We’re rapidly approaching Christmas, a Christmas that looks like it’s going to be very different for all of us. We are so lucky to live where we do; to be able to go for walks, ski, snow-shoe, ride our horses and snowmobiles, and still get together with a few family members and friends in the great outdoors. There has been a great deal of interest in things we can do at home; cooking, knitting, quilting, carpentry, researching our ancestry, doing an on-line course, learning a new language, and of course, reading. Thank goodness for our libraries!
And yes, the Millarville Library is open for business. Our hours are limited still as most days are traditionally manned by our enthusiastic volunteers, and government restrictions do not allow for the use of volunteers right now. However thanks to our librarian Natasha Grusendorf and members of the Library Board we are open for the following hours:
- Tue:9-Noon;Wed:1-7:30;Thu:1-4
Our Christmas holiday hours are as follows:
- Tuesday December 22: 9 – Noon
- Wednesday December 23: 1:00 – 7:30
- Wednesday December 30: 1:00 – 7:30
If you go into the library you will notice our new (to us) shelving which allows us to display more books in the streamlined wooden shelves, while also giving us more space. Natasha has been busy culling old books and buying new books. There are some wonderful new books on display, particularly children’s books. And there is also a great selection of used books in the front lobby (bag of books for a buck – great stocking stuffers!)
And as always you can browse and order books and other materials online at tracpad.ab.ca. It is taking quite a bit longer to get books as all returning books have to be quarantined. All requests are handled through Marigold. If Millarville gets a request it pulls that book which is then sent to Marigold HQ and they send it on after a suitable quarantine period. So you should expect your books to take an extra few weeks to arrive.
And of course you can also access all of marigold’s online offering at tracpac.ab.ca. Feel free to call Natasha at the library if you need any help or advice.
One of Millarville’s new books is No Time to Spare: Thinking about What Matters by Ursula Le Guin. In this series of essays Le Guin explores a wide variety of topics from the personal to the political and the poetical, from capitalism to cats and creativity. But where it really shines is in its language. “Words fasciate me,” Le Guin explains, “the way a box elder beetles fascinates my friend Pard” (her cat). “Words are my skein of yarn, my wet lump of clay, my block of uncarved wood” she explains and then quietly astounds us with the carving.
Also we have a new children’s book, reviewed by Kelly Nutbrown: Jan Brett’s Christmas Treasury is a new addition to the Millarville library and just in time for Christmas! Jan Brett is one of our family’s favourite authors. Her characters are a mix of beautiful woodland animals, delightful and mischievous trolls, and people. The stories are exquisitely illustrated with each page having a border. The borders contain so many extra little details about the story that my children are a lot slower to turn the page, not wanting to miss anything. Jan Brett’s tales are delightful and pull children into the story. Her books are my go-to for storytelling! With 7 of her stories in one book, this Treasury will soon become a family favourite.
Merry Christmas to you all and very best wishes for 2021 – bring it on!
