We have celebrated our one-year anniversary at our location on Charles Street as of January 9 and are forging ahead with more books and programs for 2010!
Forest of Reading is a wonderful program for our children to participate in as they are encouraged to read and then vote in April on their favourite Canadian author! Our Storytime children are reading books from their category called Blue Spruce during their six-week winter program. Our YA Book Club held the third Thursday of the month from 4-5 pm in the Community Room whereby kids ages twelve and up are involved with this program too. Their  “tree” categories of fiction and non-fiction Canadian titles are: silver birch, red maple, white pine and golden oak. The adults are not left out as their books are announced in February to vote in October known as Evergreen.
Visit the library to ‘free’ a challenged book on display during Freedom to Read Week, February 21-27. You will be amazed by the explanation of why certain books have been banned and/or challenged over the years. You will recognize several of these books that were required reading for school.
Now is the time to start reading the five Canadian books nominated for CBC’s Canada Reads event. These books are: Good to a Fault by Marina Endicott; Nikolski by Nicolas Dickner; Generation X: tales for an accelerated Culture by Douglas Coupland; The Jade Peony by Wayson Chory and Fall on Your Knees by Ann-Marie MacDonald. CBC Radio and TV will air the half-hour debates from March 8-12 and daily you may find out what book has been voted off.
Other February events held at the library are: Valentine’s Day Craft Make ‘n take: A Valentine for your favourite person. This is a free event for all ages from February 2–14. Celebrate “Family Day” with a Make ‘n take craft: Origami Heart with a Pocket. This too, is a free from February 9–20. To celebrate the Chinese New Year another free Make ‘n take craft: Chinese Paper lantern for ages 8 and up from February 16–28.
Our popular March Break programs are now planned  with this year’s theme of Pirates. Tickets and registration starts Tuesday, February 16. These events include: 
Captain Corbin
A fun-filled family event for all ages
Tuesday March 16, 2:30 pm. Tickets $2.

Plunderin’ Pirates (ages 6 – 8)
Learn ‘yer pirate name & how to speak ‘pirate-like’. Play “Swab the Deck” and make an eye patch!
Wednesday March 17, 1–2 pm. Please register.

Family Night – Pirate Ships (all ages)
Meet Wayne Horton, who makes pirate ship models!
Wednesday March 17, 7–8 pm. Please register.

Come be a Pirate! Arrgh! (ages 9 and up)
Ahoy mates, an afternoon of games, crafts & swashbuckling music!
Thursday March 18, 1–2 pm. Please register.

Till next month we will know if Wiarton Willy saw his shadow or not! Arrrrrgh…….