Special activities are planned at Milton Public Library to mark Ontario Public Library Week (October 19 to 25), and Canadian Library Month in October.
Ontario Public Library Week recognizes the important contribution Ontario's public libraries make to education, literacy and life-long learning in Ontario communities.
Library patrons make 72 million visits to local libraries across Ontario annually, in addition to virtual visits to search titles or place holds.
This year’s library week theme is ‘Libraries Inspire’.
Locally, the free family festival ‘Celebrating Stories’ will take place at the Milton Centre for the Arts from 1 to 5 p.m. on Sunday, Oct. 19.
The annual event, which began in 1996 as Milton’s book festival for children, showcases some of Canada’s best known and emerging authors.
Children will be greeted by Cinderella and a pirate as they arrive. Several presentations will take place including readings, and Splash’N Boots in the Mattamy Theatre from 3:30 to 4:30 p.m. Face painting will be available throughout the afternoon.
Organizers say that children, parents, grandparents, educators, librarians and anyone else who likes children’s literature will enjoy the free event.
Library week events
A Polish film showcase will be at the Beaty Branch on Tuesday, Oct. 21. Consulate General of Poland in Toronto Grzegorz Jopkiewicz will be in attendance when Black Thursday, a 2011 feature film, directed by Antoni Krauze, will be shown at 7 p.m.
Meanwhile, all week, the Milton Public Library has events planned. Share Your Story With Us, will be at the main library and the Beaty branch. It encourages residents to share inspirational and personal stories with videos, pictures or stories.
Bookfacing photo contest at the main library asks people to take a book with a face on the cover, hold it up in front of your own face and snap a photo to bring your favourite book covers to life.
A banned book display will be at the main branch, in celebration of freedom to read. Explore issues around book challenges and learn which books have been banned.
The library will also hold a crossword challenge at both branches in which participants can fill out a crossword for a chance to win a Kobo touch.
