In my last blog post, I talked about how encouraging kids and teens to read during the summer was a way to prevent the “summer slide” and prepare for school success by concentrating on reading whatever you want. But Brampton Library also has an Adult Summer Reading Club. What’s that all about?
For many of us, busy with work and family, reading for the fun of it can seem like something we have no time for. Although it’s true that during the pandemic some people have had more time than ever to pursue their interests, for most of us, we are more busy, stressed, and exhausted than ever.
But reading for pleasure is an immensely rewarding and relaxing experience. Studies even show that people who read are more empathetic to other people! So if you can find the time, perhaps on a long-awaited “staycation” if travelling is still difficult, I encourage you to read to enjoy a good story, to indulge your interests, to exercise your mind, to practice a second or third language, or just to spend a relaxing time.
This summer, join the virtual Adult Summer Reading Club, log your books, write reviews, participate in the Bingo challenge, and earn prizes! While our branches are not yet fully open, we remain ready to help you choose and order books by phone, email, chat, or online self-service. There’s even special programs such as our Learn to Camp Series, biweekly At Home Summer Trivia, Newcomer Self-Guided Tour, and the Then & Now Photo Challenge, where we send out a picture each week and ask that you take an updated photo of the corresponding historical location. Just register for the Adult Summer Reading Club to receive an email with contest instructions.
The research is clear: reading for fun helps young people succeed in school. What sometimes happens during the summer, especially after a gruelling school year like we’ve just been through, is what’s called the “summer slide” where reading skills actually decline and kids are behind when they start school in the fall. The best way to avoid this, and give kids and teens the space they need to be themselves and have fun, is to encourage them to read whatever they want, on whatever topic they want, in whatever format they want. For the very young, reading with an adult, or just browsing pictures and text on their own, is crucial. Picture books, novels, nonfiction books, ebooks, comics, magazines, and blogs all count, and so does listening to audiobooks.
If you’re not sure where to start, start with the Library! While our branches are not yet open for full service, all you have to do is order books and other materials online for Curbside Pickup. For kids up to age 12, we have the Brampton Brain Game, to encourage them to read, play, explore and learn, and for teens we have the Teen Summer Reading Club. You can register for both of them here.
I hope you’ll join us this summer, keep our young people reading, and have fun! As always, the Library is proud to provide all of these services and programs to everyone free of charge. We’ve even eliminated overdue fines on all materials through to the end of 2021. It’s how the Library helps make Brampton more equitable and makes learning accessible to all.
For more information, pick up our Seasonal Delights program guide or view it online under Join In at bramptonlibrary.ca .
Brampton Library is happy to announce that in accordance with Ontario’s Roadmap to Reopen guidelines, we will begin a phased reopening on June 21, 2021.
On June 21, Chinguacousy, Four Corners, and Springdale Branch Libraries will reopen for in-branch pickup of materials and access to computers, photocopiers, and printers. Capacity will be limited to 15% and these branches will close every 90 minutes for 30-minute cleaning periods. There will no longer be a 3-day quarantine period on returned materials and returns will continue to be accepted through the 24/7 external drop boxes at all locations. All other branches will continue to offer Curbside Pickup only. Regardless of your branch, you will receive an email or voicemail notification that the materials you have put on hold have been set aside for you to pick up. There’s nothing additional that you need to do.
As we have done throughout the pandemic, Brampton Library continues to place the highest priority on the safety of our customers and staff. As Ontario moves into the next steps of reopening, we will continue to assess the situation in planning for the opening of our remaining branches, with more capacity and a return to regular services, including browsing of collections, reading and studying, and group meetings and programs. We are keen to welcome you back into our facilities, to really connect with our staff and the larger community, but only when we can assure you that everything has been done to control the risk and make your Library visit a safe, healthy, and happy one.
Don’t forget, our Digital Library remains open to serve you, and you can find out about virtual programs for all ages and interests in our Calendar of Events. To keep up to date, you can subscribe to our email updates and follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. You can also chat with us in real time on any page of our website. And if you haven’t already, download our mobile app from the Apple Store or Google Play. Click here for more details about our app.
Ontario Parks passes are available at Brampton Library! When you borrow an Ontario Parks pass with your Brampton Library card, you get a day-use permit for one vehicle and its passengers to all provincial parks in Ontario. The possibilities for memorable outdoor adventures are endless!
Did you know that all of Ontario's Provincial parks combined have nearly 20,000 campsites, more than 8,000 kilometres of hiking trails, not to mention some amazing beaches, picnic areas, canoe routes, and more? While these facts can be overwhelming, worry not: if you need some ideas for things to do, activities to try, or sights to see, the Ontario Parks blog is a super useful resource. There's an article for almost any outdoors-y related topic you can think of — learn a thing or two about nature, hear unique stories both present and past, explore guides on camping and dive into activities like geo-caching, back-country cooking, and everything in between.
If you're scratching your head about where to go first, take note that Bronte Creek, Darlington, Earl Rowe, Forks of the Credit, Sibbald Point, Springwater, and Wasaga Beach are all less than a 90-minute drive from Brampton. If you’re up for a slightly longer journey, it's well worth your while to visit Awenda (just north of Penetanguishene). Awenda is one of few places I’ll visit over and over again, and I can say first-hand it is the perfect spot for a weekend camping getaway. Even if you’re just interested in taking a day trip over the warmer seasons, there’s something here for everyone - from the sandy beaches fronting on Georgian Bay, to the many trails that guide you through lush terrains and habitats. Did I mention the biodiversity is unreal? It's a hot destination for bird watching and mycology enthusiasts (just look at all the fungi I spotted along Kettle Lake trail!)
With all this in mind, consider that Ontario’s Provincial parks are remarkable in every season, and winter brings crisp air, snow-capped trees, and a captivating beauty worth beholding in person. While snowshoeing and cross-country skiing can be fun, one of the best ways to take in the sights is by foot. New to the idea of hiking in the winter? I'd recommend checking out this winter preparedness guide for tips on cold weather wandering. Before planning your visit, it’s also good practice to check the Park Locator on the Ontario Parks website to figure out which parks are operating, and what facilities are open and available.
Happy Pride Month! All are welcome to the Pride Book Club which is held in partnership with Moyo Health & Community Services. Since October 2020, this club has been meeting virtually each month to discuss some truly remarkable books written by and about the 2SLGBTQ+ community. Our regular members ranked their top picks from the past year. Please see our reviews of Pride Book Club top three below!
Luna Ferguson is a Canadian filmmaker and 2SLGBTQ+ activist who was the first person in Canada to be legally recognized as non-binary. In this gripping memoir, Luna shares their journey from experiencing discrimination and abuse in rural Ontario to a life full of love and acceptance. With a PhD in Gender, Race, Sexuality, and Social Justice from the University of British Columbia, it’s no surprise that Luna does an excellent job of helping the reader understand not only what non-binary means to them, but also the social and personal impact of acceptance and representation. Overall, the book reads like a lyrical thinkpiece, interweaving logic with emotionally charged storytelling that leaves the reader rooting for Luna every step of the way.
This skinny little love story can be read in a single sitting, but don’t let the length fool you -- it still packs an emotional punch that’ll leave your heart full. Spanning from their chance meeting at a church bingo event, blossoming love, and heartbreaking separation in 1963 to their unbelievable reunion years later and beyond, this graphic novel tells the beautiful story of Mari and Hazel, two women of colour whose love lasted a lifetime. Readers will find themselves completely immersed in this well-rounded storyline with rich characters.
As a queer Islamic woman, Samra Habib weaves together her life story and shows us how her cultural, relgious, and queer identities came to exist together in peace. But, it was not an easy process. Growing up as an Ahmadi Muslim in Pakistan, she fled from her home country with her family in fear of persecution. Life as a refugee in Canada was not easy, however, as Samra found herself stuck amidst racism and discrimination outside the home and the pressure to conform to strict cultural expectations that were at odds with her identity from within it. From a period of family estrangement to finding acceptance within her family, her community, her faith, and herself, this memoir advocates for the recognition of queer Muslims, past and present. A beautiful memoir that tells the story of one woman who refused to compromise her faith or her queer sexuality, readers will love discovering how Samra has come to live her most authentic life.
Okay, we know this makes four reviews, but this staff pick was such a good read and we just had to include it....
On Earth We’re Briefly Gorgeous is written as a letter from Little Dog to his mother, who cannot read. The novel reveals Little Dog’s family history - beginning in Vietnam before he was born and ending with parts of his life that his mother could not know. Told with compassion, the novel examines Little Dog’s childhood trauma while also compassionately paying tribute to the strength of the women in his life. It is also a bittersweet story of first love and all the wonder, joy, and tenderness that comes with it. Little Dog and Trevor fall in love across race, class, and gender. Part autobiographical, part poetry, part fiction, this lyrical novel is an intimate portrait of familial love, first love, and finding yourself.A beautiful and moving novel.
Brampton Library’s Pride Book Club wraps up for 2020-21 on June 15th with a discussion of Romance in Marseille by Claude McKay at 7:30 pm. Please check our Calendar of Events at the end of the summer for our fall season dates and titles to register for October 2021 and beyond! And for more Pride Month Events, visit the website calendar on Rainbow Salad, a Peel-based 2SLGBTQ+ Collaborative that Brampton Library is proud to be part of.
Discover our Pride resource list anytime on our website, under the Learn tab. And for more Pride Month Events, visit the website calendar on Rainbow Salad, a Peel-based 2SLGBTQ+ Collaborative that Brampton Library is proud to be part of.
lightly longer journey, it's well worth your while to visit Awenda (just north of Penetanguishene). 
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