Summer Reading Club returns to Hamilton Public Library branches

HPL card good for free HSR rides for children, access to conservation sites

Thestar.com
July 11, 2022
Mark Newman

Seven-year-old Briar Canham is busy with a crayon.

She’s colouring one of the many drawings available for children in an activity room at the Turner Park branch of the Hamilton Public Library as part of its free Summer Reading Club. “It’s fun,” said Briar as she returned to the drawing. “You don’t have to play video games all day.”

Briar’s mother Rhian Jones said the reading club is good for her daughter and other children. “It keeps them learning and engaged, and out in the community instead of being stuck at home,” Jones said.

At a nearby table, nine-year-old Viviana Travi and her father Brandon are also busy colouring. “I like to draw animals,” said Viviana. “I think it’s wonderful,” added Brandon. “It’s a way of bringing families together where they don’t have to spend money.”

Monique Koevoets, a librarian assistant at the Turner Park branch, noted a lot of children take part in reading club events after attending programs at the YMCA next door.

“It has taken right off,” said Koevoets, who noted several hundred children will come to the branch each day depending on the event.

Shelley McKay, communications manager at the Hamilton Public Library, said staff are thrilled to see the children again after two years of coronavirus pandemic-related restrictions. “At all 23 branches there is something to see, do, watch, listen, learn and have fun this summer,” said McKay, who noted they have events and activities aimed at all age groups.

Those activities include cartooning, storytelling, writing contests for teens, story times, diary writing and creating comics. There are also visits from the Hamilton Police mounted unit, firefighters and magic shows.

Visit hpl.ca and click on events for a list of all summer activities or pick up a free program guide at any branch.

A library card will take you to other places, too.

McKay said children aged 6 to 12 with a library card can visit any branch and sign up for a free Presto card that enables access to the HSR for free.

“Anyone can use a library card to get into Hamilton civic museums for free all the time,” McKay said. “City council just re-upped it for another two years.”

In addition, cardholders can go online or visit a local branch to receive a free pass to: the Art Gallery of Hamilton, a provincial park, Hamilton Conservation Authority or Grand River Conservation Authority locations.

To access the passes, visit hpl.ca/search?search_api_views_fulltext=park+passes&search=Search.