This Saturday, we're turning the Bob Harkins branch into the world of Harry Potter!

We'll be exploring how both the Ministry of Magic and the government of Canada work with UNBC professor Tracy Summerville, as well as doing potions class, herbology, and divination. When you're through at Hogwarts, you can also take a walk through Diagon Alley and make a stop at Honeydukes.

It's free and there's no registration, just come on out in your favorite costume and join in the wizarding whimsy!  Saturday February 20th, 1-3pm.  For kids 9-12 years old.

VOTE FOR YOUR FAVOURITE BOOK IN PNLA'S YOUNG READERS CHOICE AWARDS!

Kids and teens, let everyone know how great your favourite book is by nominating it for the Young Readers Choice Awards! 

What is the Young Reader's Choice Award?

The Pacific Northwest Library Association's Young Reader's Choice Award is the oldest children's choice award in the U.S. and Canada. The award was established in 1940 by a Seattle bookseller, the late Harry Hartman, who believed every student should have an opportunity to select a book that gives him or her pleasure. Find out more about the Young Reader's Choice Award at http://www.pnla.org/yrca/

Nominations

Nominations are taken only from children, teachers, parents and librarians in the Pacific Northwest ~ Alaska, Alberta, British Columbia, Idaho, Montana, Oregon and Washington.  Nominations of books that are a sequel in a series will not be considered. Nominations may include fiction, non-fiction, graphic novels, animae and manga. Nominations are due by February 1st. Titles that you wish to nominate should be sent to the YRCA chair Barbra Meisenheimer at bmeisenheimer@fvrl.org

When nominating a title please include the following:

• Title 
• Author 
• Copyright Date 
• Division where you feel the title is most appropriate (Junior Division: Grades 4-6, Middle Division: Grades 7-9, Senior Division: Grades 10-12 )

IT'S CHRISTMAS ALL YEAR LONG AT THE LIBRARY!

Did you know that we get brand new books at the library every week? That's right, Santa and our library catalogers bring us new books every Friday to give to all of you! We order books all through the year, so that we've always got the latest book in your favorite series...

AND you can even request which books you'd like us to get for you! Just come and talk to one of our friendly librarians at the information desk to fill out a request form, or use the online request form when you log into your library account through our website.

MERRY CHRISTMAS AND HAPPY HOLIDAYS :)

Win a storytime at your home with Robert Munsch!
The Munsch at Home Contest

In celebration of Family Literacy Day (January 27, 2010), ABC Canada presents the "Munsch at Home Contest"! One lucky family will win a private visit to their home from renowned children’s author and Honorary Chair of Family Literacy Day, Robert Munsch.

To enter, all you have to do is write us a short story with your family and submit it online!

What You Can Win!

• A visit by Robert Munsch to a Family Literacy Day party for your friends and family in your home.
• Plus, a reading of your winning short story by Robert Munsch himself.
• And, a public story-telling event with Robert Munsch at a library, literacy organization or school of your choice.

But it doesn’t end there! Your story will also be published in a newspaper or magazine, and on the ABC CANADA website!

To get more details, and to submit your story, check out the Family Literacy Day website http://www.abc-canada.org/en/Munschcontest2010  

(P.S. The deadline for submitting your story is December 11, 2009 (5:00pm EST), so start your stories now!)

Scary Stories at the library and on your computer!

Hey, did you know we're having a Scary Stories event for kids 7 and up? And it's on the Pro-D day, this Friday October 23rd! Dress up in your favorite scary costume, hear new scary stories from our children's librarian, and enter our haunted library...if you dare! For more information about it, click HERE!

 But if you miss our Scary Stories event, you can create your very own at home with your friends and your computer! Many of the stories from the book "Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark" and the following two books in that series have been read aloud and made into videos that you can watch and listen to on Youtube! So cuddle up with a blanket, a flashlight and a good friend, and scare yourself silly with some of these great stories!

• The Viper
• The Babysitter
• The Big Toe
• High Beams 

Harry Potter and the Half-blood Prince is still rockin' the box-office, but what are you going to read once you have finished the story of Harry and his friends? You might want to try one of these fantastic magical adventures!