Library gears up for the fall

By Miriam Ostermann, Associate Editor

The Strathmore Municipal Library is shifting gears and diverting their usual attention away from focusing on children’s programming and increasing opportunities for adults.
While the local library will bring back their usual fall programs, such as Winging It and Minecraft Mania, their newfound emphasis on adult programming has the staff exploring options of hosting credit counselling and financial sessions, local author talks and a scrapbooking class. The library is also investigating ideas of working with TED talks and has created a social media-based book group called the Busy People Book Club.
“A lot of our programming is very family focused and that’s something we still want to continue to strive to provide – great free family programming – but we know that there are groups that are missing out on programming as well, and so that’s something that we’ve always wanted to try to implement more of, is that adult programming,” said Carmen Erison, assistant director of library services at the Strathmore Municipal Library.
Starting in mid-September, the library is introducing a two-day session program called Sew Simple: Sewing for Beginners and Beyond in recognition of National Sewing Month. Participants are required to bring their own sewing machine and supplies while receiving help and advice from one of the library’s staff members and resident seamstress, Ilke Schwartz.
The library has also created Strathmore’s first online book club, the brainchild of newest employee Olivia Reardon. The platform provides an online discussion conducted through the library’s Facebook page for people with busy lives that would otherwise hinder them from participating in regular book clubs.
“Generally in most book clubs, you commit to meeting once a month to discuss a book that you’re mutually reading, and you have a great night with wine or coffee,” Erison said. “But there are a lot of families and parents and people who are just too busy to be able to attend a book club. The great part about this is that it can be two o’clock in the morning and that’s when you have a moment to get into the discussions and put your thoughts about that book in there. That might be the only time they have… so this is an opportunity for those busy people to be able to feel included.”
Twenty-six people have already signed up to the closed Facebook group. The Busy People Book Club’s first book is the Boat People by Sharon Bala. To join the club, visit strathmorelibrary.ca/bpbc.
Although brainstorming is at an ultimate high to produce more adult programming, families can rest assured that some fan favourites are coming back. Winging It: Theatre Games for Kids and Winging It: Theatre Games for Teens programs will return in September and October and run until December. The program is for children aged between seven and 11, encouraging them to work together and have fun through improvisation and various theatre games. Due to a high participation rate and popular demand, the program was increased to 15 participants from the previous 12 in both programs. Those participating will also be practicing for a musical theatre combo to be performed for their families at the end of the program.
Back by popular demand is Minecraft Mania and Minecraft Mania Juniors. The programs are only open to eight children each: the library received a grant from United Way to purchase eight laptops for the after-school program.
“This is a question that we have seen in the past; it is only open to eight children,” Erison emphasized. “We’ve had parents ask us, ‘can I bring my own laptop and can my child still participate?’ We’ve chosen to say no, and the reason is that we don’t feel it’s fair to children who don’t have a laptop.”
The fall programs are free to attend.
Registration for Winging It: Theatre Games for Kids opens on Aug. 20 at 10 a.m. The program runs on Mondays from 6 to 7 p.m. on Oct. 1, Oct. 15, Oct. 22, Oct. 30, Nov. 5, Nov. 19, Dec. 3 and Dec. 17.
Winging It: Theatre Games for Teens registration also starts on Aug. 20 at 10 a.m. and the program runs Mondays from 7 to 8:15 p.m. weekly from Sept. 24 to Dec. 17.
The library’s Sew Simple: Sewing for Beginners and Beyond opens up registration on Aug. 27 at 10 a.m. and goes Sept. 20 from 1:30 to 3:30 p.m. and at the same time on Sept. 27. The program is limited to 12 participants.
Registration for Minecraft Mania and Minecraft Mania Juniors starts on Sept. 8 at 10 a.m. The bi-weekly programs run Thursdays from 4 to 5 p.m., from Sept 18 to Nov. 27, and Sept. 25 to Dec. 4 respectively. For more information or to register, contact the library at 403-934-5440 or visit their website at strathmorelibrary.ca.