The winter holiday season has once again arrived, and here at the Whitby Public Library we’re all getting bundled up for festive fun.
On Friday, December 5 from 6:00 to 8:00 pm we will once again be hosting the Town of Whitby’s Annual Christmas Tree Lighting ceremony in Celebration Square outside of the Central Library.
Bring the whole family for an evening of carolling, crafts and activities, and warm up your belly with hot chocolate and cookies.
Share the gift of giving by bringing an unwrapped toy and contribute to the Stuff-A-Bug Toy Drive.
If the weather gets too nippy to stand outside, visit our Try Before You Buy kiosk on the main floor and take a look at some cool tech. Try a tablet or an e-reader and get information about different devices before you splurge on a gift.
We’ll also fill you in on how to borrow library e-books and e-magazines on your device. So stop by and visit our kiosk to get out of the cold. We’ll be holding the kiosk at all of our branches on other days as well.
The Tree Lighting Ceremony is followed by the Santa Claus Parade,which will take place on Saturday, December 6starting at 10:00 am. The parade will travel down Brock street and end at Centennial Rotary Park. After the parade, pay us a visit and pick up a Saturday night flick or a book to curl up with.
Of course, the end of the year also means holiday hours and closures. For information on when we’re open and closed in December and January, see our Holiday Closing web page.
From all of us at the Whitby Public Library,
we wish everyone a happy and safe holiday season.
Upcoming Programs
Talkin’ About Tech at the Central Library
Tuesday, December 9
7:00 to 8:30 pm
Meeting Room 1B
Interested in buying a tablet or e-reader, but bogged down in all of the details?
Join us for this information session on the various tablets and e-readers on the market. Library staff will talk about a number of topics, including:
The differences between a tablet and an e-reader.
A general introduction to the various tablets and e-readers on the market.
An overview of the functions of different devices.
Questions you have about tablets and e-readers.
A variety of devices will be on display for you to try and explore.
Your library catalogue goes beyond simply searching for a title or an author. It lets you keep track of your borrowing, place holds, view and create lists, and much more. Write comments and rate books that you adore and read reviews by others. Discover, explore and connect with the library community by learning all the tips and tricks of your library catalogue in this one-hour demonstration.
Registration is required. Register online by clicking on the link for your preferred date above, or by contacting any branch.
Old School Video Game Tournament at the Brooklin Branch
Wednesday, December 3
7:00 to 8:00 pm
Before the time of X-Box, PlayStation and Wii, there was only one gaming console: Nintendo 64!
Prepare yourself for a Mario Kart N64 Smackdown! 16 players may enter… the tracks will decide your fate…and in the end only one will be victorious!
Refreshments, snacks and all the necessary controllers and equipment will be provided.
Teens in grades 7 to 12 are invited to join us for this program.
Can you hear the train coming? Do you hear the bells ringing? Grab your ticket and climb aboard the Polar Express for a magical journey to the North Pole to visit Santa Claus!
Children of all ages and their caregivers are invited to listen to the celebrated holiday story The Polar Express by Chris Van Allsburg. Afterwards, join special guest Roy Parker who will display one of his miniature train sets to chug its way around the tracks! Choo! Choo!
Registration is not required. Just drop in!
Seniors’ Holiday Bingo at the Rossland Branch
Wednesday, December 10
2:30 to 3:30 pm
Join us for some rollicking holiday Bingo. Wearing a Santa hat may score you an extra prize. Will you play naughty or nice?
Graphic novels Graphic novels (which are book-bound comics) have exploded in popularity in recent years. TV shows and movies like The Walking Dead, Scott Pilgrim vs. The World, 300, Jonah Hex and The Losers, all based on graphic novels, have certainly contributed to the boom, but so has the long-standing superhero fandom, which is still standing strong.
Just because you’re not into zombies, sci-fi or superheroes doesn’t mean that there isn’t a graphic novel for you. In fact, we have a big collection of graphic novels that, like many traditional novels, tell the stories of everyday people’s lives. Harvey Pekar’s classic American Splendor (which was also made into a movie) is one such example, as is American Born Chinese by Gene Luen Yang.
American Born Chinese is actually three separate fictional stories that, although seemingly unrelated, come together in the end. One string of the story belongs to Jin Wang, a boy who moves to a neighbourhood where he is one of the only Chinese-Americans at his new school. The Monkey King, of the old Chinese fable, leads another thread of narrative with his journey towards satisfying his desire to become a god rather than a mere monkey. Chin-Kee rounds out the novel’s trilogy of storylines. This character is the ultimate negative Chinese stereotype, cramping his cousin’s style every time he visits. Through simple drawings and a dialogue infused with humour, Yang pulls these three stories together and binds them into one, with a surprise twist at the end. This is a great book for anyone looking to get into graphic novels without the help of Batman and the Fantastic Four.
Have you tried Zinio yet? Zinio is our (still) new online magazine platform. It’s a quick and easy way to access digital copies of some of our most popular magazines. You’ll see every page in beautifully rendered colour on your tablet, phone or computer. You can download as many magazine issues as you want, they stay on your device as long as you want them to and there aren’t any late fees!
Travelling someplace where Internet connections are unavailable or expensive? No problem. Once you download your magazines to your device, you can read them at your leisure whether you’re online or not.
We offer 40 great magazines, including Mental Floss, Canadian Living, Esquire, Us Weekly, The Economist, National Geographic, Elle and Canadian Gardening, and we’re looking at some great new additions for 2015.
And with the holiday season approaching, e-magazines through Zinio are a great added bonus for everyone who finds a tablet in their stocking. Don’t forget that we also have e-books for your mobile devices.
It’s all easy to use. We have detailed instructions to help you get started for your computer, iPad, Android or Windows tablet. Visit our Zinio page to get started.
Whitby Archives Snapped from the Past
Outdoor Skating Rink on Brock Street North, c.1923-1925. Photographer Unknown. Whitby Archives 21-003-010.
Can you imagine an outdoor skating rink in downtown Whitby? This outdoor rink was located on the west side of Brock Street North between Heard’s Garage and Turansky’s Grocery Store. The frame building at the far end of the rink was used as a change room. In the summer this site was used as Joe Turansky’s garden for his grocery store.
What’s There: Holiday Goodies and Decor: Luxurious Soaps: Birdhouses: Stocking Stuffers; Chocolate Delights: Hand made Jewelry: Fragrant Candles: Door Prizes:
Event: The Whitby Library Annual Celebration of Canadian Mystery Writers.
Date: November 27 2014:
Time: 7:00 pm
Location: Whitby Central Library 405 Dundas Street West
What’s There: “Hosted by Susanna Kearsley, author of bestselling novels The Winter Sea and The Firebird, the event begins at 7:00 p.m. Books will be available for purchase the evening of the visit through Blue Heron Books: We welcome Suzanne Kingsmill, author of the Cordi O’Callaghan mystery series.”
Notes:Registration is required. Register onlineor by contacting any branch.
