The Moose Jaw Public Library has shared its upcoming calendar of events for the months of February and March, and there are some interesting new and returning programs coming up over the next few weeks for residents of all ages to enjoy.
Programming is still taking place exclusively online at the MJPL, with adult programs delivered by video using Zoom and teen events hosted on the library’s Discord server. Children’s programs are also held using Zoom and require pre-registration.
The month of February is beginning with an informational lecture on protecting yourself against fraud with expert Laverne Stevenson from the Canada Revenue Agency. Titled “Slam the Scam,” the virtual event is scheduled for Feb. 4 at 2 p.m. and will discuss popular scams currently in circulation and how to set up defences against them.
On Feb. 9, the MJPL will once again be hosting its monthly Book Club meeting at 7 p.m. This month, the title to catch up on is The Pull of the Stars by Emma Donoghue — a historical fiction novel set during a pandemic in Ireland, which follows the lives of expectant mothers and doctors quarantine together in an understaffed hospital. The Pull of the Stars is available to reserve from the front desk of the library.
Next up, the MJPL Archives department will be hosting another Archives History Mystery on Feb. 11 at 2:30 p.m. in celebration of Saskatchewan's Archives Week. As a program that has already proved popular with local history buffs in the past, this iteration of the event will challenge participants to identify people, places and eras in photos sourced from the MJPL’s archives collection. They will also be welcome to share their own stories and memories in relation to the featured photos.
The Festival of Words Virtual Book Club will also be returning in February and March, with a meeting on Feb. 25 at 2:30 p.m. to discuss the newly released novel Gutter Child by upcoming festival guest Jael Richardson. Set in a dystopian world, the novel follows a teenage girl pulled from her life in the "lower class" and introduced to the upper social hierarchies for a government social experiment, leaving her to navigate a new life of servitude and a world of disadvantages. Gutter Child is available to borrow in print or ebook form through the library.
March will be kicking off with another meeting of the MJPL Book Club on March 9 at 7 p.m., to discuss How to Pronounce Knife by Souvankham Thammavongsa. The Giller Prize-winning novel is a collection of stories that share the experience of Laotian immigrants and their children.
The next Festival of Words Book Club will be on Mar. 25 at 2:30 p.m. The literature selection for this month's meeting is still yet to be decided, so stay tuned.
In teen programming news, the ever-popular Teen Digital Dungeons & Dragons sessions will be continuing every Tuesday evening from 7 p.m. until 9 p.m. The program is open to teens aged 13 to 19, and welcomes both new and seasoned adventurers to the virtual dungeon master’s table. Registrations is required and can be done by emailing [email protected].
The Teen Anime Club has also gone digital, beginning on Feb. 13 with a group watch-party at 7 p.m. for a viewing of Okko’s Inn on the free library app Hoopla. For those who register in advance before Feb. 4, the library will have a free Japanese Tokyo Treat Box treat bag to hand out, available for pickup a week before the program. Registration can be done by calling the library or emailing [email protected].
For the younger crowd of library patrons — as in, very young — the popular Virtual Storytime program is also still going strong. The next event is on Feb. 11 at 10:30 a.m., featuring stories, songs, and literacy tips for children ages two to five years old. Craft bags are also available to pick up, following registration for the event.
A new storytime event is also taking place on Feb. 4, this time a little later. Bedtime Stories with Miss Tina will debut at 7 p.m., inviting participants to throw on their pajamas, cuddle on the couch, and enjoy an evening story reading that celebrates the diversity in families and children — with the series inviting special guests each week. This event will be shared on Facebook, no registration required.
To register for any of the programs coming up, contact the MJPL either by calling 1 (306) 692-2787, reaching out via message on Facebook, using the chat feature on moosejawlibrary.ca or by emailing [email protected].
