GPL in the house

Guelph Public Library staff are working to update and improve our Blogs. In order to do this we are ceasing our posts for a few months.  In the late summer, early fall, we will be creating one GPL blog that reflects our new branding.

So stay tuned…  we’ll be back soon.

Have a great Summer!

from the GPL in the house blog team

How to Choose the Right Dog for your Family

Dogs in the Park: How to Choose the Right Dog for your Family program image

Dogs in the Park: How to Choose the Right Dog for your Family

Saturday, May 7, 2016 (2:30 pm – 3:30 pm)                                Main Library

Get off on the right paw with this presentation about picking the right dog for your family! What breed is a good fit for you family? Where should you find your dog? What questions should you ask before your purchase the dog?

GPL_Logo_V_Tag_S_RGB_HR    Can’t attend this event…. check these out:

dog2dogmiddog1

 

Getting Out There

Meeting new people can be a daunting experience- in fact, for me, the first word that came to mind was “task” and not “experience”.  Meeting new people can be intimidating and sometimes dreadful; of course, it depends on the situation. I meet new people every day in my role as a librarian but these interactions rarely leave me feeling uncomfortable because usually there is a purpose to the interaction. No- what I dread the most is the small talk and the awkward silences that come with trying to find something to say in a new or social environment.   Whether you’re the plus one at a wedding, talking to an old acquaintance, or meeting a room full of new people it is often hard to start a conversation and keep it going.

Check out one of these items and get some pointers on how to make your next conversation more comfortable.

shyness shyness0 shyness2 shyness3 shyness5

 

What will you do for Earth Day?

 

earthday

Earth Day bike ride and barbecue

The official launch of the Bicycle-Friendly Guelph Initiative, the public is invited to join the Mayor and members of City Council for bike ride and barbeque at Old City Hall. The barbeque is free for bike ride participants and $5 for people joining in at old City Hall.  You can also listen to local music and learn more about the Bicycle-Friendly Guelph Initiative.

Date/Time:  Friday, April 22, 2009

  • 4 p.m. cyclists meet at covered bridge
  • 4:10 p.m. cycling safety review with Guelph Police
  • 4:20 p.m. start bike ride north on Gordon to Old City Hall
  • 4:40 p.m. arrive at Old City Hall
  • 4:50 p.m. Mayor addresses participants
  • 5 p.m. barbecue and refreshments are served

Rotary Forest and Earth Day Event 2016

On Saturday, April 23rd 2016 come help the Guelph community plant 3000 more trees. Date/Time: Saturday, Apr 23rd 2016,  9:00 am – 2:00 pm
Where: Conservation and Watson Roads
Parking at Lakeside Church Parking Lot, 7654 Conservation Road

 

curioGet inspired by watching a documentary

New to Curio.ca?  Your library card plus the GPL Curio access code enables you to screen CBC and Radio-Canada content.  Don’t know the code?  Contact the Library  and we can share it with you.

 

Are you participating in an Earth Day event?

Send us a comment about your Earth Day.

 

Friends of the Guelph Public Library

Friends of the Guelph Public Library Annual General Meeting program image

Friends of the Guelph Public Library Annual General Meeting

Wednesday, April 27, 2016 (7:30 pm – 8:45 pm) @ the Main Library

GUEST SPEAKER:  DERRICK THOMSON, DEPUTY CAO for PUBLIC SERVICES, CITY OF GUELPH

Culture, Tourism, and Community Investments fall within Mr. Thomson’s portfolio of responsibility. He has been involved with Library Development in other municipalities and he is involved in unfolding Library issues in Guelph.
Come and hear the latest from the perspective of a very senior City staff member on this issue that is so central to our organization.

Planning your city garden

There are many types of City gardens from potted balcony gardens to community gardens.  There are also many ways to get help with planning your garden, whether you are a beginner or seasoned gardener looking for new ideas.  The City of Guelph has a Healthy Landscapes  program that supports City residents and there are also many other organizations that can support your gardening endeavours.

arboretummastergarden

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horticultural

 

There are also great gardening resources at the Library!

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National Volunteer Week

A chance to say “thank you” to Canada’s 12.7 volunteers and be inspired to volunteer in your community.

volunteer

Why volunteer?

  • It’s good for you! Research shows that those who volunteer have lower mortality rates, greater functional ability as they get older and report good health more often.
  • Makes our community stronger. Volunteering gets people involved in their community and reduces isolation.
  • Learn something new.  Volunteering is an opportunity to develop new skills or build on existing experience and knowledge.
  • Feel good! Volunteers consistently report a high feeling of self-worth, achievement and higher motivation.
  • Enrich your life.  Volunteering gives you the opportunity to make new friendships and show yourself and people around you that you care—perhaps you can inspire them too!
  • Helps you get a job.  Volunteering enhances job skills and connects you with new employment opportunities.
  • Spend time with your family. Volunteering as a family is a great way to spend time together.

volunteer1Looking for a local volunteer opportunity?  Go to the Volunteer Centre website and explore your options.  

 

gpl-logoWant to volunteer at a Guelph library? Please fill out our online application.

 

Following is a great article about volunteering, and the Volunteer Centre:

Guelph-Wellington Centre readies for National Volunteer Week

The Wellington Advertiser,Vol. 44 Issue 14

Guelph-Wellington’s theme for National Volunteer Week this year is Volunteers Build Caring Communities.

The centre said volunteers’ enthusiasm and spirit instill a sense of community pride,  inspiring others to participate in building a caring community. The outstanding service volunteers provide makes Guelph and Wellington County great places to live, work and play.

The Volunteer Centre of Guelph Wellington is dedicated to supporting volunteers and member organizations by:

– promoting volunteer opportunities;

– encouraging volunteerism, through promotion of National Volunteer Week;

– training for effective volunteer engagement; and

– providing leadership to support community needs.

The Volunteer Centre hosts an on-line database of volunteer opportunities, as well as providing walk-in and telephone service. Volunteers can search for appropriate volunteer positions related to a field of interest (such as children, animals, special events), length of commitment (short-term, long-term), location, or by organization.

The centre is dedicated to supporting the community by providing local, accurate information on services that enable access to the basic necessities of life, promote emotional stability, and adaptation to new environments.

Community Information Guelph is a program of the Volunteer Centre of Guelph/Wellington. It provides information on community organizations, human services, events, and government contacts.

Information is provided by phone, walk-in or our on-line internet database.

National Volunteer Week Events in Guelph and Wellington County include the fifth annual Dr. William Winegard Exemplary Volunteer Involvement awards.

That event honours the significant community involvement and charitable activities of University of Guelph students, staff, and faculty. The awards were presented on March 31.

On April 11 from 10am to 12pm, the Volunteer Centre will be hosting an official launch to mark the beginning of National Volunteer Week. This launch will feature star speakers, with an all star line-up and a Wall of Fame portraying members and local volunteers.

The annual Time to Give community breakfast will be held on April 14 featuring an all-star cast of community volunteers, organizations and employers on the Galaxy Cinema’s red carpet. The event premieres short films made to celebrate volunteering.

Tickets for that event must be purchased in advance by calling 519-822-0912 extension 224.

The County of Wellington Volunteer Appreciation awards are presented to individuals who demonstrate generosity of time and spirit by achieving outstanding results as a volunteer. There is a recipient from each of the seven towns and townships in Wellington County. They will be presented at the April 28 county council meeting.

“Volunteering is a fundamental building block of civil society. It brings to life the noblest aspirations of humankind – the pursuit of peace, freedom, opportunity, safety, and justice for all people,” states the Universal Declaration on Volunteering, 2001.

It began 68 years ago.

National Volunteer Week began in 1943 as a way to draw attention to the impact women were having on the war effort on the home front. In the late 1960s, the focus grew to include all community volunteers. In Canada, 12.5 million volunteers dedicate their time to the front lines of our community services – health care, sports and recreation, heritage and arts, environmental protection and advocacy, disaster relief, international development, firefighting – and many more. The week pays tribute to these millions who give freely of their time and energy.

All across Canada, volunteers strengthen communities. They participate on boards, committees, mentor peers, plan cultural and special day events, organize recreational programs, support older adults, provide shelter, tutor young people, clean parks and streets, and much more.

People volunteer because they believe in something – the equal opportunity of all, healthy and safe communities, active living and helping others. Volunteers aspire to make our communities a better place to live and enhance the lives of others. They inspire and encourage others to participate. We honour them for these contributions.

Volunteer Canada is celebrating National Volunteer Week with the theme: Volunteers. Passion. Action. Impact. It is based on the individual super-heros across Canada who dedicate themselves to making their communities better – and Canada a great place to live.

For more information about Volunteer Canada and its resources, visit http://www.volunteer.ca/nvw/.

International Year of the Volunteer (IYV plus10). Proclaimed in 2001, the International Year of the Volunteer was created through Japan’s recommendation at the 52nd assembly of the United Nations. The 10th anniversary offers an exceptional opportunity to join the global effort to revitalize the spirit of volunteerism. The United Nations Volunteers met to develop a Global Plan of Action to guide stakeholders.

That included a vision statement, along with volunteer values, volunteer engagement and volunteering in the future guidelines. The vision statement is: Inspiring the Volunteer in You. In celebrating IYV+10, volunteer values are:

– an expression of the common humanity and as a means of building mutual respect, understanding, trust, solidarity and reciprocity.

– universal and inclusive, and recognize volunteering diversity, as well as the purpose that sustains it.

For more information, visit http://www.worldvolunteerweb.org/iyv-10.html

Alternative yarn projects

rug hookingI know we’ve done a few posts on here about knitting and crocheting so I thought I would mix things up a bit and showcase our great collection of books on rug hooking.

So what exactly is rug hooking? Rug hooking is both an art and a craft where rugs are made by pulling loops of yarn or fabric through a stiff woven base such as burlap, linen, or rug warp. The loops are pulled through the backing material by using a crochet-type hook mounted in a handle (usually wood) for leverage.

Here are some of the great books the library has to offer on rug hooking.

Introduction to rug hooking by Kristen Miller

Creative techniques for rug hookers by Donna Hrkman

Hooking animals by Judy Carter

The rug hooker’s bible by Jane Olson

Rug hooking for the first time by Donna Lovelady

Scrappy hooked rugs by Bea Brock

Finishing hooked rugs

Basic rug hooking

Rug hooker’s companion by Donna Hrkman

 

Books and Hooks: Join the Royal City Ruggers for a weekly fun and   social afternoon at the Library.

Whether you are experienced with rug hooking or not, this is a great opportunity to meet new people, learn and practice a great skill, and enjoy the Library.

East Side Branch  Every Tuesday Afternoon, noon – 7 pm.

East Side Branch  Last Saturday of every month, 9:30 am – 4:00 pm