one of these feel-good reads.

Nosy Parker by Lesley Crewe Audrey Parker was thrilled to be living in the vibrant city of Montreal during the Expo of 1967. It was a time of excitement and change, and she couldn't wait to explore everything the city had to offer. Moving to Notre-Dame-de-Grâce was a whole new adventure for Audrey. The neighbourhood was full of different kinds of people to spy on, and she loved nothing more than observing their daily routines. Her father often reminded her that she was indecently nosy, but Audrey couldn't help herself. Balancing humour and sadness, Lesley Crewe's incisive observations perfectly captured the essence of NDG in the 1960s. -- Jennifer

See more Great Books You've Never Heard Of
Man working on a public computer at L.E. Shore Library

Debunking Library Myths

I'm not a library user!

Dr. Sabrina Saunders
Library CEO

During my tenure as a Library CEO in this and in other communities, I have heard from many residents that because they do not hold a library card, they are not library users. We know the Blue Mountains Public Library is a GLAM, which is a gallery, library, archives and museum. But even if we are looking at the one segment of library service, to say a library card makes you a library user is really devolving the services we provide to a mid-century model of public library services—with shhh’ing librarians and stacks of books as far as one can see.

Your BMPL offers Wi-Fi in and out of the building and we see many people accessing this while sitting in their car—No library card needed. I regularly see non-book borrowers in our Gallery viewing the monthly art exhibit, onsite for a reception, or lecture, or partner program like Jazz at the Library. Again, no library card needed.

In strategic planning consultation we heard from a minority that they are no longer card-carrying members “because we now use audio books”. My question to a resident who is paying the book vendors' exorbitant pricing for owned eBooks or paying for 3rd party subscription such as Audible is: Are you aware that you have the same services already established and paid for by your tax dollars? We have hundreds of thousands of eBooks and audio books through Libby and Hoopla.

Again, the modern 21st century library is not the library you grew up with. We offer LinkedIn Learning and Mango Languages right from your home computer for upgrading and education. We offer tech help, lectures, social events and so many services both in the library and online—with no library card needed. More than 50% of our residents are active cardholders with BMPL, but if you are not one of those card holders, I challenge you to stop in and see what we do here. And maybe, while onsite—renew your library card!

If you have questions you want answered about our services, please reach out to our CEO. Maybe your question will be featured in this series.

Civic Holiday closure

The L.E. Shore Library will be closed on Monday, August 7.