Library Corner: Free story time and birding programs offered

By Michael Dawber
Librarian/CEO

Free family programs are on offer at the Rainy River Public Library!
First up - on Friday, March 14 - is our Forest of Reading storytime for families.
Every Friday until April 11, we will be reading books from the Forest of Reading’s “Blue Spruce” list.
The Blue Spruce list includes great new books for children in Kindergarten through Grade 3.
Each week, we’ll read some stories, make fun crafts and play a game. We’ll also pick our favorite book of the day.
On April 11, we will vote for our favorite book from the whole program. Our votes will be counted with ballots from thousands of other children around Ontario. The winner of the Forest of Reading competition is announced in Toronto in May.
The competition is run each year by the Ontario Library Association.
Our program is free, but space is limited. Please phone 807.852.3375
to register.
Also coming up for March Break is our Thinking Spring Bird Count. On Saturday, March 15, Michael Dawber and Justin Wagner will be leading a bird walk from the Library. Our walk starts at 9:30 a.m., weather permitting.There’s no charge and everyone is welcome. You can also count the birds wherever you are on March 15.
We’re taking numbers from Rainy River, Dawson, Lake of the Woods, Morley, Big Grassy, Big Island, Nelles, Pratt, Spohn, and Sutherland.
To help your counting, the Library now has free copies of Dave Elder’s Field Checklist of Birds of the Rainy River District. Updated to 2013, the checklist shows all 309 species recorded for the District. Limit one checklist per customer per visit.
If you have bird numbers to report for Thinking Spring, please call Justin Wagner at the Recreation Centre (807.852.4446) by Friday, March 21.
To learn more about programs at your library, visit us on-line at www.rainyriverlibrary.com.
We look forward to seeing you again soon!