Ah, summer. Its lazy hazy crazy days can be both a blessing and a curse. If you’re a parent with kids at home, you’re undoubtedly looking for some ways to fill the days and beat the “I’m bored” doldrums.
Never fear. That’s where the Burnaby Public Library comes in. With its four branches – McGill (4595 Albert St.), Bob Prittie (6100 Willingdon Ave.), Tommy Douglas (7311 Kingsway) and Cameron (9523 Cameron St., at Cameron Recreation Complex) – there’s a branch near you just waiting to be visited.
Yes, you can browse books, audiobooks, movies, TV shows, CDs and more to your heart’s content – but you can also take part in a host of special events and activities. So, before you say, “Come on, I can’t drag my kids to the library every day,” keep reading for our list of the Top 10 Things To Do At Your Local Library This Summer.
For more information on any of the ideas below, check out www.bpl.bc.ca/events.
1. See a movie.
Yes, the Burnaby Public Library offers movie screenings of family-friendly movies throughout the year. Coming up at the Bob Prittie branch, you can see The Lorax on Tuesday, July 4; A Bug’s Life on Tuesday, July 11; and Sing on Tuesday, July 18. All movie screenings are free and start at 7 p.m. Free tickets are available in the children’s library starting one hour before show time. Adults must watch with kids under 10.
2. Build with LEGO.
Yes, the Burnaby Public Library offers a LEGO Club, with drop-in sessions at both the McGill and Metrotown branches. Sessions at McGill run Tuesdays from July 4 to Aug. 22, and kids aged four and up are invited to drop in any time between 1:30 and 4:30 p.m. At Metrotown, sessions are also Tuesdays from July 4 to Aug. 22, and kids aged five to 12 are invited to drop in anytime between 2 and 4 p.m. Adults are welcome to join in the fun (and required to accompany kids under 10). All the sessions are by drop-in, and no registration is needed.
3. Make a craft.
Library branches offer a number of crafty options for the small set. Coming up, you can drop in on a couple of Makerspace events devoted to creating do-it-yourself paper birdhouses. The sessions are aimed at kids aged five to 12, with a participating adult. Kids can make their own decorative birdhouses out of paper, plus some bird greeting cards. Sessions are on Sunday, July 9, 2 to 3:30 p.m. at Cameron, and Wednesday, July 12, 2 to 3:30 p.m. at Tommy Douglas. Be sure to arrive before 2:30 p.m.
4. Brush up your reading skills.
The library offers a Reading Buddies program designed to help kids in grades 2, 3 and 4 with some extra reading practice. Kids are teamed up with a teen buddy for reading practice, and the program runs for five Friday sessions at the Tommy Douglas branch from July 7 to Aug. 4. Sessions run from 2:15 to 3 p.m., and kids must attend all five sessions. It’s free, but space is limited, so be sure to sign up early. Call 604-297-4825 for info.
5. Learn chess.
The Burnaby Junior Chess Club facilitates informal chess games for kids with a Kids’ Chess Club at the Bob Prittie branch. Kids aged five to 12 are welcome to join in on a drop-in basis. No registration is needed, but space is limited, so arrive early. Sessions are on Saturday afternoons from 2 to 3:30 p.m., running from July 8 to Aug. 19.
6. Enjoy a Mother Goose program.
The library offers a Chinese-language Mother Goose program for parents and kids from newborn to age five. The program includes songs, rhymes and storytelling in English, Cantonese and Mandarin, and it runs Fridays from June 30 to Sept. 1 (no class on Aug. 18). You can choose either 9:30 to 11 a.m. or 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. It’s free, but sign up ahead as registration is limited to 12 families. You must sign up in person at the Bob Prittie branch. For information, call Lynn Lin at 604-408-7274, ext. 2087.
7. Build a love of reading early.
Burnaby Public Library branches offer a host of daytime storytimes all year long for babies, toddlers and preschoolers. They’re all free, and they’re all available on a drop-in basis. You can join in for lively songs, rhymes and stories led by a librarian, with a chance to socialize with other families and enjoy toys and books with your small people. For the full list of options, check out www.bpl.bc.ca/events (search for Storytime).
8. Enjoy summer evening stories.
For those with slightly older children, library branches are also offering special summer evening storytimes. At McGill, you can enjoy stories on Monday evenings from 7 to 7:45 p.m., running July 3 to 31. At the Bob Prittie branch, you can enjoy Friday night stories, featuring longer folktales from around the world, ending the evening with a craft. The sessions run from 7 to 8 p.m. and run from July 7 to Aug. 4. Registration isn’t needed for any of the sessions, but be sure to drop in early since space is limited. The sessions are aimed at kids aged four to eight, but the whole family is welcome (caregivers must attend with kids).
9. Visit a pop-up library event.
Besides its four busy branches, the Burnaby Public Library also does outreach with pop-up events at various locations around the city. The pop-up libraries allow you to browse, borrow and return library material. You can enjoy books for all ages, register for a library card and learn more about the library’s services. On Monday, June 26, you can enjoy a pop-up library as part of a drop-in at Wesburn Community Centre, running from 10 a.m. to noon. There will also be an Imagination Playground on site with its large, modular, stackable blocks for kids to play with. On Thursday, July 13, there’s a Pop-Up in the Park at Cameron Park, running from noon to 1:30 p.m. For more pop-up options, be sure to check out www.bpl.bc.ca/events.
10. Go birding.
OK, this one isn’t precisely IN the library, but the Cameron branch is offering a bird watching session on Friday, July 7, running from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. It’s aimed at folks aged eight and up. Led by librarian and experienced birder Neill Vanhinsberg, you’ll watch for hummingbirds, thrushes, warblers, flycatchers and more as you get tips for viewing birds in Burnaby parks. Bring your own binoculars, if you have them, and meet at the dragon in Cameron Park (located near Cameron Street). Wear comfortable shoes. For this one, you have to register ahead at www.bpl.bc.ca/events or by calling 604-421-5454. (Note: The event is weather permitting and subject to change.)
