Programs

water colour paint

You can visit the calendar to view some of the upcoming programs.

Author Events

Susan Kelly

September 2, 2021 at 7:00 p.m. on the Zoom platform. Join us as we meet virtually with author and retired registered nurse, Susan P. Kelly. Kelly will discuss her debut book on wellness, Still Sexy After Sixty: 7 secrets to finding life's sweet spot. Signed copies of her book will be available for $20. Email us to get on the list. Zoom codes will be sent out close to the event date. A Muskoka Lakes collaboration.

Pam Jenoff

August 18, 2021 at 7:00 p.m. on the Zoom platform. Join us as we meet virtually with author Pam Jenoff (The Orphan's Tale, The Last Summer on Chelsea Beach, The Lost Girls of Paris). Jenoff will discuss her latest book, The Woman with the Blue Star. Email us to get on the list. Zoom codes will be sent out close to the event date. A Muskoka libraries collaboration.

Kimberly Alexander and Dale Curd

If you were unable to join us on July 8, 2021 or would like to revisit the virtual live webinar with Kim Alexander and Dale Curd, authors of Living Lightly, the recording is available to view on YouTube. Dale Curd is a mental health professional, the host of CBC TV's Hello Goodbye and a co-host of Life Story Project on the Oprah Winfrey Network. Kimberley Alexander is a therapist with an online practice. Dale and Kim founded The Child Therapy List and The Men’s List, to encourage and help people find therapy services and end mental health stigma. Milford Bay, Muskoka is home for Dale and Kim, where they live on a small farm. A Muskoka libraries collaboration.

Linwood Barclay

If you were unable to join us on June 3, 2021 or would like to revisit the virtual live webinar with author Linwood Barclay (The Noise Downstairs, Broken Promise, The Chase) as he discussed his latest book, Find You First, the recording is available to view on YouTube. A Muskoka libraries collaboration.

Kate Hilton

If you were unable to join us May 4, 2021 or would like to revisit the virtual live webinar with author Kate Hilton (Just Like Family, The Hole in the Middle) as she discussed her latest book, Better Luck Next Time, the recording is available to view on YouTube. A Muskoka libraries collaboration.

Nadia Hashimi

If you were unable to join us on April 8, 2021 or would like to revisit the virtual live webinar with author Nadia Hashimi (The Pearl that Broke Its Shell, A House Without Windows) as she discussed her latest book, Sparks Like Stars, the recording is available to view on YouTube. A Muskoka libraries collaboration.

Susan Nairn

If you were unable to join us on March 25, 2021 or would like to revisit the virtual live webinar with Muskoka author Susan Nairn as she discussed her book, The Waking Hours, the first in The Relative series, the recording is available to view on YouTube.

Jennifer Robson

If you were unable to join us on February 25, 2021 or would like to revisit the virtual live webinar with author Jennifer Robson (The Gown, Goodnight from London, Moonlight Over Paris) as she discussed her latest book, Our Darkest Night, the recording is available to view on YouTube. A Muskoka libraries collaboration.

Emma Donoghue

If you were unable to join us on November 24, 2020 or would like to revisit virtual live webinar with Emma Donoghue (Room, The Wonder, Akin) as she discussed her latest book, The Pull of the Stars, the recording is available to view on YouTube. A Muskoka libraries collaboration.

Book Highlights

Adult

Featuring Irish authors for St. Patrick's Day 2021

Brooklyn, author Colm Tóibín. Listen to a short reading. Find it in the catalogue.
Normal People, author Sally Rooney. Listen to a short reading. Find it in the catalogue.
A Book of Bones, author John Connolly. Listen to a short reading. Find it in the catalogue.
Lying in Wait, author Liz Nugent. Listen to a short reading. Find it in the catalogue.
Milkman, author Anna Burns. Listen to a short reading. Find it in the catalogue.

Featuring Some of the authors on the CBC Reads 2021 Longlist

Yiddish for Pirates, author Gary Barwin. Listen to a short reading. Find it in the catalogue.
The Midnight Bargain, author C.L. Polk. Listen to a short reading. Find it in the catalogue.
The Lonely Hearts Hotel, author Heather O'Neill. Listen to a short reading. Find it in the catalogue.
Dirty Birds, author Morgan Murray. Listen to a short reading. Find it in the catalogue.
Tatouine, author Jean-Christophe Réhel. Listen to a short reading. Find it in the catalogue.
Autopsy of a Boring Wife, author Marie-Renée Lavoie. Listen to a short reading. Find it in the catalogue.

Muskoka authors

The Waking Hours, author Susan Nairn. Listen to a short reading. Find it in the catalogue.
Lighting the Stars, author Gabriele Wills. Listen to a short reading. Find it in the catalogue.
Murder in Muskoka, author Liam Dwyer. Listen to a short reading. Find it in the catalogue.

Young adult and junior

LEGO

Do you love to build with LEGO? We do! Here you will find some challenges to complete. Send us some pictures of your completed challenges as we would love to see your creativity! Send your photos to the library, listing who is in the photo, ages, and any other details about your construction that you would like to share.

December 2, 2020 Tiny House

Mahjong

Our Muskoka Lakes Public Library Mahjong players met every Monday morning at 10 in the Heritage Room at the Port Carling branch, in the 'before times'. They didn't let the pandemic closures and restrictions stop them from playing the game they all enjoy, though! They have been meeting at a private Mahjong table, online, since all the closures. Interested in joining them? Contact Val Duke for access information. valerieduke@gmail.com

Reading Challenge 2021

Challenge yourself this year to go out of your reading comfort zone. Can you check off 21 of the following reading challenges this year? 21 books sound too daunting? Don’t let it be! Some books can check more than one category! The 2-page challenge list can be printed at home or a copy can be picked up at the library.

Challenge	Title & Author	Date read
A banned book
A memoir or autobiography
A childhood favourite
A young adult book
An immigrant or refugee’s story
The story takes place in Canada
The book has 500+ pages
It has a one-word title
It was made into a film
It was mentioned on the radio
It’s based on a real event
It’s an author you have never read
The author has your first or last name
A book by an Indigenous author
The novel is older than you
The book has a colour in the title
The book has a season in the title
The book features a witch or magic
The book has a cover you dislike
The genre is not one you normally read
A book you own but have not read
An e-book
An audiobook
A book of poetry
The first book in a series
A western
A romance
A who-done-it mystery
A thriller
A science fiction
A fantasy
A book written in diary or letter style
A CBC Reads 2021 book
A Giller Prize winner
A Man Booker Prize winner
A non-fiction book
A book about Muskoka
A book about a different culture
A book from a grandparent’s birthplace
A book recommended by a friend
An historical fiction
A book less than 200 pages
A book with two authors
A book with the same title as another but with a different author than the other
A book by an author that writes under more than one name
A book by a debut author
A book by a Muskoka fiction author
A book on a controversial topic
A book written by a female person of colour
A science book
A book that has a sport in the storyline
A classic
A book you had to read in school
A book set in the future
A book published this year

Something Learned

Check out our YouTube channel containing instructional videos on a variety of topics such as this one about tie dying
Get Clear 2021 Intention Setting

Download this self-directed activity to help guide you through the year ahead with purpose and intention.

Self Care Guide 2021

Download this self-directed self care guide. Self care is not selfish. You cannot give others what you don’t have yourself. Self-care encourages you to maintain a healthy relationship with yourself so that you can transmit the good feelings to others. Fill your own cup, so you have more of yourself to share with the help of this activity guide.

Story Trails

Story Trails are a fun way to enjoy reading while spending time outdoors. Community members are invited to visit Hanna Park in Port Carling and the Township of Muskoka Lakes Sports Park in Bala and walk the path as you read the book. This is a self-guided tour that families can enjoy at their leisure.

Take and Make

We make up kits for you to take home and make! We have them for adults and for kids. Note: Some of the kits are per household and some are per person. A reminder that you must be an active Muskoka Lakes Public Library cardholder to participate in this program. First come, first served. No reserves.

Coming soon

Yarn bird

Bead craft -kids

Available now

Book folding sculptures

Family Movie Night packs: Borrow with your library card. Each parcel comes with two curated DVDs focused around a theme (one G-rated, the other PG), a bag of microwave popcorn, and a craft to enjoy with your household. -available now

Nature Club handouts: highlighting some of Muskoka's flora and fauna for outside discovery with information sheets and family activities -available now, one per household

Positivity packs: These little packs will include some inspiration, some activities and some practices to cultivate a little more awareness and joy in the day to day. These have been designed for all ages -available now

Paper mache owl -sold out but watch our YouTube video to DIY