Photo supplied.
Young patrons enjoying the Library’s walk and literacy activity at the community gardens at the Old Millbrook School. Each week, photos from the pages of a new story book line the fence beside the school. For those with the energy, the walk can continue along the Medd’s Mountain trail.
The CMLibraries is open and operating in a modified manner. Materials can be requested by calling the branches, or reserved through the catalogue or by emailing questions@cmlibraries.ca. We are still working with modified hours of operation to ensure that staff are working at one branch only. Upon return, materials are quarantined for 7-10 days and then placed back into circulation. We have new book, DVD, and magazine titles arriving frequently. Visit our website to see what is new!
With the reduction in daycare options, difficulties with remote learning, and having many parents working from home, we will be offering short and sweet virtual literacy activities for preschoolers and kindergarten students. Join our Raising Readers group on Facebook to make the most of these learning opportunities. On Wednesdays there will be an instructional video available for parents on our Facebook group that will cover a specific skill to teach to their readers that week. Then on Thursdays we host a Facebook Virtual Story Time and Fridays is a Social Story Time via Zoom (email outreach@cmlibraries.ca to request the link). Social Story Time will be an opportunity for children and parents to share their favourite book titles and characters with other local families. It will be hosted as a virtual circle time socializing opportunity, maybe you will be able to connect with some friendly faces that you have met at programs in the past or connect with someone new.
Photo supplied.
Literacy continues to be our focus for the year. Each week in February we will be sharing statistics, definitions, facts, and activities to get our community involved in building literacy skills, as well as a love of reading. The CMLibraries will be offering a literacy activity calendar for the month of February, each day has a different skill, strategy, or fun activity. Complete them all and share some photos along the way.
This February get outside and enjoy our self-guided story walks at the Millbrook Branch or follow along at home with our outdoor winter activities. Each week we will be posting a new picture book along the fence of the community garden at the Old Millbrook School (1 Dufferin Street, Millbrook). Take a walk around the garden and read as you go. The garden also connects to the beautiful Medd’s Mountain trail (the full loop takes about an hour with a younger child). Follow our Facebook posts to see what easy and exciting outdoor adventures and activities we have planned for you and your family.
Lastly, since Valentine’s Day is a celebration of love we will be offering a variety of heart themed take home craft kits. Don’t hesitate to send the CMLibraries a Valentine’s Day message and let the staff know what you love about your library or branch.
For more information follow our Facebook page, visit our website to download this month’s newsletter (cmlibraries.ca) or call your local branch (Bruce Johnston Branch: 705 741 1253, Millbrook Branch 705 932 2919).
By Melanie Crouch, Coordinator of Programming, Partnerships, and Outreach, Cavan Monaghan Libraries