Bowen Island Public Library's e-Newsletter • October 2020

Library News

How to eBooks, eAudio, online courses. Autumn zoom workshops.

Take Our Library Survey

We hope that you, your family, and loved ones are staying safe and healthy during this pandemic. COVID-19 has had a global effect on the economy and our way of life and library service is no exception to that impact.

As the library board and staff face the difficult task of planning for the upcoming year, it would help us greatly to hear what you most value and want from the Bowen Island Public Library.

We invite you to fill out our survey, which has 15 questions and should take 8 to 10 minutes to complete. The survey is completely anonymous. Thank you for participating in our survey. Your feedback is important.

Take the Survey

 
How to eBooks, eAudio, online courses. Autumn zoom workshops.

How To? eBook, eAudio & Online Course Workshops

Attend the Bowen Library’s virtual workshops to learn more about our online resources. Library staff will demonstrate how to use four different online resources through one-hour Zoom workshops. Learn how to access eBooks and eAudiobooks from anywhere at any time, or dive into some online courses to develop your career or creative skills.

Wednesdays 10:30-11:30 am

Thursdays 6:00-7:00 pm

  • Libby & Overdrive - Oct 7 & 8. Learn how to download and listen to best selling and classic e-Books and e-AudioBooks 24/7 on your computer, smartphone, or tablet. Demonstration of how to use the Libby app and OverDrive.

  • Tumblebooks - Oct 14 & 15. Explore this entertaining site for children. Learn how to navigate full colour eBooks for your family to read aloud and to read along with.

  • Lynda - Oct 28 & 29. Meet Lynda! This popular, expert-led video learning database has a wide selection of courses to help you gain skills for your career and life. Learn how to access topics about business skills, personal development, and more.

  • Artistworks - Nov 4 & 5. Access world-class instruction through self-paced video lessons from Grammy Award-winning music and artistic professionals.

Register for a workshop (or all four!) to receive a zoom meeting invite.

Click Here to Learn More and to Register

 
How to eBooks, eAudio, online courses. Autumn zoom workshops.

Be a Grandfriend... Be a Pen Pal!

Exchange letters with Bowen Island Community School students this year!

You can volunteer to be a Grandfriend Pen Pal if you’re a 55+ Bowen Islander! Write one letter a month on a theme, and receive up to 8 letters in return from BICS students, grades K-7. This program runs October 2020-May 2021.

Fill out our online registration form and find more info at: bipl.link/penpals

We also have a paper version of the form in the library, or we can email it to you if you’d like to print it and drop it through our slot. Or, feel free to call us during our open hours and we can fill out the online form for you. (We are open Wed-Sat 12 - 3 pm.) 604-947-9788

Please register by October 15, 2020!

Click Here to Learn More and to Register

 
Storywalk Stations at the Bowen Library this October. An outdoor reading activity for the whole family.

StoryWalk® Stations

StoryWalk® is a free activity that is open to the public this fall at the library! Families are encouraged to combine physical activity with reading in an outdoor environment.

Read pages of a story as you stroll around the library, use your imagination to complete the activities and search for the next page in the story.

If you already enjoyed our first story, We're Going on a Bear Hunt by Michael Rosen, then be sure to keep an eye out for our next story: The Bear Ate Your Sandwich by Julia Sarcone-Roach. 

Learn More

 

Connecting Through COVID: Tech Help & Computer Access

Bowen Library is pleased to present the Connecting Through COVID program, providing library access and technical assistance to seniors and other vulnerable populations to find and use online resources that will support them during the pandemic and beyond.

We are offering:

  • Seniors' Hours  specific times for seniors only to use the library (Thursdays 10 am-12 pm)
  • Special Tech Tutor times for in-person and remote help with devices and technological help.
  • Public Internet Computer — 45-minute sessions available; black & white printer available.

Tech Tutoring 1-hour Appointments: Whether you have your own device or not, we can help you navigate the online world that is becoming the “new normal.” From doctor’s appointments to family gatherings, COVID has changed the way we connect and the way we have our needs met. The Connecting Through COVID program is here to help you use the online resources, platforms, and government services that will connect you to health, financial, and social support. Masks, plexi-barriers and safety protocols are in place. Book by email at techtutor@bowenlibrary.ca or by phone (604) 947-9788.

Public Internet Computer: Don't have a device, want to check your email, or need to print out an important document? Book a 45-minute appointment by email to info@bowenlibrary.ca or by phone (604) 947-9788, or drop in to check availability. Masks required.

The Connecting Through COVID program is provided in partnership with the Bowen Island Health Centre Foundation and is supported by the Government of Canada’s Emergency Community Support Fund, Community Foundations of Canada, and the Bowen Island Community Foundation.

 

Library Closed Wed, Nov. 11 for Remembrance Day

Visit us the following day during our regular open hours, from 12-3 pm Thurs - Sat that week, with Seniors' Hours on Thursday, Nov. 12 from 10 am-12 pm. 

 

New Children's & YA Books

Click here to find links to recommended reading and our latest Kids & Teens books.
Click the following featured book titles to see them in our catalogue and place a hold.

Fresh on the Shelves

Click the following featured book titles to see them in our catalogue and place a hold.

Featured Online Resource

AtoZ World Food

**Available During COVID-19**

Foodies rejoice! Learn more about food in history and culture while discovering over 6,500 traditional recipes from over 174 countries. 

Available from World Trade Press to Bowen Island Public Library patrons during COVID-19.

Go To AtoZ World Food

 

More Available Library Services

See Our #bookfacefriday Posts on Instagram & Facebook

Check out Jordyn's Bowen Library Instagram & Facebook posts, where she is having staff participate in the always giggle-inducing #bookfacefriday.

Follow us on Instagram or Facebook to see more, and also follow #bookfacefriday to see how other libraries and readers are posing with their favourite books.

Why not post your own? Feel free to tag us with your Bowen Library books @bowenislandpubliclibrary. 

 

Need a Library Card?

If you don't yet have a Bowen Library card, no problem—patrons can apply for one online.

You can access our many eBooks, eAudiobooks, eMagazines, video courses, film streaming, and learning tools online, via our website, but for many of these, you will need a Bowen Library card. 

Apply for a Library Card

 

Do You Know Someone Who Would Like to Receive our e-Newsletter?

Anyone can sign up to receive our e-Newsletter. They can go to bit.ly/BIPLnews or click this button:

Sign Up

 

Library Open Hours

The Library is open on Wednesdays, Thursdays, Fridays, and Saturdays, from 12 pm-3 pm. Entrance is at Annex (north) door.

Seniors' Hours are Thursdays from 10 am-12 pm.*

Our book return is now open at all times. Please return all items to our external book return, rather than bring them inside the library.

All items are quarantined for a minimum of 72 hours before being checked in and reshelved. You will not be fined for the quarantine period.

Find Out More About Visiting the Library

*Seniors Hours are part of the Connecting through COVID program, provided in partnership with the Bowen Island Health Centre Foundation and supported by the Government of Canada’s Emergency Community Support Fund, Community Foundations of Canada, and the Bowen Island Community Foundation.

 

Library Open Hours

  • 12-3 pm Wed, Thurs, Fri, Sat
  • Seniors' Hours Thurs 10 am-12 pm 
  • Book return now open at all times.