Passport to Discovery – Earth Day

Passport to Discovery – Earth Day

by | Apr 3, 2023 | Children & Families, Crafts, Programming

Calling all young explorers! Your next adventure starts today! This month’s Passport to Discovery theme is Earth Day. We celebrate this day with activities that will inspire us all to make a difference for the future of our communities and our planet!

Let’s get started:

  • Pick up a Take & Make Kit from your library branch to make a plantable pollinator seed bomb using recycled paper!
  • Take the 3Rs Earth Day Pledge! Fill in the blanks: “I pledge to reduce… I pledge to reuse… I pledge to recycle…
  • Play Earth Day Tic Tac Toe! Pick up a game sheet filled with activities you can do to take is a step towards a healthier planet.
  • Read one of these books from our collection.
  • Download this month’s activity sheet if you prefer to get started from home.

Explorers are welcome to join the program at any time. Here’s how it works:

  • Pick up a passport from your local branch to begin a full year of learning, reading, doing, and having a whole lot of fun!
  • Visit your local branch each month to pick up a themed craft kit and activity sheet.
  • Complete at least one of the activities
  • Return to the branch to get your passport stamped and ballot entered into a grand prize draw that will take place at the end of the program in February 2024.
March Break at the Huron County Library

March Break at the Huron County Library

by | Mar 7, 2023 | Children & Families, Programming

You don’t have to travel far to have fun this March Break! Visit your local Huron County Library branch where you’re sure to find some fun activities for the whole family!

Here is a round-up of what’s on next week:

The Great March Break Lego Giveaway: Drop into your local branch anytime during the March Break to guess how many Lego pieces are in the jar. Write your guess on a ballot for a chance to win the entire set up Lego. There is a set to win at each of our 12 branches.

March Break Match-up: We are pitting some of our favourite children’s book series against each other! You alone can help your favourite books make it to the finals! Get started by downloading this sheet or pick one up from any library branch Write the number of the series you like best from each pair and repeat the process until you have picked the book series that you think should win. Return this sheet to your local branch by March 18 and watch our Facebook page for the results!

North Team

Alice Munro Branch, Wingham:

  • Drop in during regular branch hours to have fun with the button maker, make a wind spiral craft, and play games.
  • Enjoy an amazing magic show and balloon artistry with Eric on Wednesday, March 15. Registration required.

Blyth Branch:

  • Drop in during regular branch hours to have fun with the button maker, make a wind spiral craft, and play games.

Howick Branch:

  • Drop in during regular branch hours to have fun with the button maker, make a wind spiral craft, and play games.

East Team

Brussels Branch:

  • PROGRAM FULL: The BarryO Kidshow brings ventriloquism, juggling and a little bit of magic to the Brussels Branch on Wednesday, March 15. 

Seaforth Branch:

  • PROGRAM FULL: The BarryO Kidshow brings ventriloquism, juggling and a little bit of magic to the Seaforth Branch on Wednesday, March 15. 

Central Team

Clinton Branch:

  • Monday, March 13, 2-4 p.m.: Drop in for STEAM play – try out Ozobots, Sphero, Kano and Cubelets
  • Tuesday, March 14, 1-3 p.m.: Drop-in craft – plant some seeds for your spring garden
  • Wednesday, March 15, 2-4 p.m.: Enjoy a fun afternoon playing board games
  • Thursday, March 16, 1-3 p.m.: Let’s get creative with Lego play
  • Friday, March 17, 1-3 p.m.: Switch fun – play a game on the big screen. Spots are limited for this program, so be sure to register ahead by calling 519-482-3673 or emailing clintonlibrary@huroncounty.ca

Zurich Branch:

  • Monday, March 13, 11 a.m.-1 p.m.: Bingo Fun – Play a game with friends and family. Spots are limited for this program, so be sure to register ahead by calling 519-236-4965 or emailing zurichlibrary@huroncounty.ca
  • Tuesday, March 14, 1-3 p.m.: Let’s get creative with Lego play
  • Wednesday, March 15, 11 a.m.-1 p.m.: Steam Play – Try Ozobots, Sphero, Kano and Cubelets
  • Thursday, March 16, 2-4 p.m.: Enjoy a fun afternoon playing board games
  • Friday, March 17, 11 a.m.-1 p.m.: Drop-in craft: Plant seeds for your spring garden

South Team

Exeter Branch:

  • Monday, March 13, 10:30-11:30 a.m.: Try Ozobots, Sphero, Kano, Cubelets and more!
  • Tuesday, March 14, 10 a.m.-5 p.m.: Lego my Library – drop in all day
  • Wednesday, March 15, 10-11 a.m.: Storytime with Cheryl and Megan
  • Thursday, March 16, 1-3 p.m.: Button Maker Madness
  • Friday, March 17, 11 a.m.-1 p.m.: Drop-in craft: St. Patrick’s Day
  • Saturday, March 18, 1:30-3 p.m.: Maple Mania – Taffy on ice with Iceculture and Sumit
  • Saturday, March 18, 3-4 p.m.: Maple Mania – Birds of Prey – registration required

Hensall Branch:

  • Tuesday, March 14, 2-6 p.m.: Playdoh Palooza
  • Wednesday, March 15, 9 a.m.-12 p.m.: Playdoh Palooza
  • Thursday, March 16, 2-6 p.m.: Playdoh Palooza
  • Friday, March 17, 9 a.m.-12 p.m.: St. Patrick’s Day craft
  • Saturday, March 18, 11 a.m.-12 p.m.: Maple Mania – Taffy on ice with Iceculture and Sumit

Kirkton Branch:

  • Monday, March 13, 3-7 p.m.: Button Maker Monday
  • Tuesday, March 14, 9 a.m.-1 p.m.: Playdoh Palooza
  • Thursday, March 16, 3-7 p.m.: St. Patrick’s Day craft
  • Saturday, March 18, 9 a.m.-12 p.m.: Lego my Library

West Team

Bayfield Branch:

Goderich Branch:

Registration is required for all events listed below. Please call 519-524-9261 or email goderichlibrary@huroncounty.ca. Taste of Huron Maple Mania events on March 18 have separate online registration linked below. 

  • Monday, March 13, 11 a.m.-12 p.m.: Tallest Structure – Who can build the highest tower? This program will challenge kids to build a structure using only toothpicks & marshmallows.
  • Tuesday, March 14, 11 a.m.-12 p.m.: Egg Drop – Can you make a carrier for an egg that will survive a drop from different heights?
  • Wednesday, March 15, 2-3 p.m.: Book Bingo – An afternoon of fun for the whole family! Adult accompaniment is required. All Ages.
  • Thursday, March 16, 11 a.m.-12 p.m.: Wax Paper Lantern – Get creative making beautiful wax-paper lanterns.
  • Friday, March 17, 11 a.m.-12 p.m.: Sink or Swim – Kids will use craft materials to create a boat and put it to the test to see how it holds up in a tub of water.
  • Saturday, March 18, 10 a.m.-12 p.m.: Maple Cookie decorating – registration through Taste of Huron required.
  • Saturday, March 18, 2-3 p.m.: For the Love of Reptiles  – registration through Taste of Huron required.

    Passport to Discovery – Earth Day

    Passport to Discovery – Poetry

    by | Mar 1, 2023 | Children & Families, Crafts, Readers' Advisory

    Calling all young explorers! Your next adventure starts today! This month’s Passport to Discovery theme is poetry. Poems are everywhere, from the nursery rhymes you sing with your family, to the lyrics of a song you know on the radio, to a jingle from a commercial. 

    Let’s get started:

    • Pick up a Take & Make Kit to grow a poem! Write a poem using the first letters of each word on the flower pot. Then decorate the pot with some flowers.
    • Using the page from a discarded book, skim the page, lightly circling the words or phrases you like. Using a black crayon or marker, draw a circle around those words and blackout the rest of the words on the page. Read through your final poem.
    • Write a Spoonerism Scramble. Runny Babbit speaks a topsy-turvy language of his own called spoonerisms, a deliberate play on words in which corresponding letters are switched between two words in a phrase, often with a funny outcome. Imagine if you spoke entirely in spoonerisms—what would you sound like? 
    • Read one of these poetry books from our collection.
    • Download this month’s activity sheet if you prefer to get started from home.

    Explorers are welcome to join the program at any time. Here’s how it works:

     

    • Pick up a passport from your local branch to begin a full year of learning, reading, doing, and having a whole lot of fun!
    • Visit your local branch each month to pick up a themed craft kit and activity sheet.
    • Complete at least one of the activities
    • Return to the branch to get your passport stamped and ballot entered into a grand prize draw that will take place at the end of the program in February, 2024.

    Spring Craft Swap

    Spring Craft Swap

    by | Feb 10, 2023 | Adults, Crafts, Programming

    Calling all crafters! Love crafting and seeing others enjoy what you make? Join the Huron County Library Spring Craft Swap where you will be partnered with another crafter in Huron County! Make your partner a custom craft while they do the same for you! All crafting mediums are welcome – knitting, crocheting, sewing, candle making, pottery, scrapbooking, needlefelting, etc. The sky is the limit!

    AGES: This program is open to crafters of all ages! Adult crafters will be partnered with a fellow adult crafter, and children will be partnered with children.

    GUIDELINES: We ask that you craft TWO small items or ONE medium sized item.

    • Medium = A scarf, a wallet, a set of notecards (4), a reusable shopping bag
    • Small = A piece of jewelry, a bookmark, a washcloth, a facemask, a small candle

    Please note that a library staff person will be in touch with you March 23 to 27 to assign your partner. You will have the entire month of April to craft. Please drop your completed craft off to your local Huron County Library branch between April 25-May 2 (or earlier). You will receive a notification from library staff when the craft from your partner is ready for pickup at your local branch. Watch for email reminders along the way so you don’t miss any of the deadlines listed below. Please ensure that crafts do not exceed the size of a standard tote box (28” x 17” x 15″).

    *Should a partner not complete a craft, an alternate partner will be arranged. Should multiple partners not complete a craft, individuals may be paired with one another. Pre-completed crafts will be used in reassignments (no need to make an entirely new craft!).

    IMPORTANT DATES:

    Registration: March 1-22
    Partner Assigned: March 23-27
    Crafting: March 27-April 24
    Craft Due: April 25-May 2

    REGISTRATION: Huron County Library Spring Craft Swap | Huron County Connects (connectedcountyofhuron.ca)

     

    Huron County Library receives Minister’s Award for Innovation for In Your Backyard program

    Huron County Library receives Minister’s Award for Innovation for In Your Backyard program

    by | Feb 9, 2023 | In Your Backyard, News, Programming

    The Huron County Library is honoured to be this year’s recipient of the Minister’s Award for Innovation in recognition of the In Your Backyard program.

    Presented to library staff at the Ontario Library Association Super Conference on Feb. 2 in Toronto, this Ontario Public Library Service Award recognizes successful new approaches that demonstrate a positive impact to the community and are of continued value to public libraries. 

    In the spring of 2022, library staff hosted In Your Backyard, a virtual local travel series that highlighted several hidden gems found across Huron County. Inspired by Ontario West Coast’s tourism program which ran during the pandemic, staff worked with local municipalities to invite participants to learn more about the communities and businesses found right in their backyard. Building on the popularity of the program, the library partnered with the County of Huron’s Economic Development department to offer an exciting summer giveaway that further encouraged people to get out and explore these hidden gems for a chance to win a Huron County weekend get-away. Locations represented each municipality in the County and were chosen to ensure they were accessible and free for everyone to enjoy.

    “I am so proud In Your Backyard was recognized for its efforts to collaborate with our local communities to highlight all of the incredible things available so close to home,” said Beth Rumble, County Librarian and Director of Cultural Services. “The program provided the opportunity for the library to support our communities and businesses who were in a state of rebuilding after the pandemic, and to give people the chance to safely get out and explore Huron’s hidden gems.”

     While the program ended in September, 2022, Huron’s hidden gems are still available to explore! 

    During the conference awards ceremony, the Huron County Library was also presented with a certificate for reaccreditation as an Accredited Ontario Public Library. This designation was granted by the Ontario Public Library Guidelines Monitoring and Accreditation Council in recognition of excellence in library service. A library is judged and rated on more than 175 guidelines that evaluate library services, resources, planning and policy. Completing the accreditation process is an opportunity to highlight a library system’s capabilities and to identify areas for improvement. Huron County Library achieved an overall score of 98.3 per cent. Library accreditation is an optional process of which only 40 other Ontario libraries have successfully completed. Achieving this standard demonstrates that Huron County has an exceptional library system.