A new year and a full January

You’ve probably heard this several times already, but here it is from the Library – HAPPY NEW YEAR! We wish you a year full of new memories, happy times, and of course, spending time with us.

There are a lot of things happening at the Library in January to highlight, so without further ado, here goes! This is a snapshot – there’s more listed in our Programs and Events calendar.

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Graphic Novel Book Club

Next meeting on January 6

Join us for an interesting conversation about favourite graphic novels and comics. The book club will discuss a new graphic novel each month. Session runs to May.

Register online

Looking for graphic novels? Get started here.

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All Things Yarn Club

Next meeting on January 11

Come and join a group of people who love creating things from yarn! Whether you are seasoned in yarn crafts, are starting out, or are just curious about knitting, etc., you will find like-minded crafters here. Share ideas, techniques, and get inspired by books and conversation. Just bring your creativity and the materials you need to join the fun.

Register online

Looking for knitting books? Get started here.

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Tales at Night

Happening on January 17

Tales are on tap at our storytime for adults! Feel like a kid again by listening to some fun tales read aloud by your local librarians at the Good Will Social Club, 625 Portage Ave.

Get the details

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Make Your Own Podcast

Happening on January 20

Interested in making your own podcast? Join us as we discuss what it takes to create and share a podcast. We’ll talk about planning your show, getting it made, and getting your podcast online.

Register online

Connect with fiction and non-fiction reads about podcasting.

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Everything You Wanted to Know About Winter Cycling (online)

Happening on January 22

Are you ready to try winter cycling? Or extend your cycling season? Learn the ins and outs about what to wear, cold weather gear for your bike, and riding tips for snow and ice. Presented in partnership with the Green Action Centre.

Register online

Connect with our Green Choices Information Guide for more ways to reduce your environmental impact.

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Brain Health

Happening on January 24

Join the WRHA Healthy Aging Resource Team during Alzheimer’s Awareness Month to talk about brain health. Topics include the normal aging of the brain, threats to brain health, and tips for reducing risks and keeping your brain healthy.

Register online

Connect with reads about brain health.

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eMedia HELP One-on-One Appointments

Being offered on four days at four library branches throughout January through March.

Book a 45-minute one-on-one help appointment with Library staff and get help with Digital Library services: eBooks, audiobooks, emagazines, enewspapers, streaming music and video, and databases.

Make an appointment

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We look forward to seeing you at the Library in 2024!

~Reegan

Tales at Night – From Home

In the late 1960s and early 70s, my mother was “Sharon” as in CBC Whitehorse’s “Stories with Sharon”. She would read aloud in the studio and sometimes at public events, for kids and adults alike. Her voice was soothing, and expressive, friendly and joyful, and it turned out that not only the kids were tuning in to hear her read aloud. In fact, she always claimed that the long haul truckers were her biggest fans.

Being very much Sharon’s daughter, from my dark hair to my love of embellishing a family story, I have discovered for myself how much I enjoy not only listening to stories read aloud but being a reader to adults as well.

My point is: storytime is not just for kids! I think we all love the comfort, the closeness, and the joy of hearing a story read out loud. And the Winnipeg Public Library does too. In fact over the years, we’ve run storytimes for grownups in a number of our branches, and most recently, have run a super fun series called Tales at Night – Library Happy Hour out of the Good Will Social Club.

Of course library programming has changed somewhat over the past couple of months, and while we have had to put a pause on our Library Happy Hour series, we are thrilled to still be able to present to you Tales at Night – from home. Our “from home” version features some of the best stories from the past, read aloud by familiar voices like Ed from Millennium, Trevor and Tauni from Louis Riel, and yours truly. So far we’ve recorded some of your and our favourites by Roald Dahl, Ursula Le Guin, Dorothy Parker, David Sedaris, Miranda July, and of course, Ray Bradbury.

A new story is released every Wednesday, and all are accessible from our youtube page. You don’t need to commit to an entire evening of stories; we’ve recorded each one individually ranging from 5-20 minutes in length. Pick and choose what suits you right now! Like with our Library Happy Hour series, these stories are all intended for adult audiences and are not suitable for children.

We can’t wait to see you all again at the Good Will Social Club when we can once more gather for Tales at Night – Library Happy Hour, but until then, we hope you can tune in – from home!

Let us know what you think! Do you have any suggestions for future readings?

~ Kirsten

Artisanal Audiobooks: Adult Storytime

When was the last time someone read you a story? You were probably a kid, right? Maybe it was a teacher in elementary school doing a group read of a classic. Or maybe it was your Mom or Dad (or Grandparent) reading you a familiar favourite at bedtime. Whenever it was, I am guessing it was probably a long time ago.

Studies have shown that reading (and being read to) is beneficial to children and adults alike. Not only do stories provide mental stimulation, improve memory, ignite curiosity, expand vocabulary and help develop analytical skill,  being read to in a group setting also results in a shared experience and creates community. Also, it’s really, really fun.

What would you say if I told you that you could come and hear some library people read you stories AS ADULTS and that it is completely free? Would you come? I hope so, because WPL is holding its third “Tales at Night” Adult Story Time at The Good Will Social Club (625 Portage Ave) on Wednesday, August 24th at 7:30 pm.

Since we are holding our adult story time at a licensed Social Club, you can even grab a beer and a slice of pizza while you are listening to the stories. So, even if you don’t enjoy the stories (but why wouldn’t you?), there will be pizza and beer. I should also mention that, as a bonus, we will be treated to some comedy improv towards the end of our program featuring our very own newly appointed Manager of Library Services, Ed Cuddy. Now who would want to miss that? We will also have a “Pop Up Library” there, where you can sign up for a library card, and find out about all the other programs and collections WPL has to offer.

If you want to get an idea of some of the stuff we’ve read in the past and may read again, please check out the following titles.

Let’s Explore Diabetes with Owls  by David Sedaris

We’ve read a David Sedaris short story or essay at each of the “Tales at Night” so far, so why would we stop now? We have a “summer themed” story picked out that we think you will enjoy.

 

 

Poetry and Short Stories of Dorothy Parker

At our February Tales at Night, we opened and closed the event with a couple of wonderfully funny and clever Dorothy Parker short stories. She is a joy to read (and to hear out loud).

 

 

Bradbury Stories: 100 of His Most Celebrated Tales by Ray Bradbury

Ray Bradbury is one of our all time favourite short story writers, and we are really excited to read one of his this time around. It’s funny and scary and weird and nostalgic and I’VE SAID TOO MUCH. Hope you can come!

 

 

 

Trevor