Explore

Enjoy four thought-provoking lectures at this year's Stratford Festival Lecture series on Thursday evenings at 7 p.m. in the Main Library.

Library Hosts Stratford Festival Series
Back again by popular demand this March is the Guelph Public Library’s Stratford Festival series at the Main Library on Thursday evenings at 7 p.m. Travel beyond Stratford Festival’s theatrical stage to enjoy and listen to four thought-provoking lectures based on this season’s plays. No registration is required.

March 5, 2020 for ‘Chicago’ with Dr. Ann Wilson, University of Guelph

March 12, 2020 for ‘Richard III’ with Dr. Mark Fortier, University of Guelph

March 19, 2020 for ‘Spamalot’ with David Prosser, Stratford Festival Literary & Editorial Director

March 26, 2020 for ‘Hamlet-911’ with Nitasha Rajoo, Stratford Festival Interim Director of Education

To learn more about Guelph's history, please visit the local history section of the library's website at www.guelphpl.ca/en/collections/local-history.aspx

From the Archives: March Break Mania
This photograph from March 24, 1981 features Guelph residents enjoying their March Break roller skating at the Roller Alley on Dawson Road.

Looking for something to do this March Break with the kids? Check out our great program selections this March Break, March 16 to 20, at all library locations. There is something for everyone!

Apply to be a vendor in our Junior Crafter' Markt on Saturday May 2 at our East Side Branch.

Looking for Junior Crafter's Market Vendors
Are you a kid between the ages of 7 and 12 years and interested in selling your handcrafted goods? Apply on the library’s website by Saturday April 11, 2020 to become a vendor at our Junior Crafter's Market. This event will be held in our East Side Branch on Saturday May 2, 2020 from 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.

For full details and vendor conditions, please visit www.guelphpl.ca.

Discovering and Preserving your Family's Past
Looking into your family history? Join our Archivist Darcy for Preserving Family Photographs as he discusses the best way to handle original photographs and identify supplies for archival storage and preservation. Register for this free session in the Main Library on Tuesday March 31 from 7 to 8 p.m.

To further your exploration, have a look at Gale Courses for free online and interactive instructor-led courses in topics such as Write Your Life Story or Genealogy Basics. Archeion will link you to described records in our library holdings, which include photographs, minutes and municipal records. Digitized copies of old papers and magazines, such as The Globe and Mail, Maclean’s, and Toronto Star Pages of the Past may also contain some of your family history.

Perhaps most importantly of all, Ancestry: Library Edition contains genealogical accounts such as census, immigration, birth, death, marriage, and voting records. Records are predominantly from Canada, with some from the US and UK, but please note that Ancestry can only be used in our library locations.

Connect

Enter our Teen ETCH Creative Art Contests by March 31, 2020.

Enter our Teen ETCH Creative Art Contests
Teens in grades 7 through 12 are encouraged to enter the Guelph Public Library’s 2020 Teen ETCH Creative Art Contests either by submitting a short story on any topic in 1,500 words or less and/or showcasing their artistic talents by creating a digital art piece for the publication’s cover.

There is no entry fee but all submissions must be received by email only to teens@guelphpl.ca by March 31, 2020. All short story entries must be in your own original writing, 1,500 words or less and typed, single spaced in Word. Please do not submit your stories via Google docs or PDFs. All art work entries need to be submitted as a high resolution .eps, .pdf or .jpg. Your submission must include the title of your story and/or art piece, your full name, school, grade, phone number and guardian’s name.

Finalists’ stories and cover art will be published in our 2020 Teen ETCH Anthology to be released and sold at our Teen Book Launch event in June 2020. Prizes will be awarded to the top three submissions in each of the following categories: Grades 7 to 8, Grades 9 to 10 and Grades 11 to 12. Enter today!

This is a photograph of two orange dragons created on the 3D printer.

Tech Time: Connect and Create
Our new Makerspace at Westminster Square Branch and the Tech Bar at the Main Library have all that you need to get started on a new project!

Have you tried 3D printing yet? You can design a file on TinkerCAD or download a 3D print file from Thingiverse. Staff can assist you with retrieving files, or you can book one-on-one assistance to learn how to design your very own 3D print creation!

If you prefer 2D design, try out our Cricut machine that cuts out stencils, signage, and more at Westminster Branch’s Makerspace. You can create a design and upload images using Cricut Design Space. Use this software and technology to etch a design onto a mirror or screen print on a t-shirt. Check out our amazing technology and get inspired to create!

Thrive

From the Kid's Korner: Pajama Rama
Did you know that every Sunday at 7:30 p.m. on the library's Facebook account, a new episode of Pajama Rama airs? Join the Children's Department of the Main Library each week to listen to a variety of stories to share with your loved ones.

Missed an episode? Going on a road trip? Looking for something different to do with your child? Need some new reading recommendations? Be sure to listen to all of our Pajama Rama episodes on our YouTube channel. We can help you and your child discover some new favourites. Until the next time, keep on reading!

Children ages 3 to 8 are invited to join us for a special Paper Bag Princess day event to celebrate the 40th anniversary of this Robert Munsch book. Saturday March 7 from 10:30 am to noon at the Main Library.

Prepare to be amazed by Five the Magician at this interactive magic show for children ages 4 to 12 years. Tuesday March 17 at 2 p.m. in our Westminster Square Branch.

Faster, stronger, stealthier ‐ Ontario's incredible raptors! Get up close and personal with Wild Ontario's incredible live birds‐of‐prey! Ages 4 to 12 years. Wednesday March 18 at 10:30 a.m. in our East Side Branch.

Easily download eBooks and audiobooks from Cloud Library via our website - or try the app! Visit www.guelphpl.ca, click on eLibrary, click eBooks and eAudiobooks and then select Cloud Library.