Thank you to all who have been taking advantage of our curbside pickup program. We serve an average of 34 individuals and families with curbside pickup every day. Nothing makes us happier than making sure all our members have a good book to read!
Right now my days are filled with numbers as I complete final reports for the province and for different grants. Statistics was my least favourite class when I completed my Master’s degree, but sometimes, numbers can be fun. Here are some statistics that you might find interesting:
- We have 5 patrons who have borrowed over 10,000 items over the course of their library memberships, saving an average $35,000 dollars.
- The highest lifetime savings of any of our members is $95,743.
- Already this year, we have 9 patrons who have borrowed more than 100 items, saving on average just over $1,400.
We are so glad to see you continuing to take advantage of all the library has for you, whether it’s items off our shelves, printing or scanning services, or resources online. And a special thank to all who joined us in reading for 15 minutes for Family Literacy Day! We didn’t win, but we had fun.
Here are some library items I have enjoyed in the last couple of months:
- Thomas King’s Indians on Vacation was everything I hoped it would be. The book is by turns funny, poignant, troubling, and comforting. I really enjoy King’s writing and would highly recommend any of his books, including this one.
- Deacon King Kong by James McBride took me about 250 pages to really get into it. I persevered when it landed on President Obama’s list of his favourite books of 2020, and the ending was rewarding. This book is a unique crime story set in Brooklyn in 1969 with a strong community of characters. There’s nothing I disliked about this book; it may just not have been the right time for me to pick it up.
- The Love Story of Missy Carmichael by Beth Morrey was recommended to me by a patron who has never steered me wrong. The novel is smart, funny, and sweet. A great read that will reward you richly without demanding very much.
- Homegoing by Yaa Gyasi is an ambitious novel that traces the descendants of two Ghanian sisters over the course of 300 years. Chapters alternate between the family lines and move down the lines generation by generation. The family tree was important for following the story, so if you listen to this one on audiobook, you may need to look it up.
- The Spies of Shilling Lane by Jennifer Ryan, the author of The Chilbury Ladies Choir was about what I expected. I didn’t love the writing, but the characters were endearing and the plot moves quickly as a brash, opiniated middle-aged woman searches for her daughter and becomes embroiled in the underground fascist movement in war-torn London. This is a light and cozy mystery.
- And finally, some non-fiction. I have really enjoyed Beyond the Trees by Adam Shoalts. The author decides to trek across Canada’s Artic alone by canoe. His perseverance when faced with all kinds of obstacles and challenges is incredible. I enjoyed learning about different wildlife (like grolar bears), and about the Arctic, and the author includes brief stories of explorers who came before him. This book will certainly make you enjoy a hot meal, a hot shower, and a cozy bed if you were taking them for granted before.
We hope you are weathering this winter well. If there’s anything we can do to make it easier for you, whether it’s choosing some new books or arranging for delivery, please let us know. We would love to help.
