By Courtney Spence
“Autumn is the season that teaches us that change can be beautiful.”–Unknown
Whew! September seems to have flown by and now we are officially in autumn. We had a quiet September as the kids went back to school and families adjusted to their new routines. While the quiet was definitely a change from our busy summer, it was a welcome relief for library staff to get back into the groove of things and plan upcoming activities and events.
In September, we introduced Cook & Tell to our Millbrook Branch on the third Friday of the month from 1:30-2:30pm. Cook & Tell is a group that meets once a month to eat and talk about food – basically a potluck with a theme. Participants are asked to bring ina dish that matches the theme of the month which, in October, will be dishes that include pumpkin or squash. We have also introduced Creative Crafters which is a group that meets on the fourth Friday of the month to craft and chat. While most of our crafting groups meet at our Bruce Johnston Branch (due to patron interest),Creative Crafters will take place at our Millbrook Branch from 2:00-4:00pm.
We are also bringing back our Scrapbooking Group. Vonda (independent advisor with Creative Memories) will be coming to our Bruce Johnston Branchon Tuesday, October 14th from 1:00-4:00pm. While Vonda will be bringing a variety of tools for participants to use, we ask that participants bring their own consumable items, such as pictures, albums, cardstock, and decorative paper.
As part of our Seniors Community Grant, Steve Paul will be coming to our Millbrook Branch on Wednesday, October 15th from 1:00-3:00pm for a Lunch & Learn about reimagining waste. Learn how everyday plastic waste—from pill bottles to packaging—can be collected, shredded, and transformed into something meaningful through innovative projects, creative reuse, and local collaboration. This hands-on workshop explores how grassroots action is paving the way for a circular economy in our region—and how you can be part of it.
Our next Lunch & Learn presenter will be Adelle Purdham (writer, teacher, and parent disability advocate) on Wednesday, October 29th from1:00-3:00pm at our Millbrook Branch. Adelle will be hosting an “experimental essay writing workshop” where participants will receive examples, engage in discussion, and have the opportunity to write their own personal essay during a fun writing exercise. *Lunch& Learns may be cancelled if there are fewer than 4 participants registered 6 days before the event.* We really urge participants to register for our activities.
Sunday, October 19th to Saturday, October 25th is Ontario Public Library Week. To help us celebrate, stop by either branch on Tuesday, October 21st to enjoy a sweet treat and chat with library staff. If there are treats left over from Tuesday, they will be available for the rest of the week while supplies last.
For more information on all our programs and activities, please see our newsletter and social media pages or email Courtney at tutor@cmlibraries.ca.