Special Events

In honour of Love Your Library month, we are having a Tote Bag Giveaway! You can enter to win one of our two MLPL canvas tote bags just by showing us your library card!  Each time you come into one of our branches, simply show us your MLPL card and your name will be entered into the giveaway.  Two winners will be drawn at random on Feb 28th at noon! 
*Max 1 entry/day/person

Come to the Port Carling branch on Thursday February 5th from 5:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. for a t(w)een crafting evening where you will be guided through the steps of personalizing a blank t-shirt, using our Cricut machine. Choose between three designs showcasing 'Library Love', in honour of Love Your Library month!  All materials supplied, or feel free to bring your own blank cotton t-shirt to print on.  For ages 10 to teen.  

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

Come to the Port Carling branch to watch some of the XXV Olympic Winter Games Milano Cortina 2026!  We will be streaming live events during our regular business hours.  Come cheer on Team Canada as they compete at The Winter Olympics! 

Some of the highlights that we will be showing include: 

Come to the Port Carling branch on Thursday February 12th from 5:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. for an entertaining experience. Bring a partner (or a friend) to this fun paint night here in the library. Why not make it a date night, for Valentine's Day!? No experience necessary, ... whatsoever!  All materials provided.

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

Come to the Port Carling branch on Saturday February 21st from 11:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. for a drop-in button making activity.  Warm up during your Winterfest fun by coming to the library for a hands-on creative craft.  Free, all materials supplied.

Children aged 9 and under must have a parent or guardian remain in the library for the duration of the program.

Come to our Port Carling branch on Saturday January 31st from 1:00 p.m. to 2:00 p.m. for an engaging hour with local  author Yvonne Heath.  Yvonne's book, Love Your Life to Death was published in 2015, and was the recipient of a Book Excellence Award. Yvonne Heath's newest book, Addiction, Grief and Joy  - A Son's Struggle And A Mother's Love is a gritty and authentic view of the all-consuming and heartbreaking realities, the illness of addiction (and mental illness) causes those that suffer and their families. Yvonne’s honesty, resilience and empathy teach us grace and acceptance in the face of overwhelming odds.

Join Yvonne as she discusses Life, Grief and Joy—How we can Just Show Up as Compassionate Communities for ourselves and each other–No. Matter. What.

Grief isn’t only about death—it lives in divorce, illness, disappointment, and change. Yvonne shares her journey and lessons learned as a former nurse and mother of a son with addictions. Can we feel less alone, connected, and more confident in challenging situations and conversations? Absolutely.  Let’s Talk!

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

Come to the Port Carling branch on Friday January 30th to enjoy some Nintendo Switch games in the morning, followed by a movie which will begin at 2:00 p.m.  No need to register, just drop in during the day and have fun!

Children aged 9 and under must have a parent or guardian remain in the library for the duration of the program.

Come to the Port Carling Branch on Thursday January 15th from 6:00 p.m. to 6:45 p.m for an adult crafting evening where you will be guided through the steps of personalizing a journal, using our Cricut machine.  All materials and supplies are provided.  

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

Come to the Port Carling branch between 11:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. to relax and socialize at the library. We will be offering a hands-on craft activity, full access to our LEGO collection, and from 1:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. we will  be screening a family friendly film, popcorn included!  No need to register, just drop in during the program and have fun! 

Tuesday December 23rd	My Penguin Friend - 2024 - 1hr 37m - PG
Tuesday December 30th	Rumble - 2021 - 1hr 35m - G

Children aged 9 and under must have a parent or guardian remain in the library for the duration of the program.

Drop in to the Norma and Miller Alloway Muskoka Lakes Library (Port Carling Branch) on Thursday, December 11th from 4:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. for a casual Merry Mingle with the MLPL Board and staff. Listen to some carols, play some games, chat about library services and ideas for the future, and enjoy some light refreshments in a relaxed, festive atmosphere. Everyone is welcome—stop by for a few minutes or stay and visit!

Come to the Port Carling branch from 5:30 p.m. to 6:45 p.m. on Thursday December 4th to create some holiday cards with other crafty adults.  All supplies and materials provided, just bring your creativity! 

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

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. 

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. Presented by scientist Martha Patricia Celis, Ph.D., you will 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 the Port Carling branch from 1:00 p.m. to 2:00 p.m. and make your own decorated gingerbread house. This is a fun paper craft suitable for all ages.  All materials provided. Come see our new Cricut Explore 4 in action!

Children aged 9 and under must have a parent or guardian remain in the library for the duration of the program.

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

Come to the Port Carling branch on Friday November 21st to enjoy a variety of activities,  most of which will be available all day long.   No need to register, just drop in during the day and have fun! 

Storytime - 10:30-11:00
LEGO and Games - all day in the Heritage Room
Crafting - all day in the Travel Section 
Colour on the Wall - all day in the upper Non-fiction section
Make a Button - all day in the new Makerspace section
Nintendo Switch - all day in the Study Room

Children aged 9 and under must have a parent or guardian remain in the library for the duration of the program.

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. 

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!

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.  

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

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. 

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. 

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!