2002
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RICHMOND - If you're a student who wants to practice and improve your French, then here's your chance. Richmond Public Library is starting "Le Club Francais", a free one-on-one tutoring program for students in grades 1-6 French Immersion. "Each child will be paired up with a 'buddy' who is a high school student and fluent in French. They will work together on French homework or spend time looking at French books or do school research in French. And of course, they'll be speaking French the whole time," said youth services librarian Kirsten Andersen. "Le Club Francais" will take place on Tuesdays from January 21st to March 4th from 4-4:45 p.m. at the Brighouse (Main) Branch, located at 7700 Minoru Gate. This program is free but registration is necessary and forms can be picked up at the Brighouse (Main) Library Youth Services desk starting January 2, 2003. "This unique program is designed to give young French Immersion students support with their French vocabulary, pronunciation and comprehension by working with a teen tutor, reading and discussing French books, and working together on homework assignments," added Andersen. "This is a great opportunity for kids in grades 1-6 French Immersion to use their French language skills outside of school." For more information contact Kirsten Andersen at 604-278-9811 ext. 619 or kirsten.andersen@yourlibrary.ca. Contact:
"People who are interested in new adult and children's Chinese books, music, movies and crafts are welcome to drop in," said head of multilingual services, Wendy Jang. The hours of the exhibit are Monday-Friday 9:30 a.m. - 9:00 p.m.; and Saturday and Sunday from 10 a.m. - 5 p.m. Craft demonstrations include origami, Chinese knotting, and beading. "It's a good opportunity for people to see and buy some new Chinese publications from China, Hong Kong and Taiwan. In addition to the book sale, there will be free, drop-in stories in Cantonese and Mandarin for families, as well as crafts and videos," added Jang. The schedule of events is: Dec. 13th from 1-2 p.m. Opening ceremony 4-4:30 p.m. Stories in Cantonese. Dec. 14th from 1-3 p.m. Origami demonstration 3-3:30 p.m. Stories in Mandarin. Dec. 15th 1-4 p.m. Chinese knotting demonstration. Dec. 17th 4-4:30 p.m. Stories in Cantonese. Dec. 18th 3:30-4 p.m. Stories in Mandarin. Dec. 19th 3:30-4 p.m. Children's crafts. Dec. 20th 4-4:30 p.m. Stories in Cantonese. Dec. 21st 1-3 p.m. Beading demonstration. Dec. 22nd 1-3 p.m. Origami and beading demonstration. A variety of non-fiction video programs will be shown each morning during the exhibit from 10 a.m. - 12 p.m. and there will be movie/opera videos on Monday-Friday from 7-9 p.m. Everyone is welcome to attend. Contact:
"Celebrate With Books" is an exciting initiative that lets people acknowledge someone or something they care about, and at the same time support the library," said head of readers' advisory, Shelley Civkin. "All donations to the Celebrate With Books campaign will be used to buy new books for the library. And since the entire community can enjoy these books for years to come, it really is a wonderful way to give a gift that keeps on giving," added Civkin. Those wishing to donate money to the Celebrate With Books campaign can fill out a donation card at any of the three Richmond Public Library branches or mail their donation to: Richmond Public Library, Attn. Celebrate With Books, #100-7700 Minoru Gate, Richmond, B.C. V6Y 1R9. "In recognition of your donation, a special card will be sent to the person you are honoring," added Civkin. While the average price of a book is $30.00, the library gratefully accepts all cash donations and personal checks, and tax receipts will be issued to all donors. For more information call Library Administration at 604-231-6422. "The holiday season is the perfect opportunity to honor a special someone or celebrate an event, but we encourage people to consider this option all year long. There are lots of occasions to celebrate throughout the year, so we hope you'll keep the library in mind. Celebrating with books is a thoughtful, generous way to benefit the whole community - and everyone wins," added Civkin. Contact:
"Library staff likes to take this opportunity to show our appreciation for our customers and enjoy a bit of holiday cheer," said head of branches, Rina Hadziev. "So come and join us in celebrating the holiday season on December 11th at the Steveston branch." Contact:
"People who are interested in new adult and children's Chinese books, music, movies and crafts are welcome to drop in," said head of multilingual services, Wendy Jang. The hours of the exhibit are Monday-Friday 9:30 a.m. - 9:00 p.m.; and Saturday and Sunday from 10 a.m. - 5 p.m. Craft demonstrations include origami, Chinese knotting, and beading. "It's a good opportunity for people to see and buy some new Chinese publications from China, Hong Kong and Taiwan. In addition to the book sale, there will be free, drop-in stories in Cantonese and Mandarin for families, as well as crafts and videos," added Jang. The schedule of events is: Dec. 13th from 1-2 p.m. Opening ceremony 4-4:30 p.m. Stories in Cantonese. Dec. 14th from 1-3 p.m. Origami demonstration 3-3:30 p.m. Stories in Mandarin. Dec. 15th 1-4 p.m. Chinese knotting demonstration. Dec. 17th 4-4:30 p.m. Stories in Cantonese. Dec. 18th 3:30-4 p.m. Stories in Mandarin. Dec. 19th 3:30-4 p.m. Children's crafts. Dec. 20th 4-4:30 p.m. Stories in Cantonese. Dec. 21st 1-3 p.m. Beading demonstration. Dec. 22nd 1-3 p.m. Origami and beading demonstration. A variety of non-fiction video programs will be shown each morning during the exhibit from 10 a.m. - 12 p.m. and there will be movie/opera videos on Monday-Friday from 7-9 p.m. Everyone is welcome to attend. Contact:
For immediate release November 19, 2002New Immigrants - Learn About Violence Prevention and Personal Safety TipsThe program (#560) is free and is in English with Mandarin interpretation. To register for this program visit any branch of Richmond Public Library, call the library at 604-231-6462 or register online at www.yourlibrary.ca/libraryonline. Or you can register by visiting or calling SUCCESS (Richmond office) at 604-279-7180. This free program is in response to concerns about the recent violence and attacks on immigrant women. "The goal of this seminar is to provide information and tips to new immigrants about how to avoid violence and what to do if attacked," said head of multilingual services, Wendy Jang. The speakers include a representative from WAVAW (Women Against Violence Against Women) and a Vancouver police officer. They will discuss the definition of violence and sexual assault; cultural differences and other factors that can contribute to violence; how to reduce risks and enhance personal safety; and how to ask for help. For more information please call 604-231-6462. Contact:
Participants will work on creating and adapting stories told by actors in monologue or dialogue format. "Ms. Hamer will work interactively with the teens to help them develop scriptwriting techniques, in particular, monologues and dialogues, " said young adult librarian Kirsten Andersen. "The small group setting allows the teens to do creative writing exercises and meet other teens in a fun, safe environment," added Andersen. "This free interactive workshop is a unique opportunity for aspiring young writers." Naomi Hamer has a background in English Literature and publishing, and is doing her Master of Arts program in Children's Literature at the University of British Columbia. She has a Bachelor of Arts degree from McGill University and is currently working on a novel for young people. For more information please email Kirsten Andersen at kirsten.andersen@yourlibrary.ca, or call 604-278-9811 ext. 619. Contact:
For immediate release October 30, 2002New Immigrants Can Learn How to Apply for a BC Driver's LicenseThe program (#555) is free and is in English with Mandarin interpretation. To register for this program visit any branch of Richmond Public Library, call the library at 604-231-6405 or register online at www.yourlibrary.ca/libraryonline. Or you can register by visiting or calling SUCCESS (Richmond office) at 604-279-7180. This program on "How to Apply For a BC Driver's License" will cover the different stages of licensing; application procedures and testing; the procedure for exchanging a foreign driver's license for a BC driver's license; and other tips. "This program is very useful for new immigrants because it gives them practical information," said head of multilingual services, Wendy Jang. "It also gives new immigrants a better understanding of the Canadian system and local resources, and assists them in their integration into the community," added Jang. For more information please call 604-231-6462. Contact:
"The instructor will work directly with the teens to help them develop letter writing and diary writing techniques, " said young adult librarian Kirsten Andersen. "The small group setting works well for doing creative writing exercises, and gives the teens a chance to meet other teens in a fun environment," added Andersen. "This interactive program offers teens a chance to get some personalized creative writing instruction. It's a unique opportunity for young writers." In December, the library will be offering another free writing workshop for teens on the topic of Script Writing. The details of the next workshop, which is called Monologues and Dialogues, will be announced at a later date. Naomi Hamer has a background in English Literature and publishing, and is doing her Master of Arts program in Children's Literature at the University of British Columbia. She has a Bachelor of Arts degree from McGill University and is currently working on a novel for young people. For more information please email Kirsten Andersen at kirsten.andersen@yourlibrary.ca, or call 604-278-9811 ext. 619. Contact:
The first program (#552) will be held on Oct. 9th and covers the B.C. Transportation System. The second program (#553) on Oct. 16th will be on How to Apply for a Job in the Federal Government. These free programs are in Mandarin and take place from 10 a.m. - 12 p.m. in the Lecture Hall at the Brighouse (Main) Branch. To register for these programs visit any branch of Richmond Public Library, call the library at 604-231-6462 or register online at www.yourlibrary.ca/libraryonline. Or you can visit or call SUCCESS (Richmond office) at 604-279-7180. People are welcome to register for one or both of these programs. "These programs are very helpful for new immigrants because they offer practical information. We get a lot of people asking for this kind of information at the library," said head of multilingual services, Wendy Jang. The program about the B.C. Transportation System will cover things like: how to use public transit, buses, Skytrain, seabus, different types of tickets, how to read the transit schedule, transfers and more. The program on How to Find a Job in the Federal Government will include things like: employment opportunities, application procedures, the selection process, benefits, and more. For more information please call 604-231-6462. Contact:
For immediate release September 18, 2002Library Offers Program on Canadian Immigration and Family SponsorshipThe seminar (#557) will be held on Oct. 1st from 10 a.m. - 12 p.m. in the Lecture Hall at the Brighouse (Main) Library, located at 7700 Minoru Gate. Advance registration is required and you must pick up a ticket when you register at the library or at SUCCESS. You can register by visiting the Brighouse branch Library or at SUCCESS (Richmond office). For more information please call 604-231-6462 or 604-279-7180. "A representative from the Admissions Department of Citizenship and Immigration Canada will talk about family reunification; sponsor's qualifications; obligations during the 10 year undertaking period; and application procedures, process and fees," said head of multilingual services, Wendy Jang. "For more information about family sponsorship visit the Web site http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/sponsor/," added Jang. Contact:
The first seminar (#549) will be held on Sept. 25th from 10 a.m. - 12 p.m. and will be offered in English with Cantonese interpretation. The second seminar (#550) will be held on Sept. 25th from 1-3 p.m. and will be offered in English with Mandarin interpretation. Both seminars will be take place in the Lecture Hall. The seminars are free but you must register and pick up your admission ticket in advance and in person. Tickets may be picked up at the Brighouse (Main) Library located at 7700 Minoru Gate, and at SUCCESS (Richmond Office), located at 7000 Minoru Blvd. "The seminars will cover important questions such as: What is the Permanent Resident Card? Who needs a Permanent Resident Card? How do I apply for this card? What are the qualifications and documents needed to get a card? What does it cost to apply for this card and how long will it take to get it?" said head of multilingual services, Wendy Jang. The seminar speaker will be Jane Hidalgo, the community relations coordinator from the Canada Immigration Centre. According to the Canada Citizenship and Immigration Web site, people who have completed the Canadian immigration process and have obtained Permanent Resident status, but are not Canadian Citizens can apply for the Permanent Resident Card. Security features of the new PR Card will simplify the screening process of Permanent Residents when boarding a commercial carrier going to Canada. The card also increases Canada's border security and improves the integrity of Canada's immigration process. Beginning on June 28, 2008, PR Cards will be mailed to new Permanent Residents of Canada as part of the landing process. People who are already in Canada as Permanent Residents can apply for the new PR Card beginning October 15, 2002. Contact:
For immediate release September 5, 2002Library Offers Introduction and Tour for New Chinese Immigrants"This practical seminar will help new immigrants feel comfortable in the library and have a better understanding of the collections, services and programs we offer," said head of multilingual services, Wendy Jang. "We'll share information about the variety of services and programs we offer for different ages, from children up to adults. There will also be a demonstration of Library Online, the Richmond Public Library Web site, and a tour of the library. And of course, we'll answer any questions that participants have," added Jang. Everyone is welcome to attend. The library is a great resource for newcomers to Canada. They have all kinds of information available for free, including job search information, books on health, literature, cookery, religion, home repair and much more. There are also free storytimes for families, ESL conversation circles, programs for school age kids, and reading and tutoring programs for teens. The library even offers computer classes in Mandarin and Cantonese. As well, the library's collection of over 72,000 Chinese language books is one of the largest in Canada. For more information, call 604-231-6462 Contact:
For immediate release August 28, 2002Library Offers Course on Living a Healthy Life with Chronic Conditions“This course is designed to help people learn healthier ways to live with their chronic conditions, whether they suffer from arthritis, diabetes, heart disease, stroke, asthma, emphysema, chronic fatigue syndrome or any other ongoing conditions. The course is facilitated by co-leaders, most of whom have chronic conditions themselves and are successfully using the strategies they have learned through the course. The course offers practical suggestions to help people cope with both the physical as well as the emotional challenges caused by chronic illness. Participants will learn positive skills to build confidence in overcoming everyday obstacles, and will learn how to get the most pleasure out of life,” said librarian Desiree Baron. All participants in this course will receive a free, comprehensive textbook called “Living A Healthy Life With Chronic Conditions”. “Coping with the day-to-day challenges of having a chronic condition can be overwhelming, and if this course sheds even a little bit of light on how to make life more manageable and stay positive, then it’s worth it,” commented Baron. Baron added that this partnership with the Chronic Disease Self-Management Program is a good fit, since the library has lots of books, videos and online resources for people taking this course, and in fact, for anyone interested in learning more about health issues. Contact:
"The after-school tutoring program was very successful last year and because of all the positive comments we received from kids and parents, we decided to expand the program. The teen tutors provide a fun learning environment for the younger kids and it's a win-win situation. The younger kids get free homework help and the teens have the opportunity to develop leadership skills, gain experience in tutoring, and meet other teen tutors," said youth services librarian Virginia Chan. Each session runs for one hour and registration is required. To register, pick up a form at the Youth Services Desk at the Brighouse (Main) Branch. Forms have to be returned to the library by Sept. 12th. Space is limited to 40 participants per session, so registration is on a first come, first served basis. Teen volunteers will tutor younger children one-on-one, and the younger kids can either bring their own homework or the library will provide educational worksheets. At the end of each session there will be a group activity for all the children to enjoy. All teen volunteers will be required to attend an orientation session as part of their training. "It's a great opportunity for teens to earn CAPP hours for school, and the younger kids get free homework help in a fun environment," added Chan. To accommodate the many French immersion students in Richmond, the library will set up a special French corner where French immersion teen tutors will provide homework help in French. Some of the teen tutors speak a second or third language, which will make it easier for children whose mother tongue is not English. "This free homework help is wonderful for families who are looking for an alternative to private tutoring. The advantages of library-based tutoring are that it supports community initiative, makes use of the library's wide and varied resources, and brings together younger kids and teens in a fun, group learning environment," added Chan. "We think it's a great service to be able to provide to the community". An information page for parents about the after-school tutoring program is now available on the library's Web site at http://www.yourlibrary.ca/teen/teentutors/parents.cfm Contact:
The "Reading Buddies" program will take place every Tuesday from Sept. 17th to Nov. 5th at 4:00 p.m. in the Youth Services Program Room at the Brighouse (Main) Library, located at 7700 Minoru Gate. Each session runs for 45 minutes and registration is required. To register, pick up a form at the Youth Services Desk at the Brighouse (Main) Branch. Forms have to be returned to the library by Sept. 12th. Space is limited to 25 participants per session, so registration is on a first come, first served basis. "The Reading Buddies program is a great way for kids to get extra help with their reading in a fun and relaxing environment. It's also a wonderful opportunity for teens to get involved in the library while helping younger kids improve their reading skills and discover new books. It is especially helpful for ESL students but any child in grade 1-4 is welcome to register," said librarian Virginia Chan. "It's a terrific way to promote literacy." Some of the teen "Reading Buddies" speak a second language, which will make it easier for children whose mother tongue is not English. Chan said that this is an important literacy program and essential to children's success in school. "The importance of reading can't be emphasized enough, and having teens help younger children become better readers is a valuable experience for both the younger child and the teen," added Chan. The teen volunteers will be required to attend an orientation session as part of their training. This will give them some guidance in how to communicate with children and how to provide the best reading help. For more information please call Virginia Chan at 604-278-9811 ext. 655 or e-mail her at virginia.chan@yourlibrary.ca. Contact:
"The after-school tutoring program was very successful last year and because of all the positive comments we received from kids and parents, we decided to expand the program. The teen tutors provide a fun learning environment for the younger kids and it's a win-win situation. The younger kids get free homework help and the teens have the opportunity to develop leadership skills, gain experience in tutoring, and meet other teen tutors," said youth services librarian Virginia Chan. Each session runs for one hour and registration is required. To register, pick up a form at the Youth Services Desk at the Brighouse (Main) Branch. Forms have to be returned to the library by Sept. 12th. Space is limited to 40 participants per session, so registration is on a first come, first served basis. Teen volunteers will tutor younger children one-on-one, and the younger kids can either bring their own homework or the library will provide educational worksheets. At the end of each session there will be a group activity for all the children to enjoy. All teen volunteers will be required to attend an orientation session as part of their training. "It's a great opportunity for teens to earn CAPP hours for school, and the younger kids get free homework help in a fun environment," added Chan. To accommodate the many French immersion students in Richmond, the library will set up a special French corner where French immersion teen tutors will provide homework help in French. Some of the teen tutors speak a second or third language, which will make it easier for children whose mother tongue is not English. "This free homework help is wonderful for families who are looking for an alternative to private tutoring. The advantages of library-based tutoring are that it supports community initiative, makes use of the library's wide and varied resources, and brings together younger kids and teens in a fun, group learning environment," added Chan. "We think it's a great service to be able to provide to the community". An information page for parents about the after-school tutoring program is now available on the library's Web site at http://www.yourlibrary.ca/teen/teentutors/parents.cfm Contact:
The "Reading Buddies" program will take place every Tuesday from Sept. 17th to Nov. 5th at 4:00 p.m. in the Youth Services Program Room at the Brighouse (Main) Library, located at 7700 Minoru Gate. Each session runs for 45 minutes and registration is required. To register, pick up a form at the Youth Services Desk at the Brighouse (Main) Branch. Forms have to be returned to the library by Sept. 12th. Space is limited to 25 participants per session, so registration is on a first come, first served basis. "The Reading Buddies program is a great way for kids to get extra help with their reading in a fun and relaxing environment. It's also a wonderful opportunity for teens to get involved in the library while helping younger kids improve their reading skills and discover new books. It is especially helpful for ESL students but any child in grade 1-4 is welcome to register," said librarian Virginia Chan. "It's a terrific way to promote literacy." Some of the teen "Reading Buddies" speak a second language, which will make it easier for children whose mother tongue is not English. Chan said that this is an important literacy program and essential to children's success in school. "The importance of reading can't be emphasized enough, and having teens help younger children become better readers is a valuable experience for both the younger child and the teen," added Chan. The teen volunteers will be required to attend an orientation session as part of their training. This will give them some guidance in how to communicate with children and how to provide the best reading help. For more information please call Virginia Chan at 604-278-9811 ext. 655 or e-mail her at virginia.chan@yourlibrary.ca. Contact:
This free program, called "Living an Active Life with Arthritis" (program no. 445) takes place on Aug. 14th from 3-4 p.m. in the 2nd floor meeting room at the Brighouse (Main) library, located at 7700 Minoru Gate. Registration is required and you can do so by visiting any branch of the Richmond Public Library, by calling 604-231-6405, or via the Internet at www.yourlibrary.ca/libraryonline. "This presentation by The Arthritis Society, BC and Yukon Division is aimed at educating and informing people about the benefits of healthy living and the positive effects of physical activity on arthritis," said librarian Desiree Baron. "As one of the leading information resources for the community, the library's role is to help provide seniors and others who live with this painful disease, with programs that are relevant and useful," added Baron. "There are many people who could benefit from information from the experts at The Arthritis Society." The library also has books and videos available on the subject of arthritis. There is limited space available for this course so please register early. Contact:
There will be a large quantity of new and almost new Chinese novels and non-fiction books on literature, history, philosophy, health, psychology, art, politics, economics, biography, business, religion, social science, travel and more. "This will be a very popular and well-attended sale, and it's first come first served, so you'll probably want to get there early to get the best selection," said head of multilingual services at Richmond Public Library, Wendy Jang. Proceeds will go to the Richmond Public Library and the Chinese Community Library Services Association. "The prices will be very good and there will be a broad selection of books, so drop by and pick up some bargains," added Jang. For more information call Wendy Jang at 604-231-6419. Contact:
The first session (#364), "How to Become a Canadian Citizen" will take place on July 24th from 10 a.m. - 12 p.m. and the second session (#365), "BC Public Education System and Continuing Education for Adults" will take place on July 31st from 10 a.m. - 12 p.m. You can register by coming in to any branch of Richmond Public Library, calling 604-231-6404, 604-231-6462 or 604-279-7180 or you can register online at http://www.yourlibrary.ca/libraryonline/. People are welcome to register for one or both of the programs. "The citizenship session will cover the citizenship application procedure, how to calculate your residential requirement, the citizenship test, the ceremony, name changes and new regulations," said head of multilingual services at the Richmond Public Library, Wendy Jang. The guest speaker for this session is from Citizenship and Immigration Canada. The BC Public Education System session will cover general information about the education system, how to register for school, and ESL programs. The guest speaker is from the B.C. AFC Student Centre. The Continuing Education for Adults part of the session will include information about how to improve your English as well as information about the international credential evaluation service. "These New Immigrant Orientation sessions are very helpful to new immigrants in Richmond. They cover a lot of important, practical issues that people have to deal with," said Jang. Contact:
As lots of people have discovered, the next best thing to reading a good book is finding someone to discuss it with. To provide this opportunity and to encourage an appreciation of books and the joys of reading, Richmond Public Library helps readers by supplying books for book clubs. The library loans blocks of paperback books to groups of up to ten people who want to organize and start a Book Club and who are residents of Richmond, B.C. and have valid library cards. The Library has a collection of over 50 English language Book Club titles to choose from and they may be borrowed for six weeks. The books are available on a first come, first served basis. The library also has over 50 Chinese language book club titles. If you'd like to start or join an existing book club visit the Reader's Advisory Desk on the main floor of the Brighouse (Main) Branch, call Pam Peel at 604-278-9811 ext. 638 or e-mail pam.peel@yourlibrary.ca. To see a list of the library's English language book club titles check the library's Web site at http://www.yourlibrary.ca/writers/bookclub.html. For information about the library's Mandarin and Cantonese book clubs please call the Chinese Information and Program line at 604-231-6462. "Our English language book club collection contains everything from popular fiction to biographies, romances, mysteries and a variety of non-fiction," said head of readers' advisory, Shelley Civkin. The Chinese language book club titles are mostly fiction. Contact:
'Booked for the Summer' is the theme of this year's free Summer Reading Club at the Richmond Public Library (RPL). Children of all ages can join in the fun and discover all kinds of new books during the summer. Registration for the Summer Reading Club begins on July 2 at all three library branches and continues throughout the summer. Registration and all weekly programs are free. "The Summer Reading Club allows kids to experience adventure and discovery through books," said head of children's services, Helen Moore. Joining the Summer Reading Club is easy - just visit any of the three RPL branches between July 2nd and August 24th. There are no telephone or e-mail registrations. "Summer Reading Club is a great opportunity for kids to maintain and improve their reading skills during the summer months and join others for a variety of weekly group activities," said Moore. "Special entertainment and group activities throughout the summer makes reading and visiting the library a fun part of summer vacation." For more information visit or call any branch of Richmond Public Library, check the library's Books & Bytes Newsletter, or log onto Library Online at www.yourlibrary.ca. You can also call the Youth Services desk at 604-231-6412. Contact:
The classes will take place in July and August and registration begins two weeks before the date of each class. August classes will be advertised at a later date. Class #409 will take place on July 9 from 11:30 a.m. - 1 p.m. and is in Mandarin. To register visit any branch of Richmond Public Library, phone 604-231-6405 or 604-231-6462 or online at http://www.yourlibrary.ca/libraryonline/. Space is limited so please register for only one class. "Even though this is a demonstration, not a hands-on class, those attending the class should still have a basic knowledge of computers, keyboards and how to use a mouse," said head of multilingual services, Wendy Jang. Contact:
"The Summer Reading Club allows kids to experience adventure and discovery through books," said head of children's services, Helen Moore. "Each child who joins the Summer Reading Club will receive a booklet to keep track of the books they've read. They'll get cool, new stickers each week for their reading booklets, and there will be exciting and fun activities offered at all library branches until the end of August. And there are weekly prize draws, too. There will also be Summer Reading Club Bingo, a game that encourages children to expand their reading choices and read from a wide variety of books. Most importantly, library cards and all Summer Reading Club activities are free," added Moore. Joining the Summer Reading Club is easy - just visit any of the three RPL branches between July 2nd and August 24th. There are no telephone or e-mail registrations. "Summer Reading Club is a great opportunity for kids to maintain and improve their reading skills during the summer months and join others for a variety of weekly group activities. And things like stickers and prize draws are great incentives to keep kids reading all summer long," said Moore. Kids will also have the opportunity to write book reviews for the local newspaper. For more information visit or call any branch of Richmond Public Library, check the library's Books & Bytes Newsletter, or log onto Library Online at www.yourlibrary.ca. You can also call the Youth Services desk at 604-231-6412. Contact:
For immediate release June 10, 2002Master Lam Chun Presents Health Seminar for Older Adults and Seniors"I have invited Master Lam Chun to share with the community his own experiences with chronic health problems, and explain how he regained good health using natural healing, Chinese medicine, herbs, and Shaolin exercise," said chief librarian Greg Buss. "In sharing his valuable personal experiences, he can help others overcome obstacles to good health and they will benefit from his knowledge," added Buss. This seminar is for middle-age adults and seniors and admission is by ticket only. Master Lam Chun has had many chronic illnesses since he was 40 years old. He found that traditional doctors couldn't help him so he started studying Chinese medical books. Eventually he found a way of using Chinese medicine and herbs to treat himself, and after three years he fully recovered from his illnesses. He also discovered the importance of unloading worries and burdens, as well as the beneficial effects of practicing qigong and exercising frequently. He will teach the audience a Shaolin exercise that he has found helpful for treating chronic diseases. Contact:
The classes will take place in June, July and August and registration begins two weeks before the date of each class. July and August classes will be advertised at a later date. The first class (#430) is June 11 from 11:30 a.m. - 1 p.m. and is in Cantonese. To register visit any branch of Richmond Public Library, phone 604-231-6405 or 604-231-6462 or online at http://www.yourlibrary.ca/libraryonline/. Space is limited so please register for only one class. "Even though this is a demonstration, not a hands-on class, those attending the class should still have a basic knowledge of computers, keyboards and how to use a mouse," said head of multilingual services, Wendy Jang. Contact:
The first program (#361) will be held on June 5 and covers Richmond community health services. The second program (#431) on June 12 will be an Introduction to Richmond Public Library and library tour. The third program (#362) will be held on June 19 and focuses on employment standards. The last program (262) will be held on June 26 and covers the BC public transportation system. To register for these programs call the library at 604-231-6462 or SUCCESS at 604-279-7180, visit any branch of Richmond Public Library, or register online at www.yourlibrary.ca/libraryonline. People are welcome to register for one or more of the programs. "These programs are very helpful to new immigrants in Richmond. They cover lots of practical issues that people have to deal with on a daily basis," said head of multilingual services Wendy Jang. The Richmond community health services program will cover issues like the Medicare system, when to go to the hospital, family doctors, health clinics, vaccinations for children, eye and hearing exams in school and more. The second program will be an introduction to the resources and services that the library offers. The third program, on employment standards, will cover employee's rights, wages, hours of work, overtime, statutory holidays, vacations, complaints and more. The final program on the public transportation system will discuss how to use public transit like buses, skytrain, seabus, the different types of tickets, how to read a transit schedule, transfers and more. Contact:
"Mr. Lee has been one of the library's strongest and most esteemed library supporters over the years, and we are grateful not only for his enormous generosity but also for his spirit of community involvement and dedication to learning," said chief librarian Greg Buss. Since 1995, Mr. Lee's cash donations have exceeded $147,000 and his donation of Chinese language books totals over 47,500 books. He has also presented 21 programs at the library on topics such as Qigong, how to stay healthy, calligraphy, physiognomy, Feng Shui, Chinese Poetry and others. These popular programs have drawn over 1,900 participants since 1996. He has offered to do more seminars at the library this year on promoting good health and well-being. Lee has also done a couple of art exhibits of his work. Lee's newest donation includes a variety of Chinese fiction and non-fiction books. "No single donor has made as significant a contribution to the Library as Mr. Lee, and we are pleased to honor his generosity and thoughtfulness," added Buss. Richmond Library's Chinese language collection contains over 72,000 books and is one of the largest of its kind in Canada. "With a Chinese Canadian population of nearly 40% in Richmond, the Chinese language collection is extremely important. We have Mr. Lee to thank for the outstanding quality and range of this collection, as his donations have allowed us to expand the collection significantly," said Buss. Buss stressed that Mr. Lee's generous donations and support of the Richmond Public Library singles him out as one of the outstanding citizens of Richmond and a true community leader. "We deeply appreciate his commitment to the library and its goals of education, information and recreation," added Buss. Mayor Malcolm Brodie and other dignitaries and community leaders will be attending the ceremony on May 28th, and the whole community is invited to attend this important event to honor Mr. Lee's donations. There will be an interpreter present at the ceremony, so that both Cantonese and English speakers can enjoy the presentation and speeches. Lee is a very well known author, calligrapher and painter, and is originally from Hong Kong. He is the author of many books written under his pen name Master Lam Chun, and has been published in many Hong Kong newspapers as well as in the North American editions of Ming Pao Daily News and Sing Tao. As well, he has participated in more that 30 calligraphy and painting exhibits in Hong Kong, China and Japan. Lee is also a grand master of physiognomy and Feng Shui. In 2001 Mr. Lee received the Keith Sacre Library Champion Award from the B.C. Library Association (BCLA), in recognition of his strong support and outstanding contribution to libraries. Contact:
For immediate release May 15, 2002Library Offers Employment Trend Seminar on Information TechnologyThe presentation will be in English and Mandarin. To register, visit any branch of Richmond Public Library, phone 231-6462 or register on Library Online at www.yourlibrary.ca. Please have your library card and the program number handy. "In this seminar Mr. Sum will share his insights into the IT professional employment trends, with the audience. His focus is on the current state of the IT industry, types of skills and knowledge in demand, requirements and expectations from both employers and employees and some useful advice on job seeking in the local IT market. This seminar is sure to be popular, so register early to reserve your seat," said multilingual services librarian Wendy Jang. Jang also encourages perspective job seekers to bring their resumes to this seminar. Mr. Sum is the founder and CEO of Advanced Cards International Corporation. He has extensive experience in management, research and development, engineering, strategic planning, marketing and international business development with major high tech corporations in North America. Sum has in-depth knowledge and experience in telecommunications, wireless networks, Internet and computer software areas. He has B.Sc. and M.Sc. degrees from the University of California at the Berkeley and Los Angeles campuses. In addition, he completed a post-graduate management program at the M.I.T. Sloan School of Management. He is a registered Professional Engineer in both Ontario and British Columbia. For more information about this seminar, phone Richmond Public Library at 604-231-6462. Contact:
"Mr. Lee has been one of the library's strongest and most esteemed library supporters over the years, and we are grateful not only for his enormous generosity but also for his spirit of community involvement and dedication to learning," said chief librarian Greg Buss. Since 1995, Mr. Lee's cash donations have exceeded $147,000 and his donation of Chinese language books totals over 47,500 books. He has also presented 21 programs at the library on topics such as Qigong, how to stay healthy, calligraphy, physiognomy, Feng Shui, Chinese Poetry and others. These popular programs have drawn over 1,900 participants since 1996. He has offered to do more seminars at the library this year on promoting good health and well-being. Lee has also done a couple of art exhibits of his work. Lee's newest donation includes a variety of Chinese fiction and non-fiction books. "No single donor has made as significant a contribution to the Library as Mr. Lee, and we are pleased to honor his generosity and thoughtfulness," added Buss. Richmond Library's Chinese language collection contains over 72,000 books and is one of the largest of its kind in Canada. "With a Chinese Canadian population of nearly 40% in Richmond, the Chinese language collection is extremely important. We have Mr. Lee to thank for the outstanding quality and range of this collection, as his donations have allowed us to expand the collection significantly," said Buss. Buss stressed that Mr. Lee's generous donations and support of the Richmond Public Library singles him out as one of the outstanding citizens of Richmond and a true community leader. "We deeply appreciate his commitment to the library and its goals of education, information and recreation," added Buss. Mayor Malcolm Brodie and other dignitaries and community leaders will be attending the ceremony on May 28th, and the whole community is invited to attend this important event to honor Mr. Lee's donations. There will be an interpreter present at the ceremony, so that both Cantonese and English speakers can enjoy the presentation and speeches. Lee is a very well known author, calligrapher and painter, and is originally from Hong Kong. He is the author of many books written under his pen name Master Lam Chun, and has been published in many Hong Kong newspapers as well as in the North American editions of Ming Pao Daily News and Sing Tao. As well, he has participated in more that 30 calligraphy and painting exhibits in Hong Kong, China and Japan. Lee is also a grand master of physiognomy and Feng Shui. In 2001 Mr. Lee received the Keith Sacre Library Champion Award from the B.C. Library Association (BCLA), in recognition of his strong support and outstanding contribution to libraries. Contact:
"Richmond Public Library and its dedicated staff have taken the initiative in promoting cross-cultural understanding and harmony through their vision, creativity and ongoing commitment to multiculturalism. Their celebration of cultural diversity is demonstrated in the extensive array of programs and services they offer to the community, especially in the areas of Asian arts and culture," said Library Board Vice-Chair and District Vice President, TD Canada Trust, Pacific Region, Tung Chan. To celebrate Vancouver Asian Heritage Month, there is a festival with over 150 individual events during May, taking place across the Lower Mainland. On May 25th starting at 11:00 a.m. come and join in a fun-filled day of community celebration at the Richmond Public Library and Cultural Centre, located at 7700 Minoru Gate. At 10:30 a.m. children's author Paul Yee will do a storytime and read from his new book The Jade Necklace. After the opening ceremony at 11:30 a.m. there will be a book launch and short reading by Paul Yee. From 12-2 p.m. there will be craft activities for all ages; storytime with an Asian theme from 2-2:30 p.m.; more crafts from 2:30-3:30; another storytime from 3:30-4 p.m.; and a final craft activity from 4-4:30 p.m. in the Youth Services area. There will be lots of other activities and performances throughout the day in the Rotunda and Lecture Hall. "The library shows leadership and initiative in providing high quality collections and services to the Chinese community. And its sustained commitment to enriching the broader Asian community's cultural heritage has received enormous community support," added Chan. In the year 2001, the library held 163 programs that were attended by 5,800 people. The library's collection contains over 72,000 Chinese language books, CD music, DVDs, magazines, newspapers and reference books, and staff have developed a wide variety of programs for children and adults, such as computer classes in Cantonese and Mandarin, New Immigrant Orientation Programs, Employment Trends Seminars and much more. Richmond Public Library has provided an opportunity for people of all cultures to learn, appreciate and participate in the cultural heritage of the Asian community. The library also has a substantial collection of Punjabi books, videos, DVDs and CD music, and collections of books in Hindi, Urdu and Gujarati, as well as other languages. "Winning this ExplorAsian Canadian Heritage Award demonstrates to the wider community the sense of celebration and pride that the Library feels for the multicultural community in Richmond," added Chan. Contact:
"Sometimes damaged items come back to us and we can see that it's purely the result of an accident. Maybe a baby has ripped some pages in a book or someone's dog has gotten hold of a book. Other times though, it's pure vandalism. When someone has clearly taken scissors or a razor blade to a valuable art book or to a book with lavish photographs, we usually assume that the damage was intentional," said manager of public services, Beryl Jeffrey. "What vandals don't seem to care about is the fact that these damaged books are now useless to others who might want to borrow them," added Jeffrey. "It's a selfish and destructive act that affects all library users. And of course it costs the library money to replace these books." The library supplies three photocopiers for public use in order to offer convenient copying and discourage vandalism. The copiers are located on the first and second floors of the library. "It's very disturbing to find someone cutting something out of the daily newspaper or out of a magazine or book. It means that others are denied the pleasure of reading those same materials because of one person's selfishness," added Jeffrey. This is the case with theft of library materials, too. In order to combat this growing problem, staff walk around the library regularly, but it's impossible for them to be everywhere at once. Signs are posted throughout the library reminding people that books and other materials are there for the pleasure of all library users and to be considerate of that. "After all, the library exists for the citizens of the community," said Jeffrey. "We hope that this display of damaged materials will make people a little bit more aware of what's going on around them and perhaps give them a renewed sense of pride and ownership in their library," said Jeffrey. For more information about this display, please call Beryl Jeffrey at 604-231-6417. Contact:
"Evening storytime is an activity the family can enjoy together. It's also a great opportunity for children to hear new stories as well as old favorites, and take part in songs, rhymes and finger plays," said acting head of branches, Rina Hadziev. "Fostering an interest in books and language is the first step to success in school and lifelong enjoyment of reading. And for ESL learners, storytime is a great way to learn traditional and new English stories, songs and rhymes," added Hadziev. Evening storytimes are particularly good for kids who have working parents, grandparents, other family members or caregivers who want to spend time with their child in a relaxed, entertaining and educational environment. Hadziev added that storytimes are especially useful in promoting literacy in young children. For more information please call Rina Hadziev at 604-231-6468. Contact:
"Sometimes damaged items come back to us and we can see that it's purely the result of an accident. Maybe a baby has ripped some pages in a book or someone's dog has gotten hold of a book. Other times though, it's pure vandalism. When someone has clearly taken scissors or a razor blade to a valuable art book or to a book with lavish photographs, we usually assume that the damage was intentional," said manager of public services, Beryl Jeffrey. "What vandals don't seem to care about is the fact that these damaged books are now useless to others who might want to borrow them," added Jeffrey. "It's a selfish and destructive act that affects all library users. And of course it costs the library money to replace these books." The library supplies three photocopiers for public use in order to offer convenient copying and discourage vandalism. The copiers are located on the first and second floors of the library. "It's very disturbing to find someone cutting something out of the daily newspaper or out of a magazine or book. It means that others are denied the pleasure of reading those same materials because of one person's selfishness," added Jeffrey. This is the case with theft of library materials, too. In order to combat this growing problem, staff walk around the library regularly, but it's impossible for them to be everywhere at once. Signs are posted throughout the library reminding people that books and other materials are there for the pleasure of all library users and to be considerate of that. "After all, the library exists for the citizens of the community," said Jeffrey. "We hope that this display of damaged materials will make people a little bit more aware of what's going on around them and perhaps give them a renewed sense of pride and ownership in their library," said Jeffrey. For more information about this display, please call Beryl Jeffrey at 604-231-6417. Contact:
"Evening storytime is an activity the family can enjoy together. It's also a great opportunity for children to hear new stories as well as old favorites, and take part in songs, rhymes and finger plays," said acting head of branches, Rina Hadziev. "Fostering an interest in books and language is the first step to success in school and lifelong enjoyment of reading. And for ESL learners, storytime is a great way to learn traditional and new English stories, songs and rhymes," added Hadziev. Evening storytimes are particularly good for kids who have working parents, grandparents, other family members or caregivers who want to spend time with their child in a relaxed, entertaining and educational environment. Hadziev added that storytimes are especially useful in promoting literacy in young children. For more information please call Rina Hadziev at 604-231-6468. Contact:
"Delgado draws on his own personal experiences and discusses his participation and involvement in explorations of many famous lost vessels. Combining first-hand knowledge with detailed research, he'll guide the audience through a fascinating tour of the sunken battlefields of the world," said librarian Linton Harrison. Using slides and drawing on material from his book Lost Warships: An Archaeological Tour of War at Sea, Delgado will share his exciting and suspenseful experiences in well-known underwater historical events. "The famous Tall Ships will be visiting Steveston from August 8-12 and we're anticipating a heightened local interest in maritime history, with all the activities surrounding their arrival," added Harrison. "Delgado's slide show and talk will undoubtedly appeal to many, many people, so we encourage you to register early for this fascinating program." Delgado's presentation is a gripping tour of war at sea that uncovers the forgotten stories of naval combat around the world and throughout time. This program is for anyone interested in history, war and the sea. Don't miss it! Contact:
Now library users can sit down with a small, portable, wireless computer that's about the size of a small notebook, and read to their heart's delight. The new e-books contain a wide range of titles, including classics like Wuthering Heights and works by Shakespeare, mysteries by Agatha Christie, as well as books by contemporary writers like Elizabeth Lowell and Ridley Pearson. There are also some electronic children's titles available. Each e-book has different titles on it so readers have a choice. The e-book is like a miniature entertainment center all packed into one small computer. And the best part about it is that it's easy to use. It's designed to provide a comfortable, legible, portable way to read electronic books. While there are those of you who may not want to curl up with a computer and read, think of these advantages before you decide. The e-book allows you to enlarge the print, and if you're traveling, you can pack one e-book along with you and have lots of titles to choose from at the touch of a screen. Now if you're worried that e-books are going to take the place of traditional books, worry not. E-books in no way compromise or affect the traditional book collection. The library wants to continue providing the best service to its customers and one way of doing that is to provide information in a wide variety of formats to meet different needs and tastes. This new, cutting edge technology is another exciting way for the library to do what it does best - connect library users with books, reading and learning. So why not try out an e-book - you may just like what you see! Contact:
The first program (#328) will be held on April 3 and covers Resources and Employment Opportunities in Child Care Services. The second program (#329) on April 10 will be an Introduction to Richmond Public Library and library tour. The final program (#330) will be held on April 24 and focuses on How to Apply for Jobs in the Federal Government. All programs are in Mandarin, are free and take place from 10 a.m. - 12 p.m. in the Lecture Hall. To register for these programs call the library at 604-231-6462 or SUCCESS at 604-279-7180, visit any branch of Richmond Public Library, or register online at www.yourlibrary.ca/libraryonline. People are welcome to register for any or all of the programs. Contact:
The second Philosopher's Café will take place on Mar. 21 from 1:00-2:30 pm and the topic is "How Well is the Young Offenders Act Working?" hosted by speaker David Gray, Constable with the Richmond RCMP. This is a free drop-in program so no registration is required. For more information, call Jan Turner at 604-231-6468. Contact:
"Kay has an admitted passion for fantasy fiction, which I'm sure will spill over when he reads from his works," said librarian Linton Harrison. Kay's distinguished literary career began when he helped complete J.R.R. Tolkien's posthumous masterpiece, The Silmarillion. Kay's own epic trilogy The Fionavar Tapestry appears on "The Internet Top 100 SF/Fantasy List." Subsequently the author of Tigana, A Song for Arbonne, and The Lions of Al-Rassan, Kay has been both a winner of the Prix Aurora Award and a World Fantasy Award nominee. His works have been translated into fourteen languages. He lives in Toronto. Contact:
Written under the pseudonym Master Perverse Love by the Ming Dynasty playwright Lu Tiancheng during the first decade of the 17th century, The Embroidered Couch was hugely popular before all erotica was suppressed in China in 1644. "It was a breakthrough work," says Hu, "with Lu Tiancheng wanting to see how far he could go. As a result, he revealed the whole atmosphere of China at the time." Hu, who also studied under the scholar Zhang Yi, the president of Fudan University before the Cultural Revolution, actually came across The Embroidered Couch in Toronto. "In addition to being rather rare and obscure today, Lenny also felt that it was a truly unique work because of its language, which not only pushed the limits of acceptability at the time, but was also quite funny," said librarian Linton Harrison. "The product of Lenny Hu's translation project is an important addition to the world's classic literature, one whose appeal is quite broad. I am sure that both English speaking and Chinese speaking Canadians will enjoy it immensely." Contact:
For immediate release February 19, 2002InterLINK Celebrates Youth With Launch of "Design-A-Bookmark" ContestFive winning bookmarks designs will be chosen, one from each of the regions that make up InterLINK. Each of the five bookmark winners will receive $100. Two additional honorable mentions will also be selected in each of the five regions. Honorable mention winners will receive gift certificates for books. Winning bookmarks (60,000 copies) will be printed and distributed throughout the more than 70 library sites that make up Public Library InterLINK. "Richmond teens use the library a great deal, both for school assignments and for recreation. This contest gives them the opportunity to share their creative talents and help celebrate books and reading," said head of youth services, Helen Moore. "Libraries are essential to learning and we offer a huge variety of materials for kids to find information," added Moore. Public Library InterLINK serves over 2.3 million people in areas as diverse as Vancouver, Bowen Island, Whistler and Port Moody, just to name a few of the 17 library systems that make up InterLINK. The cooperative partnership of these libraries provides cost-effective, quality library services to residents through open access to member libraries. Contact:
On March 5 from 7:30-9:30 p.m. Mau will hold another free session called "Tax Strategies" (#271) aimed at a general audience. She will discuss: income tax rates for 2001, and how to maximize deductions for employees, the self-employed, and for children and parents. To register for these free programs visit any branch of Richmond Public Library, call 604-231?6405, or register online at www.yourlibrary.ca/libraryonline/. "With the tax deadline quickly approaching, a lot of people start getting nervous because they just don't have enough information about tax requirements, allowances, and deductions. Having a professional tax advisor provide free information will help a lot of people," said librarian Linton Harrison. Contact:
"The Richmond Public Library supports the principle of intellectual freedom, which guarantees all people freedom of thought, belief, opinion and expression," said chief librarian Greg Buss. The displays will be located throughout the Brighouse (Main) Branch and at the Ironwood and Steveston branches. They will highlight the broad range of books that have been challenged over time and around the world. Every year, books such as Asha's Mums by Rosamund Elwin, Underground to Canada by Barbara Smucker, or classic titles such as Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck and even the Bible, are challenged and some are banned in schools and libraries in Canada and the United States. Even the Harry Potter books - one of the most popular series books to ever be published - has been challenged. "Freedom to Read Week is an opportunity for libraries to raise public awareness of the issues surrounding censorship and how it affects people of all ages and backgrounds," said Buss. There will be a Freedom to Read link and other links dealing with censorship on the Library's Home Page at www.yourlibrary.ca. The Freedom to Read link provides access to the Book and Periodical Council's Freedom to Read Home Page. Other links include the American Library Association's Office for Intellectual Freedom, as well as a link dealing with Freedom of Expression and censorship in Canada. "What one person finds offensive might be acceptable to another. It's the Library's responsibility to make sure that citizens have the right to choose what they read, listen to and view, and we are here to provide the community with free access to a wide range of material in all kinds of formats," commented Buss. Contact:
A free program called "Employee's Rights" (program #248) will be offered on Feb. 21 from 7-8:30 p.m. at the Brighouse (Main) branch, located at 7700 Minoru Gate. This class provides answers to questions regarding your entitlement to statutory holidays, vacation time, break, overtime, safety, maternity leave, jury duty, termination of employment, and more. The guest speaker will also talk about recent changes to the Employment Standards Act. To register for this program visit any branch of Richmond Public Library, log on to Library Online at www.yourlibrary.ca/libraryonline or call 604-231-6431. "The People's Law School classes are an interesting and inexpensive way to learn more about legal topics in an informal setting, without having to consult a lawyer. So take advantage of the opportunity to learn about law at the library," said Mark Ellis, Manager of Reference and Information Services. Contact:
The first Philosopher's Café will take place on Feb. 21 from 1:00 - 2:30 pm. and the topic is "Canadian Executive Services Overseas: Volunteering in a Developing Country" hosted by speaker John Webster, Regional Manager CESO Aboriginal Services in BC and Yukon. This is a free drop-in program so no registration is required. For more information, call Jan Turner at 604-231-6468. Contact:
"Library staff is organizing this free celebration with the Friends of Richmond Public Library in an effort to enhance understanding between cultures. The celebrations will include traditional decorations such as lanterns, kites, pictures, lucky slogans and more. There will be lots of fun activities, entertaining performances, an orchid display, traditional New Year snacks and lucky draws. Everyone is welcome to drop by and enjoy these free programs. And don't forget to pick up a lucky red envelope and find out your Chinese horoscope," said head of multilingual services, Wendy Jang. The event will include games, crafts, snacks, prizes and raffles at all Richmond Public Library branches. There will be performances and displays at the Brighouse (Main) Branch, where students from Wu's Taekwondo School of Canada will demonstrate Taekwondo. There will also be a Lion Dance performance, martial arts demonstration and a Cantonese opera aria. As well, Sincere S. Y. Lam's Guzheng Ensemble will perform Guzheng and Pipa music. Art World and Little Note Children's Choir will sing New Year songs in Cantonese, Mandarin and English, and the Richmond Chinese Folk Dance Society will perform Chinese folk dance. There will also be a Chinese New Year Skit performed by the RPL Youth Council; storytelling by the winners of the Children's Chinese Storytelling Competition; a Chinese Costume Show, with costumes provided by the consulate General of the People's Republic of China in Vancouver; and a video on Chinese New Year and Chinese folktales. There will also be examples of Chinese knotting by teachers of the Chinese Knot Promotion Centre, and Chinese calligraphy and papercuts from members of the Richmond Chinese Calligraphy and Painting Club. The Beginner's Luck Orchid Culture Club will display some of their rare plants and offer tips on how to grow orchids. "This a great opportunity for the library to showcase the various talents in the community," added Jang. There will also be games and crafts for all ages. The Ironwood and Steveston branches will offer stories, games, crafts, snacks and a raffle. The Chinese New Year Celebration is sponsored by TD Canada Trust and the Consulate General of the People's Republic of China in Vancouver. For more information, come to any branch of Richmond Public Library or phone 231-6462. Contact:
"Parents and babies alike can enjoy the rhymes and music, and can interact in a relaxed and stimulating environment," said head of youth services, Helen Moore. "For parents and caregivers that can't make it to morning or afternoon babytimes at the library, this is a perfect chance to have fun with your baby in the evening and learn new rhymes and songs that you can practice together later," added Moore. For more information about all babytimes, please call the library's Youth Services Department at 604-231-6412. The importance of reading to children from a very young age is a well-known fact, according to librarians. Reading to children gives them the language skills they need to become a good readers later on, and can also improve their listening and speaking skills. For more information please call Helen Moore at 604-231-6441. Contact:
"Library staff is organizing this free celebration with the Friends of Richmond Public Library in an effort to enhance understanding between cultures. The celebrations will include traditional decorations such as lanterns, kites, pictures, lucky slogans and more. There will be lots of fun activities, entertaining performances, an orchid display, traditional New Year snacks and lucky draws. Everyone is welcome to drop by and enjoy these free programs. And don't forget to pick up a lucky red envelope and find out your Chinese horoscope," said head of multilingual services, Wendy Jang. The event will include games, crafts, snacks, prizes and raffles at all Richmond Public Library branches. There will be performances and displays at the Brighouse (Main) Branch, where students from Wu's Taekwondo School of Canada will demonstrate Taekwondo. There will also be a Lion Dance performance, martial arts demonstration and a Cantonese opera aria. As well, Sincere S. Y. Lam's Guzheng Ensemble will perform Guzheng and Pipa music. Art World and Little Note Children's Choir will sing New Year songs in Cantonese, Mandarin and English, and the Richmond Chinese Folk Dance Society will perform Chinese folk dance. There will also be a Chinese New Year Skit performed by the RPL Youth Council; storytelling by the winners of the Children's Chinese Storytelling Competition; a Chinese Costume Show, with costumes provided by the consulate General of the People's Republic of China in Vancouver; and a video on Chinese New Year and Chinese folktales. There will also be examples of Chinese knotting by teachers of the Chinese Knot Promotion Centre, and Chinese calligraphy and papercuts from members of the Richmond Chinese Calligraphy and Painting Club. The Beginner's Luck Orchid Culture Club will display some of their rare plants and offer tips on how to grow orchids. "This a great opportunity for the library to showcase the various talents in the community," added Jang. There will also be games and crafts for all ages. The Ironwood and Steveston branches will offer stories, games, crafts, snacks and a raffle. The Chinese New Year Celebration is sponsored by TD Canada Trust and the Consulate General of the People's Republic of China in Vancouver. For more information, come to any branch of Richmond Public Library or phone 231-6462. Contact:
Based on personal experiences and his book My Life With the Samurai, Cowling will talk about his positive attitude and strong will to live during a time of terror and challenge. Despite backbreaking work, lack of food, horrid conditions and death all around him, Cowling managed to survive four long years in 13 work camps as a Japanese prisoner-of-war. "Talking now as a 77-year-old resident of Richmond, Cowling looks back on the war as a learning experience that enabled him to accept all human beings and not end up bitter or hateful," said librarian Linton Harrison. Cowling often shares his insights and experiences with school classes in an effort to promote tolerance and understanding. For more information about this free program, call Linton Harrison at 604-278-9811 ext. 642. Contact:
"Laird's book, Grains of Truth : The Ancient Lessons of Craft is about the creative process, especially woodworking. His insights into the spiritual and healing aspects of the craft derive from a combination of personal experience and Taoist philosophy," said librarian Linton Harrison. "Woodworking is not just wood and nails to Laird. It's a devotional experience that brings together all aspects of his life." Just as William Blake saw "a world in a grain of sand", Laird sees it in the grain of wood. "The creative journey that Laird takes is filled with rewards, frustrations and hope. For Laird, creativity equals revelation; it's a kind of unique nurturing of the soul," added Harrison. "I think there are a lot of people out there for whom creative hobbies or crafts are simply time spent away from work. Laird puts a new spin on the rewards, both physical and spiritual, of creative endeavor, and I think that his talk will inspire many people." Ross Laird was born and raised in Vancouver and holds an MA in Counseling Psychology and a PhD in Creative Process. He is a poet and craftsman and teaches creativity, counseling and psychology. Grain of Truth is his first book. For more information about this program, call Linton Harrison at 604-278-9811 ext. 642 Contact:
Based on personal experiences and his book My Life With the Samurai, Cowling will talk about his positive attitude and strong will to live during a time of terror and challenge. Despite backbreaking work, lack of food, horrid conditions and death all around him, Cowling managed to survive four long years in 13 work camps as a Japanese prisoner-of-war. "Talking now as a 77-year-old resident of Richmond, Cowling looks back on the war as a learning experience that enabled him to accept all human beings and not end up bitter or hateful," said librarian Linton Harrison. Cowling often shares his insights and experiences with school classes in an effort to promote tolerance and understanding. For more information about this free program, call Linton Harrison at 604-278-9811 ext. 642. Contact:
"Laird's book, Grains of Truth : The Ancient Lessons of Craft is about the creative process, especially woodworking. His insights into the spiritual and healing aspects of the craft derive from a combination of personal experience and Taoist philosophy," said librarian Linton Harrison. "Woodworking is not just wood and nails to Laird. It's a devotional experience that brings together all aspects of his life." Just as William Blake saw "a world in a grain of sand", Laird sees it in the grain of wood. "The creative journey that Laird takes is filled with rewards, frustrations and hope. For Laird, creativity equals revelation; it's a kind of unique nurturing of the soul," added Harrison. "I think there are a lot of people out there for whom creative hobbies or crafts are simply time spent away from work. Laird puts a new spin on the rewards, both physical and spiritual, of creative endeavor, and I think that his talk will inspire many people." Ross Laird was born and raised in Vancouver and holds an MA in Counseling Psychology and a PhD in Creative Process. He is a poet and craftsman and teaches creativity, counseling and psychology. Grain of Truth is his first book. For more information about this program, call Linton Harrison at 604-278-9811 ext. 642 Contact:
A free program called "Scams & Schemes" (program #251) will be offered on Jan. 23 from 1-2:30 p.m. at the Ironwood branch, located in the Ironwood Plaza at the corner of Steveston Highway and No. 5 Road. You'll learn how to recognize consumer scams and schemes, read a contract properly, respond to telemarketing appeals, learn what to ask door-to-door salespeople, and find out where to go for help. To register visit any branch of Richmond Public Library, log on to Library Online at www.yourlibrary.ca/libraryonline or call 604-231-6431. A free course called "Planning Your Will" (program #247) will be offered on Jan. 24 from 7-9 p.m. at the Brighouse (Main) branch, Program Room, located at 7700 Minoru Gate. The same course will also be offered at the Ironwood branch on Feb. 12 from 7-9 p.m. (program #252). This course outlines the basic steps in preparing a will. You will learn what can and cannot be included in a will, how to change or revoke a will, and the legal consequences of not making a will. To register visit any branch of Richmond Public Library, log on to Library Online at www.yourlibrary.ca/libraryonline or call 604-231-6431. "The People's Law School classes are an interesting and inexpensive way to learn more about legal topics in an informal setting, without having to consult a lawyer. So take advantage of the opportunity to learn about law at the library," said manager of reference and information services, Mark Ellis. Contact:
Winners in the Essay category - ages 15-18 are: 1st prize Jeannette Poon; 2nd prize Elise McCormick; 3rd prize Simon Tang. Winners in the Poetry category - ages 15-18 are: 1st prize Jordana Jackson; 2nd prize Melissa Bush; 3rd prize Valerie Guevara. Winners in the Essay category - ages 11-14, are: 1st prize Chanel Flores; 2nd prize Georgina Sheeran; 3rd prize Gabrielle Payne. Winners in the Poetry category - ages 11-14 are: 1st prize Adam Clyne; 2nd prize Michelle Underwood; 3rd prize Kaitlin Russell. Prizewinners will receive $500 for first prize, $300 for second prize and $200 for third prize. These talented teens will have their winning entries published on the Library's Web site and in a small book produced by the library. "We received over 250 entries this year and so many of the essays and poems demonstrated an extremely high level of creativity and outstanding talent, which made the judging process that much harder," said librarian Kirsten Andersen. "We should be proud of the youth in our community - they are bright, original thinkers with an abundance of creative talent," added Andersen. Richmond Public Library would like to thank the many generous sponsors who made the 11th Annual Young Adult Writing Contest possible. "We are delighted that so many sponsors supported the creative expression of Richmond Teens," said Andersen. The sponsors include: Canada Post & the Canada Post Heritage Club; John Collison & Associates ltd.; Serebra Learning Corporation; TD Bank Financial Group; Friends of the Richmond Public Library; Richmond Review; Richmond News; McDonald's Restaurants of Canada Ltd.; Friends of the Richmond Archives Society; Richmond Auto mall; Chapters bookstores; Steveston Book Store; Beijing Bookstore; and Imperial Hobbies. "The awards ceremony should be an exciting community event and everyone is invited to attend," added Andersen. Contact:
"Storytime is an activity the family can enjoy together. It's also a great opportunity for children to hear new stories as well as old favorites, and take part in songs, rhymes and finger plays," said head of youth services, Helen Moore. "Fostering an interest in books and language is the first step to success in school and a lifelong enjoyment of reading. And for ESL learners, storytime is a great way to learn traditional and new English stories, songs and rhymes," added Moore. Evening storytimes are particularly good for kids who have working parents, grandparents, other family members or caregivers who want to spend time with their child in a relaxed, entertaining and educational environment. Moore added that storytimes are especially effective at promoting literacy in young children. For more information please call Helen Moore at 604-231-6441. Contact:
In this hyped-up age of consumerism, parents need to ensure their children have the tools they need to manage their money. Lermitte's system teaches children about money based on giving them a regular allowance. "This free program will appeal to adults who recognize the importance of learning about money at a young age. Parents will be doing their kids a great service by teaching them how to become money-smart," said librarian Linton Harrison. Lermitte has been a certified financial planner for several years and will share the insights he's gained over the years. Contact:
"It's important for teens to learn basic money management skills that they can build on throughout their lives. This series of programs will teach teens about salary and career trends, credit cards and basic investing," said head of youth services, Helen Moore. "There are also lots of resources in the library about teens and how to handle money. The goal of this program is to help build a financially literate generation who can make intelligent choices about money," added Moore. The Financial Literacy Counsel is committed to encouraging young people to take proactive steps in learning about their personal finances and providing them with answers to their financial questions. Contact:
"This program was a tremendous hit with kids and parents and because of all the positive feedback we received, we decided to expand the program to accommodate more children and tutors. The teen tutors provide a fun learning environment for the younger kids and it's a win-win situation. The younger kids get free homework help and the teens have the opportunity to develop leadership skills, gain experience in tutoring, and meet other teen tutors," said youth services librarian Kirsten Andersen. To accommodate the many French immersion students in Richmond, the library will set up a special French corner where French immersion teen tutors will be designated to provide homework help in French. "This free homework help is wonderful for families who are looking for an alternative to private tutoring. The advantages of library-based tutoring are that it supports community initiative, makes use of the library's wide and varied resources, and brings younger kids as well as teens to a fun, group learning environment," added Andersen. "We think it's a great service to be able to provide to the community. The library will also provide educational worksheets for children who do not have homework each week. At the end of each session there will be a group activity for all the children to enjoy. The library will provide a basic tutor training workshop for teens in January before the actual tutoring program begins. Additional training workshops include: tutoring in French; working with children with disabilities; and tutoring ESL students. Teens should call ahead to 604-278-9811, ext. 619 if they would like to volunteer as tutors. An information page for parents about the after school tutoring program is now available on the library's Web site at http://www.yourlibrary.ca/teen/teentutors/parents.cfm For teens who would like to tutor, there is information available on the Web site at http://www.yourlibrary.ca/teen/teentutors/index.cfm . It includes an online registration form for tutors. Contact: Kirsten Andersen, Librarian 604-278-9811 ext. 619 Contact:
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