December eNewsletter

*NEW Fiction*

Cry havoc by Jack Carr
Paperheart by Cecelia Ahern
From cradle to grave by Rhys Bowen
59 minutes by Holly Seddon
I, Medusa by Ayana Gray
And then there was you by Sophie Cousens
The burning library by Gilly Macmillan
Revenge of Odessa by Frederick Forsyth

*NEW Non-Fiction*

100 rules for living to 100 by Dick Van Dyke
Curling rocks : chronicles of the roaring game by John Cullen
Star of the show : my life on stage by Dolly Parton
The philosopher in the valley : Alex Karp, Palantir, and the rise of the surveillance state by Michael Steinberger

*NEW DVDs*

Ballerina
The best Christmas pageant ever
Materialists
Mission impossible: the final reckoning

*NEW Series DVDs*

Chantal, seasons 1 & 2
Dexter: original sin
The Gold
Last of us, season 2
The White Lotus, season 3
Unforgotten, seasons 5 & 6

Upcoming Holiday Hours

Holiday Children's Programs

Saturday Storytime (ages 4 to 7)

Engaging stories, songs, games, instruments and crafts for your school age child.

Date: Saturday, December 13

Time: 10:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.

Location: Lakefield

Gingerbread Storytime (ages birth to 5)

Join Kathleen for holiday bounces, rhymes, games and song for your young family.

Date: Wednesday, December 3

Time: 10:30 a.m. to 11:15 a.m.

Location: Bridgenorth Library

Last Minute Holiday Gift Maker Programs (ages 3 to 12)

We’re offering a special programming day for children to make holiday crafts to give as gifts. Children attend with an adult.

Date: Monday, December 22

Time: 11:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.

OR 2:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m.

Location: Bridgenorth Library

Minifigure BINGO (ages 4 to 12)

Come play our Lego Minifigure BINGO and win big for the holidays! Children attend with an adult.

Date: Tuesday, December 23

Time: 10:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.

Location: Lakefield Library

Lego Block Parties (ages 4 to 12)

Come build with our huge Lego collection. Children 8 and under attend with an adult.

Date: Tuesday, December 23

Time: 1:30 p.m. to 2:30 p.m.

Location: Lakefield Library

Date: Tuesday, December 30

Time: 10:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.

Location: Ennismore Library

Library Elf on the Shelf Hunt (all ages)

Beginning December 1, we will be visited yet again at each branch by our library elves on the shelf. Look for the Elf when you visit and if you find him or her, make sure to enter a ballot in our December draw for the chance to win a special prize bag.

Winter 2026 Children's Programs

Babytime (birth to 14 months)

A special time for you and your baby where you learn rhymes, bounces and tickles and other activities to engage your child. Stories and instrument play are incorporated into the program as well as a social time in the library.

Date: Thursdays starting January 15 for six weeks

Time: 10:30 a.m. to 11:15 a.m.

Location: Ennismore

Toddlertime (15 to 36 months)

A fast-paced program for toddlers with active stories, songs, bounces, fingerplays, instrument play and more, followed by a 30-minute playtime.

Date: Tuesdays starting January 13 for six weeks

Time: 9:30 a.m. to 10:30 a.m.

Location: Lakefield

Preschool Storytime (ages 3 and up)

Engaging stories, active songs, instrument play, games and book-based crafts.

Date: Wednesdays starting March 25 for eight weeks

Time: 10:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.

Location: Bridgenorth

NEW Family Storytime (ages birth to 5)

Stories, bounces, tickles and instrument play for you and your little one. You choose the dates you can attend.

Dates: Mondays – January 12, February 9, March 23, April 13

Time: 10:30 a.m. to 11:00 a.m.

Location: Ennismore

Saturday Storytimes (ages 4 to 7)

Join us on the dates you wish to attend.

Dates: Saturdays – January 10, February 21, March 28, April 25

Time: 10:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.

Location: Lakefield

NEW: Special Winter Storytimes (ages 3 and up)

Join Kathleen and Corny the Squirrel for stories, songs, games and a craft on special themes.

Date: Snowy Storytime Friday, January 9

Time: 10:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.

Location: Bridgenorth

Date: Valentine’s Storytime Friday, February 13

Time: 10:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.

Location: Bridgenorth

Silver Birch and Yellow Cedar (grades 3 to 6)

Beginning the week of January 20, our grades 3 to 6 clubs will meet three times from January to April for fun book-related activities and a wrap-up voting day and pizza party. Kids choose books from Canada-wide reading lists and “read” at least 5/10 titles at home to vote for their favourite author. Clubs will meet at all branches. Lakefield will meet on Tuesdays, Bridgenorth on Wednesdays, and Ennismore on Thursdays.

Polarfest Scavenger Hunt (all ages, drop-in)

The library penguins have escaped their books! Can you help us find them? Visit the Bridgenorth Library to get a hunt sheet, find the penguins and enter a special draw for a polar-themed prize.

Date: Saturday, January 31

Time: 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.

Location: Bridgenorth

Year-Round Passive Programs (all ages)

In-Branch Scavenger Hunts, Monthly Colouring Contest, Mystery Book bags and Homeschool Haul are also available year-round for all ages.

March Break Programs

Check the website or new flyer come February for all of the details.

Programs for Seniors

Embroidered Ornament Workshop

Join us at the Ennismore Library for a free Embroidered Ornament Workshop for seniors! Participants will learn and practice several stiches they will then add to a laser cut wooden ornament. Refreshments will be provided.

Date: Wednesday, December 10

Time: 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.

Location: Ennismore Library at 551 Ennis Road

Contact: Amy Rosborough at arosborough@mypubliclibrary.ca or 705-292-5065

Cost: Free for Seniors (made possible through the support of the Ontario government's Seniors Community Grant Program)

Questions? Contact Amy Rosborough at arosborough@mypubliclibrary.ca or 705-292-5065

Christmas Centerpiece Workshop

Join us in the Community Hall at our Bridgenorth branch for a free Christmas centerpiece workshop with local florist Katherine Healey from Katherine's Flower Shop. Katherine will provide expert guidance to participants as they create a festive centerpiece perfect for the holiday season!

Date: Monday, December 15

Time: 10:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.

Location: Bridgenorth Community Hall (in the Bridgenorth Library Building) at 836 Charles Street

Contact: Amy Rosborough at arosborough@mypubliclibrary.ca or 705-292-5065

LCS Tech Help

Book one-on-one tech help at the Lakefield Library with students from Lakefield College School.

Tech helpers from Lakefield College School are back and ready to offer assistance with a variety of devices including smartphones, tablets, laptops, and e-readers.

Get help with tech topics such as navigating emails, optimizing space on your device, organizing photos, accessing eBooks and audiobooks through an app, and more.

Dates: Thursdays - December 4 and December 11

Time: 4:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m.

Location: Lakefield Library Centennial Room, 8 Queen Street, Lakefield

Questions? Contact Amy Rosborough at arosborough@mypubliclibrary.ca or 705-292-5065

Fitness Classes for Seniors with Karie Janssen

Join us in the Community Hall at our Bridgenorth branch for a fitness class specially designed for seniors! Certified fitness instructor Karie Janssen will lead participants through a series of exercises designed to help increase strength, taking into account each person's particular needs. The fitness portion of the class will be 45 minutes long, followed by hydration/snack time.

Dates: Mondays - December 1, December 8

Time: 1:00 p.m. to 2:00 p.m.

Location: Bridgenorth Library (in the Community Hall), 836 Charles Street

Contact: Amy Rosborough at 705-292-5065 or arosborough@mypubliclibrary.ca

Cost: Free for Seniors (made possible through the support of the Ontario government's Seniors Community Grant Program)

Please Note: Our Fitness Classes program is currently full, but we are adding names to our waitlist for the remaining dates in December. Feel free to sign up and we will contact you if a spot becomes available.

Link to Waitlist

Mobile Makerspace: Sublimation Series

Have you wanted to learn how to use the SPL Makerspace equipment but just can't get there? This sublimation series is for you! Join us in the Optimist Hall at our Ennismore branch for a series of sublimation workshops! Participants will learn how to design and make their very own tote bag or mug using sublimation equipment from the SPL Makerspace. Participants may register for up to one tote bag workshop and one mug workshop.

(*Please note: the designs in the photos are for inspiration and may not be available*)

Dates: Fridays - December 5, December 12

Time: 1:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m.

Location: Ennismore Library (in the Optimist Hall)

Contact: Amy Rosborough at 705-292-5065 or arosborough@mypubliclibrary.ca

Cost: Free for Seniors (made possible through the support of the Ontario government's Seniors Community Grant Program)

Please Note: Our Mobile Makerspace: Sublimation Series is currently full, but we are accepting additions to our waitlist for the remaining dates in December. Feel free to join the waitlist and we will be in touch if a spot becomes available.

Link to Waitlist

December Makerspace Programs

Community Call: Holiday print flannelette

We’re putting out a call for holiday print flannelette donations for our Crafting for a Cause program. Donated fabric will be used to make NICU mattress covers for wee babes needing extra love and care over the holiday season. Fabric must be flannelette. Pre-washed and dried is appreciated, but not required.

Mattress covers are 20”x30”

Example fabric print: Santa, snowmen, reindeer, stars, holly berry, solid red, solid green, plaid, snowflakes, trees, etc. Please drop off fabric directly to the SPL Makerspace located at 1 Bridge Street in Lakefield during open hours.

Needlework Drop-In

A time and place for people to meet together and work on their personal projects. Knitting, crochet, hand embroidery, etc.

Dates:

Tuesday, December 2 from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.

Wednesday, December 3 from 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.

Makerspace Saturday Drop-In

Drop by for a tour, independent machine bookings, or shop in our little store for great stocking stuffers and gift ideas.

Dates: Saturday, December 6

Time: 12:00 p.m. to 2:00 p.m.

Location: Makerspace, 1 Bridge Street, Lakefield

Card Making

Join us for a social morning of card making at the SPL Makerspace. Participants will learn how to make simple and beautiful cards using only a thumbtack. Make as many cards as you like during our hour together. Envelopes will be included.

Date: Tuesday, December 2

Time: 10:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m.

Location: Makerspace

Cost: $2 per card, collected at the end of class.

Children’s Program: Children’s Artwork made into a Puzzle (ages 6 to 12)

Calling all creative kids! Join us for the morning and turn your artwork into a puzzle using sublimation ink and a heat press. Don’t feel like drawing your own picture? We will have a number of colouring pages printed that you can colour in. Your colouring page will be turned into a puzzle. All children must be accompanied by a caregiver.

Date: Saturday, December 6

Time: 10:00 a.m.

Location: Makerspace

Cost:$10 collected at the end of class

Slate Cheese Board: Custom Engraving

Design your own custom cheese board made of beautiful slate and measuring 8.5”x5.75”. During our 1.5-hour class, you will learn how to create a design for your cheese board. Basic computer skills are required. Depending on time, some cheese boards can be engraved at the end of class. Others will be engraved later in the week and be available for pick up the week of December 15 during Makerspace open hours.

Date: Tuesday, December 9

Time: 6:00 p.m.

Location: Makerspace

Cost: $25 collected at the end of class

Personalized Mitten Ornament – Order for pickup

Add something special to your tree, or use as a gift tag, or gift to someone. Each mitten will be made out of birch and measures 3.5”x2.5” with an engraved name piece. Note: this is not an in-person program, but an order for pickup.

The Makerspace will engrave and cut your personalized ornament. You will paint, stain, glue and assemble at home. Pickup will be available the weeks of December 8 and 15 during Makerspace open hours. The cost is $8 per ornament and will be paid at time of pick-up.

Makerspace Hours

Tuesdays: 1:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.

Wednesdays: 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.

Thursdays: 1:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.

Request an ornament

Art Display @ Bridgenorth Library

December Artist: Linda Cardona

View art by Linda Cardona on display at the Bridgenorth Library during open hours.
Artist Statement: "For many years, I pursued my photography as a fine art photographer - mostly specializing in floral photography. My work was often compared to paintings - in fact many people would assume my work was either oil or acrylic. I would always assure people that I was a photographer (only) and not a painter - until I realized that I wanted to be a painter too. I wanted to paint my own work.

After many years of research, I came across a technique, whereby I can paint my photos digitally (on my computer). I find the technique fascinating as I am able to change both the colours and the shapes of the petals. What fun!"

Support Your Library

New-to-You Stores

Did you know that the library operates two thrift stores in partnership with Community Care Chemung? Both the Ennismore Community Thrift Shop and the Bridgenorth Treasure Trove are seeking donations, as well as volunteers to work in these lovely stores. Donations can be received during open hours.

For more information on volunteering or donations, call 705-292-8708 or email Chemung Community Care.

Heather's Pick -

Agatha Christie’s The mystery of the Blue Train by Marci Kay Monson

The Mystery of the Blue Train is one of Agatha Christie’s early detective novels (a cozy mystery—no violence or gore), and where she continues to use the fictional detective Hercule Poirot as a major character. The story, set on a train bound for the French Riviera, is a true who-done-it full of mysterious characters, missing jewels, and teasing clues. Monson’s retelling of the original book captures the plot and distills it in a way that is fun for children, gently ushering them into the literary world of Christie’s mysteries. Along with the story, there are activities, games, and puzzles throughout to help with children’s engagement, and might just foster a few budding detectives. – From the publisher.

Contact Us

Visit our Website

Bridgenorth Library: 705-292-5065

Lakefield Library: 705-652-8623

Ennismore Library: 705-292-8022

SPL Makerspace: 705-651-8601