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09 June 2013

Volunteer Appreciation Evening 2013

Pictures from the Nordic Walking Poles Clinics

See us in the 2013 D-V Parade

Summer is a coming in…at the library
30 May 2013

 “And so with the sunshine and the great bursts of leaves growing on the trees, just as things grow in fast movies, I had that familiar conviction that life was beginning over again with the summer.”
― F. Scott Fitzgerald, The Great Gatsby
Life might not necessarily be beginning over again for us at the library but there are plenty of new things springing up for the summer months. We are happy to announce that we have received a New Horizons grant to start walking groups which will be known as The Sheep River Ramblers. These will be multi-level groups to accommodate different levels of ability and commitment. We will be providing equipment such as Nordic walking poles, cleats and safety vests. Group leaders will receive first aid training and we will be providing workshops on various topics related to walking from the health benefits to how to identify plants and wildlife. Trips to places further afield, such as Waterton National Park, are also in the works.  The Ramblers welcome walkers of all ages and ability but in particular seniors are welcome. If you enjoy walking, socialising with other walkers and improving your overall fitness then call the library to sign up for this free program.
We will also be running our children’s summer reading program Bon Voyage! This will start July 10  and will run for 7 weeks. There will be separate sessions for 3-5 year olds (10-11am) and 6-10 year olds (1-2pm), and both will take place on Wednesdays.  Pick up a Summer Activities brochure, or check our website (www.sheepriverlibrary.ca) for information about  craft days, astronomy nights and family movie nights (with pop corn).  If there is sufficient interest we will also run a pre-teen book club, teen book club and a theatre project over the holidays.
Of course, children are not the only ones who need mental stimulation over the summer, so we have a few activities for adults to do in addition to sun worshipping. Poetry on the Patio will run one Thursday morning each month @ 10:30am (June 27, July 25 and August 22). This will be a time to hear and talk about poetry, and read some of your own out in our newly planted Reading Garden.  If trivia questions are more your bag then come to the patio at The Stop Coffee Shop in Black Diamond on Thursday nights from mid- June till the end of August. Gita and Jan will be asking trivia questions; the table that gets the most right answers will win prizes donated by The Stop. We are also planning a Bike and Book Picnic, Saturday July 20. Participants will enjoy a short bike ride followed by a picnic and discussion about books they have read. More information about this event will be available at the library by the end of June.
None of these activities would be possible without the tireless efforts of our amazing group of volunteers, so we were ecstatic to receive an award in May from Marigold Library System for our Volunteer Engagement Program which recognises all the work these wonderful people do for our library. We know we are in a unique position to have around 100 people who give of their time and talents to make the library such an efficient and productive place in our community.
Summer is icumen in
Loudly sing Cuckoo
Grows the seed and blows the mead
And springs the wood anew.
Sing Cuckoo!
Ewe bleats harshly after lamb
Cows after calves make moo
Bullock stamps and deer champs
Now shrilly sing Cuckoo...
... Cuckoo... Cuckoo.
Wild bird are you! Be never still Cuckoo!
(Mid 13th Century song, in Wessex dialect of Middle English)

 

Book Sale
23 May 2013

BIG BOOK SALE


Saturday, June 1st

11:00am to 4:00pm

Job Available
09 May 2013

The Sheep River Library is looking for an energetic, dynamic and creative individual to fill a 3 month Summer position of Children’s and Young Adult Program Co-Ordinator beginning June 1, 2013.  Experience with children’s programming is required.  For a  full job description contact Sheep River Library at abdsrclibrary@marigold.ab.ca or call 403-933-3278

Joy and Sorrow
01 May 2013

Joy and sorrow are next door neighbors(German Proverb)
The month of April has proved this quote to be true at the library. At the beginning of the month we received a call from the Department of Municipal affairs informing us that we had won a 2013 Minister’s Award for Excellence in Public Library Service for our Out Loud series which ran last October. Many of you may recall or even participated in some of the events we ran during that series: Write Away!, Celebrity Reads: Terry Fallis, TTYL, Authors Among Us  andReel Independent Filmmaking. Weenjoyed pulling it all together and the month of October was certainly exciting as different presenters and over 800 patrons came and went to the different activities. So, we are overjoyed to have this recognised by the powers that be! The award was accepted by Library Staff Jan Burney and Gita Grahame, and Turner Valley School Librarian, Carol Webb at the Alberta Library Conference in Jasper.  One of our goals when we moved into the new building was to be the best rural library in Alberta. It’s amazing to see that we are well on our way to achieving our goal. This is the second time that our library has had the distinction of winning this award. In 2011, Sheep River Library received the same award for a teleconference series on endangered species in Alberta. This puts us in exceptional company as there are very few small rural libraries who have won this award more than once. We hope to be in a category all of our own soon, since we don’t intend for our wins to be limited to only two! So, you as our patrons can expect to see many more fantastic programs forthcoming.

Following our great joy at this news was a sorrow all of us at the library felt very keenly. The sudden death of Rob Osberg, one of our dedicated volunteers and husband of our Board Chair, Diane, came as a shock to us all. Many of my memories of Rob have him up a ladder or under some piece of furniture or lifting, hauling, drilling or installing. He was our collective handyman. Of course, this is not the only reason we will miss him.  Rob was a very gifted cowboy poet who published two volumes of his poems. If you have never read any of his work we invite you to either take out the copies we have in our collection or purchase your own copy. Copies will be available at the library. Rob was a great friend and fierce supporter of the library and words fail us when we try to describe the magnitude of his passing. We are fortunate to have him forever with us in all the custom woodwork creations he provided for the library such as the carved signs, the donor books and the magazine donor recognition card holders.
This month we also bid a final goodbye to another precious “volunteer” – Tessa. Tessa was one of our Dog Tales dogs. She was a definite favorite amongst the boys and girls who come to read out loud to the animals. Her quiet and gentle manner made her an ideal candidate for the role and she will be missed by all the children who read to her and to the Pack family who had the privilege of being her owners.  
  
We hope we have had our fill of sorrow for now. There is much joy to be found in all our programs and new books which can be viewed on our website at www.sheepriverlibrary.ca . Of particular note, our Secret Family Recipe Series concludes on May 29 @7pm with Olivia Burney`s Muffin class. Word 2010 for beginners runs May 22 & 29 and if you want to know how to download library e-books to your devices there is a class on Overdrive and Freading on May 16 at 7pm.  Don`t forget the Dogtooth Mountain Film on May 13: Welcome.

Obituary for Mr. Robert Osberg
15 April 2013

Robert Osberg passed away suddenly at his home in Black Diamond, AB on April 12, 2013 at the age of 73 years. Rob is survived by his loving wife Diane; his children Brad (Julianne), Scott (Sandra), Kris (Sheri) and Tracy (Stephane). He also leaves behind 10 grandchildren who will forever miss their “Papa”.  Rob will also be remembered by numerous brothers, sisters, nieces and nephews.

Rob lived his life with passion. And one of his greatest passions was teaching. His first career as a Jr. High School teacher spanned almost 3 decades. When not in an actual classroom, Rob loved to take the kids into the great outdoors for a taste of X-country skiing or winter camping. After retiring, Rob found success and fulfillment as an artist and working cowboy poet. But he never stopped teaching. Through SAIT Continuing Education, Elderhostel Canada and as an individual, Rob designed and taught courses on subjects as diverse as Photography, Edible Wild Plants, Wood Carving and Line Dancing. Always restless in his curiosity, Rob considered it a gift to learn something new and an even greater gift to then have the opportunity to share it with others.

First and foremost, Rob loved his family and friends.  A kind and good-humored father. A devoted husband.  Rob took immense pride in his wife and children and spared no efforts to give them his personal best in every situation. He was there.  Always.  Beaming at every band concert, football game, swim meet, dance recital and graduation. Family vacations were many, memorable and often filled with hilarious outtakes. And despite the frenzy and noise that is a family of six, Rob always seemed to know when someone needed him, all to themselves, just for a while. Just to be Dad. When the grandchildren arrived, Rob was in his element for nothing made him happier than having a houseful of noisy, energetic and, above all, curious children.
With a large and diverse social circle, Rob and Diane adored spending time with their friends. A perfect evening for Rob was a little good food, a lot of good conversation and maybe a dance. Or 12. For Rob loved to dance. He preferred country music, but he could dance to anything. And he did. He danced through Life.

A Celebration of Rob’s Life will be held on Friday, April 19th at 2:00 p.m. at the Turner Valley Elementary School (114 Royal Ave., Turner Valley). To send condolences and view Robert’s Tribute Page please visit www.lylereeves.com . In lieu of flowers, the family asks that you consider a donation to the Sheep River Public Library - www.sheepriverlibrary.ca . Caring for the family is Lyle Reeves Funerals of High River (Craig Snodgrass) 403.652.424.

*** Rob Osberg, husband of Diane, our library Board Chair will be missed very much by all of us.  Everywhere you look in the library you can see his wonderful handiwork which will be a lasting memorial of his dedication and skill. He was a wonderful man.

Sheep River Library Shines
12 April 2013

30 is three perfect 10s. (Author unknown)

March 23 was a great day of celebration at the library. Many weeks of work went into ensuring that the 30th anniversary would be a day to remember.  Much of the work went into the historical information and timelines on display in the gallery room. Many of these items will be kept permanently in the library such as the plaques commemorating past Library Board members and the founders of the Friends of the Sheep River Library foundation. We also unveiled our new donor wall which now shows the names of all the donors to our new building on the spines of books-appropriate for a library, don’t you think?

 
 
We were also very happy to show off our new Sheep River Library banner which was a collaboration of Diane Osberg, Jan Burney, Janet Madesky (long arm quilter) and Ken Wong of Vireo Creative. It features the logos of the four entities that have been partners for 30 years in bringing library service to our area: the towns of Black Diamond and Turner Valley; Marigold Library System and the province of Alberta. Each of these groups had a representative on hand to say a few words (highlighting how amazing our library is) before the cake was cut.  The banner is now part of the permanent art collection in the libraryand hangs behind the circulation desk for all to see.  

 Another highlight of the day was the announcing of the winners of our “The Sheep River Library rocks because…” essay contest. The response was tremendous, especially in the under 13 category which was won by Morgan Wright who took home a digital camera. Devin Keenan, our teen winner,  was awarded with an ipod and Crystal Salomon, who won in our adult category, took home a KOBO glo e-reader. Congratulations to all the winners and a big thank you to all who took part, particularly the Grade 4 class from Turner Valley School. All the essays are available for reading in the gallery room.  
 
Our afternoon was rounded out with a youth film festival. The films were all made by students who participated in the Reel Independent Filmmaking Workshops last October and November as part of our Out Loud series.  Bailey Kerluke and Zoe Slusar of Untitled Productions,who taught the workshops with much energy and excitement, were on hand to introduce the films and their makers. Bailey and Zoe (pictured              with the four filmmakers who finished their films) also premiered the two promotional videos they made about the Library and the Out Loud series.  Links to both of these fantastic and informative productions are on our website in the Banner Area and also Sheep River Library's Facebook Page.  For more pictures of the anniversary celebration click on the gallery icon on our webpage at:   www.sheepriverlibrary.ca
 
Don`t forget to sign up for our April courses: On-line Networking with McBride (April 23), Adventure Smart (April 18), Map & Compass Reading (April 25), Secret Family Recipe (Cinnamon Buns –April 24) and Basic Computer Skills (Beginning April 10). Check our website for details about our on- going weekly classes: yoga, tai-chi, TIPs, pre-school literacy and beginner sewing.

Sheep River Library Anniversary Celebration and Food Critic
13 March 2013

Celebrating thirty years of partnership, the 30th Anniversary Celebration at Sheep River Library will highlight many of the accomplishments achieved over the years and the people who made it all happen. Volunteers have been the backbone starting with the group of forward thinking individuals who opened the first community library in the Griffith Centre, to the library board individuals who lobbied for more space in the basement of the Black Diamond Municipal Building, to the 2006 visioning group who established the groundwork for a lifelong learning centre, to the more recent board folks who worked with the two towns to create the current  10,000 square feet of  Sheep River Library’s current location in Turner Valley. Friends of the library have been on hand over the years putting on book sales, salsa fests, mud-slinging clay contests, and membership contests. Plaques honoring these individuals will be unveiled at the March 23 celebration. 
Day to day operational funding to keep library services going has been a partnership for 30 years between the Towns of Turner Valley, Black Diamond, the Province and Marigold. Additional funding for special projects has been the responsibility of the Board who have relied heavily on the support of the Friends of the Sheep River Library Foundation. This amazing group of Friends was responsible for raising close to $200,000.00 for the furnishings, computers, shelving, AV equipment, and extra materials for the new building. A new Building Donor recognition display will be installed to honor the foundations, businesses, and individuals who donated significantly through the Friends. Matching grants were applied for and gratefully received.  The board has also taken advantage of grants to fund extra projects and volunteer recognition. Check out this display that recognizes the support of town, provincial and federal grants received over the years.
The community itself has been an amazing support through the donation of time and money. The Tile Wall, an initiative of the Friends and Yvonne Smulders, brought in approximately $15,000 which was matched by Provincial CFEP and Community Spirit money. Magazine donations have been a constant contribution over the past five years and these donors are honored in a display in the magazine section of the library.  The volunteer display board recognizes those volunteers who contribute many hours every day and every week. A compilation of local artists who have graced our walls will be displayed.
Well over thirty individuals entered the essay contest with testimonials on “Sheep River Library Rocks!” Come and meet the winners on March 23. Program Partners, those groups who put on courses at the library, will have displays of past, current, and yet to come learning experiences. A timeline display will bring back memories of activities over the years that have made the Sheep River Library worthy of the attributes of the contest entrants.  Untitled Productions will also launch their video of behind the scenes activities in the library.
Join the library board, town councils of Black Diamond and Turner Valley, Marigold, and the province in this celebration of community spirit and the 30 year example of friendship, cooperation and collaboration.  Anniversary cake cutting and incredibly short speeches will start at 1pm Saturday, March 23.  
 
WHAT’s HOT and WHAT’s NOT
John Gilchrist, restaurant reviewer for the Calgary Herald and CBC Radio One, will be at the library on Tuesday, March 26 at 7pm.  While his book, "Cheap Eats", a guide to Calgary and area restaurants is available in book stores and specialty food shops, you can listen to John’s commentary and ask questions during this presentation. In his fifth book, John turns his talented taste buds towards the less expensive end of the restaurant scene in Southern Alberta – lunch under $10 and dinner under $15. “Cheap prices don’t mean lousy food”, says Gilchrist, Calgary’s most influential food writer. “Good food can be found in Vietnamese noodle houses, hole-in-the-wall Cajun joints and one-of-a-kind burger shops.”
In his book, Gilchrist covers more than 100 of the best food values around Calgary and area all wrapped in the uniquely witty and robust style that has made his weekly CBC Radio One restaurant reviews a staple of many households. But better than the book is the man himself right here at Sheep River Library.  This amazing presentation is being brought to us through the Friends of the Sheep River Library. Call the library at 403-933-3278 to ensure you have a seat for Tuesday, March 26.

Be sure to book your bucket list

17 January 2013

Library challenges readers to tackle top 100    

Being active in the winter doesn’t necessarily mean figuring out how to stay warm outdoors while getting some physical exercise. After all, exercising the mind will also go a long ways to prevent kicking the bucket.

One winter activity would be trying to complete the Sheep River Library’s “Bucket List — 100 books you should read before you die” program.

“It’s a wide variety of books — ranging from ‘The Bible’ to ‘The Life of Pi,’” said Sheep River Library’s head librarian Jan Burney.

She said the books on the list aren’t necessarily the ones you would see on the best-seller lists either.

Burney readily admitted she likes to read what she calls “brain candy” — the John Grisham, Danielle Steele books and others that are easy on the mind.

“Those are all fun to read, but these are books that have all stood the test of time,” she said of the bucket list novels.

Some of the works include Russian classics by Tolstoy and Dostoyevsky, books by English novelist Jane Austen and from Canadians such as Margaret Atwood. Also included are the more mainstream books like the Harry Potter series and Bridget Jones’ Diary.

Participants can pick up the list at the Sheep River Library in Turner Valley where the staff will check off the number of books one has already read. Further books are checked off the list as the participant makes their way through the list. A running total is kept on the library’s Powerpoint system.

Burney has read 61 of the books, but she has an advantage having studied literature in university, where some of the books were required reading.

Fellow librarian Gita Grahame is not far behind at 55 (in comparison, Wheel Sports Editor Bruce Campbell has read 18).

Grahame, who grew up in Lithuania, has read some of the classics, such as Tolstoy’s “Anna Karenina” in their native Russian.

However, you don’t need to know Russian to topple this bucket list. All you need is a love of reading. Many of the 100 books are available directly at the Sheep River Library or the Okotoks Public Library.

All of them are available through its extensive Marigold system, a book-sharing program including libraries in Okotoks, High River, Longview

and Millarville to name the closest to us.  However, books can be brought in from anywhere in the Marigold system.

While some winter activities are about preventing the broadening of the stomach or hips, this list is about broadening the mind.

“The winner will receive the unmitigated joy of having broadened the mind by meeting some of the most fascinating characters ever written by some of the most talented and disciplined minds that have graced our planet,” Burney said.

For more information about The Bucket List call the library at 403-933-3278 or email abdsrclibrary@marigold.ab.ca or check the Library's webpage under "Groups - Book Clubs"

 

Winter Programs at the Sheep River Library
09 February 2013

"Antisthenes says that in a certain faraway land the cold is so intense that words freeze as soon as they are uttered, and after some time then thaw and become audible, so that words spoken in winter go unheard until the next summer."
- Plutarch, Moralia
By the time you are reading this in mid- February winter may have truly arrived and your words may be frozen as soon as they are uttered.  Although we have toyed with some colder temps over the winter months, we haven’t really experienced much of the frigid arctic blast we have come to expect. But if however, the deep freeze has indeed landed, you have my sympathies. I will be basking in the heat and sunshine of the southern hemisphere summer. Yes, I am making a quick trip to my homeland of New Zealand for a family wedding and 80th birthday.  But never fear!  In my absence all sorts of wonderful programs are going on at the library to fill those bitter days and nights.
We have several programs now that run weekly such as Yoga (Thursdays @ 9:30am) and Tai Chi (Tuesdays @ 9:30am). Sonja Gosteli is our new Tai Chi instructor. Drop ins are welcome to both these classes. Sewing for Beginners runs every Tuesday @ 7pm with Janet Ballance. Although the class is designed for beginners, sewers of any level are welcome to attend. New to the library this winter is Tobacco Cessation, running on three consecutive Tuesdays (5th, 12th & 19th). This class, run by Health and Wellness, is for people who would like information about quitting smoking. It will cover topics such as: facts and myths about quitting; tools and medications to help you quit; how to handle difficult situations and how to stay smoke free. It is not a requirement that you quit to attend the sessions.   
For those who are longing for winter to end so that they can once again get out and enjoy the outdoors, you can start your preparations early with two courses from Search and Rescue. Adventure Smart (Feb 21 @7pm) will teach you everything you need to know to be safe in the outdoors. Follow this up on Feb 28 with the Map and Compass reading class. This should ensure that you get both there and back again safely.
If staying indoors is more to your liking while winter persists, then check out some of our film screenings. Dogtooth Mountain Film group is showing The Station Agent on February 11 @7pm. Admission is $2. Our Classic Movie Matinee series continues on Monday, March 4 with The Wrong Man  @ 2pm. For the PD Day on March 8 we will be showing Hotel Transylvania.
Our featured travel talk this month is Nepal with Mady and Larry Kopstein. (Tuesday, Feb 26 @ 7pm) Please note that the date for this talk has changed from that previously advertised.
Mark your calendars for March 23. The Sheep River Library will be celebrating its 30th birthday. Yes, it has been 30 years since the two towns took on the responsibility of providing library service and joined the Marigold Library System. We will be having an Open House celebration with lots of door prizes and activities throughout the day. In recognition of this achievement we are inviting you to participate in our Essay Contest. Details can be found in our Ad in this issue of the High Country News.  Simply write an essay on why the Sheep River Library rocks! We look forward to your entries.