Can you believe the summer is almost over? Neither can we!  To celebrate the end of another great year, a large crowd of 160 people attended the Grand Finale organized by the TD 2019 Summer Reading Club.  Young and old had fun in the inflatable structures, enjoyed carnival games and feasted on hot dogs and hamburgers courtesy of M&M Meat Shops.  Participants had the opportunity to cuddle some farm animals and the rats seemed to be the crowd favourite! Old friends as well as new friends were able to hang out one last time before the end of the summer.  Let’s not forget the amount of reading that happened by our young participants. Over 250 Club members read 110,024 pages during the summer – what a great accomplishment!

We would like to congratulate our two winners; Jasmin Benatuil and Chaehyun Shim who won the grand prizes this year. We would also like to thank the parents, children, Library staff and members of the City of Clarence-Rockland for their enthusiasm, participation and support throughout the summer. Although yesterday marks the end of this year’s Club, our Leaders hope to see you soon. Don’t be shy and come say hello if you see them throughout the year!

Finally, Oasis would like to thank you for accompanying her on this summer’s crazy adventure! Her goal was to introduce you to different parts of Clarence-Rockland, and she hopes you visited some of them. We look forward to seeing you next year for another summer full of surprises. Enjoy the rest of your summer break and we wish you a great start to your school year.

Enjoy a unique and exclusive soirée in Rockland!  On Saturday, Oct 5, 2019, at 7 PM the Library will host its second annual Once Upon a Time Gala, a fundraising event that is now a must in the Clarence-Rockland community. This year’s Gala promises to be another memorable evening including:

• A strolling magician between 7 and 8 PM which will wow you with his up close illusions;
• An illusionist’s show starting at 8 PM provided by Kayser Magic;
• A silent auction with many great items and certificates to bid on;
• Wine tasting by Vignoble Clos du Vully;
• Beer tasting by Tuque de Broue Brewery Inc.;
• Elegant hors-d’œuvres and desserts by La Cuisine Gimy;
• Cash bar throughout the eveining;
• Enjoyable ambiance and dance music provided by DJ Marty.

The Library has worked diligently to become a true pillar of the Clarence-Rockland community. For 80 years, we have offered high quality programs, services and reading materials, always with the greatest concern for accessibility. Indeed, let us reflect that the Library is the last free public place that allows everyone access to a vast array of human and material resources, including the Internet. This allows people both young and old, to imagine, explore and be inspired, as our motto indicates. We firmly believe that our institution contributes to the enrichment of the social, educational and democratic life of the Clarence-Rockland community.  This year’s Once Upon a Time Gala will be even more special due to the fact that the Clarence-Rockland Public Library is celebrating its 80th anniversary. That’s 80 years of service to this wonderful community, which is definitely something to celebrate!

Tickets are $50 per person and are available for purchase starting in July at both the Rockland and Bourget branches.  For more information or to make a donation please contact the CRPL at 613-446-5680 ext 0 or email biblioinfo@bpcrpl.ca.