Mysterious fun awaits at libraries

The West Island boasts some of the best libraries on the Island of Montreal. Whether it's their convenient locations, extensive collections of books, DVDs, periodicals and tapes, or just some of the great cultural programs for kids or teenagers, you will easily find what you are looking for. This summer, several libraries have chosen a mystery theme to run their kids' programs.

"(The kids) can come whenever they want to the library," explained Kirkland Library's youth librarian Lina Gordaneer.

The idea behind the program is to get kids to read in a "fun, unstructured" manner. "We're definitely not school," Gordaneer said with a laugh.

Though Kirkland Library came up with the mystery theme along with the city of Pointe Claire's Central Library and Beaconsfield Library, kids who are not into the world of cloaks and daggers are able to read other books as well at any of the three libraries. "They need to read a certain amount of books (as members of the book club)," Gordaneer explained.

Similarly, at Pointe Claire, children's' book club members are given paper grids to fill out as they read their books, at a rate of one square per hour spent reading. "We exchange their squares for coupons," explained child services librarian Jacynthe Blanchet.

On Aug. 19, children will be invited to a party at the library where their coupons will be entered into a draw to win prizes, such as a $100 Chapter's/Indigo bookstores certificate.

Pointe Claire also has a teen program running this summer. "Our main reading club, which is called the Quest, is based on friendship this summer," said teen services librarian Julia Gilbert. Adolescent readers at Pointe Claire may browse from a recommended reading list put together by Gilbert or read any book they like. For every 100 pages of reading, teens are rewarded with a coupon. However, if the friendship theme is present in the book, there is a small advantage. "They will get 2 coupons if the book's about friendship," explained Gilbert. A party with prizes to be drawn will also be held for teens at the end of the summer.

While children's workshops and activities are all full at Pointe Claire, it's not too late to sign up teenagers to teen activities, such as a Nintendo DS Mario Kart tournament on Thursday, or an introduction to new board games on July 24th.

Meanwhile, adult activities and programs at local libraries are mostly on hiatus for the summer. Beaconsfield Library's head librarian Beverley Gilbertson said their adult book club, the Beaconsfield Bookworms, will resume meetings in September. The group meets every last Tuesday of the month at 9:30 a.m. to discuss a book that they have all previously agreed on, with one volunteer from the group speaking about the author, and another on the book itself, according to Gilbertson. "(Anyone) can join it by calling the library or by attending one of the meetings," Gilbertson said. Though the program is set up for the next year, members are more than welcome to join. The first book to be discussed in September will be The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini.

At the City of Dorval library, the book club program has proven so popular there are three different book clubs nowadays. The French book club meets on Monday evenings, and there are two English book clubs, meeting Tuesday afternoons and Thursday evenings. There is still space in the Tuesday afternoon club, and interested library members can place their names on an "interest list" at the library. Contact Marek Puktaris for more information at the Dorval Library (514-633-4170) for more information.

The municipalities of Dollard des Ormeaux, Baie d'Urfé, and Ste. Anne de Bellevue and the boroughs of Pierrefonds/Roxboro and Île Bizard/Ste. Geneviève each have their own libraries with programs, with those for adults usually starting in the fall.

Check out your local municipality's website for more information.