Library kicks off new year

By Miriam Ostermann, Associate Editor

The Strathmore Municipal Library is gearing up to celebrate literacy with several revamped fan-favourite programs in accord with several worldwide celebrations.
Every year the community hub offers programs to commemorate Family Literacy Day, World Reading Aloud Day and Freedom to Read Week – all of which occur at the beginning of the year and contain literacy as their cornerstones.
Therefore, the library is offering its first ever Author Extravaganza, a Makerspace program and story time featuring Mayor Pat Fule.
“The beginning half of the year is actually quite exciting for libraries because you have Family Literacy Day, World Read Aloud Day, Freedom to Read Week is coming up in February and Edible Book Day in April,” said Carmen Erison, assistant director of library services at the Strathmore Municipal Library.
“It’s really quite a fun time for us and we’re already planning our events all the way into April at this point. We opened up our new doors to the library and we hit the ground running.”
For quite some time, Erison had envisioned hosting several authors at the library at once. The opportunity arose this year, as local authors Denise Geremia, The Pouty Puppy, Majorie Hembroff, Gramma Mouse Tells a Story, and Patricia Mullin, Harry the Spider Series, will be promoting their books at the Author Extravaganza to honour Family Literacy Day on Jan. 27 – a national awareness initiative by ABC Life Literacy Canada that was created in 1999 and is an annual event.
According to Erison, the library thrives to provide programming when there is no school in effect. On Jan. 31, a Wednesday, the Strathmore Municipal Library will be hosting a Makerspace program when kids are off school, and is welcoming Mayor Pat Fule on Feb. 1 to read several books, as well as providing crafts and songs for kids to shed light on Read Aloud Day. Last year local author Audrey Gene read from her book, Of the Dragonfly, while former Mayor Michael Ell read to the children the year before. The library is already looking at programming for February with more author visits and community programs.
“What’s quite exciting about Strathmore is that we have an extremely talented community from authors to artists,” Erison said. “There’s so much talent to draw from, and as a library that allows us to provide that space for them to promote themselves and promote their art. That’s what the library provides, a space for you to meet these people and share their talents. It’s quite exciting.”
Author Extravaganza will take place on Jan. 27 from 1 to 2:30 p.m. The program is free to attend with no registration necessary. Makerspace is offered on Jan. 31 from 1 to 2:30 p.m. All ages are welcome and the program is free to attend with no registration. Children under the age of six are required to be supervised. The stations will include an inventor supply lab, electronic module and Lego.
On Feb. 1 Mayor Pat Fule will visit the library for Read Aloud Day from 10:30 to 11:30 a.m. for the regular Story Time program. The event is also free to attend and no registration is necessary. For more information visit strathmorelibrary.ca.