Seeds, walks, mystery bags and more: How GTA libraries are bringing communities together through COVID-19

Thestar.com
March 12, 2021
Irelyne Lavery

In the face of COVID-19, libraries have stepped up to provide programs that keep their communities close at a safe distance.

Whether it’s bringing pre-existing programs online or creating something new, libraries across the Greater Toronto Area have found new ways to showcase that the library is about more than just renting books.

Here’s a look at programs from five libraries across the GTA and how you can get involved:

Brampton Library’s Story Walks

For a second season, the Brampton Library is bringing back Story Walks to two of the city’s parks.

Starting Mar. 13, residents can take a stroll through Loafer’s Lake Park or Chinguacousy Park to get some fresh air and read a story.

The stories are printed onto boards mounted two metres apart along a park path.

Loafer’s Lake Park, beside Brampton’s Cyril Clark library branch, will feature “The Bat” by Elise Gravel, available in English and French. Chinguacousy Park will feature “Sometimes I Feel Like a Fox” by Danielle Daniel.

Story Walks was a concept developed by libraries in the U.S. Brampton’s first story walk took place last Oct., during Ontario Public Library Week. The team, including children and youth services manager Kate Alatas, created the program for their library.

“Brampton Library has had considerable success in adapting its community program offerings to a contactless environment,” Todd Kyle the library’s chief executive officer said.

Kyle said participation across community programming has been down about two-thirds since the pandemic began, but virtual programming has attracted enrolment from as far away as Japan.

The library is planning for more Story Walks in May and will post programming information on its social media pages.

Mississauga Library’s Seed Library

With only 10 days until Spring, the Mississauga Seed Library has returned for a seventh year to help residents grow their gardens.

The program collects donations of various seeds to distribute across the city, free of charge. It was originally developed by Port Credit’s library staff for local residents.

The program also hosts educational events that cover a range of gardening topics, including how to successfully grow native plants, container gardening and pollinator gardens --to support bees and butterflies across the city.

Last weekend, the library held two virtual seed library workshops. Both saw 105 people in attendance --a significant increase from last year’s in-person events.

Their next event takes place on Mar. 13 to showcase sustainable balcony gardening. (Online registration is required.)

Tomatoes are a “hot seller” as they are fairly easy to harvest, according to Lina van Velzen, the manager of Mississauga’s library program development and training. Herbs are also a popular option, and the library currently has an “overwhelming” amount of dill.

The seed library’s order form went live on Mar. 6, with all available seeds claimed that same day. Staff have been “frantically” working to put seeds into envelopes for distribution so they can reopen the order form.

“We didn’t anticipate that many requests coming through,” van Velzen said, asking residents to check the program’s order form mid-week for the latest round of seeds.

Toronto Public Library’s grab-and-go program

Toronto Public Library started a grab and go program where patrons can pick out a themed mystery bag filled with books, magazines, CDs and/or DVDs.

To cater to patrons who miss exploring libraries and finding something new, Toronto Public Library created the grab-and-go program. Library staff curate a collection of five to eight books, magazines, audiobooks, CDs and/or DVDs on a specific theme and package them in a brown paper bag.

“Part of the fun is that you don’t know what (staff) put inside. Sometimes they even decorate the bags a little bit, depending on how busy they are,” said library services manager Gail MacFayden. “So it’s the idea of a little surprise and trying to cheer people up as we make it through this year.”

There are a few ways of finding and borrowing a grab-and-go bag. If a library branch has a window display, people can point to the bag they want and staff will bring it to them. Some branches will also have posters or flyers listing available themes. People can also call their local library to find out what themes are available and to reserve a bag for pick up.

So far, the library has circulated over 8,000 grab-and-go bags amongst its 78 participating branches. Popular themes include Black Lives Matter, Indigenous literature and mysteries.

Oakville Public Library’s take-and-make program

To help bring communities closer amidst COVID-19 restrictions, Oakville Public Library created a take and make program, where participants get materials for projects like a squirrel picnic table and make them with others during a virtual session.

Danika Bernard smiles whenever she thinks of Oakville Public Library’s first take-and-make project: A tiny laser-cut picnic table made for squirrels.

According to Bernard, the library’s program development manager, it’s one of many programs aiming to bring their community closer, even during a pandemic.

Library staff design projects based on the season and make all the parts in the library’s creation zone, which provides tools like laser cutters and cutting machines to staff and patrons. Then they package it into kits for people who registered for the program to take, either in their local branch or through contactless pick-up.

In the kits, people will find a link to a virtual session where they’ll build their project with other participants, led by library staff. Some past projects include Halloween-themed mobiles, winter ornaments and magic trick kits.

“I think COVID-19, in terms of library work, has enabled us to expand in what we can do,” Bernard said. “I’ve considered virtual services in the past, but we never had the real impetus to do it. This gave us the push and now we have this new service that we can provide to our communities.”

Markham Public Library’s mental wellness programs

Markham Public Library has taken a virtual approach to be there for its community members in times of isolation and loneliness.

The library has an ongoing online exhibit where people can read how COVID-19 has impacted people’s lives and share their own. They also have a book healing program that provides personalized book recommendations aimed at helping people de-stress.

“Whether in our physical or virtual spaces our libraries create welcoming spaces where everyone in the community can come together to imagine, create, learn and grow,” said CEO Catherine Biss.

Although this isn’t the first time the library has provided people with mental health programs and resources, there seems to be more engagement now that people can find them online.

“We’ve seen an appetite for health and mental health-related programs that are done virtually,” said program manager Ken Cheung. “So some of these mental health programs are the better attended (online) than in person before the pandemic.”