Summertime is here – at least according to the calendar it is!

If you have experienced some glitches with our circulation processes this week, be assured everything is under control. We are doing some upgrades to our software, which means we have to shut the computers down. We apologize for any inconvenience, and if you have any concerns, feel free to contact the library. The Internet is not affected.

Our summer hours begin Monday June 29 and continue through Saturday September 5. The Victoria Avenue Library will be open 9am to 8pm on Monday & Tuesday and 9am to 5:30 pm Wednesday through Saturday. The Stamford Branch will be open 10am to 5:30pm Monday to Saturday; and Community Centre Branch will be open Monday, Tuesday, Friday and Saturday 9am to 5:30pm and Wednesday & Thursday from 9am to 8pm. There are no changes at Chippawa Branch which is open Monday and Tuesday 1 to 8pm; Wednesdays 9am to 5:30pm and Saturdays 10am to 4pm.

Canada Day is an...

What better way to instill the love of reading in families, than to visit the library regularly and take part in the annual summer reading program? Registration for Pizzareadia has been underway for a few weeks now, and this week, the library's manager of children's services, Inge Saczkowski, has provided an update of summer reading club 2009: Pizzareadia opens today at all four library locations. The annual summer reading club is a fun, game-based program that encourages children to read a variety of genres. Spinning the spinner on the pizza box will you get spooky, adventurous or a funny book. For each book they read, children put their names on a large-sized literary pizza. Choose from a mystery meatball marker, time-travelling tomatoes or an anchovy adventure. Children need to read 10 books to complete the program and are encouraged along the way with great coupons and fun prizes. All finishers receive a paperback book of their choice, and are invited to an end-of-summer party in August. This...

On June the 20th, we once again welcome our own Beverley Armstrong Rodman to the Library for a reading and book signing of her latest book “I'll be killing you”. This is now her third mystery and our library takes pride in the fact that the “author” actually worked in our Reference Department for many years. Bev was always an avid mystery reader but only began to pursue her dreams of writing her own murder mysteries after she retired! She tells us that although there are always Niagara Falls characters, they are all fictional, with the exception of the felines. They are based on cats she has known and loved. The Library has copies available of the two previous titles; “Murder is a Family Matter” and “Baa Baa Black Death” at all Branches. Her next book is already in the planning stages. You are always encouraged to reserve a copy of titles you would like to read by contacting the library...

Joe Longo has officially left the building - following a retirement tea hosted by library staff, in his honour May 29. We all wish him well as he begins the next chapter of his life. So it is, that on my first day on the job, the top of my to "do list" is my first Review column! I shall accept the challenge of maintaining the status quo that has been established by Joe, but I will need some more practice time! As we look ahead to the arrival of summer, one of the annual highlights on our library calendar is the Niagara Falls Horticultural Society's Rose Show, which will be held in the LaMarsh Room Thursday. If you have never looked in on this event, you will be amazed at the artistry and beauty of the displays put together for judging by these local gardeners. Doors open for the public from 4 to 8 p. m. Our Communities in Bloom displays this month highlight...