Special Events

Come to our Port Carling branch on Thursday November 6th from 5:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. for an engaging hour with local artist and author Katrina Lawrence.  Katrina's debut novel, Beneath Enemy Skies was published in March 2025, and became a #1 Best Seller on Amazon in the "Women in WWII" category.  
Please register for this event by calling 705-765-5650 or emailing info@mlpl.ca. 

Held at our Port Carling branch from 6:00 p.m. to 6:45 p.m. once a month on a Thursday. Join Candice as she guides you through a gentle yoga class. Bring your own mat, or borrow one of ours. 

Please register for this event by calling 705-765-5650 or emailing info@mlpl.ca. Drop-ins accommodated only if space allows.

In partnership with the Muskoka Multicultural Association, join us on Wednesday November 26th from 1:00 p.m. to 2:00 p.m. to explore how Mexico has become the world’s second-largest producer of shrimp. Learn about the innovative methods used to cultivate this global delicacy, the challenges faced by producers, and how food traditions like these connect cultures and communities around the world.

The Muskoka Multicultural Association celebrates diversity and inclusion across our region, helping newcomers feel at home and fostering connections through shared culture, learning, and community events.

Please register for this event by calling 705-765-5650 or emailing info@mlpl.ca. 

Come to our Port Carling branch on Saturday November 29th from 1:00 p.m. to 2:00 p.m. for an engaging hour with Artificial Intelligence (AI) expert, Dr. Ainslie Harris, founder of Zivo. Based in Bracebridge, Dr. Harris brings over 20 years of international leadership experience in media, technology, and operations and a deep commitment to making complex technical concepts accessible to non-technical adults. Her passion for helping people feel informed and empowered by technology drives Zivo's mission to ensure no Canadian is left behind as AI reshapes how we work and live. Participants will receive free access to Zivo’s AI Essentials online course, with the opportunity to earn a certificate of completion.

Please register for this event by calling 705-765-5650 or emailing info@mlpl.ca. 

This is an OPEN visit for any young person 29 and under to swing by and say hello, hang out and learn about what the MiND-AID Hub has to offer, or to gain access to services by asking Hub staff for support.

The Hub will be parked at the Muskoka Lakes Public Library's Port Carling branch from 3:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. We have snacks, games, Netflix, crafts & activities and the Hub acts as One Right Door to mental health services, a nurse practitioner, food security, financial and victim support, employment and financial assistance and much more.

Come by and say hello, we are always happy to see you!

In Celebration of Canadian Islamic History Month - Inner Light: A Journey Toward Peace

**Please note that this event has been postponed.  The new date and time will be shared as soon as it has been confirmed.**

Join us at our Port Carling branch on Saturday October 18th from 11:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. for an inspiring talk by Dr. Khal Salem, Chief of Medicine at Muskoka Algonquin Healthcare and Associate Professor at the Northern Ontario School of Medicine. 

Drawing from his medical practice and his studies in Islamic mysticism, Dr. Salem will explore the universal pursuit of peace, compassion, and understanding. His presentation will include reflections on meditation in Islam, the search for inner calm, and how spirituality informs his work as a physician and author.

Please register for this special event by calling 705-765-5650 or emailing info@mlpl.ca. 

The Muskoka Indigenous Friendship Cultural Centre will return to the Port Carling branch on Wed October 22nd from 1:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m., to offer another hands-on workshop. Come create your own beautiful pair of beaded earrings under the guidance of Theresa Buker (Diligent Harvester). All materials generously provided by the M.I.F.C.Centre.

Please register for this event by calling 705-765-5650 or emailing info@mlpl.ca. 

For over 138 years, some version of what we now know as the Muskoka Lakes Public Library (MLPL) has been more than just a place for books—it has served as a keeper of local memory, a hub of learning, and a reflection of community life.

As part of Ontario Public Library Week, join MLPL Chief Librarian Andrew Whitfield at our Port Carling branch from 6:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. for an engaging journey through the early days of libraries and librarianship in the Township, explore what’s ahead for MLPL in the digital age, and take part in a thoughtful discussion on the vital role public libraries have played—and continue to play—as stewards of history, agents of change, and spaces of belonging.
Please register for this event by calling 705-765-5650 or emailing info@mlpl.ca. 

#librariesforlife

Come to the Port Carling branch on Saturday October 25th from 1:00 p.m. to 2:00 p.m. for our Seed Library finale event!

Do you have an abundance of bulbs?  No room to house your excess houseplants this winter?  Perhaps you've saved some seeds from your garden, to donate back to our Seed Library?  Why not gather any extra plant life you may have hanging around and bring it to exchange (or simply donate) for something new-to-you at our community Plant Swap? We will have local Green Thumb Gardening Guru Leslie Carr, from Carr Greenhouse, on hand to assist you with any questions and queries you may have.  

Do you have a costume that you no longer wear? We'd love to take it off of your hands and put it in our Halloween Costume Swap. Donate your clean, wearable costumes and accessories to swap for a new-to-you look! You are welcome to donate a costume without exchanging, or take a costume without swapping!