Summer Special Events | Muskoka Lakes Public Library

Scales Nature Park logo

Join us at the Port Carling branch on Friday June 26th from 2:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. for a "turtle-y" awesome time! We will be hosting Scales Nature Park and some of their fascinating cold-blooded friends! Our guests will introduce you to a variety of Canadian reptiles and amphibians, with opportunities for staff-led, hands-on interactions. No registration required.

Children aged 9 and under must have a parent or guardian (this can be an older sibling) remain at the library for the duration of the program.

Our annual Summer Book Sale is back for its third year at our Port Carling branch. The sale will be on every day during regular business hours from June 26th - July 4th. The sale will be set up in the lower level of the branch. Bring your own bag and fill it for only $5!

The Art on A Shelf Exhibit returns this summer, inviting both adults and youth in grades 9 and up, to display artwork among the book shelves at our Port Carling branch. In addition, there will be a second exhibit – the Mini Masters Kids Art Show exhibits the mini creations from children in grades 1 through 8. This is your chance to show off your creativity – use any medium to create any image.

Want to be a participating artist? You can pick up your free canvas board, at both Bala and Port Carling branches, as of Friday, June 26th with a deadline to return the finished masterpiece by Tuesday, July 14th.

Canvas Pickups - Port Carling and Bala	June 26th - July 14th
Art on a Shelf Exhibit - Port Carling	July 21st - August 22nd
Mini Masters Exhibit - Port Carling	July 21st - August 22nd
People's Choice Voting - Port Carling	July 21st - August 22nd
People's Choice Announced - Online	August 27th

The Art on A Shelf Exhibit returns this summer, inviting both adults and youth in grades 9 and up, to display artwork among the book shelves at our Port Carling branch. In addition, there will be a second exhibit – The Mini Masters Kids Art Show will be an exhibit of mini creations from children in grades 1 through 8.

Visitors will be able to vote for their favourite piece, with People’s Choice ballots available to fill out. Many of the artworks from both exhibits will be available to purchase, with proceeds going to support your library.

Come to the library during July 21st to August 22nd to view, enjoy, vote and maybe take home a piece of artwork created by a local artist!

Come to the Port Carling branch on Monday June 29th from 9:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.

Empower your child with essential life skills with the Stay Safe! course for youth ages 9 to 13. This course provides children with the knowledge and skills they need to stay safe when they are away from their parents or guardians, both at home and in their communities.

To enroll, your child must be at least 9 years old or have completed Grade 3. Please register for this event by filling out this Google Form, which goes directly to the course facilitator.

For more information about the Stay Safe! Canadian Red Cross course click here.

Come to the Bala branch on Monday June 29th from 2:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. to play a round of laser tag within the Community Centre space. Sign up individually, or with a group of up to 4 people, and battle it out at your designated timeslot. Open to all ages!

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

Children aged 9 and under must have a parent or guardian (this can be an older sibling) remain in the library for the duration of the program.

Come to the Port Carling Community Centre for two special movies nights. Arrive around 7:00 p.m. and expect the film to begin by 7:15 p.m. Bring along any snacks you might like, as well as any blankets or cozy items. The movies will be projected onto the big screen for you to enjoy, along with your family and friends. Registration is preferred, drop-ins accommodated if space allows.

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

July 9th	Zootopia 2 - 2025 - Rated PG - 1hr 47m
August 6th	The Greatest Showman - 2017 - Rated PG - 1hr 45m

Children aged 9 and under must have a parent or guardian (this can be an older sibling) remain in the community centre for the duration of the program.

Get your bidding fingers ready! The Friends of the MLPL Silent Auction launches on July 9th and runs until 5:00 p.m. on Thursday August 6th. Browse a growing collection of items (with more being added weekly), generously donated by local businesses and community members — all in support of the library! https://www.32auctions.com/mlplfriends15

Let your curiosity take flight! Help the Muskoka Lakes Public Library welcome the Canadian Raptor Conservancy to our Bala branch on Saturday July 11th from 1:00 p.m. to 2:00 p.m. for an amazing demonstration! There will be several birds of prey showing us how cool they are, with knowledgeable handlers ready to answer questions and facilitate a meet and greet. No need to register but prompt arrival ensures full enjoyment of the show!

Children aged 9 and under must have a parent or guardian (this can be an older sibling) remain at the library for the duration of the program.

Come to our Port Carling branch on Saturday July 18th from 11:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. for a hands-on workshop where you will learn how to make two dimensional portraits of flowers or trees. This is a beginner's class geared towards participants aged 10+. All materials and supplies are provided.

Space is limited so please register for this event by calling 705-765-5650 or emailing info@mlpl.ca.

Come to the Bala branch on Monday August 10th from 2:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. to play a round of laser tag within the Community Centre space. Sign up individually, or with a group of up to 4 people, and battle it out at your designated timeslot. Open to all ages!

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

Children aged 9 and under must have a parent or guardian (this can be an older sibling) remain in the library for the duration of the program.

Kerry Clare beside her latest book Definitely Thriving

Celebrating 25 Years in Our Current Home

This year marks 25 years of service from our current location in Port Carling, the Norma and Miller Alloway Muskoka Lakes Library. It also marks 139 years of library service in the communities that make up today's Township of Muskoka Lakes.

To celebrate these milestones the library will be hosting special events throughout the week of August 17th–22nd. The week will highlight the many ways this branch, the Muskoka Lakes Public Library system, and public libraries everywhere enrich their communities through literacy, learning, culture, connection, creativity, and lifelong discovery. Join us as we celebrate our history, our community, and the many stories still to come. We hope to see you at one of our Anniversary Week events!

Monday August 17th - 5:00 p.m. - 7:00 p.m. - Reading and Conversation with author Kerry Clare - Kerry Clare is the author of Definitely Thriving, out now from House of Anansi Press. Her previous novels are Asking for a Friend, Waiting for a Star to Fall, and Mitzi Bytes. A National Magazine Award-nominated essayist and editor of The M Word: Conversations About Motherhood, Kerry also edits the Canadian books website 49thShelf.com, is host of the Bookspo podcast, and writes about books and reading at her longtime blog, Pickle Me This. She lives in Toronto with her family.

Tuesday August 18th - Family Trivia Night with Quizmaster Dan Grant - Fun for the whole family. Sign up your team for this after hours event. More details to come!

Wednesday August 19th - Make your own library T-shirt or Tote - Stop in during the afternoon to create your very own library merch. Materials provided on a first-come-first-served basis. More details to come!

Thursday August 20th - 10:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. - "Cookbook as Memoir": A One-Day Workshop with Bestselling Author Christine Flynn - What stories are hidden in your favourite recipes? Join acclaimed chef and bestselling author Christine Flynn for a day exploring the cookbook as memoir. Through stories, discussion, culinary demonstrations, and food-focused conversation, Christine will examine how food can preserve memories, connect generations, and tell the story of a life.

Come ready to write, refine and share your own food stories through thoughtful prompts, real-world advice for getting words on the page, and advice from one of Canada's most beloved cookbook authors. Get a behind-the-scenes look at recipe development and food storytelling. Whether you're interested in preserving family recipes, documenting your own traditions, or creating a cookbook of your own, you'll leave inspired to capture the memories, meals, and moments that matter most. No previous writing experience is necessary. Christine will prepare a family-style lunch inspired by recipes from her books, and soft drinks will be supplied.

All recipes and workshop materials will be provided. Participants are welcome to bring a notebook or device for personal note-taking if desired.

Space is limited. $150/pp - lunch included. Please speak to staff or e-mail info@mlpl.ca to register.

Saturday August 22nd - 10:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m. - Family Fun Day - Mark your calendars for a very special Family Fun Day! Join our friends from Fluffy Feet Face Painting, Amanda's Exotic Animals, EarlyON, the Muskoka Lakes Museum, the Muskoka Lakes Fire Department, and lots more in marking 25 years of the Norma & Miller Alloway Muskoka Lakes Public Library here in Port Carling!

Come to the Port Carling branch on Thursday September 3rd from 5:30 p.m. to 6:45 p.m. for an interactive workshop with Dr. Ainslie Harris, founder of AI literacy company Zivo. You'll get a practical, jargon-free introduction to artificial intelligence: what it is, how it works, and how to use it safely, including answers to important questions like:

Is AI actually intelligent?
How does it know what it knows?
How can we stay safe and protect our private information?
What are the risks and downsides of using AI?

You'll also learn how to write effective prompts to get better results from AI chat tools. You don’t need any technical knowledge to attend! Everything's covered using everyday, relatable examples.

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