Programs in 2021
You may have noticed that there is no program guide for the library in the centre pages of this issue. With the current COVID-19 situation we cannot run many programs in a safe manner. Some facilitators are adopting a “wait and see” approach and others may migrate to Zoom delivery. As I write this in mid- December, with stricter measures having been announced December 8, this is what I can tell you as of now.
Firstly, please continue to check our website for updates. We will be closed to the public beginning December 13 for four weeks. We will be providing curbside delivery during this time and the days for this service and how to use it, will be on the website. No staff will be on site from December 23 to January 5.
Secondly, we know these programs will be running in 2021. The only pre-school program will be Children in Nature (CHIN) which takes place outdoors. There will be two sessions, January 13-March 24 and April 7-June 9 on Wednesdays at 12:15 pm. For our other main outdoor program, The Ramblers, updates will be given on the webpage and through the Rambler Facebook page about the status of hikes and walks. All indoor programs will have limited numbers to ensure proper physical distancing. This includes Qi Gong, (Mondays,1:00 pm), Women’s Bible Study (Tuesdays, 9:30), Inductive Bible Study (Wednesdays, 10:00 am) and The Diamond Valley Book Club (Tuesdays, 1:15). Start dates may move to later in January if the library does not open on January 11, and/or these may to Zoom delivery. All other programs have been either cancelled or delayed. MCG Careers is maintaining a virtual delivery only for January and part of February and hopes to start offering blended delivery options that include in-person by March. If so, workshops will be available in March & May.
I cannot tell you how much we have missed having the drum circle, poets, songwriters, quilters, French speakers, pre-schoolers and many more in the library. We had to cancel Stories with Santa and our annual Volunteer Christmas Banquet. Although we have had less people in the library to attend events and programs, we have certainly seen an increase in our circulation numbers. I guess it is true that books can take you to places when you can’t go anywhere yourself.
Times are strange but there is no lack of Christmas spirit at the library. We embarked on a video project, filming our mayors, first responders, store owners, hikers, musicians and many others reading a verse from ‘Twas the Night Before Christmas. View them all on our Facebook page or go to YouTube: youtu.be/QoQXsLs081E. Many thanks to Doris and Al Mehl for filming and editing the video.
From all of us here at the library, we truly wish you a Happy and COVID-free New Year
