Here are a few highlights from April 2024 at RDPL!
RDPL's 110th Birthday Celebrations
On April 23, RDPL hosted birthday celebrations at our Downtown, Dawe, and Timberlands locations. We had a great time reminiscing about all the incredible memories and adventures that have filled our journey so far. Thank you to everyone who stopped by to enjoy a slice of cake and celebrate with us. Here's to the next 110 years of fun, laughter, and endless possibilities!
Also in celebration of our 110th birthday, RDPL has made it our goal to have 110 units of blood donated from our Canadian Blood Services Partners for Life team this year! We kicked off this challenge in April with a special contest: anyone who joined our Partners for Life team and donated blood in April was entered to win a prize basket. Our lucky winner (pictured here!) was Lyn – congratulations! Thank you to everyone who has joined our team and donated so far. We have a long way to go to reach our goal, so please consider helping us on this journey! Learn all about this initiative here., opens a new window
Friends Book Sale!
Our Friends of the Red Deer Public Library, opens a new window hosted one of their most successful book sales to date, raising over $4000 to go toward library programs, services, and initiatives! We are so grateful to our amazing, dedicated Friends volunteers for their hard work and endless commitment to supporting the library and our community. And a HUGE thank you as well to everyone who came out to shop the sale!
During the Friends Preview sale, we celebrated Lesley Caddy, President of the Friends of the Red Deer Public Library. Lesley was presented with a Lifetime Membership in The Society of the Friends of the Red Deer Public Library for her outstanding performance and many, MANY years of service with the Friends. The Spring Book Sale was Lesley's 45th Book Sale and this is her 24th year with the Friends!!
One eRead Canada: Hotline by Dimitri Nasrallah
This year's One eRead Canada nation-wide bilingual book club title was Hotline by Dimitri Nasrallah! Readers across the country were able to borrow the eBook or eAudiobook without waitlists or holds all month long and had the opportunity to tune into online discussions with the author in both English and French. At RDPL, 99 people borrowed Hotline during the month of April, with 67 people borrowing the eBook and 32 borrowing the eAudiobook. Hotline is “a vivid love letter to the 1980s and one woman’s struggle to overcome the challenges of immigration,” and can still be borrowed in multiple formats, opens a new window!
Travel Memories: Colombia with Karen
Travel Memories in April had a smaller number of attendees but those who came to view Karen’s presentation on Colombia quite enjoyed it. Several people reached out to Karen to express to her how much they enjoyed her talk. Her presentation was noted for its informative and impartial approach to addressing Colombia's historical conflicts, and she highlighted the honesty and openness of Colombians regarding the nation's past civil unrest and their concerted efforts to foster a safe environment for visitors.
Adult Literacy Program Updates
In addition to one-on-one tutoring, the Adult Literacy Program was able to offer 10 different classes in April and accommodate the learning needs of 149 learners. Unfortunately, the waitlist of learners waiting to be matched with a tutor is at 217. Through classes, the Program is doing its best to offer a variety of learning opportunities and meet the language learning needs of its participants. Please consider signing up as a volunteer with this essential program! Learn more at rdpl.org/adult-literacy, opens a new window.
STORYHIVE Project Complete!
RDPL finished the TELUS STORYHIVE Voices 3.0 series in April, submitting the last two episodes for approval! All six episodes will be available to watch on TELUS Optik On Demand, on TELUS YouTube, and on official RDPL channels this fall.
Community Seed Library!
The Community Seed Library started taking seed orders on the first day of spring. This is our second year operating the seed library, and we've filled and distributed approximately 85 seed orders! Thanks to gardeners who saved and donated seed this winter and West Coast Seeds' Seed Donation Program, we still have seed to share. Browse the seed catalog and order your seed!
We also shared packets of seeds with 30 gardeners who attended a Gardening for Beginners workshop on April 11. They were able to start their gardens with packets of open-pollinated seeds and tomato seedlings started for them by a keen Library gardener (our CEO, Shelley Ross!). We’re hoping they will be saving seed from their plants and donating these to the seed library this winter.
Paging All Writers!
A new program called Paging All Writers had its first meeting this month! Ten writers of various literary backgrounds attended, including non-fiction authors, playwrights, and more than a few were published already. There was a lot of great discussion about writing in general, sharing what they are working on, and others trying to find inspiration. Suggestions were gathered for what the group would like to see offered in the next program, which takes place on May 29. Join us!, opens a new window
Meet & Mingle: 50+
Meet & Mingle had another 50+ session with 16 attendees in the Snell Auditorium at the Downtown Branch. There was plenty of fun and merriment with the Apples to Apples card game table being the most popular of the night! Plenty of positive feedback was received, saying that they loved it, that it was one of the few safe ways to meet new people, and many asked that Meet & Mingle run more regularly. Our next Meet & Mingle program is for the "Younger Adult" crowd (ages 18-30), and takes place on May 28. If you're in this age bracket and are looking for new friends or just a night out, come to our friend meet up! Sign up here., opens a new window
Crime Science: A Pickle Murder Mystery?!
The STEAM program for kids ages 9+ had a full house for our Crime Science theme this month, featuring a pickle murder mystery to solve using the science of fingerprinting, shoe prints, hair analysis, handwriting analysis, and of course, a pickle autopsy! Much thanks to our coworkers who loaned us their fingerprints for the activity. 😉
Team Katja Highlights
Team Katja visited Aspen Heights school on April 24 for the annual Aspen Heights Family Literacy Night. Many memberships were issued to the parents and kids and Katja shared her super powers with more than 50 students! To learn more about Katja and her work with RDPL, visit rdpl.org/katja, opens a new window.
The Spring session of Sit, Stay, Read with Katja has been fully booked at both the Dawe and Timberlands Branches, and Katja has been busy listening to participants read her a variety of books. She has also been busy meeting her fans! The other day, two girls brought their mini Katjas for a walk around the Dawe Branch and were delighted to meet a real Katja on their stuffies’ walk route.
Staff Kudos!
Kudos to the members of our staff who have multilingual abilities, allowing them to assist our non-English speaking customers effectively during various interactions. We are grateful to have you on our team!
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