If you are looking for fun and free things to do during this winter break, try these!
1. Discover downtown Brampton with our festive Story Walk! We’ve teamed up with the Downtown BIA to share deck the Halls: A Canadian Christmas Carol by Helaine Becker and Werner Zimmerman. Click here for more information.
2. Do your own STEM experiments with materials found around your house! Get started anytime with our Virtual STEM Challenge.
3. Feeling creative? Interested in learning a new skill? Use your library card to log in to Creativebug for art and craft videos.
4. Borrow a Launchpad to build your digital skills and have fun while learning! Pre-loaded with educational apps and games, Launchpad tablets require no internet connection and allow users to play, read, and explore.
5. Download or pick up an Early Literacy Calendar filled with daily early learning activities for kids from birth to age five that you can do from home! Enjoy a Virtual Storytime from the comfort of your home!
Brampton Library strives to make its spaces accessible, and with the recent Rick Hansen Foundation certification of our Springdale Branch Library, we have the opportunity to do more.
Brampton Library’s mission is to create opportunities for everyone. The accessibility of our facilities is an important ingredient in that effort. We are pleased that the Rick Hansen Foundation has recognized Springdale Branch Library in its certification. We pledge to learn from their feedback and grow our ability to serve all residents.
The Rick Hansen Foundation was established in 1998 by accessibility activist Rick Hansen following his Man in Motion wheelchair marathon which spanned 40,000 km and thirty-four countries. The foundation funds research and care for people affected by spinal cord injuries. They also campaign for inclusivity, both by creating awareness about accessibility and by providing solutions to physical barriers for people with disabilities.
We share the Rick Hansen Foundation’s vision for an accessible world, and are committed to working along with our City of Brampton partners. Late last week, it was announced that ten public facilities have received certification. For further information, click here to see the city’s press release.
Click here to learn more about accessibility at Brampton Library.
We have lost one of Canada’s greatest advocates for Inclusion, Diversity, Equity, and Accessibility with the passing last week of Canadian author, poet, and activist Lee Maracle. One of the first indigenous authors to publish her work, she will remain in our hearts and her legacy will continue to guide us. On behalf of the Library board, staff, and volunteers, I would like to extend our deepest condolences at this sad time.
Lee Maracle is the author of a number of critically acclaimed works including Ravensong, Bobbi Lee Indian Rebel, Daughters Are Forever, Celia’s Song (longlisted for CBC Canada Reads and a finalist for the ReLit Award), I Am Woman, First Wives Club, Talking to the Diaspora, Memory Serves: Oratories, and My Conversations with Canadians, which was a finalist for the 2018 Toronto Book Award and the First Nation Communities READ 2018-19 Award, and continues to be a nonfiction bestseller. She is also the co-editor of the award-winning My Home as I Remember. Her latest book, Hope Matters, is a poetry collection she wrote in collaboration with her daughters, Columpa Bobb and Tania Carter. Maracle has served as Distinguished Visiting Scholar at the University of Toronto, the University of Waterloo, and the University of Western Washington. Maracle received the J.T. Stewart Award, the Premier’s Award for Excellence in the Arts, the Blue Metropolis Festival First Peoples Prize, the Harbourfront Festival Prize, and the Anne Green Award. Maracle received an Honorary Doctor of Letters from St. Thomas University, is a recipient of the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee Medal and is an Officer of the Order of Canada. In July 2019, she was announced as a finalist of the prestigious Neustadt Prize, popularly known as the American Nobel. A member of the Sto:lo Nation, Maracle most recently lived in Toronto and taught at the University of Toronto.
The information above is shared with the permission of Book*hug Press.
Brampton Library takes great responsibility in being an effective steward of the public’s resources. Each year, all eResource subscriptions are assessed for performance, demand and return on investment. We look at key indicators, including year-over-year growth, estimated cost per use, and renewal cost, to determine subscription recommendations for the upcoming calendar year. We also examine content quality and availability, accessibility, user experience, customer feedback, and other factors to inform these decisions.
After careful review and consideration, the following online resource subscriptions will no longer be offered, effective December 30, 2021.
Cantook Station
Though the last day for Cantook Station access will be December 30, 2021, we are pleased to provide free access to French-language e-books through cloudLibrary. For free digital issues of French-language magazines and newspapers, we encourage you to discover PressReader. See Getting Started with cloudLibrary and Getting Started with PressReader to learn more.
LearningExpress Library Canada
The last day of access to LearningExpress Library Canada will be December 30, 2021. If you found LearningExpress Library helpful, we highly recommend you try Brainfuse HelpNow.
Brainfuse HelpNow is a service that supports students at every stage of learning and includes study materials, practice tests, and live one-on-one support with an online tutor. You can also get help with Microsoft Office, access career resources, and find support for the EQAO, OSSLT, Canadian Citizenship, and GED. See Getting Started with Brainfuse HelpNow to learn more.
For profession-specific test preparation, you can check out the following resources:
Though the last day of access to STEM Village will be December 30, 2021, we are pleased to provide free access to resources for K-8 learning.
Brainfuse HelpNow gives students access to learning resources STEM subject areas in SkillSurfer, aligned with the Ontario curriculum. Live, one-on-one help is available online every day from 2:00 pm-11:00 pm to support students with homework and STEM learning. See Getting Started with Brainfuse HelpNow to learn more.
Gamify your child’s learning experience with Launchpads! Launchpads are educational tablets, pre-loaded with apps, videos, and games designed for hours of interactive learning. Some themes of interest include Critical Thinking & Strategy, Math, Science, and STEAM. Go to our catalog to place a hold.
Check out our Virtual STEM Challenges for fun, educational activities you can try with materials found around your home.
Though last day of access to World Book Student will be December 30, 2021, we recommend the following free options for K-8 research support:
For help with research, Brainfuse HelpNow gives students access to live, one-on-one help every day from 2:00 pm-11:00 pm. If you have a written assignment, you can submit it to the Writing Lab to get feedback. See Getting Started with Brainfuse HelpNow to learn more.
With the holiday season upon us, it’s a great time of year to tap into your creative side, whether you’re crafting handmade gifts, making seasonal cards, DIY-ing festive decor, or hacking your holiday lighting. At our next Virtual Maker Meetup program on November 30 we’ll be chatting about these projects, so be sure to register!
Gifts from the Heart
A handmade gift is extra special because you’ve chosen to put your time into creating something no one else can give. What’s more, you don’t have to worry about the global supply chain woes and the potential lack of availability of store-bought gifts.
Librarian Justine wanted to make a personal gift this holiday season. She took a photo of her husband's favourite place, traced the silhouette and cut it out with the vinyl cutter in our Springdale Branch Library MakerSpace. She used some tips from Creativebug to paint a star-lit sky with watercolours, placed the vinyl cut on top and now has a beautiful nighttime vinyl painting! Using our equipment she has turned a beloved photo into a unique gift for any occasion. Justine is in the process of making more watercolour paintings using MakerSpace tools and a variety of materials to share at our November Virtual Maker Meetup.
Holiday Hacking
South Fletcher’s Branch Library always delights with its fun and creative book return designs. A few years ago, the branch featured a “Charlie Brown Christmas” theme. I was inspired to add an interactive element with the help of a MaKey MaKey, so that when an item passed through, a random sound clip from the movie played. You can read the full blog post on how I created it here.
I also love to use the MaKey MaKey to hack holiday string lights. Last year, I wired my holiday wreath to light up when someone stepped on my doormat. This year I’m attempting a more challenging lighting project with Arduino, Neopixels, and cheerlights. I’ll share my progress at our November Virtual Maker Meetup.
Need some more inspiration?
Look no further than our fantastic lineup of eResources. PressReaderoffers an array of craft and hobby magazines where you’ll find seasonal projects and tutorials for all types of makers. Mollie Makes out of the UK is one of my favourites. Did you know you can download free project templates and printables? Check out this card I made with one of the paper patterns from the November issue of Mollie Makes and a Cricut Maker.
O’Reilly, the newest platform on our Digital Library, also has seasonal projects for the technically-inclined. Learn how to make an Internet-controllable Christmas tree or program a digital holiday card.
And of course, CreativeBughas online classes on a wide range of holiday projects in all sorts of mediums delivered by professional creators. With a daily ornament challenge to deck out your home, and brilliant gift wrap ideas to make your presents pop, you’ll find countless ways to flex your creative skills and make this season special.
Twelve Days of Creativity Giveaway
You’ll want to mark your calendars for this one! Starting December 1, we’re decking the halls with our Twelve Days of Creativity Giveaway. To join the festivities, head over to Brampton Library’s Facebook page and discover our daily Creativebug class feature. Whether you’re starting to explore your creativity, itching for a new project, or looking for a DIY gift idea, get inspired as you learn about artisan chocolate-making, knitting a winter beanie, creating natural skincare, and more incredible projects!
What’s more, participation has its perks! Here’s how you can enter for your chance to win a Cricut Maker Champagne.
Like, comment, and tag a friend on any post featuring a Creativebug class between December 1 and 12, inclusive, to earn an entry ballot. Make sure you have a Brampton Library card and follow Brampton Library on Facebook.
The winner will be announced on Brampton Library’s Facebook page on December 13.
If you’re new to Creativebug, we encourage you to check it out under E-Learning in our Digital Library. All you need is your library card to get started.
905-793-4636