facebookinstagramtwitteryoutube

Brampton Library Blog

Category: Blog

As we approach the Canada Day holiday amid terrible tragedy, your Library is a place for belonging and developing your own understanding of our country.

The recent discovery of the 215 unmarked graves at the Kamloops Indian Residential School, many hundreds more at a site in Saskatchewan and other parts of the country, and the indication of more to come, combined with the recent murder of a Muslim family in London, have led many people to question what Canada is all about and how much it is worth celebrating.

We think of Canada as a country characterized by peace, stability, prosperity, advanced human rights and multicultural diversity. But as we are learning, we are far from perfect. The immense destruction of the Indigenous nations that were here first is but one example of our failures. 

So this year, I challenge you to think of what you can do to make Canada a better place, to tackle the unresolved issues, to begin a journey toward being a better Canadian. To begin your journey, the Library has created reading lists for children and adults on our website, as well as reading lists for children and adults on CloudLibrary and our mobile app. You can also check out this week’s Virtual Storytime featuring Canada-themed books and a kid-friendly land acknowledgement as a starting point for your own family’s discussions. 

Together, let’s take a moment to contemplate what we love about Canada, how fortunate we are, but also what we can do better.

Category: Blog

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.

Happy reading!

Category: Blog

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.

Ready to discover Ontario Parks? Click here to place a hold on an Ontario Parks pass. You can also check out this hand-picked list of books, curated to inspire a deeper connection between you and nature.

Happy trails, Brampton!

Olivia Olford, Librarian

Sources: https://www.ontarioparks.com/hphp/engage

Category: Blog

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.

Once you’ve joined one of our summer clubs, you can enjoy fun challenges and win prizes. We have things like Virtual Book Bingo, Virtual Storytime, a writing workshop, outdoor games and Summer Activity Kits to borrow, Take & Make kits, Virtual Escape Boxes, and more. Plus we have exciting virtual programs with TRCA, Applefun Puppetry, Ripley’s Aquarium of Canada, and the Royal Tyrrell Museum in the Alberta Badlands.

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 .

Category: Blog

Written by Todd Kyle

Published: June 17, 2021

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.

  1. Pride Book Club Review
  2. Indigenous History Month
  3. Welcome to Summer at Brampton Library!
  4. Writing Futures

Page 13 of 28

Make this website talk

Make this website talk
Back to Top