News from Ruth E. Dickinson: your local library branch
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📚 1000 books before kindergarten 📚
1000 Books Before Kindergarten (1BBK) is a free bilingual literacy program for newborns, babies, toddlers, and preschoolers. The goal? Read 1000 books with your little one before they start Kindergarten. Visit us in branch to see our special display and to pick up a reading log!
To track your progress, colour/check a book cover on the reading log for every book that you read to your child (titles can be repeated!)
Every time you reach 100 books, show us your log sheet, and we will give you:
a new reading log
a die cut shape so you can fill in your child’s name and the number of books read so far
🚸Ready, set, kindergarten! 🚸
Join our school readiness program for children 3-4 years-old, who will be entering kindergarten in September 2023, and their adult co-learner. Stories and child-centered learning stations focusing on foundational concepts of letter recognition, numeracy, colors, shapes, measurement, rhyming and retelling. Wednesdays at 2 pm from March 22 to April 26. Registration opens on Monday March 6 at 9 am!
🦁🐟 March break for children: Choose your own adventure! 🎵 🎨
March Break is just around the corner! The Library is offering lots of creative in-person programs for children ages 4 to 12: storytimes, games, crafts, music, STEM, dance and arts! This year's theme is Choose Your Own Adventure! At the Ruth E. Dickinson branch, you can go on a Lion Hunt, dive Beneath the Waves, find your way through a Labyrinth, and much more. The whole family is invited to help us welcome a special guest, Mary Lambert, to sing us into Spring on Tuesday March 14th! Sign up now for your week of adventure!
😎 March break for teens 😎
The Library is offering a variety of virtual teen programs for March Break that will help them prepare for the future and brush up on some important life skills, all while having a great time. All teen programs will be held virtually, so participants can enjoy and interact from home or anywhere. For ages 13 to 18. Registration required. Don't have a library card? Get one here or visit us in branch!
Planning for Post-Secondary School (Virtual): Monday March 13 at 3 pm - Teens will learn about money management and how to plan for school. Presented by the Credit Counselling Society.
Introduction au mode de vie zéro déchet (Virtuel): le mardi 14 mars à 15 h 30 - Cet atelier d'introduction au mode de vie zéro déchet vous donnera des conseils pratiques pour entamer votre transition vers le zéro déchet. Pour 13 à 18 ans. Présenté par NU Grocery. Inscription requise.
Budget Breakers (Virtual): Wednesday March 15 at 3 pm - Participants will learn about the 3 biggest budget breakers (the little expenses, the irregular expenses, and the emergency expenses) and strategies to eliminate them from everyday worry. Presented by the Credit Counselling Society.
Putting Your Best Face Forward: Exploring Selfies (Virtual): Thursday March 16 at 2:30 pm - For ages 13-16. Presented by MediaSmarts.
Intro to the Zero Waste Lifestyle (Virtual): Friday March 17 at 3:30 pm - This workshop provides an introduction to the zero-waste lifestyle with practical tips to jumpstart your own journey. For ages 13 to 18. Presented by NU Grocery.
🆕 Introducing mobile printing 🆕
OPL is happy to announce a new mobile printing service! With mobile printing, clients can upload a variety of file types (.xlsx, .docx, .PDF, .png, .jpg) to the cloud and release them at any OPL branch using the Print Release Station within 7 days. Clients can load money onto their library cards at any branch or by adding funds to their Smart Pay account using the Add Print/Funds function.