The Olds Municipal Library will host a number of unique programs this fall, designed to challenge those who participate in them.
Staff at the library want to engage people, especially children, and show them that the library is a good resource in the community for not only connecting to people's interests, but learning about what's available in the community. People can also explore new technology that they might not have access to.
“We want to engage them, we want them to know that the library is a great place for them to come, that there are fun things to do here, that there are ways they can express their creativity, that they can learn more about technology and by coming to the library, they can know their community more, as well,” said Maia Foster, program coordinator at the library.
Children aged 10 and up will have the opportunity to explore their creativity during special events from September through December during days that they have off from school. Beginning on Sept. 27, children can explore different ways they can become famous when library staff show participants how they can make their own YouTube channel or video.
On Oct. 25, children are invited to expand their culinary skills by making nutritious no-bake foods in a program called “Iron Chef.” Participants will be encouraged to use recipe books to refine their reading skills.
“We're going to be using good ingredients and trying to make something real out of them. I know that some kids' food (programs) in the past have been based around a gross idea, but we didn't want to do that,” Foster said.
On Nov. 22, students are invited to explore their creativity through making journals. Foster said participants will be encouraged to make one of three different styles of journals such as drawing, writing, poetry, scrapbooking or photography. Although Foster said the three different types that will be offered in the program haven't been determined yet, the idea is to show some creativity beyond a simple written journal.
“There's not just writing your own dear diary entry, but more of making a journal that you can create to show your artistic abilities in, whether it be drawing or writing or poem-writing. There are really some different creative ways that you can make one of your own,” she said.
In the last children's theme of the fall, on Dec. 6, children will get the chance to make a two-minute video adaptation of a book at the library using props and costumes. The children will edit their movies using iMovie on iPads. The clips will then be posted to the library's website and YouTube channel.
“That really gets to use their creativity. They get to use technology that not everyone may have in their home or available to them and they can show what they can do,” she said.
Two other programs that may be of interest to teens and adults will be assembling a stained glass window catcher and making “steampunk” jewelry on Oct. 26 and Nov. 16, respectively. Steampunk jewelry incorporates fantasy, Victorian and industrial elements in the making of jewelry pieces. In both of those programs participants can take the finished products home with them.
More information about the library's programs can be obtained by phoning the library at 403-556-6460 or visiting its web page at www.oml.prl.ab.ca.
