Telling Tales

Join Ms. Peggy on Friday:  Feb. 17th, 24th and March 2nd, from 10.30 to 11.00 a.m.

She'll be spinning enchanting tales, suitable for all ages from 2 on up to 102 (and maybe even more)  Tales as old as time, as young as spring. Tales to make young minds light up and old hearts sing.

Please register at the Library, 705 635 3319 by Feb. 15 so she can be sure to have all her tales in a row and not get her tales in a knot.

After all, story-telling is a time-honoured tradition, and our Ms. Peggy knows how to spin a yarn.

Most of us are familiar with the traditional beginning, "Once upon a time."  And most of us know the ending, "Happily Ever After."     How many of you are familiar with another traditional ending to stories --

"Three apples fell from heaven: one for the teller, one for the listener, and one for the one who heard."

Peggy's Puzzled

There are jigsaw pieces all over the table at the Dwight Library.

Peggy recently got a new jigsaw -- very colourful, lots of pieces.


She is puzzled, and needs some help.

So she's issued a challenge to all the library patrons to stop by and help her put at least one piece in its place. 

Puzzles are a time-honoured winter and cottage activity. There is something quite entrancing about the process.

Unless you have one, like we did once, that was impossible. Truly.  All one shade of purple, no edges, irregular in shape.  The puzzle from hell.

Not this one. It's pretty, and has a lovely picture to guide us all along.

It would also be, it would seem, impossible to resist.  (or should that be Im-puzzle-able?)

Come on in, see what's new at the Library. Check out our books, e-readers, magazines, computers. Enjoy some company, catch up with the neighbours.

And help Peggy be less Puzzled!

Stage Struck

We work hard to promote literacy, and encourage a love of language. Towards that end, we are always happy to be able to offer programs such as our Creative Writing Workshops, Book Clubs, Writer's Club - and again this year Children's Theatre.

The Lake of Bays Libraries were able to secure Grant funding from a Cultural Strategic Investment Fund from Ontario Ministry of Culture and Tourism of approximately $13,000.00. This grant covered 80% of the cost, where local businesses from each community provided the other 20%.


The grant covered the cost of bring in a professional Children's Theatre Group for two separate 10 week workshops for each community.

The grant was awarded to HUB Productions of Bracebridge. Amy Bridle, Director of the Theatre Group provided two plays in Dwight; " Alice in Wonderland" and "The Jungle Book" and in Baysville; "Willy Wonka" and "101 Dalmation".

Over 40 children from our communities registered for this program.  On rehearsal nights, the Libraries would be buzzing with excited youngsters waiting for Amy's arrival. Our Wii systems and Youth Book areas got a lot of traffic!

The final stage performances were outstanding! The children were amazing, the costumes unbelievable and the smiles on the parents and grand parents rewarding!
The Libraries are looking for financial partners for next year. The grant is finished, and with the seed money from the last performances, we can look forward to another project in the spring with additional financial support.

More than Books

Our library is about a lot more than "just books."  (although we don't believe one can ever refer to the magical worlds between the covers as "just books")

We have e-resources, employment assistance, tutoring classes, computer classes, internet access, dvds, cds, magazines and newspapers.



We have a cosy corner for the adults to settle in to read by the fire, with a cup of coffee or tea to hand.

We have snuggly spots for the youngsters to enjoy while they embark on tremendous voyages of discovery -- in books.

We've got a place to gather for the teens, complete with a Wii system and a terrific collection of books for young adults. Since we brought in the Wii, we find we've brought in the teens, and they in turn have taken out the books. It's working well.
There's a spot for adults to meet, and spend time chatting with their neighbours.  It's not at all unusual to find a handful of people bringing their lunch here, to socialize and mingle, and maybe take home another novel.

Another corner for folks to set up their computers and access the high speed internet services we provide.  We have e-readers, and you can access our e-library on your own devices too.

And we have our very own small store, with interesting and unusual gifts.

Some of those gifts include books by local authors, photos and paintings by local artists, jewellry made by local children, handmade soaps produced by local artisans.  There are cards for all occasions, too, made locally.

This is the time of year we are reminded about connections and families.  Drop by, and become part of our library family.

Peggy would be delighted to welcome you home to the Library -- and you'll be delighted by what you find inside our walls.

We Light the Night

On December 1 the community gathered at the Library to welcome in the season with holiday cheer, camaraderie and lighting Christmas trees.





Many thanks to Phil Pavey who brought his spider lift to help string lights into the hundred foot white pine. THE Township helped us get power to the three Christmas trees in the yard.

The Muskoka Music Men came a'carolling, four lovely ladies provided music inside, alongside the munchies, cider, hot chocolate and penny sale.

It was wonderful to welcome so many of our friends and neighbors to greet the season. Several area businesses joined us with special sales and lights of their own.

As we come close to the longest night of the year seeing the nights light up is cheering.

Reaching Out

The District of Muskoka's Outreach Program invites yu to a meeting at the Dwight Public Library, Nov. 22, at 3.30 p.m.

The goal is to bring district social services and programs to the Township and to work to determine the needs in the community and assist in meeting and planning for these needs.

There are many programs available to the people in need, and the object is to make people aware of the services.

They are looking for representation from the following community members or service agencies to form a subcommittee:  School; seniors' organizations; families; service organizations such as the Lions Club. 

Everyone is welcome to attend, so please come out and bring your ideas!

Get Your Giller On...

We all six of the finalist novels for the prestigious ScotiaBank Giller Prize.

From this year's winner, Half-Blood Blues, by Esi Edugyan; through the great pages of the other entries, we've got your Reading List all sorted out!

Find out what -and who -are making Great Canadian literature this year! Get Your Giller On!

Michael Ondaaatje's The Cat's Table; Lynn Coady's Antagonist; Patrick deWitt's The Sisters Brothers; Zsuzsi Gartner's Better Living Through Plastic Explosives (which gets our vote as the best title!); and David Bezmozgis' Free World -- they are all available at the Dwight Public Library.

Remember that we can also provide you with e-books, even if you aren't up at the cottage!