2020 has been a year of challenges, and at the CMLibraries we have worked hard to pivot and create a new balance of virtual services and resources to bring to the community.
Here’s a fast FAQ: Can we enter the branches yet: As of July we hope to allow for a very controlled reentry once the Township lifts the restrictions. Will you continue to offer curbside pick-up in July? Yes. Do you offer curbside printing? Yes. You can email us your documents and we will have them prepared and ready for you for a small fee. Can I request new materials? Yes, we want to hear from you. Will you be offering tutoring over the summer? Yes, registration is already underway and we may have space for your child(ren). As always our inboxes, Zoom accounts, and phone lines are open to your questions, requests, or just a friendly ‘hello’.
Some of our Summer Reading Program is taking place virtually, where we hope to build community and foster friendships through group activities, as well we will be offering take-home projects, and walk through activities in open outdoor spaces. It’s easy to join! Simply register on the TD Summer Reading Program website (www.tdsummerreadingclub.ca) and send an email to outreach@cmlibraries.ca or look for our e-form on our website (cmlibraries.ca). For a full calendar of events and activities sign up for our e-newsletter or visit our online calendar.
Pop quiz! Who loves the Riverview Zoo? Who loves the CMLibraries? And lastly, who loves koalas? Then we have a fundraiser for you! At the start of the year our Community Threads group was busy sewing cuddly koalas to raise funds for their care after the bushfires in Australia (who knew 2020 was going to get even more difficult from there). We have now expanded our plan to include a group of animals closer to home: the Riverview Zoo! Our local Zoo has been closed for months due to the COVID-19 restrictions and they have missed out on donations from visitors. The staff at the Riverview Zoo have been amazing in the past at planning visits to the Millbrook Branch and bringing scaly friends along too! We want to help by creating a virtual sale of our cute koalas on our Facebook page (in a similar style to our online book sale), with monies raised being shared amongst the WWF, the Riverview Zoo, and the CMLibraries to assist with programming.
Have you noticed that ‘Millbrook Rocks’ recently? If you have not noticed any of the beautifully decorated rocks that are populating the village and the trails, you may live under a rock. The CMLibraries wants to encourage everyone to participate in a ‘Millbrook Rocks’ project. We will be creating rock gardens at both branches for participants to leave a rock they found, or take a rock to place somewhere out in the community (be sure to sanitize and wash hands after touching any rocks). If you require paint and other materials we will be setting up a crafting table at each branch where you can grab a bag of “take-home rock painting supplies”.
If you have any questions or requests for materials or services, we invite you to call us during the times listed, or visit our website for more details: cmlibraries.ca.
By Melanie Crouch
Coordinator of Programming, Partnerships, and Outreach
Cavan Monaghan Libraries
