Hard to believe the summer is already half over. The temperature is still rising! I have just returned from holidays and have visited “another” of the notable libraries of the world; that being the Library of Celsus in Ephesus, Turkey. Erected between 110 and 135 AD the Celsus Library is one of the most spectacular Roman buildings in the region. A wide marble road takes you down through the ancient City and suddenly before you is the amazing two storey façade of the library. Between 12,000 and 15,000 scrolls were housed in this structure which also was the memorial of Celsus Polemeanus, a Roman senator, and General Governor of the Province of Asia. His marble tomb was below the ground floor.

For Tuesday July 26th, the Big Screen film will be Hanna. It stars Cate Blanchett, Saoirse Ronan, Eric Bana, and Olivia Williams. Hanna (Ronan) is a teenage girl. She is one of a kind with the strength, the stamina, and the smarts of a soldier; these skills having come from being raised by her father, an ex-CIA man, in the wilds of Finland. Living a life unlike any other teenager, her upbringing and training have been one and the same, all geared to making her the perfect assassin. The turning point in her adolescence is a sharp one; sent into the world by her father on a mission, Hanna journeys stealthily across Europe while eluding agents dispatched after her by a ruthless intelligence operative with secrets of her own. As she nears her ultimate target, Hanna faces startling revelations about her existence and unexpected questions about her humanity. The film is rated PG and the presentation begins at 7pm. and admission is free.

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Its hot outside, but it is cool in the Library, and there is lots going on. Staff at all locations have been busy with the onslaught of young readers, now that the 2011 summer Kid’s Book Clubs program is in full swing. Some of our most active readers strive to be the first to reach the target of ten books read, and they are now into their second time round!

There is still lots of time to join, and read the required number of books in time for the “Finishers’ Party at the end of August. Closing date is August 20th. The “Kids’ Book Clubs” are for anyone 3 to 11 years of age.

This September we are hoping to start something new @our library and we need help from our public. We are looking for volunteers to serve as human “books”! The human books are checked out for one on one conversations that would last about 20 minutes. It is a way for people to reach out and connect with other individuals in their community and tell their story. The readers have the opportunity during the planned...

If you are in at the Victoria Avenue Library take a moment to test your “memory” and see if you can identify the locations featured on the historic photos display board, in the main “Street” area. We had the display at Canada Day and it was such fun – we thought others would enjoy it too. An answer sheet is available! All these photos come from our collection and are only some of the 20,000 plus available for viewing on our Historic Niagara digital images database. You may access them anytime via our web page at home.

Perhaps you were impressed this week by Prince William’s excellent speech in French while touring in Quebec. With a little help from Mango's new French Canadian language course, which is only one of the many language course choices available to you free, if you are a library card holder –you might improve your skills too this summer! To check this out go to the library’s website and log in to Mango Languages...

Local author Sylvia Somerville will be on hand Saturday July 9th to share her latest book of poetry, “Wind Echoes”. She will be set up in the LaMarsh Room from 12-4p.m. to sign and sell copies of the book. Refreshments will be provided by the Pilot Club of Niagara Falls.

The summer Toddler time and Preschooler story time programs begin this week at all 4 libraries. The six week sessions run through August 6th and advance registration is required in person, by phone or on-line. For the slightly older kids the summer book clubs are in full swing. These are geared to those ready to read or reading with some help. Registration continues through the summer and all those who finish are invited to join in the end of summer entertainment. There is plenty to do for the whole family this summer @ your library and it’s free!

The Niagara Falls Public Library will be hosting an evening with Derek Foster on Monday, July 4th, 2011 from 6:30pm until 7:30pm in the La Marsh Room at the Victoria Avenue Library. Come...