Plattsville Closed March 21 | 3/21/2013 |
The Plattsville Public Library will be closed from 3:00-5:00 pm for staff training on Thursday, March 21st. The library will be open as usual that morning from 9:00 am - 12:00 pm and after 5:00 pm. We apologize in advance for any inconvenience this may cause but thank you for your patience and understanding. |
Thamesford Library's Family Literacy Event | 3/15/2013 |
Thamesford Library's Family Literacy event will be held on Friday, March 15th at the Library (165 Dundas St., Hwy. #2), 2:00 - 3:00 p.m. Children and their families can hear stories read by special guests and move and sing with Mother Goose. Refreshments will be served. Each child attending will receive a free book to take home. No charge and no pre-registration required. Presented by OEYC Oxford and Oxford County Library. Call 519-285-3219 or email thamesfordlibrary@ocl.net for more information. |
Embro Library re-opens | 2/20/2013 |
The Embro Public Library is scheduled to re-open, following repairs to the ceiling, as of Wednesday, February 20 at 2:00 pm. Thank you for your understanding and patience during this time. |
Ingersoll & Tillsonburg Closed until 2 pm, Feb 25 | 2/6/2013 |
The Ingersoll & Tillsonburg Public Library branches will be closed on Monday, February 25 until 2:00 pm. The closure is necessary to ensure library staff are available to attend a training development workshop. We apologize in advance for any inconvenience this may cause. |
OverDrive Holds Notice Emails | 2/5/2013 |
Dear Library Patron, You may have received a hold notification email February 4th from OverDrive but found that the title was not available for check out. Please disregard that message. You will receive another notification when your hold on the title becomes available. We sincerely apologize for the inconvenience. Regards, OverDrive's Library Partner Services |
Embro Library will be closed for three weeks | 2/5/2013 |
Due to unforeseen events, the Embro Public Library will be closed for three weeks starting today. The ceiling within the Library is currently unstable and repairs to the ceiling are underway. For more information click here. Materials loaned from the library may be returned at any time to the Embro drop box or to any Oxford County Library branch location. Embro Library patrons will not accrue overdue fines during this closure. Oxford County Library apologizes for any inconvenience this may cause, and thanks you for your patience and understanding during this time. |
Freegal Apps for Apple and Android | 1/8/2013 |
Freegal, a free music downloading service providing popular mp3 music for library patrons, provides apps for Apple and Android mobile devices. You can download an app from: iTunes App Store OR Android MarketPlace After you have downloaded the app, find Oxford County Library by entering Canada, then Oxford County. |
Holiday Hours | 12/24/2012 |
Please note that all Oxford County Library branches will be closed by 2:00 pm on Christmas Eve and New Year's Eve. Please call your local Oxford County Library branch before venturing out to confirm available open hours on December 24 and 31. All Oxford County Library branches will be closed on December 25, 26, and January 1. |
Tillsonburg Public Library | 12/17/2012 |
A temporary location for the Tillsonburg Public Library opened on January 2. Read the press release about it here. On January 8, it was announced that Tillsonburg Public Library will receive federal funding for renovations, with $276,723 provided through the Community Infrastructure Improvement Fund (CIIF). Read the funding press release here. |
Update on Ingersoll Library! | 12/6/2012 |
Update! The Ingersoll Public Library will be open as usual tomorrow (December 7). Please bear with us as we continue the clean-up process. |
Food For Fines Dec 2012 | 12/1/2012 |
Food for Fines will be held for the entire month of December at every branch of Oxford County Library. Library users can pay fines for overdue books with a donation of non-perishable food. Bring your food donation to the library service desk and ask the staff person to pardon your fines. All food will go to local Food Banks and Christmas hamper programs. Thanks for helping others! |
Thamesford Library Celebrates 10 Years | 11/23/2012 |
Bring the whole family to the Thamesford Library's Open House on Friday, November 23rd. We will be celebrating our 10th year in our current location at 165 Dundas Street, Thamesford. Cake and ice-cream and light refreshments will be served and there are fun activities planned for everyone. Please join us. Festivities will be held from 6:30 - 8:00 p.m. See you there! |
World Book Mobile | 11/19/2012 |
Have you tried World Book Mobile? World Book Online is now available on the go from your mobile device. Great for students and anyone looking for trusted information on world topics! Stay up-to-date on popular trending topics or research a subject for your next class assignment. Scan the QR code included here or access World Book Online from the library’s Databases & Links web page. |
Pledge to End Bullying | 11/8/2012 |
Over the past year, the Elgin-London-Middlesex-Oxford community has done something remarkable. More than 74,000 people in Thames Valley publicly declared their commitment to help end bullying by taking The Pledge! Take the Pledge! www.thepledgetoendbullying.ca |
No change to ILLO service | 11/8/2012 |
In response to Facebook comments about ILLO (Inter Library Loan) service, please be advised that there is no change to ILLO service through Oxford County Library. We suspect that what people may be hearing is that Tillsonburg Public Library has ceased offering ILLO service to their patrons, and is encouraging those patrons to get their Oxford County Library card in order to take advantage of ILLO service. In order to ensure that ILLO loans from other library systems were returned to their home libraries and not unresolved after January 1, it was deemed prudent to discontinue ILLO service from the Tillsonburg Public Library, which will begin operations as a branch of Oxford County Library effective January 1. You can get an Oxford County library card at any OCL branch during open hours. |
East Nissouri History Book | 10/30/2012 |
Innerkip Library Closing for Renovations | 10/10/2012 |
Improvements to the Innerkip Public Library space will be undertaken in October. Chief among these improvements are new paint, new carpet, removal of old shelving units, a reconfiguration of the space, installation of new shelving units and service desk, and a redefined children’s area. Due to the amount of work to be completed, it will be necessary to close the library for a short period. At this time, it is estimated that the library will be closed for one week, beginning October 15. Every attempt will be made to keep the closure as brief as possible. The Library expects to re-open on the evening of Tuesday, October 23. Due dates will be extended so that no overdue fines will be accrued during the closure. The Library's book drop box will also be refurbished during this renovation and will be removed from the Library site. We ask that you return any library items to an alternate Oxford County Library branch as Innerkip will be without a drop box during this time. Click here for a list of branch locations. The Innerkip Public Library thanks you for your understanding and patience during this time, and looks forward to a much-improved library space! |
Catalogue server down | 10/2/2012 |
The server for our catalogue has been down since Monday night. We apologize for this inconvenience, but expect that service will be restored soon. Currently, you are not able to search the catalogue or place holds; however, our branches are open and you can check out items. We have temporarily arranged for Overdrive to allow Oxford County Library eBook and eAudiobook patrons to login to the Ontario Download Centre while our server is down. |
October is Canadian Library Month | 10/1/2012 |
October has been designated as Canadian Library Month, by the Canadian Library Association. Over 21 million Canadians hold a public library card, making public libraries the most popular cultural institution in the country. So during Canadian Library Month check us out to learn something new or just for fun! |
Web Catalogue URL Change | 9/27/2012 |
Oxford County Library's catalogue URL has changed as a result of our recent major upgrade. If you have a catalogue Bookmark or Favourite saved on a desktop, you will want to remove that bookmark and re-create it from the correct Oxford County Library catalogue webpage. Use the Catalogue link on the library home page www.ocl.net to access the new catalogue webpage. The old URL now goes to the Ontario Library Consortium (OLC) catalogue that includes all libraries in the OLC Union Database. The popular Book Scroller on www.ocl.net is experiencing a related problem. The book jacket links currently go to the title on the OLC Consortium webpage. We expect this will be corrected shortly. |
eMagazines: New Titles Added | 9/21/2012 |
Read full issues of magazines online for free! Oxford County Library provides access to a selection of popular magazines in electronic format, provided by zinio, “the world’s largest newsstand”. New magazine titles have been added to the Library's subscription. Currently available are 47 eMagazines for a variety of interests.* A few more titles will be added soon. To access zinio, click here or use the link on the Oxford County Library home page www.ocl.net. Enter your email address and Oxford County library card number (14 digits, no spaces). Click on a magazine cover – you will be prompted to create a free account, or login if you already have an account. Access the magazines by clicking on the cover of the one you want to read. Zinio eMagazines are viewable on a PC or Mac computer or laptop, iPhone, iPad, or Android device. A user manual is available here. Reader apps are available for computers, tablets and phones. They are found on the landing page - just scroll down to the bottom of the page. *eMagazines currently available:
|
Tillsonburg Library Redesign | 9/17/2012 |
Tillsonburg Library redesign -- Share your vision! Tillsonburg residents: Have your say in what the “new” Tillsonburg Public Library will look like. Imagine the library has a new, empty space, and they’ve asked you to design it…. What would you like to see in the library to make you want to come back every week? Attend one of our drop-in Imagine Sessions, chat with OCL staff, and draw your ideas of what you’d like to see inside the library. Be creative! Sessions will be held in the Tillsonburg Library auditorium at the following times: Wednesday, September 26 between 7:00 p.m. and 8:30 p.m. Saturday, September 29 between 9:30 a.m. and 11:00 a.m. |
Remember Your Library Card | 9/12/2012 |
Remember your library card! During next week’s 3-day outage from Monday, September 17 through Wednesday, September 19, staff will not have access to your account information so it’s important to bring your card with you when you visit the Library. We recognize that this outage may cause some inconvenience but we thank you for your patience and cooperation during this time. |
Thamesford Library Closed Tonight | 9/11/2012 |
Due to unforeseen events, the Thamesford Public Library will be closed this evening. We apologize for any inconvenience this may cause. The library will resume its regular hours tomorrow. |
3 Day Planned Outage | 9/5/2012 |
Oxford County Library expects that our online catalogue will be out of service for 3 days, for necessary upgrades, September 17 - 19, 2012. Our library branches will be open regular hours and our website www.ocl.net, will still be available during this time. The upgraded catalogue will be available again on September 20. During this 3-day period you cannot: - Search the catalogue - Place holds - Download music from Freegal - Download eBooks and eAudiobooks from the Ontario Download Centre (Overdrive) You can: - Continue to check out items in any branch - Return checked out items - Access other library databases from our website www.ocl.net - Use other library services (access public computers & wifi, attend library programs, read, study). We apologize for the inconvenience this may cause. If you have any questions or concerns, please contact Rosemary Lewis at rlewis@ocl.net or 519-539-9800 ext. 3265. |
Download eAudiobooks to your smart phone or tablet | 9/4/2012 |
OneClickdigital has released an app for Droid devices which will allow you to download and listen to audiobooks straight from your mobile and tablet devices. Find the app for free at the Google Play store by searching for OneClickdigital. OneClickdigital now offers apps for both the iPhone and the Droid. Access every title in the library’s collection and download them directly to your device, without having to connect to a computer. So, when you're on the go take a book with you! |
Zinio eMagazine upgrade Aug 29 | 8/29/2012 |
The Zinio eMagazine service will be upgraded on Wednesday, August 29th. Because of the update, Zinio users will need to create a Zinio user account the first time they access your Zinio service page after the update. This is a one-time process that will make accessing our collection page easier. Returning users may use the same account credentials they used with their initial Zinio account, but they will need to go through the Create Account process. Upon accessing the Zinio service page, click on the “Create Account” button. After you complete this process you will receive an email confirming your registration. |
Mad Science at Thamesford | 8/23/2012 |
Visit the Thamesford Library on Thursday, August 23rd for a Mad Science Alchemy Show. The show runs from 2:00 - 3:00 p.m. The whole family is invited to watch chemistry and fantasy combined in a show focusing on the magic of chemical reactions. Everyone welcome. Contact the Thamesford Public Library for further details at (519) 285-3219. |
Better eBook borrowing! | 7/16/2012 |
We're happy to announce these changes to the eBook and eAudiobook policies for the Ontario Download Centre, effective July 16, 2012.
Number of checkouts (total number of items that can be borrowed by a patron) will increase to 10 from the current limit of 5. Number of holds (total number of titles on which patrons can place a hold) will increase to 10 from the current limit of 3. Cart limit (number of titles that are held in a cart before checkout) will increase to 12 from the current 7. No changes have been made to: Checkout limits (total number of days patrons have access to their titles)--remains at 7 or 14 days. Length of hold (how long patrons have to check out a title on hold for them)--remains at 3 days. Too many holds on the eBook you want? If you are discouraged from placing holds because of the large numbers of holds on popular e-titles, it may be helpful to know that the number of holds for all eBook and eAudiobook titles is automatically monitored. The Committee that purchases titles for the Ontario Download Centre maintains a ratio of 5 holds to one copy for eBooks and 7 holds to one copy for eAudiobooks (where feasible). This means that most holds are filled in less than 2 weeks. So go ahead and place that hold! |
eMagazines now available! | 7/13/2012 |
Read electronic magazines now! Oxford County library now provides access to a selection of popular magazines in electronic format, provided by zinio, “the world’s largest newsstand”. Currently available are 22 eMagazines for a variety of interests.* More titles will be added in the near future. To access zinio, click here or use the link on the Oxford County Library home page www.ocl.net. Enter your email address and Oxford County library card number (14 digits, no spaces). Click on a magazine cover – you will be prompted to create a free account, or login if you already have an account. Access the magazines by clicking on the cover of the one you want to read. Zinio eMagazines are viewable on a PC or Mac computer or laptop, iPhone, iPad, or Android device. A user manual is available here. Reader apps are available for computers, tablets and phones. They are found on the landing page - just scroll down to the bottom of the page. *eMagazines currently available: • Car and Driver • Discover • Elle • ESPN The Magazine • Every Day with Rachael Ray • Food Network Magazine • Lonely Planet • Macworld • Martha Stewart Living • Motor Trend • National Geographic Interactive • Newsweek • PC Magazine Digital Edition • Popular Science • Reader's Digest • Rolling Stone • Seventeen • Taste of Home • The Knot Weddings Magazine • Us Weekly • VIV Magazine • Weight Watchers |
Music & Magic Shows | 7/11/2012 |
Don Robertson, Magician and Musician Extraordinaire, will perform at several Oxford County Library branches this Summer and Fall! Don will make you laugh, he'll make you want to sing and dance, he'll even get you clapping your hands to the music. And don't forget about the amazing feats of magic during his performance. He'll have you awe-struck! Join us. It's fun for the whole family to enjoy. Everyone is welcome. No admission fee. Wednesday, July 11 at 11:00 am - Tavistock Public Library Tuesday, July 17 at 2:00 pm - Thamesford Public Library Wednesday, July 25 at 10:30 am - Plattsville Public Library Saturday, September 15 at 1:00 pm - Harrington Public Library Contact the Library for further details. |
Art Exhibit at Ingersoll | 6/4/2012 |
‘Cool’ art to welcome warm summer days Artists of Oxford offer a new exhibit featuring calming waters, leafy landscapes, brightly coloured flowers, fruit, and whimsical animals, now on display at Ingersoll Public Library. Subjects are interpreted by Heather MacIntosh, Deb Riopelle, Lianne Todd, Linda Trowell, and Bunny Warner, in watercolour and acrylic paint and pencil drawings. To see more works by these and other members visit www.artistsofoxford.com or on facebook. |
BookMyne April 27 8-10 am | 4/27/2012 |
On Friday, Apr.27 from 8 - 10 a.m., Sirsi will upgrade WebService for Oxford County Library. This means that BookMyne (mobile app for library access) will be unavailable during that time. We apologize for this inconvenience. |
Libraries closed Fri Apr 6 | 4/6/2012 |
All branches of Oxford County Library will be closed on Friday April 6, for Good Friday.
Branches will be open regular hours on Saturday April 7. Ingersoll Library will be open regular hours on Monday April 9, Easter Monday. |
Borrow an eReader | 3/26/2012 |
Kobo eReaders loaded with 20 bestsellers for you to borrow Oxford County Library now has a limited number of eReaders (electronic book readers) for OCL patrons to borrow. Each Kobo Touch eReader is loaded with 20 titles, all current bestsellers and recommended reads. The eReaders are available to any adult patron 18 and over, who is in good standing with the library, with no fines or overdues, and who has been a patron of Oxford County Library for at least 6 months. Each time you borrow an eReader, you will be asked to sign an eReader Borrower’s Agreement. You can find the eReaders in the web catalogue by using the search word kobo. Click PLACE HOLD to put a kobo on hold. For information or help, please visit or phone your library branch or email your branch supervisor. An eReader on hold can be sent to any branch of Oxford County Library. The loan period is 3 weeks (21 days), non-renewable, and a borrower may checkout only one eReader at a time. |
Thamesford Library Literacy Day | 3/16/2012 |
Friday, Mar. 16/12 - Family Literacy Event at Thamesford Library (165 Dundas St., Hwy #2), 2:00 - 3:00 p.m. 'Journey into Literacy' with exciting and fun stories about trains, boats, cars & buses. Excellent guest readers and a free book for every child that attends. Rhymes & songs with Mother Goose too. Refreshments provided. A great activity for the whole family during March Break. No pre-registration required & free of charge. Call 519-285-3219 or email lalexander@ocl.net for further information. |
Catalogue Offline Thursday March 15, 9:30pm to 10: | 3/15/2012 |
The Library's catalogue server will be taken offline Thursday evening, March 15, 2012, beginning at 9:30 pm for a hardware upgrade. The downtime is expected to to be less than 1 hour. During that time, all catalogue services will be unavailable, including the web catalogue, Download Centre eBooks and eAudiobooks, and BookMyne. We apologize for this inconvenience. |
Ebsco databases easier to access! | 3/12/2012 |
Our Ebsco databases are easier than ever to access! Now, anyone within the County of Oxford (the geographical area) will be able to access our Ebsco databases without any barriers. A user located within Oxford County will no longer be prompted to enter a library card number to get into the database. Just click on the link on the library database page for seamless access. Here’s list of our current Ebsco databases: Canadian Points of View Consumer Health Complete Consumer Health Information - francais Consumer Reports NoveList Plus NoveList francais NoveList K-8 Plus Teachers and students in particular may find this helpful. If you have any comments or questions, please email rlewis@ocl.net |
Catalogue Offline Sun Mar 11, 5:30 pm | 3/11/2012 |
The Library's catalogue server will be taken offline Sunday evening, March 11, 2012, beginning at 5:30 pm for a hardware upgrade. The downtime is expected to to be less than 2 hours. During that time, all catalogue services will be unavailable, including the web catalogue, Download Centre eBooks and eAudiobooks, and BookMyne. We apologize for this inconvenience. |
Web Catalogue unavailable 9:15-10:15 pm | 3/6/2012 |
The Library's catalogue server will be taken offline tonight between 9:15pm and 10:15pm for a hardware upgrade. During that time, all catalogue services will be unavailable, including the web catalogue, Download Centre eBooks and eAudiobooks, and BookMyne. We apologize for this inconvenience. |
Automatic phoning for Holds in Otterville | 2/29/2012 |
Automatic phoning from the Otterville Public Library starting Wednesday February 29, 2012 When the library books, dvds, etc. you requested have come in and are ready to be picked up, you get a phone call or an e-mail from the library. Starting Wednesday February 29, 2012, library patrons from the Otterville Public Library branch location who do not receive email notices will instead receive an automatic phone call. The automatic phone message will include: your name, the library branch and its phone number, and the number of holds you have available. You will also be reminded that the hold will be kept for 7 days, and to bring your library card. The call display on this message will be Ingersoll Public Library’s number, 519 485-2505. Automatic phone calls will be made from approximately 9:30 to 10:30 a.m. , Monday to Friday, and after 11:00 am on Saturdays. If the call is answered by a person or an answering machine, that call (or message) is the only notice you will receive that your hold is available. If there is no answer, the automatic phoning system will make up to 2 more calls during the afternoon and evening of that same day. If you prefer to receive notices by email, or have any questions, please contact the Otterville Public Library or email Rosemary Lewis. |
New Facebook group keeps the public informed of ‘a | 2/28/2012 |
This week, Oxford County Library joined billions of other users on Facebook. The Facebook page offers library patrons a new way to stay connected with OCL, keep up with news from the library world, and stay informed about free programs and events for all ages to enjoy. Branch locations are easily identified on the page and link to individual branch program calendars, making it easy for the public to see what’s happening at their local library. “We expect that our Facebook presence will prove an effective way of reaching our public, making sure that they are aware of the amazing array of products and services offered, free of charge, at our branches,” says CEO Lisa Miettinen. More and more people are using their local library, in-person and online, in a variety of new ways, such as free downloadable eBooks and music, chef visits, Book Club sets, gaming, Lunch and Learn events, Books for Babies programs, and Laughter Yoga classes, to name a few. Like us at: www.facebook.com/OxfordCountyLibrary |
OCL announces new Facebook page | 2/28/2012 |
New Facebook page keeps the public informed of ‘all things library' This week, Oxford County Library joined billions of other users on Facebook. The Facebook page offers library patrons a new way to stay connected with OCL, keep up with news from the library world, and stay informed about free programs and events for all ages to enjoy. Branch locations are easily identified on the page and link to individual branch program calendars, making it easy for the public to see what’s happening at their local library. “We expect that our Facebook presence will prove an effective way of reaching our public, making sure that they are aware of the amazing array of products and services offered, free of charge, at our branches,” says CEO Lisa Miettinen. More and more people are using their local library, in-person and online, in a variety of new ways, such as free downloadable eBooks and music, chef visits, Book Club sets, gaming, Lunch and Learn events, Books for Babies programs, and Laughter Yoga classes, to name a few. Like us at: www.facebook.com/OxfordCountyLibrary |
Hotmail Users - Alert | 2/16/2012 |
Oxford County Library notices, for example Hold Pickup notices or 3-day Advance Overdue notices, are not getting through to Hotmail users. Hotmail has recently changed its spam identification settings to exclude more servers sending bulk emails. If a domain sends email to invalid, misspelled, or closed Hotmail accounts, it rejects all emails from that server ever-after and places the offending domain on a blacklist. Unfortunately, it appears that this has happened to the canlib domain from which library email notices are sent for the 20 library systems in our consortium. We are currently addressing this issue with Hotmail, and hope for a speedy correction of the problem. Meanwhile, we encourage Hotmail users to check your online account for available holds and due dates, or phone your library branch. |
Artists of Oxford at Ingersoll | 1/27/2012 |
The Artists of Oxford present a new collection of original artwork at Ingersoll Public Library. Subjects include landscapes, animal and pet portraits, children, still life,and architecture. Artists Michael de Belleval, Deb Riopelle, Kristi Osinga, Lianne Todd, Linda Trowell, and Bunny Warner each have a unique style in watercolour, acrylic, pen and ink drawing and photography. Learn more about these artists and membership in the group at www.artistsofoxford.com |
Freegal music now available | 1/12/2012 |
Oxford County Library now has a subscription to Freegal music. Freegal is a free music downloading service providing popular mp3 music for library patrons. Registered card holders of Oxford County Library can download 3 Sony Music tracks in mp3 format each week (a new week begins every Monday). On the library's home page, www.ocl.net, click on the Freegal link to go to the Oxford Freegal site (or click here). Login with your library card number and PIN, find your music track (there are samples to listen to) and download it to your computer. You can listen to it on your computer or sync it to an mp3 player or other device. Freegal music's mp3 files do not expire when saved on your computer or mp3 player. For additional help or to comment, please email rlewis@ocl.net. |
Food for Fines Dec 2011 | 12/1/2011 |
Food for Fines wll be held for the entire month of December at every branch of Oxford County Library. Library users can pay fines for overdue books with a donation of non-perishable food. Just bring your food donation to the library service desk and ask the staff person to pardon your fines. All food will go to local Food Banks and Christmas hamper programs. Thanks for helping others! |
Winter Weather Advisory | 11/29/2011 |
PLEASE BE ADVISED There may be times this winter when the severity of the weather will make driving conditions so hazardous, our branch staff may not be able to make it in to work safely. Therefore, there may be times when the library will have to remain CLOSED. PLEASE – in the event of severe weather, phone ahead to make sure the library is open, *before* you venture out. |
Learn Sign Language Online | 10/19/2011 |
Signing Savvy is an online sign language resource, containing several thousand high resolution videos of American Sign Language (ASL) signs, fingerspelled words, baby signs, and other common signs used within the United States and Canada. Options for learning include the aforementioned dictionary of videos, flashcards with option to print, and a listmaking feature. The first time you use Signing Savvy, you must create a user name and password, which you will use to sign in from then on. The new user sign up link is in the upper right corner of the Signing Savvy home page. This resource is now available free to Oxford County Library users. Click on the Signing Savvy banner on the library home page www.ocl.net, or go directly from here. |
James McIntyre Poetry Contest 2011 | 10/14/2011 |
Entries are now being received for the 2011 James McIntyre Poetry Contest, sponsored by the Town of Ingersoll and The Ingersoll Times. For complete entry information and entry forms, click entry info. For background on the contest, winning poems from previous years, and information about James McIntyre, the Cheese Poet of Oxford County, click James McIntyre. |
Artists of Oxford at Ingersoll | 10/11/2011 |
The Artists of Oxford welcome the season, reflected in autumn colours and subjects, with new exhibits of Paintings at Ingersoll Public Library. On the display wall to the north of the Children's area, the central feature is a dramatic mixed media original by Irma Makariunaite. First time exhibitor Susan Fenlon has captured lingering summer days in “Tranquility”, and a sunny European holiday in “Provence“. Deb Riopelle recently painted trees and sail boats ‘plein air’ at Lake Couchiching. “Cast Away” is an inviting lakeside view in watercolour by Lianne Todd. The theme continues in the front entry display cabinet with watercolours and acrylics by Linda Trowell. Membership applications available at the library and www.artistsofoxford.com |
Seasonal Flu Clinics | 10/5/2011 |
View flu shot schedule |
Ancestry Info Evening at Ingersoll | 9/28/2011 |
Ancestry Library Edition Information Evening Wednesday, October 26th at 7pm, at Ingersoll Public Library Spaces are limited. Registration required: Email or phone 519 485-2505. Your ancestors left clues along the way. Now, you can trace them online. Billions of records in census data, vital records, directories, photos, and more are at your fingertips with Ancestry Library Edition. Start your family history research today at Ingersoll Library. |
Services to Business Guide | 9/12/2011 |
Click here for the Service Ontario Guide to Business Services. This document is a resource guide to help you with your new business, small business, or home-based business. It complements the Service Ontario business portal |
Guides for eBook devices | 9/8/2011 |
Guides for downloading eBooks to
Sony Reader,
Kobo, and
iPad are available online. A detailed iPad guide for both eBooks and eAudiobooks is available. A guide for downloading eBooks and eAudiobooks to the BlackBerry PlayBook is now available. Oxford County Library patrons can download eBooks from the Ontario Library Service Download Centre. |
Magic Show Thamesford Aug 26 | 8/26/2011 |
WET 'n' WILD Magic Show at Thamesford Library This event will be held on Friday, Aug. 26, 2011, 2:00 - 3:00 p.m. in the Beaty Room. Peter Mennie's (That Magic Guy) tricks will astound you. Fun for the whole community and free of charge. Everyone welcome! Contact Thamesford Library (519-285-3219 or lalexander@ocl.net) for further info. |
Pottermore | 8/23/2011 |
J. K. Rowling’s companion website to the Harry Potter books Pottermore is an exciting new website from J.K. Rowling, author of the Harry Potter books. You can explore the stories like never before and discover exclusive new writing from the author. It is FREE to join and use, and is designed to be safe for people of all ages. Pottermore will be available to all in October, 2011. Pottermore Insider, is a blog that follows the development of the Pottermore website, which is currently in a testing phase. |
PebbleGo now available from home | 8/12/2011 |
PebbleGo is a science and reading database for children from pre-Kindergarten to grade 3. Until now, it has been accessible only from within Oxford County Library's branches. Now it is available from anywhere and at any time when you login with your 14-digit Oxford County Library card. PebbleGo You can get a library card at any branch, or sign up for an online card. |
Artists of Oxford | 7/6/2011 |
Artists of Oxford members Janice Millard, Deb Riopelle, Linda Trowell and Bunny Warner present a collection of original watercolours, acrylic, pen & ink drawings and photography for your summer enjoyment. Each artist interprets flowers, water, and country scenes in a unique style. Their art is displayed in the front entrance and on the back wall of the Ingersoll Library. Membership information and application forms for Artists of Oxford are available. |
Summer Reading in 2011 | 6/30/2011 |
Join Oxford County Library's Summer Reading Club! Splash! Celebrate Summer! Get ready to dive headfirst into the chosen theme for this year's TD Summer Reading Club: Splash! Celebrate Summer. British Columbia artist Kim LaFave, a recipient of the TD Canadian Children's Literature Award for Shin-chi's Canoe, has created the artwork for the program in 2011. Library Programs and Activities - Calendar of Events Check with your local branch of Oxford County Library for specific sign-up dates. Space is limited. Once again this year, we are very grateful to TD Bank Financial Group, the Toronto Public Library, and Library and Archives Canada for their support of literacy in Canada. By offering the TD Summer Reading Club to children across Canada in both English and French, they are making a significant contribution to our communities, investing in Canada’s future, and bringing pleasure to half a million young readers. |
Summer Reading for Grown-Ups | 6/27/2011 |
Read a book, ebook, or watch a movie, or listen to an audiobook and submit a review to win a weekly prize donated by a local Ingersoll business. Monday, July 4th - Friday, August 26th Submit a review of a book, ebook, DVD, or audiobook by writing a review in the library or an on-line review: Log-in with your library card & pin number at www.oxford.canlib.ca Search the catalogue for a title that you would like to review Click on the 'Review' link below the cover image. Click on 'Register here' to create your profile - all you need is an email address, a 'nickname' and a password. It's summer...relax and read. After all, why should kids have all the fun? |
SPLASH! Summer Reading Program Contest | 6/27/2011 |
The Summer Reading Program Contest is open to all those who register for the 2011 TD Summer Reading Program. Register for the contest starting July 2, 2011, at any branch of Oxford County Library. There is one contest entry person. See Branch staff for details on how to qualify for the contest draw at the end of the summer. You could win a $25.00 bookstore gift card or the grand prize of an electronic reader! Visit your branch for more details. |
Princeton Public Library Hours Change | 6/8/2011 |
Effective Tuesday June 14, 2011 the hours of opening at the Princeton Public Library are changing to Tuesday: 1-4pm Wednesday: 4-8:30pm Thursday: 4-8:30pm Saturday: 10am-1pm |
NEW! Online User Guides | 4/11/2011 |
Take a look at these new guides for safe and smart online use: User Guide - Photographer User Guide - Movie Lover User Guide - Music Lover User Guide - Traveller User Guide - Smart Online Shopper User Guide - Safe Online Shopper This set of guides is a pilot project by Elgin County, Oxford County, and St. Thomas Public LIbraries, through funding provided by the Ontario Ministry of Tourism and Culture. |
Thamesford Family Literacy Day Apr 8 | 4/8/2011 |
Family Literacy Day will be held on Fri. April 8th at Thamesford Library, from 2:00 - 3:30 p.m. Enjoy your PA day with stories by excellent readers, action songs with 'Mother Goose', refreshments, and a free book for each child to take home. Admission is free. Sponsored by Oxford County Library and Ontario Early Years - Woodstock. Call Thamesford Library at 519-285-3219 for more information. Fun for the whole family. |
TumbleBooks Family Storytime at Ingersoll | 4/7/2011 |
TumbleBooks are online animated books for children to listen to or read at their own pace. Ingersoll Library is featuring a selection of our TumbleBooks collection during the month of April. TumbleBooks Family Storytime will be held in the program room where the stories will be shown on the large screen. Popcorn will be served! Dates: Thursday, April 7, 14, 21, and 28 From 6:30-7:15 pm Call the Ingersoll Public Library at 519-485-2505 for more information. This is a drop-in program! |
Paul Droog at Thamesford | 3/17/2011 |
Music in March Break! Thamesford Library (165 Dundas Street - Hwy #2) is hosting musical entertainment for parents/caregivers and kids during the March Break. Paul Droog from St. Mary's is performing on Thursday, March 17th at 2:00 p.m. Everyone will want to sing along with the finger snapping music of Paul and his guitar. Admission is free. Call 519-285-3219 for further information. Everyone welcome! |
Oxford Community Design Strategy - Survey | 3/3/2011 |
Design Your Oxford The County is seeking public input on Oxford’s urban design strategy The County of Oxford is asking people to voice their opinion on what their communities and neighbourhoods should look like as it begins public consultation on the Community | Urban Design Strategy that is part of the County’s 5 Year Official Plan Review process. Community and urban design policies help shape the design and character of a community by establishing a vision for design and providing planning and design direction. Members of the public can provide their input in person at any of three public open houses/workshops scheduled in March, or online by visiting the Design Your Oxford web page. Click here for a direct link to the online survey. You may also participate in the survey at the branches of Oxford County Library. Library branches will have paper copies of the survey or you may use the library's public computers to take the online version of the survey. Some of the community design considerations the County is seeking feedback on include the character and structure of urban neighbourhoods and rural villages, the design of public spaces such as streets and parks, accommodating pedestrians and other alternative modes of transportation, and the environmental sustainability of communities. Public open houses/workshops are scheduled for: WEDNESDAY, MARCH 9, 2011 – 6:00 - 8:00 PM INNERKIP: Innerkip Community Centre, 695566 Oxford Road 5 TUESDAY, MARCH 29, 2011 – 6:00 - 8:00 PM TILLSONBURG: Tillsonburg Community Centre, Lion’s Auditorium, 45 Hardy Avenue WEDNESDAY, MARCH 30, 2011 – 6:00 - 8:00 PM INGERSOLL: Conestoga College Ingersoll Skills Centre, 420 Thomas Street A final Community | Urban Design Strategy report and recommendations are expected to be presented to Oxford County Council by early summer. More information is available at Design Your Oxford web page . Click here to access survey |
Resources to Prevent Falls | 2/24/2011 |
New resources in local libraries aim to reduce injuries from falls Falling is not a normal part of aging, yet as we age we increase the risk. Each year, thousands of seniors are taken to hospitals because of injuries sustained during a simple, and often preventable, fall. In an effort to increase awareness and help prevent older adults from falling this winter, Oxford County Public Health & Emergency Services is providing every public library in Oxford County with three resources to help seniors prevent falls. Exercises at the Kitchen Sink, Safety Superheroes: Preventing Grandparents from Falling, and Watch Your Step! aim to educate seniors on how to keep out of the emergency room this winter. Safety Superheroes: Preventing Grandparents from Falling is a story book that uses an intergenerational approach to falls prevention. The story book approach recognizes the influence grandkids can have on their grandparents, while increasing awareness about falls prevention and home safety. Check Oxford County Library catalogue. It can be ordered online at www.safetysuperheroes.com or through Amazon.ca. As the name explains, Exercises at the Kitchen Sink offers a series of seven exercises that can be done at home, even while standing at the kitchen sink. The exercises improve balance; increase strength, endurance and flexibility; and help seniors sleep well. The resource comes in two forms: a pop-up countertop manual and a DVD. Check Oxford County Library catalogue. Watch Your Step! is the first in a series of bookmarks that can be carried anywhere to remind seniors to “find balance…wherever [they] are.” It provides helpful hints for everyday injury prevention and a recipe for a nutritious, energizing breakfast. Check Your Medications! The second of the 3 bookmarks helping seniors in finding and keeping good balance has arrived at all Oxford County Library branches. This one provides tips for seniors on how medications can affect them and how to manage them. A list of Oxford County Library locations can be found at www.ocl.net/locations. For more information about injury prevention, visit www.oxfordcounty.ca/site/922/default.aspx. QUICK FACTS * Nearly one in three seniors will experience at least one fall per year. Up to one half of these seniors will experience more than one fall. * Falls account for 56% of accidental deaths in people over 65 and 87% of all injury admissions to hospitals. * It is estimated that about 40% of falls among seniors which result in hospital stays are attributed to hip fractures. STAFF CONTACT Lorna Boratto Public Health Nurse 519-539-9800, ext. 3411 lboratto@oxfordcounty.ca |
List of new DVDs | 2/8/2011 |
As of Wed Feb 3, OCL’s web catalogue has an automatic list of all new DVDs. Go to the web catalogue: www.oxford.canlib.ca On the right hand side of the page, under Library Info, click on: new DVDs This pulls up a list of all DVDs catalogued in the last month. The list is updated daily. |
Family Literacy Nights at Ingersoll | 2/3/2011 |
A 6 week series of Literacy Events for families with children 0-12 years Thursday February 3, 2011 6:30-7:30pm Thursday February 10, 2011 6:30-7:15pm Thursday February 17, 2011 6:30-7:15pm Thursday February 24, 2011 6:30-7:15pm Thursday March 3, 2011 6:30-7:15pm Thursday March 10, 2011 6:30-7:15pm Guest readers, Mother Goose, music and more! Guest readers include: • OPP Officer Michelle Murphy • Ingersoll Fire Department Don Wright • Early Literacy Specialist Janet Stephens • Mother Goose • Ontario Early Years Wilma Molinaro • Ingersoll Public Library Staff • Ingersoll Public Library Advisory Committee Members This is a drop in program. Held at the Ingersoll Public Library 130 Oxford St, Ingersoll Please call for more information: (519) 485-2505 |
Got Your Card Yet? | 1/5/2011 |
Why get an Oxford County Library card? Membership has its privileges: Wondering what to read next? We can help! In-branch assistance and Next Reads e-newsletters. Need a new read for your book club? We have over 180 book club sets with study guides. Tired of dial-up? We have high-speed Internet service and wireless. School project due tomorrow? We have World Book encyclopedia online, available from your home computer. Need to learn a new language? We have byki online language learning. Got an eReader for Christmas? We have free downloadable eBooks. Looking for a good read or a dvd to curl up with on a cold winter night? We can help, with over 130,000 book titles in our collection and over 3,800 dvds – available to borrow free of charge. Do-It-Yourselfers find lots of help from our extensive book collection and, for the home auto mechanic, Chilton’s Auto Repair online. Share an animated audio picture book with your young child. We have Tumblebooks. Best of all, enjoy a warm welcome and friendly service from our staff at any of our 13 locations. Branch locations and hours |
Harrington Hours Jan 1 | 1/1/2011 |
New Hours for the Harrington Branch Library: At its meeting on November 15 the Oxford County Library Board approved new hours of opening for the Harrington Branch Library. These changes are in response to community feedback and the branch will now have one morning shift during the week where families with pre-school children can use the library during the day. The new hours are effective January 1, 2011: Tuesday 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Thursday 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. Friday 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. Saturday 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. |
Severe Winter Weather | 12/14/2010 |
PLEASE BE ADVISED There may be times this winter when the severity of the weather will make driving conditions so hazardous, our branch staff may not be able to make it in to work safely. Therefore, there may be times when the library will have to close early or remain closed. PLEASE – in the event of severe weather, phone ahead to make sure your library branch is open, before you venture out. |
Kim Quigley at Norwich | 12/4/2010 |
Holiday Appetizers with Kim Quigley Thursday December 16th - Lunchtime demo 12:30-1:30 p.m., in the program room at Norwich Public Library, 10 Tidey St., Norwich. Local food educator and journalist Kim Quigley will demonstrate some easy Christmas appetizers along with holiday entertaining tips and techniques. Space is limited, so you must pre-register for this free program. Call us at 519 863-3307. |
Writers' Retreat | 11/26/2010 |
Writers’ Retreat A Quiet Workshop for Reflection and Writing with Julia Penistan Friday, November 26, 2010 6:30 to 8:15 pm and Saturday November 27, 2010 10:15 am to 4 pm at Ingersoll Public Library 130 Oxford St, Ingersoll ON N5C 2V5 $25.00 per person To register, please call the library at 519 485-2505 |
eBooks now available | 11/23/2010 |
Oxford County Library is proud to announce: electronic books (eBooks) have now been added to the Overdrive Download Centre and are available to Oxford County Library users. These are “print” eBooks, and are provided in addition to the Downloadable Audio Books that have been available through Oxford County Library for some time. Almost 1400 eBook titles are available in EPUB and pdf formats, with more titles being added each month. They can be read on most computers and on dedicated readers such as Kobo, Sony Reader and Barnes and Noble Nook. To access OverDrive eBooks, you need: - computer (Windows or Mac)with internet connection - a valid library card and PIN - free software, found on the Download site http://downloadcentre.library.on.ca More details: - go to OverDrive Download Centre - go to Getting Started - To use the eBooks, your computer must have Flash, and you must install Adobe Digital Editions (free software) - Internet Explorer is recommended - The Adobe software also has an activation procedure for each computer or device that an individual patron uses. - see Getting Started on the OverDrive Download Centre Check out an eBook: - login with your library card number and PIN at OverDrive Download Centre - search or browse; follow the instructions to check out - check out an ebook, or, if someone is using it, place a hold - loan period 7 or 14 days - ebooks will automatically expire, or they can be “returned” early - depending on the publisher, you may or may not be able to copy or print the ebook. Coming soon - apps for Smartphones! |
McIntyre Poetry Evening Nov 23 | 11/23/2010 |
Plan to attend the James McIntyre Poetry Evening, where we honour the winners of the 2010 James McIntyre Poetry Contest and celebrate the Poetry of James McIntyre, the Cheese Poet. The program includes reading of the first prize poems by Gail MacKay, the presentation of awards to poets of all ages, and special entertainment. All are welcome! Tuesday, November 23, 2010 7:00 p.m. Henderson Hall 133 John St., Ingersoll, ON |
Kim Quigley at Ingersoll Library | 11/4/2010 |
Lunch & Learn - Thursday November 4, 2010, 12:30-1:30 pm Holiday Entertaining with Kim Quigley Join us as Kim Quigley demonstrates Holiday Entertaining Tips and Techniques. This event is free! Bring your lunch, bring a friend, enjoy a hot tea or coffee, and learn more about Holiday Entertaining with Kim Quigley. Held at Ingersoll Public Library, 130 Oxford St, Ingersoll ON For more information, call Ingersoll library at 519-485-2505. |
Oxford Community Flu Clinics | 10/26/2010 |
Get your flu shot! Click here to see a schedule of Community Flu Clinics in Oxford County. |
Driving Review for Seniors | 10/26/2010 |
A Driving Review for Seniors session will be held on Tuesday, October 26th, from 2:00-3:30 p.m. at the Thamesford Public Library, 165 Dundas Street (Hwy. #2.). This is an excellent opportunity to brush up on your driving skills with an OPP Officer and Ministry of Transportation representative. Winter driving tips will be a high priority during the session. There will be ample time to ask these experts any questions you may have. Call 519-285-3219 for further information. Everyone is welcome! You don't have to be a senior to attend. |
James McIntyre Poetry Contest 2010 | 10/15/2010 |
Attention Poets! Enter the 2010 James McIntyre Poetry Contest for original poetry, sponsored by The Ingersoll Times and The Corporation of the Town of Ingersoll. The deadline for entries is Friday, October 15, 2010, at 4 pm. For details, go to http://www.ingersoll.ca/pdf/museum/mpc_guidelines.pdf For an entry form, see http://www.ingersoll.ca/pdf/museum/mpc_entry_form.pdf Anyone, of any age, may enter. For students, there are categories by school grade. Poems may be in any type of rhyming verse, free verse, limerick, or haiku. Your poem may be on any subject. Please note that there are special awards for poems written on Ingersoll-related subjects, such as the history of Ingersoll, famous people of Ingersoll, Ingersoll today, and cheese. In 2010, an award will be given for the best poem about the Ingersoll Pipe Band in honour of their 100th Anniversary. You may pick up a copy of the entry forms from the Town of Ingersoll offices or Ingersoll Public Library, 130 Oxford Street, Ingersoll ON. The Poetry Evening, where the winners will be honoured, will be held on the evening of Thursday November 25, 2010 - details TBA. To read the winning poems from previous contests, see the James McIntyre Poetry Contest website |
High Speed Internet for Rural Oxford | 9/17/2010 |
New website will help Oxford’s rural communities connect to high-speed Internet service www.ruraloxfordconnections.ca lets rural residents track progress of service roll-out in their area and sign up for service through Execulink Telecom. The County of Oxford has launched the new website www.ruraloxfordconnections.ca to help connect rural residents in all corners of the County to high-speed broadband service under the Government of Ontario’s Rural Connections program. The new website includes general information, service coverage maps, and a timeline for the roll-out of high-speed Internet service in each community, as well as links to service packages for residents and businesses and an online sign-up form from Execulink Telecom, official service provider for the Rural Oxford Connections project. People who sign up for Internet service during the project’s construction period can take advantage of a time-limited offer to waive installation fees for Internet hook-up, a savings of up to $150 per household. The www.ruraloxfordconnections.ca website has been designed to download quickly for people on dial-up Internet service. Rural residents who do not have access to a computer can call 1-877-393-2854 to sign up by telephone or visit any branch of an Oxford County Library for public computer access. Contact for more information: John Moore, Manager of Information Systems jmoore@oxfordcounty.ca |
DVD loan period changed to 1 week on Sept 8 | 9/8/2010 |
To ensure greater availability of DVDs, beginning September 8th, 2010, the loan period for DVDs will be 7 days. When you check out a DVD, on or after September 8, the automatic loan period will be 7 days (one week). A DVD can be renewed as long as it has no Holds on it. |
Fall Events at Norwich Library | 9/2/2010 |
Fall events at Norwich Library Travel Talks – dreaming about faraway places? Robert Q and Norwich Public Library will be presenting informative travel talks beginning in September. Each session is approximately 1 hour in length and will feature a different guest speaker and destination. Plan a trip, or just travel vicariously by learning a little about these exotic destinations. September 14, 7-8 p.m. Jamaica: beautiful beaches, an average temperature of 26 C, everything from golf and relaxation to nightlife and island safaris – Jamaica has something to offer everyone. October 12, 7-8 p.m. Ecuador and a bit of South America: Ecuador has four natural regions to offer you, all easily accessible: the highlands, the coast, the rainforests, and the Galapagos Islands. Did you know there are 12 other countries in South America? Our speaker will not have time to discuss them all, but will give an overview of the continent. Classic Films: New day, same time. We’re moving the classic film series to the first Wednesday of each month. Our license precludes naming the films in the newspaper or online, but you can call us for the title. October 6th 10 a.m. Based on the novel by John Steinbeck, In this 1939 film, an itinerant worker looks after his mentally retarded cousin, a giant who doesn't know his own strength. Admission is free, refreshments will be served. 104 minutes. Hot Docs: We’re starting a documentary film series at the library. Join us for provocative, interesting films on the 3rd Wednesday of each month at 10 a.m. Our first screening, on September 15th, is Four Wings and a Prayer; a look at the monarch butterfly's mysterious migration from Canada to Mexico. Admission is free, refreshments will be served. 81 minutes. October 20th, 10 a.m. The Way We Get By: Writer-director Aron Gaudet's deeply felt look at three selfless elderly Maine residents who serve as troop greeters at the Bangor International Airport (a gateway point of U.S. departure and entry), is filled with a rare honesty and intimacy that makes for a rewarding, if largely heartbreaking, film experience. Admission is free, refreshments will be served. 84 minutes. Marvelous Monarchs Wednesday, Sept. 22, 7-7:45 p.m. Join us to learn about these fascinating butterflies. Field naturalist Bruce Parker will be here to share his knowledge and give an up close look at some beautiful specimens. This presentation will be of interest to all ages. Please pre-register at the library or call 519 863-3307. Saturday Matinees The library features a family film on the last Saturday of each month. Due to our licensing agreement, we cannot name these films in the newspaper or online, but if you would like to know the title, just call the library at 519 863-3307. Saturday, September 25, 1 p.m. A suburban family moves to a new neighborhood with their large yet lovable Great Dane, who has a tendency to wreak havoc in his own oblivious way. Admission is free. Runtime 87 minutes. Saturday, October 30, 1 p.m. The ongoing war between the canine and feline species is put on hold when they join forces to thwart a rogue cat spy with her own sinister plans for conquest. Admission is free. Runtime 82 minutes. This movie has not yet been released on DVD. Play and Learn Tuesday mornings 9:30-11 a.m. This drop-in program offers open crafts where children create using their imagination, & explore & play with caregivers. Circle time as well - very child centred. For ages 0-6 & caregivers, this program is delivered by Oxford Early Years, who also have staff available to answer questions on child development. Books For Babies – new day A fun-filled half hour of stories, rhymes, and songs for children and caregivers followed by a half hour of social time. Especially for 0-18 months, older siblings under 5 are also welcome. Please call to reserve a spot in this free program. Thursday mornings at 10 a.m. September 23 – October 28 Mother Goose returns! Fridays, 10-11 a.m. October 8- Nov. 26 The Parent - Child Mother Goose Program is a group experience for parents/caregivers and children focusing on the pleasure and power of using rhymes, songs and stories together. Our program is designed to enhance the parent - child relationship and develop skills in young children leading to language development. Book Club Join our book discussion group in front of the fireplace on the last Thursday of the month. 7-8 pm. We have multiple copies the books at the desk – all you need is your library card. |
Brownsville Library - Temporary Closure | 8/27/2010 |
Brownsville Branch Moving – Temporary Closure Brownsville branch will be receiving new shelving on August 31 and September 1, in its new location at 292240 Culloden Road, in the Brownsville Park. To allow us time to setup the collection, the library will be closed from 3:00 p.m. on Saturday, August 28 until 3:00 p.m. on Thursday, September 2. No overdue fines will be charged during the closure. We look forward to welcoming you in our new and improved location! |
Tavistock Library - Temporary Closure | 8/7/2010 |
Tavistock Branch Moving – Temporary Closure Tavistock branch is moving to its new home at: 40 Woodstock Street South, Tavistock. To allow us to move our operations, the library will be closed from 2:00 p.m. on Saturday, August 7 until 10:00 a.m. on Thursday, August 12. No overdue fines will be charged during the closure. We look forward to welcoming you in our new and improved location! |
Brownsville Branch Moving - Temporary Closure | 7/14/2010 |
Brownsville Branch Moving – Temporary Closure Brownsville branch is moving to its new home in the new Community Services Building at 292240 Culloden Road, in the Brownsville Park. To allow us to move our operations, the library will be closed from 3:00 p.m. on Saturday, July 17 until 3:00 p.m. on Thursday, July 22. No overdue fines will be charged during the closure. We look forward to welcoming you in our new and improved location! |
Drumming Circle Events | 7/10/2010 |
Primordial Percussion Oxford County Library presents Primordial Percussion; a truly hands-on experience! Drumming Facilitator Cliff Patton will lead participants in learning about group rhythms, cultural instruments, musical timing and hand drum techniques. Each event will be approximately 45 minutes long and absolutely everyone gets to participate and play a drum. You will also be able to try shakers, bells or various other percussion instruments. Drumming has a very positive effect on all people. Young and old, drumming truly is for everyone – no experience required! Please contact your local Oxford County Library branch location to pre-register as space is limited for this free program. Norwich Public Library Saturday, July 17 at 1:00 pm Princeton Public Library Saturday, August 7 at 2:00 pm Plattsville Public Library Wednesday, August 18 at 10:30 am Otterville Public Library Wednesday, August 18 at 1:00 pm Innerkip Public Library Saturday, August 28 at 1:00 pm |
Magic Show at Ingersoll Library | 7/8/2010 |
MAGIC SHOW BY MR OH Bring the whole family, and join in the fun! Mr. Oh the Magician will amaze and surprise you with his latest jungle tricks. Come to the Ingersoll Library on July 8; the show starts at 1:30 pm. All ages welcome. |
VogelJoy concert at Norwich | 7/3/2010 |
VogelJoy concert at Norwich Library Saturday, July 3, 10:30-11:30 a.m. To celebrate Norwich’s bicentennial and Nostalgia Days, Norwich library is presenting a free family concert. VogelJoy is a family band from Oxford County, performing music that children can enjoy with their parents and grandparents. Don't miss hearing this talented group sing, play and dance! Free admission! |
Summer Reading Club 2010 | 7/2/2010 |
Join Oxford County Library's Summer Reading Club! Destination Jungle - Find out more about the Jungle! Programs and Activities - Calendar Visit your local branch of Oxford County Library for details and to register. Space is limited. Once again this year, we are very grateful to TD Bank Financial Group, the Toronto Public Library, and Library and Archives Canada for their support of literacy in Canada. By offering the TD Summer Reading Club to Canadian children across the nation in both English and French, they are making a significant contribution to the our communities, investing in Canada’s future, and bringing pleasure to half a million young readers. Award-winning author Stéphane Jorisch has created the beautiful illustrations for 2010. |
Ancestry Demo at Ingersoll | 6/30/2010 |
Reptile Show | 6/25/2010 |
The Reptile Show Oxford County Library presents The Reptile Show: spiders and lizards and snakes, oh my! Join us for a fact-filled presentation sprinkled with personal anecdotes and close encounters with some fanged, scaly and hairy friends. Please contact your local Oxford County Library branch location to pre-register as space is limited for this free program. Brownsville Public Library Saturday, June 26 at 1:00 pm Embro Public Library Saturday, July 3 at 1:30 pm Tavistock Public Library Tuesday, July 13 at 11:00 am Harrington Public Library Saturday, July 24 at 1:00 pm Plattsville Public Library Wednesday, July 28 at 10:30 am Innerkip Public Library Tuesday, August 10 at 2:00 pm Norwich Public Library Saturday, August 14 at 1:00 pm Princeton Public Library Saturday, August 21 at 2:00 pm Mount Elgin Public Library Wednesday, September 15 at 6:00 pm Burgessville Public Library Thursday, November 25 at 7:00 pm |
Community Poetry Reading | 6/10/2010 |
Community Poetry Reading Presented by Poets' Circle Thursday June 10, 2010, from 7 - 8:30 pm at Ingersoll Public Library in the Program Room. If you would like to read your poetry (or short prose) at this event, contact Julia at 519 475-9056. All are welcome! Bring a friend! Refreshments! |
Food For Fines June 2010 | 6/1/2010 |
Food for Fines wll be held for the entire month of June at every branch of Oxford County Library. Library users can pay fines for overdue books with a donation of non-perishable food. Just bring your food donation to the library service desk and ask the staff person to pardon your fines. All food will go to local Food Banks. June is a time when Food Bank donations are often low -- it's a great time to clear up your library fines and help others. |
New Web Catalogue | 5/26/2010 |
Oxford County Library's web catalogue has been changed over to a new format as of today. Check it out here. Although you will notice changes to the look and feel of the catalogue and a couple of new functions, such as "Bookmark This Page", the main difference is that the new web catalogue has the flexibility and power to enable future enhancements. The old web catalogue, which was implemented in October 2004, is no longer being developed. Your feedback on this change is welcome. Please contact Rosemary Lewis. |
Lunch and Learn - Legal Care | 5/13/2010 |
Did you know that fifty-two percent of us currently have a life-event legal issue but can’t access the legal system? And this year, in Oxford County, one in three of us will become a victim of identity theft? Marilyn Walls from PPL Legal Care of Canada will tell us why two retired Toronto Police Services officers are so passionate about bringing their service to Canada and bring us up to date on hot new trends. All this, and free tea and coffee next Thursday, May 13 at 12:30 pm at Ingersoll Public Library’s Lunch and Learn. Bring your lunch, bring a friend! Lunch and Learn is a lunchtime series of informative programs for adults held in the Ingersoll Library program room, on the second Thursday of the month. Call the library at 519-485-2505 for more information. |
Book Sale in Tavistock | 5/5/2010 |
Join us for a springtime book sale in Tavistock! Proceeds from the sale will go towards the library fundraising campaign. When: Thursday, May 6, 6:00 - 8:00 pm Saturday, May 8, 10:00 am - 12:00 pm Tuesday, May 11, 6:00 - 8:00 pmWhere: Basement, Tavistock Public Library, 31 Maria Street |
Online Catalogue Slow | 4/28/2010 |
We are aware of the slow response time of the Online catalogue. The cause is under investigation, but it is believed to be an offsite server hardware issue. We apologize for the inconvenience. |
Care Link medical information file | 4/9/2010 |
The Care Link Medical Information File is a new program from Oxford County Public Heath and Emergency Services. This file allows individuals with serious medical conditions to prepare medical information in advance of an emergency. The information is kept in a magnetic pouch on your fridge, so it can easily be retrieved by paramedics during an emergency response. You can get a Care Link pouch by asking at the desk at Ingersoll Public Library or at Norwich Public Library. |
Lunch and Learn - Care Link | 4/8/2010 |
Lunch & Learn at Ingersoll Public Library Thursday, April 8, 2010 12:30-1:30 pm Dianne Marshall, Communication Education Coordinator with Oxford County EMS will talk about a new EMS program, The Care Link Medical Information File. This file allows individuals with serious medical conditions to prepare medical information in advance of an emergency, to be easily retrieved by paramedics during an emergency response. Find out more about this new program at the Ingersoll Library on Thursday April 8, beginnning at 12:30 pm. Bring your lunch. Coffee and tea provided. Lunch and Learn is a lunchtime series of informative programs for adults held in the Ingersoll Library program room, on the second Thursday of the month. Call the library at 519-485-2505 for more information. Ingersoll Public Library 130 Oxford Street Ingersoll ON phone 519-485-2505 |
Linda Armstrong - Domestic Violence | 3/27/2010 |
Linda Armstrong speaker series -- Domestic Assault Review team Linda will do workshops at the Ingersoll and Norwich branches of Oxford County Library. Her program will run from 10:30 am until noon. Norwich Public Lbrary: Saturday March 27, 2010: Domestic Violence, and neighbours, friends and family Saturday April 3, 2010: Violence Against Women Saturday April 10, 2010: Workplace Harassment, including bullying and sexual harassment Ingersoll Public Library: Saturday April 17, 2010: Domestic Violence, and neighbours, friends and family Saturday May 1, 2010: Violence Against Women Saturday May 8, 2010: Workplace Harassment, including bullying and sexual harassment |
Kim Quigley Lunch & Learn - Ingersoll | 3/11/2010 |
Join us at 12:30 pm, Thursday March 11, as Kim Quigley demonstrates Mediterranean-style Tips and Techniques for nutritious, flavourful, and full of colour food. This event is free! Bring your lunch, bring a friend, enjoy a hot tea or coffee, and learn Mediterranean-style Food Tips and Techniques at: Ingersoll Public Library 130 Oxford Street Ingersoll ON phone 519-485-2505 Lunch and Learn is a lunchtime series of informative programs for adults. Bring your lunch and listen to a variety of interesting speakers in the Ingersoll Library program room, on the second Thursday of the month. Coffee and tea provided. Call the library at 519-485-2505 for more information. |
Brownsville Library Open House | 3/3/2010 |
Brownsville Library Open House Please visit the Brownsville Public Library, 163518 Brownsville Road, between 6 and 8 p.m. on Thursday, March 4. The floor plan for the new library location will be on display. Library staff will be there to answer your questions and explain the library’s fundraising needs. Light refreshments will be served. Please join us! |
Artists of Oxford in Ingersoll Library | 2/12/2010 |
Once again the Artists of Oxford are displaying new work for you to enjoy at the Ingersoll Library. New to the wall is a piece from artist Heather MacIntosh, as well as three historic barns from Linda Trowell’s collection. Bunny Warner and Deb Riopelle are showing new work as well. If you would like to see other members’ work or join the Artists of Oxford, check out the website at www.artistsofoxford.com |
Lunch and Learn - Ingersoll | 2/11/2010 |
Join Gail Kavelman and Vicki Wahl this Thursday, February 11, at 12:30 pm at Ingersoll Public Library for our next ‘Lunch and Learn’ event as we take you on a virtual tour of Oxford County Library. Bring your lunch, and enjoy a fresh hot tea or coffee as we introduce you to programs like our new BYKI language learning system, Overdrive Audio Books, Ancestry Library Edition, Chilton Auto Repair Manuals, plus local History & Genealogy databases. |
Tavistock Open House | 2/11/2010 |
Tavistock Library Open House – see the plans for the new location! Please visit the Tavistock Public Library, 31 Maria Street, between 3 and 8 p.m. on Thursday, February 11, or between 10 a.m. and noon on Saturday, February 13. The floor plan for the new library location (street level of the former Hotel Oxford, 40 Woodstock Street South) will be on display. Library staff and community fundraising volunteers will be there to answer your questions and explain the library’s fundraising needs. Light refreshments will be served. Please join us! |
Lunch and Learn at Ingersoll | 12/10/2009 |
Join Gail Kavelman and Vicki Wahl this Thursday, December 10, at 12:30 pm at Ingersoll Public Library for our next ‘Lunch and Learn’ event as we take you on a virtual tour of Oxford County Library. Bring your lunch, and enjoy a fresh hot tea or coffee as we introduce you to programs like our new BYKI language learning system, Overdrive Audio Books, Ancestry Library Edition, Chilton Auto Repair Manuals, plus local History & Genealogy databases.
Listen to Gail Kavelman on Heart FM
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Food For Fines Dec 2009 | 12/1/2009 |
Food for Fines wll be held for the entire month of December at every branch of Oxford County Library. Library users can pay fines for overdue books with a donation of non-perishable food. Just bring your food donation to the library service desk and ask the staff person to pardon your fines. All food will go to local Food Banks. |
Winning Poems 2009 | 11/27/2009 |
Winning poems from the 2009 James McIntyre Poetry Contest are now posted here. Just click on the link "2009". |
Tavistock Library new location! | 11/26/2009 |
Tavistock Library moving to new location on Tavistock Street South Library’s new home will be more than three times its current size and fully accessible NEWS The Tavistock branch of the Oxford County Library is moving to a new home more than three times its current size after Oxford County Council last night approved a lease agreement allowing the library to relocate. Council’s approval of the signing of the lease agreement at its November 25 meeting will allow the Tavistock Library to move from the Carnegie library building on Maria Street to the former Oxford Hotel at 40 Woodstock Street South. The new Tavistock Library will occupy the main floor of this grand old building, which is being lovingly restored by its owners, Dave and Kim Piggott. At approximately 4,300 square feet, this new space is more than three times the size of the current location, and, unlike the current library, will be fully accessible. The former Oxford Hotel has a long and public history in the community, having been a hotel for more than 100 years. The new Tavistock Library will capitalize on the rich history and character of the building, with early plans to install a café ledge and stools by the front window so that library patrons can watch the world go by as they read the newspaper or a magazine. “This is great, more space, more parking and fully accessible! I trust this location will provide our community with a convenient gathering place to enrich their lives through reading and enjoy their friendships with young and old. Thank-you to the Piggotts for their vision and investment in our community and giving us a chance to go main street with a new library!” - Don McKay, East Zorra-Tavistock Mayor and Library Board Chair FOR MORE INFORMATION: Lisa Miettinen, CEO/Chief Librarian, Oxford County Library lmiettinen@ocl.net Don McKay, East Zorra-Tavistock Mayor and Library Board Chair dmckay@twp.ezt.on.ca |
James McIntyre Poetry Evening 2009 | 11/26/2009 |
Plan to attend the James McIntyre Poetry Evening, where we honour the winners of the 2009 James McIntyre Poetry Contest and celebrate the Poetry of James McIntyre, the Cheese Poet. The program includes reading of the first prize poems by Gail MacKay, the presentation of awards to poets of all ages, and special musical entertainment. All are welcome! Thursday, November 26, 2009 7:00 p.m. Henderson Hall 133 John St., Ingersoll, ON Sponsored by: The Ingersoll Times and The Corporation of the Town of Ingersoll For more information call the Clerk’s Office at (519) 485-0120 |
Holiday Decorating - Lunch & Learn in Ingersoll | 11/12/2009 |
Holiday Decorating, presented by the staff of Floral Occasions Spark your creativity! Learn easy, economical decorating tips to Deck Your Halls for the approaching holiday season! on Thursday November 12, 12:30-1:30 pm, at Lunch & Learn Lunch and Learn is a lunchtime series of informative programs for adults. Bring your lunch and listen to a variety of interesting speakers in the Ingersoll Library program room, on the second Thursday of the month. Coffee and tea provided. Call the library at 519-485-2505 for more information. |
Evergreen Award Voting | 10/28/2009 |
Evergreen Award Reading Program 2009 The voting for the Ontario Library Association Evergreen Award will take place during Ontario Public Library week: October 18-24,2009. Library patrons who have read a book from the nominated list of ten titles can cast their vote for their favourite book during Ontario Public library Week at any branch of Oxford County Library during library hours. Staff will have ballots for patrons to fill out. The winner will be announced in November by the Ontario Library Association and posted in each library. |
Language Learning Online | 10/27/2009 |
Byki Online Language Learning System Oxford County Library, in partnership with Transparent Language (Nashua, NH) and Recorded Books (Prince Frederick, MD), is pleased to introduce Byki® Online Library Edition, a new web-based language-learning system designed specifically for use by the patrons of public libraries. What is Byki? Byki, short for “Before You Know It,” is a rapid language learning method, taking users through a series of simple steps to memorize words and phrases in a new language, including their meanings and proper pronunciation, in the shortest possible time. Individual progress tracking and assessment tests help identify areas for improvement and move users in the right direction. It is available for learning over 70 Languages. How to Use It Library patrons can access Byki Online from inside or outside the library, via the web browser on Windows or Mac computers. Just click on the Byki logo on the library home page www.ocl.net. If you are outside the library, you will be prompted to enter your 14-digit Oxford County Library card number, to get to Oxford County Library's Byki site. Once you are there, click on "New User? Sign Up Now" and create a free account. From then on you can simply go to the library's Byki site and login. |
Writing Workshop Oct 17 | 10/17/2009 |
Feedback! How to Give and Receive a Constructive Critique: a writing workshop with Julia Penistan Saturday October 17, 2009 10:15 am to about 4 pm at Ingersoll Public Library $25.00 per person To register, please call the library at 519 485-2505 Ingersoll Public Library, a branch of Oxford County Library 130 Oxford St, Ingersoll ON, N5C 2V5 |
James McIntyre Poetry Contest 2009 | 10/9/2009 |
Attention poets! Enter the 2009 James McIntyre Poetry Contest for original poetry, sponsored by The Ingersoll Times and The Corporation of the Town of Ingersoll. The deadline for entries is Friday, October 9, 2009. For details, go to http://www.ingersoll.ca/pdf/2009_Poetry_Contest.pdf For an entry form, see http://www.ingersoll.ca/pdf/2009_Poetry_Contest_Entry_Form.pdf Anyone, of any age, may enter. For students, there are “age” categories by school grade. Poems may be in any type of rhyming verse, free verse, limerick, or haiku. Your poem may be on any subject. Please note that there are special awards for poems written on Ingersoll-related subjects, such as the history of Ingersoll, famous people of Ingersoll, Ingersoll today, and cheese. You may pick up a copy of the entry forms from the Town of Ingersoll offices or Ingersoll Public Library, 130 Oxford Street, Ingersoll ON. The Poetry Evening, where the winners will be honoured, will be held on the evening of Tuesday November 26, 2009, at 7 pm, in Henderson Hall. Henderson Hall is located at 133 John St. in Ingersoll. |
Lunch and Learn in Ingersoll | 10/8/2009 |
Lunch and Learn is a lunchtime series of informative programs for adults. Bring your lunch and listen to a variety of interesting speakers in the Ingersoll Library program room, on the second Thursday of the month, beginning October 8, from 12:30 to 1:30 pm. On Thursday October 8th from 12:30-1:30 pm we are holding our first Lunch and Learn program. The guest speaker is Professor Lynne McKechnie, from the Faculty of Information & Media Studies, at the University of Western Ontario. Her topic will be "Spiderman Is Not For Babies" (Peter, 4 years): the boys and reading problem from the perspective of the boys themselves. Call the library at 519-485-2505 for more information. Our previously announced speaker, Susan McPhail of My Sister's Place in London, has had to cancel because of illness. |
Overdrive downloadable audio books | 10/8/2009 |
New! Overdrive downloadable audio books Thanks to the Ontario Ministry of Culture’s $15 million investment in public libraries, Oxford County Library patrons now have access to the Overdrive collection of Downloadable audio books. To get access, go to http://downloadcentre.library.on.ca • Click on Login • Choose Oxford County Public Library from the alphabetical list of libraries • Enter your 14-digit Oxford County Library card number and PIN • If it is your first time using Overdrive, click on Getting Started > Quick Start Guide, to download, install, and activate the free software. • Browse or search to find a title of interest, add to your cart and check out. • You may check out 5 Overdrive audio books at a time, and can choose a loan period of 7 or 14 days. Holds can be placed on books that are loaned to another user. Details regarding loans, holds, and renewals are given in Getting Started> Digital Help FAQs. |
Lifescapes Memoir Writing Program | 10/7/2009 |
The success of the inaugural Lifescapes program has prompted Ingersoll Public Library to again offer the writing course beginning Wednesday October 7, at 1:30 pm. Lifescapes members meet approximately twice monthly from October through April 2010 at the library, reading and discussing literature and writing and sharing their own stories, with the publication of an anthology in May. Lifescapes encourages and assists participants to put pen to paper and record special memories for future generations. Lifescapes sessions will include writing exercises, and reading and offering critiques of each other's work. Guest speakers will include local memoir writers. The key to Lifescapes success is the use of memory triggers. These triggers help participants remember specific events that occurred during their lives, and then provide them with ideas on how to record these events on paper. Sharing stories with the group is also strongly encouraged and is an integral part of the program. Registration is required. If you are interested in this program, call Ingersoll Library at 519 485-2505 for more information or to register. |
Evergreen nominees 2009 | 6/24/2009 |
Looking for ideas for your summer reading list? Read Canadian! Take part in the Evergreen Award reading program. The Evergreen Award is one of Ontario Library Association’s Forest of Reading awards. Each year, ten works of Canadian fiction or non-fiction for adults are nominated for this award. Adult library patrons have the opportunity to vote for the title that they liked the most. The 10 titles nominated for 2009 are found here. Voting takes place in Ontario Public Library week, October 18-24, 2009. |
Summer Reading Club - Agent 009 | 6/4/2009 |
Join Oxford County Library's Summer Reading Club! Become an Agent 009 sleuth and have fun as a detective who finds the clues and solves the case. Visit your local branch of Oxford County Library for details and to register. Space is limited. |
Write a book review in the catalogue | 6/4/2009 |
Book Reviews by Readers! Imagine! Book reviews in Oxford County Library's web catalogue ... and the reviews are written by YOU! Imagine! Recommendations from other people in your community on what books to read, right in the catalogue! These book review features are available right now. Check them out by going to Oxford County Library's catalogue. Search for a book and you will see the invitation to Write a Review. If the book already has any reviews, you'll see the average reader rating (up to 5 stars) and a link to the reviews. That link also allows you to add your review to the others that are there. More about the reviews: Reviews are displayed from many libraries, not just Oxford County Library. If you look at any review, you will see the reviewer’s nickname and the geographical location of the original library. This means that the reviewer submitted the review to the online catalogue of a library in that geographic location. We are very interested in your feedback. Please send your questions or comments to Rosemary Lewis |
Food For Fines June 2009 | 6/1/2009 |
Food for Fines wll be held for the entire month of June, from June 1 to June 30, at every branch of Oxford County Library. Library users can pay fines for overdue books with a donation of non-perishable food. Just bring your food donation to the library service desk and ask the staff person to pardon your fines. All food will go to local Food Banks. |
Borrow a Meter program | 5/29/2009 |
BORROW A METER, SAVE A LOAD - Meter Loan Program Erie Thames Powerlines, in partnership with Oxford County Library and Elgin County Library, has provided meters that measure electricity use of 120 V appliances. By measuring the energy use of appliances in your home, you will have the information to make decisions that will reduce your electricity consumption and save money on your electricity bill. These devices are available at seven Oxford County Library branches (Burgessville, Norwich, Otterville, Ingersoll, Thamesford, Embro, and Tavistock). They can be borrowed for three weeks, just like a book, by anyone with an Oxford County Library card. Like a book, the devices can be place on hold and picked up at any branch of Oxford County Library. For a list of energy-saving programs and tips, go to the Erie Thames Powerlines website at www.eriethamespowerlines.com |
Writing Workshop May 22,23 | 5/22/2009 |
Exploring the Inner Rain Forest: an illustrated writing workshop for beginning and experienced writers with Soraya Erian Friday May 22, 2009 6:15-8:15 pm And Saturday May 23, 2009 10:15 am – 4 pm at Ingersoll Public Library, a branch of Oxford County Library 130 Oxford Street, Ingersoll N5C 2V5 To register, please call the library at 519 485-2505 $40.00 per person Join Soraya Erian in a creative exploration of the inner rain forest. Jump into labyrinths of the heart/mind/soul. Explore the flora and fauna. Recreate it in the forms of poetry, stream of consciousness, vignettes, fiction, and poetic prose. Use descriptive colour, texture, shape, and sound. Leave your fear outside your inner space, divest yourself of the trappings of conventional wisdom and visualize what you sense is of significance at the heart of universal existence. Discover different voices, listen to them and find out who they are. Flesh them out. Enjoy fellow participants' response to your creative writing in the comnfort of a safe environment where constructive remarks are encouraged. Poet, novelist, commentator, artist, Soraya Erian has published seven books of poetry and art, and two novels with her own paintings. Her latest novel, Mystic Loon, is a celebratory ode to Canada: the spirit of place, diverse population, triple founding cultures, and Canada's evolving symbiotic identity in the twenty-first century. Bring pens and paper. Coloured pencils, crayons, water colours are optional. |
Consumer Reports Database Now Available | 5/8/2009 |
Oxford County Library has purchased subscriptions to to two additional databases – Consumer Reports and Canadian Reference Centre - both from Ebsco. Consumer Reports: For expert and unbiased consumer information. Check it out! You’ll find “Canada Extra” in the lower left corner for Canadian products and ratings. Canadian Reference Centre: A database of magazine, newspaper, and journal articles, books, and government publications, focusing on Canada and Canadian sources. Links to these new databases are found on http://www.ocl.net/databases_links. If you are in a branch of Oxford County Library, your mouse click will take you directly to the database. If you are at home, you will be prompted for your 14-digit Oxford County Library card number. No library card? Get an online library card number (used only to access online databases) from our catalogue website. |
NY Times Bestseller Lists by Email | 4/1/2009 |
Oxford County Library is now adding two New York Times Bestsellers newsletters to our NextReads newsletters, the email newsletters that deliver great book suggestions right to your inbox. The new newsletters are: New York Times Hardcover Fiction Bestsellers New York Times Hardcover Nonfiction Bestsellers Each NYT newsletter will include the first 15 bestsellers on each list, along with a one-sentence description of the book. The two newsletters will be emailed to subscribers weekly, on Wednesdays, beginning on April 1. Like the other NextReads newsletters, there is a built-in catalogue link so you can see if Oxford County Library has a copy of the title and if it is in the library or checked out. To sign up, go to http://www.ocl.net/nextreads. All our NextReads newsletters are listed here. Sign up for as many as you like, and get great book suggestions by email! |
TumbleBooks library growing | 3/27/2009 |
TumbleBooks are online animated books for children to listen to or read at their own pace. Anyone can access them from Oxford County Library's main web page www.ocl.net. Simply click on the blue TumbleBook icon and choose your story. TumbleBooks has just announced that famed author and storyteller Robert Munsch is going back into the recording studio this spring in order to narrate 7 classic Munsch titles for TumbleBooks! The new titles will be: The Boy in the Drawer I Have to Go! Moira's Birthday Mud Puddle Purple, Green, and Yellow Something Good Stephanie's Ponytail Also, TumbleBooks is branching out from picture books to provide material for all elementary grades, so keep your eye out for new Early Readers and Chapter book read-alongs in the TumbleReadable category. Check the Coming Soon section to find what books have been recently licensed and are about to 'tumble'. The TumbleBook Library also features puzzles and games that correspond with the interactive storybooks. Read along with French, Chinese, Russian or Spanish books in the Language Learning section. Happy Tumbling! |
Ingersoll Library Cafe | 3/25/2009 |
NAME THE CAFÉ CONTEST I’m pleased to announce that the winner of Ingersoll Library’s Name the Café Contest is Maryellen Borndahl, for the name Bookends. Maryellen will receive a book and a book bag as her prize. There were three Honourable Mentions: Mary Vann for Bookmark Café and Hughie Montgomery for The Book-Mark, and Sarah Cameron for Novel Café. Each of these contestants will receive a book bag. Chief Librarian Lisa Miettinen’s entry of Page Turner Café was also an Honourable Mention – but Lisa already has a book bag! We really enjoyed reading through the entries! There were 70 entries in the contest, submitted by 37 individuals. I’d like to mention several very creative entries, just to give you the flavour: Mug A Book from J. Montgomery; Thirst Busters from Maddie Lantz; Java the Hutt from Vicki Wahl; and Rosemary’s Baby from Janet Whittington. Sadly, we are not able to provide these latter contestants with a prize, but we appreciated these humorous and esoteric entries. A big thank you to everyone who entered the contest! |
Journalism Writing Contest | 3/1/2009 |
It’s time to enter the first annual Interesting Ingersoll Journalism Writing Contest In Honour of Yvonne (Bonnie) Holmes Mott Open to everyone, including students and adults Deadline:Tuesday, March 31, 2009. 4:15 pm if turned in to the Ingersoll Municipal Offices; 8:15 p.m. if turned in to the Ingersoll Public Library. Contest Rules: Each entry is to be an article, written in journalistic style, describing one person who is somehow connected to Ingersoll or the immediate area. A maximum of three entries per person Each article to be between 300 and 1,000 words Typed or word-processed entries only No electronic submissions Entries to be judged by their writing style and content, not for the accomplishments or sentimental value of their subject Stories and their attached entry and permission forms must be delivered to either the Ingersoll Public Library or the Ingersoll Municipal Office, both at 130 Oxford Street, Ingersoll, N5C 2V5 by the deadline date and time. All forms must be fully completed, signed, and attached to entries. Permission to print winning articles must be obtained from subject for articles to win. These forms can be found on the Interesting Ingersoll Journalism Writing Contest web page: Interesting Ingersoll Prizes: - Publication in the Ingersoll Times with a by-line - Certificate - Eventual publication in a book Journalistic Style requires: - Third person narrative - The first paragraph to answer the 5 W’s: who, what, where, when, why - Objective writing- the writer’s opinion is not directly stated - Quotations from identified sources- including the subject- that express opinion Write it while there’s still time! |
Ancestry Library Edition Tutorial | 2/23/2009 |
Ancestry Library Edition: An Introduction Start your journey into discovering your family history with a demonstration of our on-line in-library database, Ancestry Library Edition. This is a free tutorial that will demonstrate how Ancestry Library Edition can assist you in your family history research. Where: Ingersoll Public Library, 130 Oxford Street, Ingersoll When: Monday, February 23 at 7 pm Topics include: - Vital statistics - Immigration Records - Census Returns - Military Records - Search tips Registration is required. Visit the library or call 519 485-2505 to register or for more information. |
Sea Creatures in Ingersoll Library | 2/12/2009 | |||||||||||||||
There's a dolphin, an octopus, a sea turtle, a crab, dozens of spiralling salmon, humpback whales, jellyfish, hammerhead sharks...
Ingersoll Library's exciting new mural, recently completed by artist Adam Brouse, presents an undersea theme painted in aquatic blues and greens. The mural is prominently located in the Children's Area, around the large windows on the library's east wall. The sea creatures are represented realistically, yet the muted colours and shadows suggest the play of light underwater, giving the sense that you really are under the sea, looking up at continually moving fish, mammals, and invertebrates. In particular, many people have commented on the dolphin, which is rendered so beautifully that it seems to be coming right out of the wall! Adam Brouse, originally from Woodstock, currently lives in London. His previous mural work includes the Children's Museum in London and Thamesford branch of Oxford County Library. Adam's work can be seen on his website adambrouse.com |
Get a Library Card for Online Use | 2/10/2009 |
Oxford County Library's New Online Library Card Our new Online Library Card allows you to use Oxford County Library's online databases and services without going to the library and getting a regular printed library card. To register for an Online card, go to Oxford County Library's web catalogue www.oxford.canlib.ca and click on "New to Oxford County Library?" in the upper right hand corner. After you register, you will receive an Online Library Card number. This 14-digit number allows you to login to all our databases and services requiring a library membership. These include resources for students, such as such as World Book Online, Decouverte, Canadian Reference Centre, Knowledge Ontario, and Canadian Points of View; resources for readers, such as NoveList and Literary Reference Centre; as well as Chilton Auto Repair Manuals, Auto Repair Reference Center, and Price It Antiques and Collectibles. A complete list of our databases can be found at www.ocl.net/databases_links . Downloadable audio books (audio books to play on your computer or mp3 player) are also available using your Online Library Card. The link for Downloadable audio books is found on the library's home page, www.ocl.net. NOTE: If you already have an Oxford County Library card, you can already access all our online databases and services using the 14-digit number on the printed card. You do not need to register for an additional Online card. NOTE: The Online Library Card is for online access to databases. It does not allow you to place a hold or borrow a book. If you wish to borrow books or place holds, please visit any branch of Oxford County Library to obtain a printed library card. Be sure to bring identification that includes your current address. Library branch information can be found at http://www.ocl.net/locations For further information or assistance with your Online Library Card, contact Rosemary Lewis. |
Name the Cafe Contest | 2/1/2009 |
Ingersoll Library's "Name the Cafe" Contest In 2008, the Ingersoll Library renovated the glass alcove looking out into the Town Centre’s beautiful foyer. Study carrels were removed and leather chairs were installed, along with a self-serve coin-operated coffee machine. Two varieties of coffee, café mocha, hot chocolate, and cappuccino are available. Adjacent to the magazine and newspaper area, this alcove is a comfortable and quiet spot to sit and read. With the addition of the coffee machine, a hot drink can be enjoyed along with a good read. In order to better promote this area, signage is to be installed, but first, the library café needs a name. Help us name our café alcove. Submit your suggestions on ballots available at the Ingersoll library service desk. Deadline for submissions is Saturday, February 21, 2009. Prizes will be awarded for the winning submission and honorable mentions. |
Canadian Points of View | 1/15/2009 |
Canadian Points of View Reference Centre™ is a full-text database designed to provide students with a series of essays that present multiple sides of a current issue. Thanks to funding from Knowledge Ontario,, it is now available online through Oxford County Library's website. The database provides information on 100 key topics of interest to Canadian researchers, each with an overview (objective background/description), point (argument), counterpoint (opposing argument), and Critical Thinking Guide. Topics covered include: environment, health, human rights, crime, race, technology, substance abuse, and many more. Canadian Points of View Reference Centre contains a balance of materials from all viewpoints, including 400 main essays, leading political magazines from both sides of the aisle, newspapers, radio & TV news transcripts, primary source documents, and reference books. The database also offers guides to debate, developing arguments and writing position papers. Additionally, this database contains the Video Encyclopedia of the 20th Century, providing students with a searchable collection of some of the most important social, political, and cultural moments of the 20th century. Canadian Points of View Reference Centre provides the basis from which students can realize and develop persuasive arguments and essays, better understand controversial issues and develop analytical thinking skills. Critical Thinking Guides for every topic covered helps the student judge Fact vs. Opinion and enhances the student's ability to read and think critically. For online access to the Canadian Points of View Reference Center, go to the library website database page http://www.ocl.net/databases_links and click on the link to Canadian Points of View. |
Auto Repair database | 1/15/2009 |
The Auto Repair Reference Center database is now available through Oxford County Library, thanks to funding from Knowledge Ontario. This database includes automotive repair information on most manufacturers of domestic and imported vehicles. The content includes over 30,000 vehicles from from 1945 to the present, drawings and step-by-step photographs, technical service bulletins and recalls, easily printed wiring diagrams, specifications, maintenance schedules, and more. All of the content in the Auto Repair Reference Center has been created by ASE certified technicians. For online access to the Auto Repair Reference Center, go to the library website database page http://www.ocl.net/databases_links/ and click on the link to Auto Repair Reference Center. |
L’Encyclopedie Decouverte Online | 12/30/2008 |
Oxford County Library has added a new feature to its World Book Online encyclopedia – L’Encyclopedie Decouverte Online! Ideal for the French Immersion student or the student or adult for whom French is a second language, Decouverte offers thousands of encyclopedia articles, a French visual dictionary, bilingual features allowing users to switch between French and English content, and two interfaces to make content accessible to all levels. To access Decouverte, click on the World Book Online link under Databases and Links. The Decouverte button is near the bottom of the page. From a library computer, access is automatic. If you are connecting from home or school, you will be prompted to enter your 14-digit Oxford County Library card number. |
McIntyre Poetry Anthologies | 12/22/2008 |
The James McIntyre Contest's 2007 Poetry Collection The James McIntyre Contest's 2008 Poetry Collection The 10 year James McIntyre Poetry Contest anthology was so popular that we're making it an annual publication! Every winning poem from 2007 and 2008 is published in a yearly anthology. You can purchase a copy of your winning poem, professionally printed and bound alongside the year's other winning poems, from the Town of Ingersoll: 100 pages (approx), 15w x 22h cm, spiral bound, paper cover $5.00 each (plus shipping & handling where applicable) Contact the Town of Ingersoll by email admstudent@ingersoll.ca or phone 519-485-0120. The James McIntyre Poetry Anthology 1997-2006 The first ten years of award-winning poems by students and adults in one volume Cheese, trains, families, friendship, memories The silly, the serious, and everything in between… it’s all here. Remember what you and your friends wrote; Proudly show off to your children and grandchildren 300 pages, 15w x 22h cm, spiral bound, paper cover $20.00 (plus shipping & handling where applicable) Contact the Town of Ingersoll by email admstudent@ingersoll.ca or phone 519-485-0120. Order now! |
Embro Public Library Renovated | 12/18/2008 |
Renovations to the interior of the Embro Public Library have recently been completed and the Library is settling into its newly arranged space. |
Holiday Hours | 12/17/2008 |
Please note that all Oxford County Library branches will be closed by 2:00 pm on Christmas Eve and New Year's Eve. Please call your local Oxford County Library branch location before venturing out to confirm available open hours on December 24 and 31. All Oxford County Library branches will be closed on December 25, 26, and January 1. |
Severe winter weather | 12/8/2008 |
PLEASE BE ADVISED There may be times this winter when the severity of the weather will make driving conditions so hazardous, our branch staff may not be able to make it in to work safely. Therefore, there may be times when the library will have to close early or remain closed. PLEASE – in the event of severe weather, phone ahead to make sure your library branchis open, before you venture out. |
Food For Fines Dec 2008 | 12/1/2008 |
Food for Fines wll be held for the entire month of December from Dec 1 to Dec 30, at every branch of Oxford County Library. Library users can pay fines for overdue books with a donation of non-perishable food. Just bring your food donation to the library service desk and ask the staff person to forgive your fines. All food will go to the Christmas Hampers and the Food Bank. |
Ancestry Library Edition Tutorial | 12/1/2008 |
Ancestry Library Edition: An Introduction Start your journey into discovering your family history with a demonstration of our on-line in-library database, Ancestry Library Edition. This is a free tutorial that will demonstrate how Ancestry Library Edition can assist you in your family history research. Where: Ingersoll Public Library, 130 Oxford Street, Ingersoll When: Monday, December 1, 2008 at 7 pm Topics include: - Vital statistics - Immigration Records - Census Returns - Military Records - Search tips Registration is required. Visit the library or call 519 485-2505 to register or for more information. |
Writing Workshop Nov 29 | 11/29/2008 |
The Art of Seeing: Writing Workshop with Gay Allison The Art of Seeing is an opportunity to look at the world differently, to see new things, or ordinary ones, from a new perspective. Come discover your vision! Gay Allison is a poet who was born in Saskatchewan. She is a writer and editor who gives workshops and readings across Canada. Saturday November 29, 2008 10:15 am - 4pm at Ingersoll Public Library, 130 Oxford Street, Ingersoll, Ontario $30.00 per person To register, please call the library at 519 485-2505 Please note that the midday break will be fairly short, so you are welcome to bring lunch with you. |
Plattsville Program Cancellation | 11/26/2008 |
Due to poor weather conditions, the song-writing workshop and musical performance by Kate Ashby-Craft scheduled for the Plattsville Public Library this evening has been cancelled. Ms. Ashby-Craft will be back to perform at the Plattsville Public Library in the spring of 2009. Please contact the Library at (519) 684-7390 for further details. |
Books for Children 2008 | 11/17/2008 |
GIVE THE GIFT OF READING Books for Children is a family literacy program which puts books in the hands and homes of children in need in Oxford County. You can donate a new board book, picture book, or chapter book suitable for a child from birth up to age 12; or you can make a financial contribution (tax receipts will be issued for donations of $10 or more). The books will be distributed through the Christmas hampers this year. Receive a discount when you buy a book (and donate it at the store) at: Merrifield’s in Woodstock, Rose Cottage Books in Tillsonburg, and Patina’s in Ingersoll. Drop off your new book at these locations: any branch of Oxford County Library, including Ingersoll Library; Woodstock Public Library; Tillsonburg Public Library; or one of the Ontario Early Years Centres in Oxford County (in Woodstock at 24 Light Street, in Ingersoll in Carr's Walkway (upper) 123 Oxford Street; and in Tillsonburg at The Livingstone Centre, 96 Tillson Ave). If you wish to make a financial donation, make out a cheque to: County of Oxford -- Books for Children campaign and mail it to County of Oxford, Box 397, Woodstock, Ontario, N4S 7Y3. |
Evergreen Award | 11/12/2008 |
The Book of Negroes by Lawrence Hill is the winning title of the 2008 Evergreen Award. The Evergreen Award is one of Ontario Library Association’s Forest of Reading awards. It gives adult library patrons the opportunity to vote for a work of Canadian fiction or non-fiction that they have liked the most. Thanks to those Oxford County Library patrons who participated in the program. Author Lawrence Hill will be presented with the award at the 2009 Ontario Library Association Super Conference. |
James McIntyre Poetry Contest 2008 | 10/9/2008 |
Attention poets! Enter the 2008 James McIntyre Poetry Contest for original poetry, sponsored by the Ingersoll Times and the Corporation of the Town of Ingersoll. The deadline for entries is Thursday October 9, 2008. Anyone, of any age, may enter. For students, there are “age” categories by school grade. Poems may be in any type of rhyming verse, free verse, limerick, or haiku. Your poem may be on any subject. Please note that there are special awards for poems written on Ingersoll-related subjects, such as the history of Ingersoll, famous people of Ingersoll, Ingersoll today, and cheese. For further information about entering the contest, or to download a copy of the entry form, click here. You may pick up a copy of the entry forms from the Town of Ingersoll offices or Ingersoll Public Library, 130 Oxford Street, Ingersoll ON. The Poetry Evening, where the winners will be honoured, will be held on the evening of Tuesday November 25, 2008. Further details of time and place will be forthcoming. |
Preloaded Audio Books Now Available | 10/6/2008 |
Preloaded digital audio books now available from Oxford County Library Now, in addition to downloadable audio books, available from the library’s website, the first pre-loaded digital audio books are available for loan from all branches of Oxford County Library. Playaway digital audio books from Recorded Books are an all-in-one product, lightweight, compact, and easy to use. Essentially an mp3 player, the Playaway comes with one audio book already pre-loaded. Just plug your earbuds or earphones into the universal jack, pop one AAA battery into the unit, and listen to a high quality recorded book at your speed, where you want to be – on a walk, in the car – and no downloading required! Using the simple keypad, listeners can adjust voice speed, and the automatic bookmarking feature saves your place. Oxford County Library has a starter collection of 36 Playaways in both Adult and Youth titles, and will add to the collection as interest grows. Playaways will be on the shelves of the Ingersoll Library, but can be placed on hold and delivered to any Oxford County Library branch for patron pick-up. To view the list of Playaway titles, visit the library catalogue at www.oxford.canlib.ca, or from the library homepage at www.ocl.net, and search for “playaway”. |
Passport to the Arts Ingersoll | 10/1/2008 |
Passport to the Arts Ingersoll is a unique, new festival celebrating arts, culture, heritage, and environment, for all ages, celebrated during the month of October 2008. The Ingersoll branch of Oxford County Library is proud to participate in Passport to the Arts Ingersoll 2008. For Ingersoll library's October programs, check the branch calendar, or phone the library at 519 485-2505. |
Genealogy Workshop Ingersoll | 9/29/2008 |
The History of You: a beginning genealogy workshop Start your journey into discovering your family history with Ingersoll Library's evening genealogy workshop. This is a free programme that will provide an overview of where to begin with family history, what records hold valuable information, and how to accurately document your research. This workshop will feature a demonstration of Ancestry Library Edition. Topics will include: Vital statistics, immigration records, land records, census returns, wills, military records, and municipal records. Monday, Sep 29th at 7 pm Pre-registration is required. Visit the library at 130 Oxford St in INgersoll, or call 519 485-2505 to register or for more information. |
Lifescapes program | 9/24/2008 |
Lifescapes : a seniors memoir writing program Lifescapes is a library program that can open a door of possibilities for seniors to reveal to family and friends their wonderful stories, memories, experiences, recollections and achievements. Lifescapes members will write about life experiences, but also link personal accounts to literature that is read and discussed during meetings over the course of nine months. Members will choose one of the memoirs that they have written to be published in a Lifescapes anthology book at the completion of the program. This program will be offered at several Oxford County Library branch locations. Pre-registration is required. For more information or to register for this program, please call or visit the library. Where: Ingersoll Public Library When: 9 months, meeting twice monthly, beginning Wednesday, Sep 24th, 1:30 – 3:30 pm Where: Norwich Public Library When: 9 months, meeting twice monthly, beginning Thursday, Sep 25th, 10:00 – 12:00 pm Where: Plattsville Public Library When: 9 months, meeting twice monthly, beginning Thursday, Sep 18th, 10:00 – 12:00 pm |
Price It! Antiques & Collectibles | 9/9/2008 |
Are you a collector of various which-its and what-nots? Maybe you inherited some interesting artifacts and want to know more about their value and background? Login to the Library's Price It! Antiques & Collectibles database to discover what your collectibles are worth, where they may be from, and how old they could be. This resource is available at any Oxford County Library branch location or from any computer with access to the Internet. Visit the Databases & Links page of the Library's website and click on the link to Price It! Antiques & Collectibles. |
Poetry Anthology Available | 8/20/2008 |
The James McIntyre Poetry Anthology 1997-2006 The first ten years of award-winning poems by students and adults in one volume Cheese, trains, families, friendship, memories The silly, the serious, and everything in between… it’s all here. Remember what you and your friends wrote; Proudly show off to your children and grandchildren 300 pages, 15w x 22h cm, spiral bound, paper cover $20.00 (plus shipping & handling where applicable) Contact the Town of Ingersoll by email eclark@ingersoll.ca or phone 519-485-0120 Order it now! |
Suspend Hold - new feature! | 8/18/2008 |
Suspend a Hold – New Feature available to web catalogue users Suspending a Hold: • allows you to delay getting a hold item for a period of time, without losing your place in the queue. Suspend Holds when: • you are going away and don’t want to receive any books until you return • you have too many books to read and want to delay getting some of them • you are reading a series in order and want to delay a title How to Suspend a Hold • go to the web catalogue www.oxford.canlib.ca • For a new hold, login (in the upper right hand corner), then find a book title, and click Place Hold • For an existing hold, login to My Account, select Review My Account, and click Edit Hold: • Here is an example of the screen you will see: • Click on the uppermost little calendar to choose the suspension start date: this date begins the suspension period in which you do not want to receive your hold. • Click on the other little calendar to choose the suspension end date: this date ends the suspension period. On this date, the system will begin to try to fill the hold. Things to remember when suspending a hold: • If you Suspend a hold, you will NOT receive the hold item during the time of the suspension (the time between the two dates). • During the time your hold is suspended, the item may be checked out to another person or be used by the system to fill other people’s holds. • Suspending a hold does not guarantee that a user will receive the hold on the suspension end date. On the suspension end date, the system is reactivated to attempt to fill the hold. You will get your hold item when the item becomes available and your hold is the first in the queue. • If you enter only the suspension start date and have no suspension end date, your hold will be suspended indefinitely, and you will not receive the item. • The suspension start date cannot be earlier than the current date and time, and cannot be later than the suspension end date. • If you have any problems suspending a hold, please contact your Oxford County Library branch supervisor(http://www.ocl.net/locations/ ) or email rlewis@ocl.net |
New Genealogy Resource | 6/27/2008 |
Calling all genealogists and historical researchers! Oxford County Library now subscribes to Ancestry Library Edition, a database that indexes genealogical records from Canada, the United Kingdom, and the United States. Primary sources are included in full-text and as enhanced images that are both searchable and viewable. Canadian collections also include: Ancestry Library Edition is available at each Oxford County Library branch location, however open hours and computer usage times are limited at the small rural branches. Researchers are encouraged to visit the larger Oxford County Library branch locations to access this new resource. Please note, that Oxford County Library does not take computer bookings and visitors are not guaranteed a public computer. This database is accessible from the Oxford County Library’s wireless network, available at ten branches, during library open hours. Bring your laptop and browse or search the database as long as the library is open. Note: printing is not available from the wireless network. The wireless network is available at ten of our thirteen Oxford County Library branches (Harrington, Ingersoll, Innerkip, Mount Elgin, Norwich, Otterville, Plattsville, Princeton, Tavistock, and Thamesford). For further details and to inquire about the best time to visit the Library contact the Oxford County Library branch you wish to visit. |
Summer Reading Club 2008 | 6/17/2008 |
Every summer children can improve their reading skills and reduce summer learning loss while having fun! Children are invited to register at the Library for the TD Summer Reading program. This summer, children will Laugh Out Loud through fun books, hilarious crafts, kooky activities, side-splitting games, and a myriad of funny children's performers. Laugh Out Loud is sure to tickle the funny bone and offer giggles galore. Comedy, jokes, riddles, and funny stories will abound. Join us at the library for some rib-tickling laughs. The Summer Reading program runs from July 2 until the end of August. Contact your local Oxford County Library branch for further details or to pre-register. |
Evergreen Reading Program | 6/17/2008 |
The Evergreen Reading Program Oxford County Library is a registered participating library in the 2008 Ontario Library Association Evergreen Reading Award ™ Program. It gives adult library patrons the opportunity to vote for their favourite work of Canadian fiction or non-fiction from the list of 10 nominated titles. Oxford County Library has copies of all titles. Voting takes place through library ballot boxes during Ontario Public Library Week 2008, October 20-26. This summer, why not take part in the Evergreen Reading Program, and let us help you choose your vacation reads! For a list of the nominated Evergreen titles, go to: www.accessola.com/forest08evergreen/index.html For more information, visit one of our Oxford County Library branches. Why let the kids have all the fun? |
David Gilmour at Elmhurst | 6/13/2008 |
OCL Strategic Plan | 6/12/2008 |
Oxford County Library Board adopted the Strategic Plan Report 2008-2012, at their meeting of May 26, 2008. The Board’s Strategic Planning Process was facilitated by dmA Planning & Management Services. |
Community Poetry Reading | 6/11/2008 |
All are welcome to attend! Community Poetry Reading sponsored by Poets' Circle on Wednesday June 11, 7 to 8:30pm at Ingersoll Public Library 130 Oxford Street, Ingersoll ON 519 485-2505 Please join us! - if you'd love to hear original poetry - if you want to support the writing and writers of your local community - if you have some poetry you'd just love to share - if you want to practice your public reading skills or gain experience before a live audience. For more information about reading your poetry at this event, please call Janice at 519 485-2367. |
Food for Fines June 2008 | 6/1/2008 |
Food for Fines wll be held for the entire month of June, from June 1 to June 30, at every branch of Oxford County Library. Library users can pay fines for overdue books with a donation of non-perishable food. Just bring your food donation to the library service desk and ask the staff person to forgive your fines. All food will go to the Food Bank. |
Concert for Alexandra Hospital | 5/31/2008 |
Concert to benefit Alexandra Hospital Emergency Room Anwyn Musico with Stuart Harrison Saturday, May 31st; at 7.00pm Trinity United Church, Church Street, Ingersoll Tickets: $15 adults, $10 seniors/child Available: Patina's, in Ingersoll, and Merrifield Books, in Woodstock Anwyn Musico and Stuart Harrison are international professional performers, but they remember their roots, Ingersoll. These two young artists want to say ‘thank you’ to the people who nurtured their youthful aspirations. What better way to help every age group in their community than to bring their talents home and help raise funds for the emergency room at Alexandra Hospital? Anwyn has performed roles such as Belle (Beauty and the Beast), Morales (Chorus Line), Lilly (Secret Garden), and Prissy Andrews (Anne of Green Gables). Last summer she placed 2nd in a national search for a triple threat performer (singer/dancer/actor) on the CBC production Triple Sensation. She has had the pleasure of performing with Doug LaBrecque (Phantom of the Opera/Les Mis) and as a soloist with the Pittsburgh Symphony under the direction of Marvin Hamlisch. In the Fall she will join the cast of The Sound of Music at the Princess of Wales Theatre Toronto. Stuart began at a young age, winning accolades at music festivals for his talent as a pianist. He gained invaluable experience and memories as an organist, accompanist, and as a cocktail and competitive classical pianist. He graduated from the prestigious Jazz Performance course at the University of Toronto. During that time, he worked with numerous production companies, theatre groups, jazz groups, toured as a composer and music director with the Garden Brothers Circus, and started his own music production company, Stu Harrison Music Ltd. In 2006 he joined with Merriam Music in Oakville as a curriculum consultant and teacher; he currently holds a full-time position there. He divides his time between Merriam, performing a dozen or so shows a month, and writing/arranging for his upcoming jazz piano trio album. They will be joined on stage by Ted Comiskey and Danielle Penny. Ted, a local performer and founder of Ingersoll's Canterbury Festival, is known for his melodious Irish (by way of Zorra) voice and a repertoire that spans old war songs, folk songs and his original compositions. Danielle, an Ingersoll teenager, will represent the young and hopeful talent of the future. She has sung and acted in many local plays and most recently won the coveted role of Dorothy in The Wizard of Oz at St Mary’s High School. The concert will span the musical spectrum of jazz, classical, folk, musical theatre, and popular music, offering something for everyone. Most importantly, it will ‘give back’ to the community. |
Kate Ashby-Craft | 5/21/2008 |
Come join Independent Recording Artist Kate Ashby-Craft as she takes you behind the scenes of the world of songwriting. You will not only learn about the types of songwriters, where the inspiration for songs come from, songwriting structure and the different genres that songs are written in, but you will also hear about the business side of songwriting. Everything from copyright to publishing to how that song you hear on the radio actually got there. Kate will also be performing some of her own original songs.
Date: Saturday May 17, 2008 Place: Princeton Public Library, 25 Main Street, Princeton Time: 7 till 8 pm Tickets: pick up up your tickets for this free event at Princeton Library, or call 519 458-4416. Date : Wednesday, May 21, 2008 Place : Ingersoll Public Library, Ingersoll Town Centre, 130 Oxford St., Ingersoll Time : 7 till 8 pm Tickets : pick up up your tickets for this free event at Ingersoll Library, or call 519 485-2505. “….Kate has a rather bluesy, soulful voice that almost has an operatic feel to it, very powerful indeed and if you’re looking for music that will inspire and uplift, then have a listen to Kate Ashby-Craft.” Francesco Emmanuel, Muse’s Muse Toronto ON Kate’s new CD “Love Is All There Is” was nominated for 4 Music Awards in the 2007 Toronto Exclusive Magazine Awards for all of Canada. For more information please visit www.kateashbycraft.com |
Charles Mountford Poetry Reading | 5/14/2008 |
Charles Mountford will read from his latest book, The Thing on the Comb, on Wednesday May 14, at 7 pm, at the Ingersoll Public Library. This poetry reading is supported by the League of Canadian Poets and the Canada Council for the Arts. All are welcome! Charles Mountford is a Canadian writer and poet, residing in Stratford. |
Family Literacy Day - Ingersoll | 4/11/2008 |
Family Literacy Day has been re-scheduled! It will be held at Ingersoll Public Library on Saturday April 12, from 10:30 am to noon. The theme is Laugh Out Loud For Literacy. Your whole family will have a blast! Featuring... - Mother Goose - Local Celebrity Guest Readers - Crafts for Children - Laughter Yoga with Miss Gail - and a free book for every child Sponsored by Early Years Oxford, Oxford County Library, and Ingersoll Public Library. |
Writing Workshop Apr 11,12 | 4/11/2008 |
Exploring the Inner Night Sky: a writing workshop with Soraya Erian Friday April 11, 2008, from 6:00-8:15 pm And Saturday April 12, 2008, from 10:15 am – 4 pm at Ingersoll Public Library $45.00 per person To register, please call the library at 519 485-2505. Join Soraya Erian through a galaxy of images, sounds, dreams, and inner/outer reality to immerse yourself in the transforming power of the written word. With clear imagination, heart/mind/soul, come and lose yourself to find your voice. Soraya Erian is a writer and artist with seven books of poetry and drawings, two novels with her own paintings, plus numerous articles on social/political issues published in The Hamilton Spectator and The Ottawa Citizen. |
Online holds for Book Club in a Bag | 3/31/2008 |
We are happy to announce a new feature for Book Club in a Bag: You can now place an online hold for any Book Club in a Bag title. Login at http://oxford.canlib.ca with your library card number and PIN and place a hold on a Book Club in a Bag, just like any other title. Of course, you can still get a Book Club in a Bag by contacting the staff at your library branch. Book Club in a Bag -- The Basics Have you wanted to be part of a Book Club but didn’t want to have to organize it yourself, choose the books, scrounge up enough copies, and come up with interesting discussion questions? If so, then Oxford County Library’s “Book Club in a Bag” may be all you need! A Book Club in a Bag is: • a set of multiple copies (usually 8) of a title • the same number of copies of a Reading Group Guide • packed in a convenient canvas tote bag Choose a title We have over 100 titles, including 8 titles for teens. All the titles are suitable for book discussion groups and reading groups. Most are literary fiction, but some titles are biography or other nonfiction. To find a list of titles, go to the Oxford County Library web catalogue http://www.oxford.canlib.ca and click on Book Club in a Bag in the upper right corner. You can choose from Adult or Teen titles. Place a Hold on a Book Club in a Bag Your Book Club can designate one person to place a hold for a Book Club in a Bag title. You can place the hold online in the web catalogue (Login at http://oxford.canlib.ca with your library card number and PIN) or ask a staff member from your library branch to place the hold. Flexible check out The person who ordered the Book Club in a Bag will be called or emailed when the bag arrives at the branch. Club members can come in individually to check out their copy, OR the person who placed the hold can check out all copies on behalf of the club members. The Loan Period for Book Club in a Bag is completely flexible. The items may be checked out for the usual 3 week loan or for a longer loan period, eg. 6 weeks, depending on the needs of your Book Club. So… get a group together, choose a title from the list, place a hold, and pick up your Book Club in a Bag at your Branch. And Talk Till You Drop! |
Ingersoll Blood Donor Clinics | 3/27/2008 |
You have what it takes to save lives! Ingersoll Blood Donor Clinic Thursday, March 27 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. C.A.W. Hall 364 Victoria St., Ingersoll Upcoming clinics May 22, July 24, September 25, & November 27. For more information or to book an appointment, call: 1 888 2 DONATE, 1 888 236-6283 |
Laughter Yoga at Ingersoll | 3/5/2008 |
Ingersoll Public Library presents a 7-week session of Laughter Yoga. Laughter Yoga (Hasya Yoga) is a physically oriented technique that uses a blend of playful, empowering, and otherwise "tension-releasing" simple laughter exercises. Laughter Yoga is done as a way to improve health, increase well-being, and promote peace in the world through personal transformation. It is non-religious, non-sectarian, and non-political. Free! All ages and fitness levels welcome. Please contact Ingersoll Library at 519 485-2505 to register for the Laughter Yoga sessions. 7 week session - Feb. 5, 12, 19, 26, March 4, 18, 25 at 7 p.m. |
Pedometers available | 2/29/2008 |
Pedometers* (Step Counters)are now available at Oxford County Library branches. Borrow a pedometer, the same way you borrow a book, at your local branch of Oxford County Library. With the pedometer you will receive “Let’s Get Active – One Step at a Time” (information sheet), giving instructions for using a pedometer, and a log sheet for you to record the number of steps you take each day. All the pedometers at your branch checked out? Pedometers can be placed on Hold, just like books, through our web catalogue. Type pedometer in the search box, click on Place Hold and log in to your account. For more information about pedometers, contact: Oxford County Public Health & Emergency Services 519-539-9800 or 1-800-755-0394 *Pedometers are small, battery-operated devices used to count steps. You wear a pedometer attached to a belt or waistband, in line with your knee and foot. Pedometers are used as motivators for fitness and activity. Oxford County Public Health and Emergency Services and the Oxford Heart Health Network have provided these pedometers to Oxford County Library. |
Subscribe to our NEW Library e-Newsletter! | 2/29/2008 |
Want to know what’s happening at your local Oxford County Library branch location? Sign up for the Oxford County Library Newsletter – OCL @ Your Service – through NextReads and receive updates on Library events, programs, and services by e-mail. Subscribe to NextReads today! Go to www.ocl.net/nextreads, the newsletter sign-up page. Sign up to receive as many newsletters as you would like, and immediately, you’ll receive the most recent issue. The OCL @ Your Service newsletter will be published quarterly. The OCL @ Your Service newsletter includes information on new and existing services, upcoming events, and special topic details. Keep informed of what’s happening at your local library branch and learn something new about what Oxford County Library has to offer. |
Laughter Yoga at Norwich | 2/2/2008 |
Norwich Public Library presents a 6-week session of Laughter Yoga. Laughter Yoga (Hasya Yoga) is a physically oriented technique that uses a blend of playful, empowering, and otherwise "tension-releasing" simple laughter exercises. Laughter Yoga is done as a way to improve health, increase well-being, and promote peace in the world through personal transformation. It is non-religious, non-sectarian, and non-political. Free! All ages and fitness levels welcome. Please contact Norwich Library at 519 863-3307 to register for the Laughter Yoga sessions. 6 week session - Feb. 2, 9, 16, March 1, 15, 22 10:30-11:30 a.m. Norwich Public Library 10 Tidey St. Norwich, ON Phone: 519 863-3307 |
Otterville Library Moving | 12/21/2007 |
Otterville Public Library is moving to a new location in early January 2008. The new library location at 207 Main Street West is a stone’s throw from the current location, at 218 Main Street West. The new space is considerably more spacious than the old, and will offer much-improved programming space, as well as areas for comfortable seating, a separate youth section, a picture book sloped reading table, and a book sale table. There is also room to allow an additional public access computer. The building’s owner, Mr. Justus Veldman, will be installing a wheelchair ramp at the front of the building and an accessible family washroom. He and his staff will be building custom shelving and a service desk for library staff. Otterville’s Branch Supervisor, Robin Lauzon, is thrilled about the move. “This is going to be such a shot in the arm for the community.” Already, offers to help with the move have been pouring in. The move will take place January 2nd and 3rd. It will be necessary to close the library during this time, but the closure will be kept to a minimum. The library will re-open on Saturday, January 5th. |
Library Facility Planning Study | 12/12/2007 |
December 12, 2007 The Facility Planning Study for Oxford County Library as prepared by Jim Morgenstern, Principal Consultant, dmA Planning and Management Service, was received by County Council at its December 12 meeting. “We needed to build on the recommendations brought forth in last year’s Operational Review, with a view to the changing roles of libraries and how our existing facilities and services can be improved,” said Don McKay, Oxford County Library Board Chair. There are 21 Recommendations coming out of the report. The 13 branches of the Oxford County Library system have been grouped into Large, Medium, and Small branch categories, based on accepted library guidelines, population projections, and performance measures and demographics of each branch. Square footage, collection size, weekly hours of operation, programming levels, and the number of public access computers were some of the areas specifically addressed, as well as the role of area municipalities with regard to support for small branch facilities. The guidelines set for each class of library will serve as a long-range planning tool for the Board’s decisions regarding future facility requirements. Already, the Board is acting on the recommendation that the Otterville branch be replaced in order to establish a more functional branch library, relocating it to a larger facility in the village in early January. In his presentation to Council, Morgenstern commented that a user survey indicated “extremely high levels of satisfaction, but as well, a number of suggestions for improvement to the system”. The Facility Planning Study Final Report and Planning Context Report are now available. |
In the event of severe winter weather | 12/3/2007 |
PLEASE BE ADVISED There may be times this winter when the severity of the weather will make driving conditions so hazardous, our branch staff may not be able to make it in to work safely. Therefore, there may be times when the library will have to close early or remain closed. PLEASE – in the event of severe weather, phone ahead to make sure your library branch is open, before you venture out. |
James McIntyre Poetry Evening 2007 | 11/22/2007 |
The James McIntyre Poetry Evening, to honour the winners of the 2007 Poetry Contest, will be held on Thursday November 22, at 7 pm, at Henderson Hall. Please note the change of venue from previous years! This stellar evening will include the presentation of awards by Mayor Paul Holbrough and former Mayor Michael Hennessy, reading of the first prize poems by Gail Mackay, and a musical interlude by Ted Comiskey. All are welcome! Henderson Hall is located at 133 John Street in Ingersoll. The James McIntyre Poetry Contest and Poetry Evening are sponsored by The Ingersoll Times and the Town of Ingersoll. |
Poetry Contest Winners 2007 | 11/16/2007 |
STUDENT CATEGORY: Rhyming – Gr 3&4 HM – Karly Mabee – The Harvest Festival 3rd – Alex Barbieri - CAMI 2nd – Taylor Nicholson - Church 1st -- Elora Tung – Ballet Studio Rhyming – Gr 5&6 3rd – Brent McSwiggan – Guitar Hero 2nd – Jason Peacock – Planet Poplen, The Planet of Cheese vs. Planet Limonite 1st – Mikayla Pacheco – Apple Pie Rhyming – Gr 7&8 3rd – Jordyn McCloskey - Needles 2nd – Cole Davidson – The Moo of All Moos 1st – Santina Commisso - Acting Best Commercial Rhyme Brandon Schneider - McNabs Cheese Poems – Gr 3&4 HM – Daniel Lindsay – I Love Cheese 3rd – Dana Barnard - Cheese 2nd – Julian Gillespie-Wilson - Cheese 1st – Alex Rice - Cheese Cheese Poems – Gr 5&6 3rd – Maxwell Chevrier – There Once Was a Gigantic Cheese.. 2nd – Karlene Dowhaniuk – Attack of the Stinky Cheese 1st – Nicole Geertsen – Sometimes Strong Cheese Poems – Gr 7&8 HM – Allyson Gillies – Pass the Cheese 3rd – Jenny Roefs – I Walked … 2nd – Andrew Kohlen – The Final Cheese 1st – Jordyn McCloskey - Cheese Free Verse – Gr 3-6 2nd – Sam Shillington – My Party 1st – Sam Mishchenko - Rain Free Verse – Gr. 7&8 2nd – Abbe Hoekstra – Autumn Leaves 1st – Sidney Ring - Canadian Flag Haiku – Gr 3&4 1st – Elora Tung - Wind Haiku – Gr 5&6 Shanleigh Hoyland – Black Cats Haiku – Gr 7&8 Jesse Shelton - Flowers Ingersoll – Gr 3&4 3rd – Megan White - Ingersoll 2nd – Nicholas Coombs - Ingersoll 1st – Aiden Wahl – My Dog Loves Ingersoll Ingersoll – Grade 5&6 1st – Mekia Pembleton – The Tree in the Wind Limericks – All Grades 2nd – Noah Schoenberger – Louie’s 1st – John Ryan – Man from Kentucky Acrostic – All Grades 1st – Brandy Howlett - Elizabeth Best Poem About War – All Grades 1st – Jordan Pacheco – Canadians in Kandahar Free Verse – Highschool 1st – Nicole Mannell – Recipe for Heartbreak Haiku – Highschool Kayla Goodwin – Global Warming ADULT CATEGORY: Long Rhyming Poems 1st – Janice McDonald – Quilted Dreams Short Free Verse HM – Elizabeth Bustard – Midnight Swim HM – Janice McDonald - *Name Changed to Protect the Nice 3rd – Winnifred Harris – Night of the Owl 2nd – Barb Coleing - Revival 1st – Rick Tanner – Small Things Long Free Verse 2nd – Helena Hodivoianu - Fate 1st – Winnifred Harris – Domestic Goddess Limericks 2nd – Gary Miller – O Clio… 1st – Gary Miller – Inspire Me… Ingersoll 1st – Debbie Wilson - Ingersoll Others 2nd – Laura Forbes – The Alphabet Zoo 1st – Janice McDonald - Instead Cheese Poet Laureate’s Award for the Best Dairy Ode 2nd – Sheila Robinson – A Very Cheesy Poem 1st – Mary Smith – The Town… |
Flu Clinics | 11/5/2007 |
For a schedule of community flu clinics, click here |
Web Catalogue unavailable Nov 4, 5pm | 11/4/2007 |
On Sunday, Nov.4, beginning at 5:15 p.m., the Unicorn server, the library's catalogue server, will be shut down for an operating system upgrade. We have been informed that the the upgrade will take a maximum of 16 hours. This means that the Oxford County Library web catalogue will be unavailable for book searching, placing holds, checking accounts, etc. from 5 pm on Sunday Nov 4 until Monday at 9 am. We are sorry for this inconvenience. |
Writing Workshop Nov 3 | 10/24/2007 |
Plan to attend Editing and Publishing, a writing workshop for Poets and Prose Writers, with Gay Allison. The workshop will be held on Saturday November 3, 2007, from 10:15 am - 4pm, at Ingersoll Public Library.
The cost is $30.00 per person. To register, please call the library at 519 485-2505. If you drop off a piece of your writing at the library, or email jkpennistan@porchlight.ca before October 27th, Gay will read your work and prepare feedback, and, if you give permission, she may share it with the group. For more information contact Julia at 519 475-9056. Gay Allison is a Saskatchewan poet and feminist who lives in Stratford. |
Norwich Library's Anniversary Event | 10/16/2007 |
Norwich Library celebrated its first anniversary in its new location at 10 Tidey Street. The festivities were held Saturday, October 20th. Activities for children of all ages were available in the form of harvest-themed crafts, giant chess, and games such as Wii, Guitar Hero, and Dance Dance Revolution. Check out the variety of services and resources that the Norwich Library has to offer by visiting 10 Tidey Street, Norwich or contact the Norwich Library at (519) 863-3307. 1st Anniversary Celebration of the New Norwich Library Building A year ago in space formerly occupied by Allan’s Apple Cider place The opening of the beautiful new Norwich Library took place With computers, games, and loads of new books for all ‘Twas a wonderful facility that opened last fall New activities such as book clubs, movies, and Knit Wits to name just a few Plus toys for the kids that are all brand new For all of the patrons, whatever they ask The staff of the library will be up to the task Our heartfelt thanks go out to the committee For raising the funds that furnished the library and made it look pretty The citizens of Norwich and area stepped up to the plate With their generous donations which helped to Ensure the library’s wonderful fate This beautiful facility, I think you can see Will serve generations of citizens, I’m sure you’ll agree Thank you to Judy Johnson for writing this tribute to the Norwich Library on its first anniversary. |
Evening with Margaret Trudeau | 10/5/2007 |
McIntyre featured in Scotland | 10/5/2007 |
On Friday, September 28, 2007, an article by Jeremy Hodges, entitled "An Ode to Scotland's Cheesiest Poet", was published in the Scottish Daily Mail. "Scotland's Cheesiest Poet" is Ingersoll's James McIntyre, after whom our community poetry contest is named, and who wrote the first Dairy Odes, or poems about cheese, milk, or dairying. To view a copy of the article, click here, then click on the Scottish Daily Mail link at the bottom of the page. |
Children’s Programs at the Library | 10/2/2007 |
The Oxford County Library is the place to be this autumn! From puppets to reptiles, science to history, music to dress-up, you’ll find it all at the Library. And best of all, these programs are available to you FREE of charge! Look at our events flyer to see what’s happening at all Oxford County Library branches. Space is limited. Please call early to guarantee your seat for the event. |
Ingersoll library closed 10-2:30 Mon Oct 1 | 10/1/2007 |
Ingersoll Public Library will be CLOSED on Monday October 1 from 10 am to 2:30 pm for Staff Development. That is, the library will open at 2:30 pm, and will close at its regular time of 8:30 pm. The library will also be CLOSED on Monday Oct 8 for Thanksgiving. |
Attention Mac Computer & Netscape Users | 9/27/2007 |
If you use an Apple Macintosh computer and/or Netscape web browser to access the Internet, you may experience problems in accessing or navigating some of the library’s databases. At present, these problems are only an issue with the Chilton Auto Repair Manuals database. The help menu of the Chilton’s database states: Note: Problems may arise when using a Netscape web Browser or Mac based web interfaces. The following browser and system requirements are needed in order to access the Chilton’s database: The ChiltonLibrary System Recommendations and Requirements are as follows: Recommended: * Internet Explorer version 5.0 or higher for a PC * High speed internet access (DSL or Cable) * Screen resolution that is greater than 1024 x 768 for optimum visual experience Required: * Internet Access (at least 56k modem * Internet Explorer 5.0 or higher (Windows) or Firefox 1.0 or higher (Windows) * JavaScript must be enabled * Adobe Acrobat Reader Will not run on: * Browsers with JavaScript disabled The Library will continue to post information on this matter as updates arise. We apologize for any inconvenience this may cause. |
Chilton’s Online Adds More Imports | 9/6/2007 |
Chilton has recently added more import make and model content to the Chilton's Auto Repair Manuals Online database. Access the database from the above link, or visit the Library’s Databases & Links page, and click on “Chilton Auto Repair Manuals”. Look at the list of import vehicles added to the database or search the database for the vehicle you’re working on right now. We would love to hear from you! Tell us what you think of the Chilton’s database by sending your comments to Cristina McLaren. |
Film: Oxford County Jail | 9/6/2007 |
Film by R. Bruce Flowers "Oxford County Jail" to kick off Doors Open Oxford on Friday, Sept. 7th at 7pm. One of two films playing at Theatre Woodstock - free admission. See attached press release for more info. |
James McIntyre Poetry Contest 2007 | 9/5/2007 |
Attention poets! This is your chance to enter the 2007 James McIntyre Poetry Contest for original poetry, sponsored by the Ingersoll Times and the Corporation of the Town of Ingersoll. The deadline for entries is Thursday October 11, 2007. Anyone, of any age, may enter. For students, there are “age” categories by school grade. Poems may be in any type of rhyming verse, free verse, limerick, or haiku. Your poem may be on any subject. Please note that there are special awards for poems written on Ingersoll-related subjects, such as the history of Ingersoll, famous people of Ingersoll, Ingersoll today, and cheese. For further information about entering the contest, or to download a copy of the entry form, click here. You may pick up a copy of the entry forms from the Town of Ingersoll offices or Ingersoll Public Library, 130 Oxford Street, Ingersoll ON. The Poetry Evening, where the winners will be honoured, will be held on the evening of Thursday November 22, 2007. Further details of time and place will be forthcoming. |
Movies at the Library | 8/10/2007 |
Did you know the Library is showing movies? From new releases to Disney favourites; from old classics to movies not yet available at the movie rental store. A movie wouldn’t be complete without the big screen and the theatre-style popcorn, and the Library has it all! Call or visit your local Oxford County Library branch to find out more details about movies at the Library! |
Pirate Shows in August | 8/1/2007 |
Join us for magic, music, and pirate mayhem at Captain Corbin’s Reading Treasures show. Captain Corbin – a slightly confused magical pirate – entertains children of all ages with magic and music in tune with this year’s TD Summer Reading theme, “Lost Worlds”. This literacy-based program will teach children about the treasures of reading. Enrollment in the Library’s Summer Reading program is not required in order to attend Captain Corbin’s show. Captain Corbin will be visiting three Oxford County Library branches during August: Mount Elgin Public Library, August 1st, 7:00 pm Norwich Public Library, August 18th, 10:30 am Innerkip Public Library, August 18th, 1:30 pm You won’t want to miss out on the fun. Families welcome. Call or visit any of these three branches to reserve your seat today! |
Summer Reading Club - Discover Lost Worlds | 7/3/2007 |
The Summer Reading Club is a library program for children who are beginning to read or are reading independently. Please visit your local library branch before July 3 to register. The 2007 Summer Reading Club theme is “Lost Worlds”, which includes archaeology, adventures and expeditions, time travel, hidden treasures and pirates, lost civilizations, buried cities, tales and mythology, and much more. Discover the treasures of reading! Each child registered for the program will receive a reading logbook, a poster, and stickers. Contests, prizes, reading games, and programs. Contact your local library branch for details. Check out the Lost Worlds suggested reading lists and don't forget to visit the official Lost Worlds website. The Summer Reading Club is, once again, sponsored by the TD Financial Group and developed by the staff at the Toronto Public Library, with assistance from staff at Ottawa Public Library and Library & Archives Canada. |
Beryl Baigent Book Launch at Thamesford Library | 6/28/2007 |
The Thamesford Public Library Advisory Committee (TPLAC) is hosting a book launch in the Beaty Room on Thursday, June 28/07 at 7:00 p.m. 'And A Branch Shall Grow: The Irish Connection' is Welsh/Canadian poet, author and Thamesford resident Beryl Baigent's latest collection of poems. She will read about the lives of seven courageous women, all members of her family in Ireland, England, Wales and Canada. Jennifer White, Celtic harpist will share her music and talent. Admission is free and refreshments will be served. TPLAC appreciates the support of the Canada Council for the Arts and the League of Canadian Poets for this event. |
New! Chilton’s Auto Repair Manuals Online | 6/20/2007 |
Need information about auto repair and maintenance? The Library can help! Find your vehicle make and model online through the Library’s Chilton Auto Repair Manuals database. Locate the information you need to make the repairs or maintenance work on your vehicle and print the pages that you need. This resource is available to you at the library or from any computer with an Internet connection. Simply click on the link above or visit the Library’s Databases & Links page, and click on “Chilton Auto Repair Manuals”. We would love to hear from you! Tell us what you think of the Chilton’s database by sending your comments to Cristina McLaren. |
Community Poetry Reading June 13 | 6/13/2007 |
A community Poetry Reading, sponsored by Poets’ Circle, a poetry writing group, will be held Wednesday June 13, at 7 pm in the Ingersoll Library program room. The library is located at 130 Oxford St. in Ingersoll, on the main floor of the Town Centre building. Refreshments will be served, and everyone is welcome! If you would like to read your poetry at this event, please call Janice at 519 485-2367. |
Food for Fines June 2007 | 6/1/2007 |
Food for Fines wll be held for the entire month of June, from June 1 to June 30, at every branch of Oxford County Library. Library users can pay fines for overdue books with a donation of non-perishable food. Just bring your food donation to the library service desk and ask the staff person to forgive your fines. All food will go to the Food Bank. |
Ingersoll Blood Donor Clinic | 5/24/2007 |
Chilton’s Auto Repair Manuals Online | 5/17/2007 |
The Library has arranged a free one-month trial preview of the new Chilton’s Library database, available through Thomson-Gale. The trial will be available until June 14th through the Library’s website. Simply click on the link to Chilton Online Auto Repair from the Library’s website and sign in using your 14-digit library card number, if needed. Test the database and let us know what you think. We would love to hear from you! Please send your comments to Cristina McLaren. |
Wi-Fi Internet Access At Library | 5/17/2007 |
Free wireless Internet access is now available at six branches of Oxford County Library: Harrington, Ingersoll, Norwich, Plattsville, Princeton, and Thamesford. The public wireless network is an unsecured connection to the Internet and is accessible to users with wireless enabled devices such as laptop computers and handheld computers. The wireless service is available during hours when the library is open. Access is quick and easy. Obtain the login information from Library staff, open a web browser on your wireless device, read and agree to the Library’s Computer Use and Internet Access Policy, enter the login information, and connect. Patrons and library visitors are invited to bring their wireless enabled devices – laptop computers, handheld computers or PDAs – to the Library, find a comfortable place to sit, and connect to the world of online information. For more information, read our Frequently Asked Questions. |
Author visit with Terry Culbert | 5/9/2007 |
Terry Culbert, author of Lucan: home of the Donnellys Mr. Culbert will discuss his book and answer audience questions relating to the town of Lucan and the Donnellys. when: Wednesday, May 9, 2007 at 12:00 noon location: Ingersoll Public Library, Programme Room A branch of Oxford County Library 130 Oxford Street, Ingersoll ON, N5C 2V5 Phone 519 485-2505 Website: http://www.ocl.net/ingersoll Lucan: Home of the Donnellys was written and illustrated by Terry Culbert, a retired television news journalist, whose family immigrated to Lucan from Tipperary, Ireland in 1840. Culbert’s love of his Irish roots spawned this unusual look at the Irish-Canadian village in which he grew up. Lucan, situated in southwestern Ontario just north of London, has generated a lot of curiosity over the years due to the Donnelly massacre. The first third of the book is Donnelly related, with many stories never published before. Culbert has compiled not only Donnelly stories, but also a collection of vignettes on village commerce, village life, sports, and music, including photographs from the 1958 and 1960 visit of legendary country singer Johnny Cash to the Lucan Arena. This was Cash’s first visit to Canada. It is an engaging collection of Canadiana and a portion of the proceeds from each book sold will be donated to the Lucan Area Heritage Donnelly Museum. Visit the author's website at www.terryculbert.ca |
Turn Off the Screens 2007 | 4/23/2007 |
Hey Kids! Are you up to the challenge? Escape from television, video games, and computers – except for use with homework – for 5 days in April. It’s Turn Off the Screens week from April 23 – 27, 2007. Complete the Turn Off the Screens Log form and place it in a draw for a chance to win some fun prizes. Looking for more challenges? Check out the Oxford County Library’s Activity Challenge for more ideas of screen-free activities. |
Cancer Awareness Display | 4/23/2007 |
April is Cancer Awareness Month . Cancer is a leading health issue in Ontario. The number of new cases will increase by 2/3 by 2020. Tobacco and diet related risk factors account for about half of fatal cancers in Ontario. Men and women should talk to their health care provider about any health concerns. Find out about the breast, cervical and colorectal screening programs. A Cancer display and resources will be in Ingersoll library from April 23 to April 27, 2007. Signs will be posted to let you know when staff are available to answer questions, or phone Ingersoll library at 519 485-2505 for details. |
The best of the Web...en Francais! | 4/20/2007 |
Looking for French-language research materials? Need to find answers to your homework questions in French? Looking for teaching resources in French? La Biblio de Référence Virtuelle is the website for you! The BRV website provides a wide range of French language research and reference sources in a subject listed format. Each resource listed has been reviewed and selected by librarians to ensure access to reliable information. The BRV is available to all residents of Ontario with a specific interest to French-speaking citizens, students, and teachers. The BRV website is made available through the joint efforts of the Ottawa Public Library and the Toronto Public Library, with support from Heritage Canada’s Official Languages Branch and the Ontario Ministry of Culture. Further access to this great resource is available on the Oxford County Library’s website on our Databases and Links page, our Kids and Families page, and our Search the Internet page. |
Writing Workshop Apr 20-21 | 4/20/2007 |
Writing and Rewriting a Workshop with with Helen Porter Friday April 20, 2007 6:30 - 8:30pm & Saturday April 21, 2007 10:15 am - 4pm (with breaks for lunch etc) at Ingersoll Public Library $40.00 per person To register, please call the library at 519 485-2505 location: Ingersoll Public Library A branch of Oxford County Library 130 Oxford Street, Ingersoll ON, N5C 2V5 Phone 519 485-2505 Fax 519 485-4028 Website: http://www.ocl.net About the workshop -- From Helen: There is only one way to become a writer or find your voice as a writer and that is by writing and rewriting. Talent is an essential but very small part of the process; perspiration is all. This workshop is for anyone who wants to write and find their own voice. We will use exercises and examples of writing as a springboard for our own short pieces and then we will take a bit more time to rewrite and discover what happens when we zero in and expand on the words and details of a scene in a story. This workshop is your chance to develop your own writing skills and find ways to extend and expand on what you are writing in a safe and supportive though professional setting. We will practice writing memoir, fiction, nonfiction, and poetry. If you mail or drop-off a 3-4 page story or 3-4 poems (hard copy only – no email) to Ingersoll Library by March 31, Helen will provide editing and written commentary on your writing. |
System upgrade April 9 | 4/9/2007 |
Oxford County Library’s catalogue system will be upgraded to a new version on Monday April 9, from 8 am to 12 noon. During this time, the web catalogue www.oxford.canlib.ca will be unavailable. Sorry for the inconvenience! |
Receipts when you check out | 4/2/2007 |
Starting Monday April 2, all branches of Oxford County Library will be issuing printed date due slips when you check out a book. These date due slips are similar to grocery receipts, and list all the items that you have just checked out, with their due dates. Library staff will also be giving out Library fridge magnets – so that you can put your new date due slip where it will be a continuous reminder of your responsibilities! This means that library staff will no longer “stamp out” your books. The printed date due slip replaces the date stamped in the back of the book. If you have any comments or questions on these new date due slips, please contact Oxford County Library CEO/Chief Librarian Lisa Miettinen at 519 485-7394 or lmiettinen@ocl.net |
Literary Reference Center | 3/27/2007 |
Explore the Literary Reference Center database, now available to Oxford County Library users. This database includes information on thousands of authors and their literary works from many disciplines and time periods. Useful for students and researchers interested in literary studies, this database includes plot summaries, literary criticism, author biographies, book reviews, and author interviews. The reference section also features a literary-historical timeline, literary glossary, dictionary, and encyclopedia. To use this database, click on the link in this article or go to the Library’s Databases & Links webpage, and click on Literary Reference Center. If you are located in the library, you will be connected automatically. If you are located at home or at school, you will need to enter your 14-digit library card number on the login page in order to access the database. |
Burgessville photos | 3/6/2007 |
Before & After Gallery of the Burgessville Public Library Through the hard work of many community volunteers the Burgessville Public Library has undergone a major transformation. The library now includes an expanded entryway, an increase in natural lighting, an open floor plan, a defined children’s section, and new floor and wall finishes. Look through our online gallery of the before and after photos of this library and see the difference for yourself. Before : During Renovations: Renovations Completed: |
Knowledge Ontario’s Free Resources | 2/20/2007 |
Through a province-wide initiative, all residents of Ontario will have free access to a variety of information resources via the Library’s website for the next two years. This includes online full-text of magazines, newspapers, journals, encyclopedias, dictionaries, and eBooks. The content and quality of the information found through these resources will surpass what is freely available on the World Wide Web, and includes business, current events, general reference, health, science, technology, and much more. These resources are freely available within the library and from any computer connected to the Internet. From the Library’s Databases & Links webpage click on the link to Knowledge Ontario Databases. The Canadian Reference Centre – available through EBSCOhost Web - is also provided through the Knowledge Ontario initiative. From the Library’s Databases & Links webpage click on the link to Canadian Reference Center. For more information on this initiative and the resources available, please visit www.knowledgeontario.ca. |
Ingersoll Library to reopen Mon Feb 19 | 2/16/2007 |
Ingersoll Library will reopen Monday February 19 at 10 am. We will resume our regular hours at that time. Although most furniture and books will be back in place on Monday, there may be drywallers and painters working in parts of the library and in the foyer of the Town Centre for a few days. Please use care near workers and avoid areas that are taped off with yellow caution tape. In answer to a common question, water damage from the burst radiator pipe affected mostly carpet and drywall on street level. The building foyer, and parts of the Ingersoll library nearest the foyer were most affected, and water also went down into the basement level. Amazingly, no library books were permanently damaged. A few items in the book drop were damp, but they have been dried successfully and do not have to be discarded. I (Rosemary Lewis) would like personally to express my thanks: to library staff who worked very hard to get everything out of the way and then back in place, to the efficient and professional disaster clean-up crew, and to everyone who had patience with us while our services were down. |
Burgessville library now open | 2/14/2007 |
Major renovations to the ground floor of the Burgessville Library are now complete and the library has assumed regular open hours. Items placed on hold for Burgessville patrons that have not been picked up in Norwich will be available for pickup in Burgessville. The renovations included removal of the central wall, replacement of the carpeting, and an expanded entryway. Thanks go to the local volunteer group and the Township of Norwich for undertaking this project. Stop by for a visit and see our new library space. An Open House of the Burgessville Library will be held on Saturday, March 3 from 1:30 to 3:00 pm. |
Ingersoll and HQ closed | 2/14/2007 |
Oxford County Library Headquarters and Ingersoll branch are closed today, Wednesday February 14, until further notice. A radiator pipe in the Town Centre foyer burst last night and there is water in the foyer, on the floor in parts of the Ingersoll library (the adult collection and local history areas) and in part of HQ. The clean-up crews are here and have begun working. We won’t be able to respond to voice mail or email messages as promptly as we would like, as none of us are doing our usual work. We're sorry for any inconvenience this may cause you. We are working to reopen the library as soon as possible. |
Wondering what to read next? | 2/6/2007 |
Looking for another book to read? Sign up for any of our 22 email newsletters to have great reading suggestions emailed directly to you.
Subscribe to NextReads today! Go to the www.ocl.net/nextreads, the newsletter sign-up page. Sign up to receive as many newsletters as you would like, and immediately, you’ll receive the most recent issue. Choose any of the topics listed at the bottom of this posting. Every newsletter includes recently released titles and, depending on the newsletter, may include related (read-alike) titles, thematic suggestions, or forthcoming titles. Each list is constructed by librarians and readers’ advisory specialists to provide readers with inspiring and interesting reading and listening choices. Here is a list of the newsletters: Armchair Travel Audiobooks Biography and Memoir Business and Marketing Do-It-Yourself Fantasy Fiction A to Z Historical Fiction History and Current Events Horror Inspirational Fiction Kids' Books Mind and Body Fitness Mystery Nature and Science Picture Books Popular Culture Romance Science Fiction Spirituality and Religion Teen Scene Thrillers and Suspense |
TumbleBooks | 2/6/2007 |
Explore our TumbleBook Library of interactive e-books for children. Children can read along with these online animated audio books or read on their own at their own pace. The TumbleBook Library also features puzzles and games that correspond with the interactive storybooks. Read along with Chinese, French, or Spanish books in the Language Learning section. Happy Tumbling! Let us know what you think of the TumbleBook Library collection of e-books for children. Send your feedback to cmclaren@ocl.net. Tumblebooks help page |
Burgessville library closed for renovations | 1/20/2007 |
Major renovations to the ground floor of the Burgessville Library building will be undertaken In January and February, thanks to the support of the Township of Norwich and a dedicated group of local volunteers. Chief among the renovations are the removal of the centre wall, and the replacement of the carpeting. Because of the extent of the work to be done, it will be necessary to close the library during renovations. At this time, it is estimated that the library will be closed for three weeks, beginning January 24. Every attempt will be made to keep the closure as brief as possible. Due dates will be extended so that no overdue fines will be accrued during the closure. Items placed on hold for Burgessville patrons will be available for pick-up at the Norwich Library during that time. Norwich library staff will phone patrons when their items arrive. The Burgessville Library thanks you for your understanding and patience during this time, and looks forward to a much-improved library space! |
Spirit Songs Book Signing | 1/17/2007 |
Rev. Dr. Lonnie Atkinson will give comments and sign copies of his new book, Spirit Songs, on Wednesday January 17, 2007, 12 PM to 2 PM in the Program Room at Ingersoll Public Library. Copies of Spirit Songs will be available for $20.00, with a portion of the sales going to the Malawi Children's Project. Refreshments available. All are welcome. Ingersoll Public Library The Town Centre 130 Oxford Street Ingersoll, Ont. N5C 2V5 519 485-2505 |
In the event of severe winter weather | 1/15/2007 |
PLEASE BE ADVISED There may be times this winter when the severity of the weather will make driving conditions so hazardous, our branch staff may not be able to make it in to work safely. Therefore, there may be times when the library will have to remain CLOSED. PLEASE – in the event of severe weather, phone ahead to make sure the library is open, before you venture out. |
World Book Online now available | 12/14/2006 |
World Book Online Reference Center, the premier online reference source, is now available to Oxford County Library users. It contains every article from the 22-volume print encyclopedia set plus thousands more. With state-of-the-art multimedia, maps, editor-reviewed web sites, and more, you will find the World Book Online Reference Center to be a valuable resource. To access World Book Online, just click on one of the links in this article, or click on Databases and Links in the menu to the left. If you are at home or school, you will be asked to type in your Oxford County Library card number (14 digits; no spaces) for access. If you are in one of our library branches, you will go directly to World Book Online. Highlights of World Book Online include: - Accurate, authoritative, easy to read articles from The World Book Encyclopedia. - Related articles from major newspapers and magazines. - Extensive graphic and multimedia enhancements, including photographs, maps, illustrations, tables, animations, and audio/video clips. - Special Reports that broaden and deepen coverage for selected topics. - Back in Time, a captivating, you-are-there chronicle of events from the World Book Year Book that begins in 1922 and unfolds in the distinctive voice and perspective of each successive year. -Links to external web sites specially selected by World Book editors. |
Books for Children 2006 | 12/1/2006 |
GIVE THE GIFT OF READING Books for Children is a family literacy program which puts books in the hands and homes of children in need. You can donate a new board book, picture book, or chapter book suitable for a child from birth up to age 12 ; or you can make a financial contribution (tax receipts will be issued for donations of $10 or more). The books will be distributed through the Christmas hampers provided by the Ingersoll and District Interchurch Group, Salvation Army in Tillsonburg and Woodstock. Receive a discount when you buy a book (and donate it at the store) at: Merrifield’s in Woodstock, Gospel Lighthouse in Tillsonburg, , and Patina’s in Ingersoll. Drop off your new board or picture books at these locations: any branch of Oxford County Library, including Ingersoll Library; Woodstock Public Library; Tillsonburg Public Library; Fanshawe College Oxford Campus (369 Finkle St, Woodstock); Child Care programs or one of the Ontario Early Years Centres in Oxford County (in Woodstock at 24 Light Street). If you wish to make a financial donation, make out a cheque to : County of Oxford -- Books for Children campaign and mail it to County of Oxford, Box 397, Woodstock, Ontario, N4S 7Y3. Receipts available for donations over $10. |
Food For Fines Dec 2006 | 12/1/2006 |
For the entire month of December, you can pay your library fines with a donation of non-perishable food at any branch of Oxford County Library.
Food for Fines is a month-long amnesty for overdue material: Library users get a break, the library retrieves some overdue books, and we all contribute to the Christmas hampers and the food bank, and to a better holiday for many families. Just bring your food donation to the library service desk and ask the staff person to forgive your fines. |
Telling Our Stories contest | 11/30/2006 |
Share Your Story For a Chance to Win The Federation of Ontario Public Libraries and TVOntario want to hear your story of how the Oxford County Library has made a difference to you and your family. Telling Our Stories – The Magic of Public Libraries is a personal story-writing contest that celebrates the impact of Ontario public libraries on its citizens and communities. Share your story of the how Oxford County Library has inspired, informed, and transformed you. Over $5,000 in cash prizes will be awarded. The contest runs until November 30, 2006. Contest rules and the entry form are found on the Telling Our Stories – The Magic of Public Libraries website. |
Web catalogue unavailable Nov 19 | 11/19/2006 |
Oxford County Library's web catalogue, found at http://www.oxford.canlib.ca, will be unavailable for aproximately 3 hours on Sunday morning, November 19, 2006. The library's catalogue system will be undergoing a major upgrade at that time. For further information contact rlewis@ocl.net . |
Oxford County Library Board Information Sheet | 11/14/2006 |
For citizens interested in becoming appointees on the Oxford County Library Board please read the attached information sheet: Oxford County Library Board Information Sheet |
Thomas Ingersoll Scenic Trail | 11/6/2006 |
The new website for the Thomas Ingersoll Scenic Trail can be found at http://www.thomasingersollscenictrails.ca/. |
Oxford Flu Clinics | 11/1/2006 |
Click here for a printable schedule of Flu clinics in the County of Oxford. |
Norwich Library Grand Opening photos | 10/28/2006 |
click here to see photos of the Grand Opening of the new Norwich LIbrary, held on October 28, 2006. |
Official Opening Of New Library | 10/28/2006 |
Breast Cancer Awareness Month | 10/6/2006 |
October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month There are three events being held in Oxford this year: Living With Cancer: Thursday, October 12 ,2006 from 7 to 9p.m. at the East Zorra Mennonite Church. Panel participants are from Public Health, the Canadian Cancer Society and the Oxford and Perth Community Care Access Centre. No charge. Breast Friends Night Out: Join us for a night of fun, fashion, displays, and information for Breast Cancer Awareness Month. Location: Mount Elgin& District Community Centre.Date: Monday, October 16,2006 Time: Doors open at 6:30p.m.to view displays. The event goes until 9p.m.Cost $10.00 with dessert and beverages provided. Tickets are available at the Canadian Cancer Society 519 537-5592. This event is sponsored by the Canadian Cancer Society in partnership with Public Health, Breast Health Oxford and local sponsors. Are you between 18 and 50 years of age? On October 28,2006 at Alexander Hospital, Ingersoll (entrance just east of the emergency department). Join us in learning about breast health, clinical and OBSP screening and breast self exam. Bring a friend....To make an appointment for a clinical breast exam by a Nurse Practitioner call Public Health at 519-539-9800 ext 3426. This event is promoted by Breast Health Oxford and sponsored by the Zonta Club of Woodstock. Client Media Story - Read This! September 28, 2006 Ontario Breast Screening Program (OBSP) – committed to the well-being of clients and the provision of quality care: Deb French, an Ontario Breast Screening Program client, felt that she just couldn’t leave after her breast screening appointment without telling someone how good she felt! There are so many concerns about health care these days, but she has only good things to say about the OBSP. This was her second visit to the screening center and each time she has been impressed about the care she has received. “I feel so comfortable when I come here. I am treated kindly and the atmosphere is very nice. I feel like I can ask questions and when I do, they are quickly answered by experienced, professional staff.” said Deb French. “Deb sought me out to tell me of her experiences.” said Sheila Densham, OBSP Health Promotion Coordinator. ”Deb told me that overall, she is feels good about coming here, where she has received expert care and is enjoying the relief that comes with knowing she has taken care of herself.” said Sheila Densham. “She wanted to be sure that I passed her sentiments along to all the screening staff.” Deb’s story is not unusual. She is sharing the common experience of women who take advantage of a screening program committed to their well-being and the provision of quality care. Breast Screening does save lives! Between 1989 and 2002, breast cancer mortality rates in Ontario women aged 50 – 69 decreased by 29%. This decrease is a result of increased participation in breast screening and improved cancer treatments. Mammography remains the most effective way of finding breast cancer early – it can find small breast cancers up to 3 years before they can be felt. Finding a breast cancer while it is still small means there is a greater chance the disease has not spread and it can be treated more easily and successfully. A mammogram is not a perfect test though. It finds eight out of ten cancers. This is one of the reasons it is important to be screened regularly. Some breast cancers that cannot be seen on a mammogram can be found by a clinical breast examination performed by a specially trained nurse or physician. At most OBSP sites, women receive both – high quality mammography plus a physical breast exam performed by a specially trained Nurse. There are 28 OBSP sites in Southwestern Ontario – one is most likely to be close to where you live or work. If you are a woman age 50 years or over, call today for your appointment. As Deb says, “take a few minutes to take care of yourself. Not only will you be treated well and feel good about doing this, so will all the people who love and care about you.” Deb French, an Ontario Breast Screening Program client, felt that she just couldn’t leave after her breast screening appointment without telling someone how good she felt! There are so many concerns about health care these days, but she has only good things to say about the OBSP. This was her second visit to the screening center and each time she has been impressed about the care she has received. “I feel so comfortable when I come here. I am treated kindly and the atmosphere is very nice. I feel like I can ask questions and when I do, they are quickly answered by experienced, professional staff.” said Deb French. “Deb sought me out to tell me of her experiences.” said Sheila Densham, OBSP Health Promotion Coordinator. ”Deb told me that overall, she is feels good about coming here, where she has received expert care and is enjoying the relief that comes with knowing she has taken care of herself.” said Sheila Densham. “She wanted to be sure that I passed her sentiments along to all the screening staff.” Deb’s story is not unusual. She is sharing the common experience of women who take advantage of a screening program committed to their well-being and the provision of quality care. Breast Screening does save lives! Between 1989 and 2002, breast cancer mortality rates in Ontario women aged 50 – 69 decreased by 29%. This decrease is a result of increased participation in breast screening and improved cancer treatments. Mammography remains the most effective way of finding breast cancer early – it can find small breast cancers up to 3 years before they can be felt. Finding a breast cancer while it is still small means there is a greater chance the disease has not spread and it can be treated more easily and successfully. A mammogram is not a perfect test though. It finds eight out of ten cancers. This is one of the reasons it is important to be screened regularly. Some breast cancers that cannot be seen on a mammogram can be found by a clinical breast examination performed by a specially trained nurse or physician. At most OBSP sites, women receive both – high quality mammography plus a physical breast exam performed by a specially trained Nurse. There are 28 OBSP sites in Southwestern Ontario – one is most likely to be close to where you live or work. If you are a woman age 50 years or over, call today for your appointment. As Deb says, “take a few minutes to take care of yourself. Not only will you be treated well and feel good about doing this, so will all the people who love and care about you.” Breast Cancer cannot be 100% prevented BUT ~ early detection does save lives! Breast Cancer cannot be 100% prevented BUT ~ early detection does save lives! |
Writing Workshop | 9/28/2006 |
Raspberry: tiny globules of tremendous taste A writing workshop with Cornelia Hoogland an exploration in writing your sensory experiences Saturday October 21, 2006 10am to 4pm at Ingersoll Public Library $40 per person To register, please call the library at 519 485-2505 Ingersoll Public Library A branch of Oxford County Library 130 Oxford Street Ingersoll ON, N5C 2V5 Phone 519 485-2505 Fax 519 485-4028 |
James McIntyre Poetry Contest 2006 | 9/27/2006 |
The tenth annual James McIntyre Poetry Contest is sponsored by the Town of Ingersoll and The Ingersoll Times. Information about this year's contest is found on the Town of Ingersoll website www.town.ingersoll.on.ca. When you reach this page, cursor down and click on the link to the James McIntyre Poetry Contest (link is on the right), to get a printable poster, information page, and entry form. The deadline for entries is Thursday October 12, 2006. The James Mcintyre Poetry Evening, to honour the winners of the contest, will be held on Thursday November 23, at 7 pm, in the Council Chambers of the Town of Ingersoll. All are welcome. |
Blood Donor Clinics | 9/15/2006 |
New Book List | 9/1/2006 |
Now you can browse a list of books that the library has just added to the catalogue. Click “New Books” on the library’s web catalogue www.oxford.canlib.ca. The link is located on the right hand side of the header. The list includes new print books, fiction and nonfiction; adult, youth, and children’s titles. |
Downloadable audio books | 8/29/2006 |
Oxford County Library is pleased to announce a new service: Downloadable audio books from Recorded Books and NetLibrary. Downloadable audio books are electronic versions of books on CD or books on tape. They can be downloaded to a computer or to certain portable players, and then played, in the same way as you play and listen to a book on CD or book on tape. Oxford County Library has a basic collection of 1599 titles, including bestsellers such as Alexander McCall Smith’s The No. 1 Ladies Detective Agency, classics such as Bronte’s Wuthering Heights, and the award-winning Pimsleur language series. The collection includes titles for children and young adults as well as for adults. We will add about 30 new titles each month. Note these benefits: • This service can be accessed from any computer with internet, 24 hours a day, seven days a week, with an Oxford County Library card • Unlimited copies are available, so there is no need to place a hold, or to wait for someone else to finish the book • Titles cease to play after 21 days; they can be renewed once • There are no overdue fines, of course • Library users can “check out” up to 10 titles at one time Best of all, this exciting and convenient new service is FREE from Oxford County Library. First Time Users: Authenticate as Oxford User and Create NetLibrary Account The first time you download a Netlibrary audio book, you must login as an Oxford County Library user and create a NetLibrary account. • Type www.ocl.net/audiobooks/index.asp in your browser window • OR click on the “Downloadable audio books” link on the Oxford County Library homepage www.ocl.net • Type your Oxford County Library card number in the dialogue box. • Click Login • You will be in the OCL part of Netlibrary. (See “Oxford County Library eContent Collection” at the top of the page.) • Now Search for a downloadable audio book • When you have the audio book you want, click Download This Audiobook • Click Checkout & Download CD Quality OR Checkout & Download Radio Quality • Click Create a free account here (on the right side of the screen) • Fill in the required fields and Click Create • Remember your login and password! How to get Downloadable Audio Books From the internet If you have previously created a NetLibrary account, you can go to http://www.netlibrary.com and Login. From the OCL web catalogue Search the OCL web catalogue www.oxford.canlib.ca for the title or author of a downloadable audio book. OR For a complete list of Oxford County Library’s downloadable audio book titles, type NetLibrary in the catalogue search box and click Search. When you find a title you want, • click on the “link” icon in the book record • this takes you to the login page • enter your Oxford County Library card number • click Login to get to the Netlibrary website and the title you selected • you may click Download, or search further in the catalogue. When you Download or Add to Favorites, you will be prompted to Login with your Netlibrary username and password. Downloading details: • You can download a book in two sound qualities: “CD quality” and “radio quality”. CD quality (32 kbps) requires more time to download than radio quality (4 kbps). • You can use either dial-up or a high speed internet connection. • If you have high-speed, choose CD quality to play the audio book on either your computer or your portable player. • If you have dial-up, choose radio quality to download the book to play on your computer. Radio quality files do not play on portable players. Choosing a portable player: NOTE: Not all mp3 players will play downloadable audio books. For example, iPod will not play these books. Look for a player with these features: • supports the playback of protected wma files • has adequate memory – 256MB will hold one 8-hr book, 512MB will hold 2 books; 1GB will hold 4 books, etc. • supports bookmarking or “Off/On” ie. shut player off without stopping or pausing, then restart to return to same place in file • supports full time stamping ie. does not limit the time tracking of a file and allows the full length of an audio book file to display • to find a list of recommended players, see http://www.netlibrary.com/RecordedBooks/Help/SupportedDevices.aspx . Troubleshooting - Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) |
Ingersoll Kiwanis Hot Dog Day | 8/25/2006 |
The Kiwanis Club of Ingersoll presents: Hot Dog Day on Friday August 25 Get free hot dogs from 11:30-1:30 at the Gazebo on Thames St. in Ingersoll All are welcome! |
Summer Reading Club 2006 | 7/1/2006 |
The Summer Reading Club is a library program for children who are beginning to read or are reading independently. This program starts July 4 at all branches of Oxford County Library. The theme for the 2006 TD Summer Reading program is “Quest for Heroes”, which includes community heroes, family heroes, heroes in myths and legends, modern heroes - every kind of hero! When a child joins the Summer Reading Club, he or she will receive a poster, some stickers, and a reading logbook. Most branches have contests, prizes, reading games, and programs. Contact your local library branch for details. Check out the Heroes reading lists. Don't forget to visit the official Quest for Heroes website. The Summer Reading Club is, once again, sponsored by the TD Financial Group and developed by the staff at the Toronto Public Library, with assistance from staff at Ottawa Public Library and Library & Archives Canada. |
Norwich Library construction photos | 6/30/2006 |
Construction is well underway for the new Norwich Library and Childcare Building. Click here to see photos. |
Norwich Library Revised Floor Plans | 6/29/2006 |
View the revised floorplans for the Norwich Library and Childcare Building. |
Poetry Reading June 14 | 6/14/2006 |
A community Poetry Reading, sponsored by Poets’ Circle, a poetry writing group, will be held Wednesday June 4, at 7 pm in the Ingersoll Library program room. All are welcome! If you would like to read your poetry at this event, please call Janice at 485-2367. |
Favourites notification by email | 6/8/2006 |
Oxford County Library is now sending out email notices for Favourites, starting June 8, 2006. If you have any questions about this, please contact
Rosemary Lewis
What are Favourites/Favorites?
How do I select a Favorite?
About Favorites
How do I find out what Favorites I have selected?
How do I modify my Favorites?
How will I be notified about a new book by or about a Favorite?
How often will I be notified?
Automatic Favorites
|
Overdue notices by email | 6/5/2006 |
Oxford County Library will begin to notify users about overdue library materials by email on Monday June 5, 2005. The sender of the email message will be: The Public Library. Once this is implemented, users will receive overdue notification either by email or by regular mail (snail mail), not both. If a user record includes an email address, the notices will be sent by email. Some users may receive overdue messages by both means for a month or so because of the way the messages are scheduled. How can I change to email notices? If you would prefer to receive overdue notices by email, you can add your email address by using My Account on the web catalogue, by asking a staff member at your library branch to add your email address to your record, or by contacting Rosemary Lewis. What messages will I receive if I have an overdue item? Users will receive the same overdue messages that are now delivered by snail mail or phone, plus two additional ones (the first two listed below). Advance notice of overdues: Three days before your library materials become due, you will receive a friendly reminder. Due today notice: On the day your materials are due, you will receive a reminder notice. Overdue and on hold: If an item is one day overdue and is on hold for another user, you will receive a notice requesting that you return the item as soon as possible. Overdue notice at 4 weeks overdue: When library materials are four weeks overdue, you will receive a notice which includes the fines you owe. Overdue notice at 8 weeks overdue: When library materials are eight weeks overdue, you will receive a reminder notice requesting that you return the items and pay the fines. Assumed lost notice at 12 weeks overdue: When library materials are twelve weeks overdue, you will receive a notice that the overdue items are assumed lost and that the replacement costs have been billed to your account. Users without email addresses – status quo For library users without email addresses, overdue notices will continue as in the past. Users will get notices by mail at 4, 8, and 12 weeks after the due date of the overdue item. Users without email who have overdue books which are on hold for another user will be contacted by phone. |
Food For Fines June 2006 | 6/1/2006 |
FOOD FOR FINES Oxford County Library announces Food for Fines in June. This is a month-long amnesty for overdue library materials, in effect from June 1 to June 30, at every branch of Oxford County Library. Library users can pay fines for overdue books with a donation of non-perishable food. Just bring your food donation to the library service desk and ask the staff person to forgive your fines. All food will go to the Food Bank. |
James McIntyre Poetry Contest | 5/16/2006 |
Oxford County Library announces with regret that it will no longer be the sponsor of the James McIntyre Poetry Contest and Poetry Evening. After nine years, it is necessary to pull back from the significant commitment of time required to plan and coordinate this community project. The James McIntyre Poetry Contest was first held in the fall of 1997. It has been an annual event since then, with increases in participants and poems each year. Since the beginning, the Ingersoll Times and the Corporation of the Town of Ingersoll have been generous co-sponsors, with the library, of the Poetry Contest. The contest was originally conceived as a way to encourage local poets and writers of all ages. As well, a connection with the local area was sought by encouraging poems on subjects of special interest to Oxford County, such as cheese or dairying, local history, and people and places in the area. Each November, we recognized the contest winners in two ways. First, all the winning poems were published in The Ingersoll Times newspaper, an honour that is highly regarded by the poets and writers. Secondly, we held the James McIntyre Poetry Evening in the Town of Ingersoll’s Council Chamber, where ribbons, certificates, and prizes were awarded and the first prize poems read aloud. Many people have helped with the James McIntyre Poetry Contest and Poetry Evening over the years. Although we cannot mention everyone, the library wishes to give special thanks to the Poetry Contest committee members: Yvonne Holmes Mott, Michael Hennessy, and Shirley Lovell, who have been unfailingly supportive, giving their time and creatively solving problems over the contest’s nine years. We are grateful to Gail MacKay, who has read aloud the first prize winning poems, truly a challenging task, at Poetry Evenings since 2001. Our thanks also go to Dr. Lynne McKechnie and Dr. Catherine Ross, both of the University of Western Ontario, who have been contest judges since 1997 and 1998 respectively. And finally, we thank The Ingersoll Times and the Corporation of the Town of Ingersoll for sponsoring and supporting the contest from the beginning. contact: Lisa Miettinen, Acting Chief Librarian |
Operational Review - Final Report | 4/28/2006 |
The Operational Review of Oxford County Library as prepared by dmA Planning and Management Service was adopted by the Library Board at its April meeting. The Operational Review was initiated by the Board to identify and investigate opportunities for improved management and delivery of library service, with particular focus on administration. “We needed an external, objective voice as we determine what is required in terms of administration and best practices,” said Len Reeves, Oxford County Library Board Chair. Four basic areas were considered: financial performance; staffing and administration; planning and policy; and Board governance. Jim Morgenstern, Principal Consultant with dmA, has conducted planning and management studies for a number of library systems in Ontario. Morgenstern commented that “Oxford County Library, like so many library systems, particularly rural systems, has been dealing with dramatically increasing costs and dwindling revenues, and has had to make tough decisions to deal with changing practices and trends in library service delivery. There are typically much greater efficiencies to be realized in urban centres, and Oxford is not alone among Ontario rural libraries in having its work cut out for it.” Morgenstern adds, “While the Review recommends a number of actions to be taken to improve the management and delivery of library services, we found no significant deficiencies in the current library operations. We hope that this Library Board will undertake the recommended actions so that long-term improvements can be planned for.” Oxford County Library - Operational Review Final Report |
Turn Off the Screens 2006 | 4/24/2006 |
Hey Kids! Turn off the television, video games and computers, except for use with homework, for 5 days. Turn Off the Screens runs from April 24-28, 2006. Complete the attached Turn Off the Screens Log and place it in a draw for a chance to win great prizes. Here is a list of community activities available free to those children who have a Turn Off the Screens Log. You and your family will discover all kinds of things to do instead of watching TV! |
Groundbreaking for New Norwich Library | 4/4/2006 |
On Tuesday, April 4 at 4:30 p.m., relocated to the warmth of the PUC Garage during a brief but intense snow storm, a group of local residents, Fundraising Committee members, County and Township councillors, and staff came together to herald the official groundbreaking of the new Norwich Public Library and Children’s Centre. Master-of-Ceremonies Mayor Susan Hampson, Oxford County Warden Don Woolcott, and Fundraising Committee Co-Chairs Lisa and Tom Leitch addressed the group. Afterwards, as the snow had subsided, the four speakers, joined by Library Board member Chris Furlonger, the Warden’s granddaughter, Ella, and Taylor and Alexa Leitch, together broke ground on the site of this much anticipated project. A childcare centre, funded through the Provincial Best Start initiative, will be the partner in this County-owned facility. The new public library will provide 5,400 square feet, will be fully accessible, will offer comfortable seating, 8 public access computer workstations, enhanced collections, and a separate program room, among many other features. Completion date has been set for September 1, 2006. As part of the “Expanding Our Horizons Community Campaign”, the Library is fundraising to help furnish the library and enhance the collections and resources available. Floorplan Elevation Diagram 1 Elevation Diagram 2 |
Community Matters Survey Results | 3/21/2006 |
Oxford citizens have their say! The United Way of Oxford has conducted Consultations and Surveys to ask ‘what are the most pressing social issues?’ facing Oxford residents. The reports summarize the results. We will be coming to your region in April-May to discuss the reports and next steps. Community Matters - Survey Results |
Best Books of 2005 | 2/14/2006 |
Here they are! The Best Books of 2005 as chosen by Oxford County Library staff. |
Changes to Open Hours Feb 14 | 2/14/2006 |
Beginning February 14, there will be changes to open hours in 11 of Oxford County Library's 13 branches. Some changes are minor, implemented to conform to a system-wide closure of no later than 8:30 p.m. Hours at Norwich and Ingersoll Branches will not be changed. Here are the new hours: Brownsville Tuesdays 11-1, 5-8 Thursdays 3-8 Saturdays 10-3 Burgessville Tuesdays 2-4, 6:30-8:30 Thursdays 2-4, 6:30-8:30 Fridays 2-5 Saturdays 9-1 Embro Tuesdays 5:30-8:30 Wednesdays 2-5 Thursdays 5:30-8:30 Saturdays 10-1 Harrington Tuesdays 5:30-8:30 Thursdays 5:30-8:30 Fridays 5:30-8:30 Saturdays 9-12 Innerkip Tuesdays 5-8 Wednesdays 2-5 Thursdays 5-8 Saturdays 10-1 Mt. Elgin Tuesdays 10-12, 6-8:30 Wednesdays 2-4 Thursdays 6-8:30 Saturday 1-4 Otterville Tuesdays 10-12, 6:30-8:30 Wednesdays 2-5 Thursdays 6:30-8:30 Saturdays 1:30-4:30 Plattsville Tuesdays 9-12, 3-8:30 Wednesdays 2-6 Thursdays 9-12, 3-8:30 Saturdays 10-2 Princeton Tuesdays 1-4 Wednesdays 1-4, 6-8:30 Thursdays 6-8:30 Saturdays 10-2 Tavistock Tuesdays 10-8 Wednesdays 10-5 Thursdays 10-8 Fridays 10-2 Saturdays 10-2 Thamesford Tuesdays 10-8 Wednesdays 12-8 Thursdays 10-8 Fridays 2-6 Saturdays 11-2 |
Writing Workshop Feb 3-4 | 2/3/2006 |
Freeing Your Voice: a Writing Workshop with Helen Porter Friday Feb 3, 2006 6:30 - 8:30pm Saturday February 4, 2006 10:15 am - 4pm at Ingersoll Public Library $40.00 per person The workshop will include exercises that help you to write in your own unique voice in poetry and fiction as well as memoir. Helen Carmichael Porter is one of Canada's best-known storytellers. She has told her stories in theatres, galleries, CBC radio, tv and film. Currently she writes and performs her own work and teaches at the University of Toronto's Creative Writing Programme at the School of Continuing Studies. To register, call or visit Ingersoll Public Library, a branch of Oxford County Library, at 130 Oxford Street, Ingersoll N5C 2V5 phone 519 485-2505 |
Ingersoll Blood Donor Clinic | 1/26/2006 |
Books for Children | 12/1/2005 |
GIVE THE GIFT OF READING Books for Children is a family literacy program which puts books in the hands and homes of children in need. You can donate a new board book, picture book, or chapter book suitable for a child from birth up to age 12; or you can make a financial contribution (tax receipts will be issued for donations of $10 or more). The books will be distributed through the Christmas hampers this year. Receive a discount when you buy a book (and donate it at the store) at: Merrifield’s in Woodstock, Gospel Lighthouse in Tillsonburg, Patina’s in Ingersoll, and First Page in Ingersoll. Drop off your new board or picture books at these locations: any branch of Oxford County Library, including Ingersoll Library; Woodstock Public Library; Tillsonburg Public Library; Fanshawe College Oxford Campus (369 Finkle St, Woodstock), or one of the Ontario Early Years Centres in Oxford County (in Woodstock at 24 Light Street, in Ingersoll in Carr's Walkway (upper) 123 Oxford Street; and in Tillsonburg at The Livingstone Centre, 96 Tillson Ave). If you wish to make a financial donation, make out a cheque to : County of Oxford -- Books for Children campaign and mail it to County of Oxford, Box 397, Woodstock, Ontario, N4S 7Y3. Receipts available for donations over $10. |
Food for Fines Dec 2005 | 12/1/2005 |
Oxford County Library is celebrating the Holiday Season with Food for Fines. This is a month-long amnesty for overdue library materials, in effect from December 1 to December 31, at every branch of Oxford County Library. Library users can pay fines for overdue books with a donation of non-perishable food. Just bring your food donation to the library service desk and ask the staff person to forgive your fines. Or, if you have no fines, you can simply donate food! All donations will go to Christmas hampers and the Food Bank. |
In the event of severe winter weather | 11/28/2005 |
PLEASE BE ADVISED There may be times this winter when the severity of the weather will make driving conditions so hazardous, our branch staff may not be able to make it in to work safely. Therefore, there may be times when the library will have to remain CLOSED. PLEASE – in the event of severe weather, phone ahead to make sure the library is open, before you venture out. |
Cancer Information | 10/24/2005 |
Cancer Information: from prevention..to Early Detection..to Support.. St. Paul's Presbyterian Church, 56 Thames St., Ingersoll from 3 p.m. to 9 p.m. on Monday, October 24,2005. Panel presentations at 3:30 p.m. and 7 p.m. with displays, resource staff and support provided. The focus is on breast, cervical, ovarian and prostate cancer. Come ask your questions. This event is co-sponsored by the Women's Institute and Public Health with Zonta- Breast Health Oxford and the Cancer Society. |
Car Seat Check | 9/28/2005 |
Car Seat Check Wednesday, September 28, 2005 3:00 PM - 7:00 PM Ingersoll Fire Hall No appointment needed For information call: Oxford County Public Health & Emergency Services 519-539-9800 or 1-800-755-0394 |
OHS History Book Sale | 8/23/2005 |
The Ontario Historical Society presents a rare, one-time History Book
Sale. Over 2,000 books donated from the private collection of professor
and historian Michael Bliss, as well as other academic and amateur
historians, will be available for sale. The selection includes many rare
titles, along with excellent reference resources. Prices start at $3. Date: Saturday September 17, 2005 Time: 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Place: John McKenzie House - 34 Parkview Ave., Willowdale (North York) Contact the OHS at (416) 226-9011 or ohs@ontariohistoricalsociety.ca |
Summer Reading Club photos | 7/22/2005 |
Summer Reading Clubs are in full swing in the branches of Oxford County Library! The Summer Reading Club is a program to encourage children to read for pleasure. It is open to all children, alhough it is designed especially for school-age children who are beginning to read independently. Children can sign up anytime over the summer, at any branch of Oxford County Library, and receive a poster, stickers, and reading log book (while supplies last). Again this year, we thank the TD Financial Group for sponsoring Summer Reading Clubs in public libraries across Ontario. Click on the thumbnail photos to enlarge them: Mount Elgin Plattsville Tavistock |
New Norwich Library Open House | 7/11/2005 |
OXFORD COUNTY LIBRARY BOARD NOTICE New Norwich Library Open House Oxford County Library Board invites you to attend an Open House for a new Norwich branch of the Oxford County Library Monday, July 11, 2005 7:00 p.m. Norwich Legion – Stover Street South An opportunity to view and comment on the proposed design for a new Norwich library building. Lisa Miettinen Acting Chief Librarian County of Oxford 130 Oxford Street Fax: (519)485-4028 lmiettinen@ocl.net |
Community Matters Survey | 6/21/2005 |
In March 2005, the United Way of Oxford began a Community Priority discussion with community leaders to determine the top issues of concern within their community. Your opinion matters to us. This survey will give you an opportunity to speak about your community concerns. The results of the Community Priority Consultation, which will include responses to this confidential survey, will be presented in a report in March 2006. For more information on ‘Community Matters’ see our website www.unitedwayoxford.ca If you have any questions or would like to provide feedback, please feel free to contact our office at 539-3851 or e-mail us at info@unitedwayoxford.ca Click here to access the survey. This survey will take about 15 minutes to complete. Survey period ends July 30, 2005. |
Poetry Reading | 6/8/2005 |
A community Poetry Reading, sponsored by Poets’ Circle, a poetry writing group, will be held Wednesday June 8, at 7 pm in the Ingersoll Library program room. All are welcome! Refreshments! If you would like to read your poetry at this event, please call Janice at 485-2367. |
Thank you, Ingersoll Lions | 6/8/2005 |
The Lions Club of Ingersoll has donated $5000 to Ingersoll Public Library, a branch of Oxford County Library. The money is designated for the purchase of Books on CD (also called audiobooks), and is intended to assist people who have low vision. Jack Ridley of the Ingersoll Lions presented the cheque on Wednesday, June 8, 2005, at the Ingersoll Library. It was received by Len Reeves, Chair of the Oxford County Library Board, accompanied by Lisa Miettinen, Acting chief Librarian, and Rosemary Lewis, Librarian of the Ingersoll Branch. This is not the first instance of generosity to Ingersoll Library from the Lions. In 2004, the Ingersoll Lions donated funds to purchase the Low Vision workstation in the library computer centre, a closed circuit television text viewer which enlarges print material, and a quantity of books on CD. We thank the Lions Club of Ingersoll for their continued generosity in support of library services to people with low vision. |
Food For Fines June 2005 | 6/1/2005 |
Food for Fines, our popular amnesty period, will be held for the entire month of June, 2005. Library users can pay overdue fines using non-perishable food, which will be donated to the Food Bank. Just bring your food donation to any branch of Oxford County Library and ask a staff person to pardon your overdue fines. This is a great opportunity: not only can you return those forgotten library books with a clear conscience, but you can also assist the Food Bank at a time when donations are often low. |
Judy Johnson | 5/27/2005 |
Judy Johnson, Oxford County Library's Administrative Assistant, has submitted her resignation effective May 27, 2005. Here is Judy's letter to Lisa Miettinen, Acting Chief Librarian of Oxford County Library: Dear Lisa: On April 1, 2005, I will complete 32 ½ years of continuous employment at Oxford County Library. It goes without saying that I have enjoyed most of my tenure, and treasure the co-workers and acquaintances I have been involved with along the way. I am extremely grateful to so many wonderful people including library staff and others at the county who have been so helpful in sharing their time and expertise over the years. Unfortunately, there is not enough space or time to allow me to name them all. This job has afforded me a unique opportunity to meet and mingle with a number of interesting characters over the years, which has only served to enrich my own lifetime experiences. My presence at the Oxford County Library Board meetings has helped me gain an understanding and insight into the intricacies and difficulties that have to be dealt with in order to keep “The Good Ship Oxford” on course for the betterment of all of us who live here. I will state with all sincerity that the vast majority of Board members throughout the years have been very dedicated professionals, and it has been a great pleasure to have been associated with them. It has been a very busy, rewarding period in my life, but Father Time is relentless, and the time has arrived for me to seek other fulfilments. Therefore, I am submitting my resignation to be effective May 27, 2005. I want to thank everyone for their support and assistance during my career, and most recently, a special thanks to you, Lisa. I have the greatest respect and admiration for your abilities, and it is my personal opinion that Oxford County Library is in good hands with you at the helm and with Rosemary’s expertise in Unicorn technical matters. May everyone working for Oxford County Library be blessed with health and happiness for the rest of their lives. Sincerely, Judy Johnson |
Judy Johnson retires | 5/27/2005 | ||||
She has been Oxford County Library’s administrative assistant for over 32 years and has worked for every Chief Librarian. Now Judy Johnson is retiring, embarking “down another of life’s roads” as she said in her poem. On Tuesday May 24, Judy was honoured at an Open House at Oxford County Library Headquarters in Ingersoll. Past and present staff and officials of the library, the County of Oxford, and the Town of Ingersoll, as well as family and friends, dropped in to visit and express their good wishes. Warden Don Woolcott, on behalf of the County of Oxford, and Acting Chief Librarian Lisa Miettinen, on behalf of Judy’s co-workers, presented a pair of still life paintings to Judy. At the open house, this thought was expressed by a number of speakers and in various ways: we appreciate Judy for her efficiency, competence, and conscientious work style; we love her for her helpfulness, warmth, and beautiful spirit. Judy, we will miss you. |
Judy's farewell poem | 5/27/2005 |
Sometimes, when I pause and give my life an overview It’s hard to imagine I began at the library in 1972. Over this time, I met and worked with some wonderful people Whose friendship and help contributed to a library hard to equal To all you good folks that I worked with, I say Thank you so much for being there for me each and every day But now as I embark down another of life’s roads No need for concern, but quite to the contrary I welcome new challenges as I leave my beloved library. Although I will certainly miss all of you The time has now come to bid you adieu. |
Children's programming resumes | 5/24/2005 |
Regular library programs for children will resume as of Tuesday May 24, 2005, in all branches of Oxford County Library. Because of the rubella outbreak in Oxford County, in the interest of public health, all unimmunized individuals are advised NOT to attend library programs. |
Children's programs cancelled - Rubella | 5/5/2005 |
From May 4 until May 20, all children’s programs at all branches of Oxford County Library have been cancelled. The County of Oxford Department of Public Health and Emergency Services has requested this in response to the outbreak of Rubella (also known as German measles). On May 20, the situation will be assessed, and the library will be advised as to whether programming for children can resume. |
Year of the Veteran booklists | 5/4/2005 |
Veterans Affairs Canada has declared 2005 to be the Year of the Veteran. To recognize this, the library has created bookmarks which list selected, recent publications pertaining to war and Canadian participation in war. They are available as paper bookmarks in Oxford County Library branches, or you can look at the lists on our website: Canadians in World War I Canadians in World War II Canadians in The South African War, Korea, Vietnam, and Peacekeeping For Young People Novels and War Stories |
Ode to Judy | 4/25/2005 |
Sue Butt, Supervisor of the Embro branch of Oxford County Library, composed this ode and read it at the staff luncheon for Judy on Monday, April 25, 2005. Ode to Judy Judy you’re the one that everyone comes to, Just like a mother you’ve kept us in line. It never was “Don’t forget to wipe your feet”. But often it was “Where’s your timesheet?”. You kept us on the straight and narrow, Keeping us informed of every change. For 32 ½ years you sent the messages That every chief librarian meant for us. As you can see, a poet I am not. I never would like to take your spot. Judy you are our Queen of Poetry, You wrote one for every retiree To write about each and every thing You did for us would be boring. So to keep this short, I would just like to say: Judy we will miss you. On your behalf, many of us here, Have made donations to buy some books. That way when we see your name We will remember what a special person you are, and always will be, To those of us still at the Oxford County Library. |
Turn Off the Screens 2005 | 4/18/2005 |
Hey Kids! Turn off the television, video games and computers, except for use with homework, for 5 days. Turn Off the Screens runs from April 18-22, 2005. Complete the attached Turn Off the Screens Log and place it in a draw for a chance to win great prizes. Here is a list of community activities available free to those children who have a Turn Off the Screens Log. You and your family will discover all kinds of things to do instead of watching TV! |
Info sought on Ingersoll Veterans | 4/16/2005 |
From a letter written by Yvonne Holmes Mott, published in the London Free Press, April 16, 2005: As part of its 2005 Year of the Veteran observance, the Ingersoll District Historical Society, with assistance from the Ingersoll Community Foundation, plans to publish a book about Ingersoll veterans. In addition to veterans who live in town, we are anxious to contact veterans or families of those veterans who moved away from Ingersoll. Information required includes: full name, current address, where and when lived in Ingersoll, attended school and worked, where and when enlisted, in what branch, where trained and saw service, any details of service, awards, medals, etc., when moved away from Ingersoll, employment since war, any anecdotes you would like included, clubs, organizations, volunteer work, etc., family members. We would love to have a current photo, as well as one in uniform, to go with this story. And, of course, we need a number where we can reach you. Information may be mailed to Yvonne Holmes Mott, at 109 Francis Street, Ingersoll, N5C 2H2, or faxed to 485-2769. Please get in touch as soon as possible and no later than May 1. This book is one small way to say thank you to our many vets. Please be part of it. |
Judy's Poem about the Library Board | 3/21/2005 |
At the most recent meeting of Oxford County Library Board, Judy Johnson, the library's beloved Administrative Assistant, submitted her resignation. She then presented a poetic tribute to the members of the Oxford County Library Board: Tribute to the Oxford County Library Board - 2005 For thirty years plus Oxford County Library Board has gathered To discuss the issues that really mattered Of all the attendees and there has been quite a few I’d like to make comments on the present crew To Len Reeves a self-made man who has no peers Who’s always ready, willing, and able to lend us his ear We’d like to thank him a bunch For providing us all with the wonderful lunch To Bill Semeniuk whose input has always been treasured And all of his comments are very well measured Warden Woolcott whose intellect and leadership are always on display As he works through the issues of the county day by day To Susan Hampson and Chris Furlonger who have pushed for a new Norwich Library since day one Their efforts will soon be realized with the construction of a building about to be done Mike Hennessy, a hard-working man of renown Helped keep the taxes in Ingersoll down It seems to me forever and a day There’s always been a Board member called Don McKay Lynn Buchner whose hard work and dedication are never in question But I’m sure there are times when our bean-counter supreme Would like to throw up her hands and let out a scream Ken Whiteford whose responsibilities are undeniably great I’m sure just like Wendys, his office is “ always open late.” |
Trillium Foundation | 3/1/2005 |
MEDIA RELEASE Children's Reference Resources Available Thanks to generous support by the Ontario Trillium Foundation, additional reference resources are available for children and young people across 18 branches of Oxford County Library. Our new collection includes: UXL Encyclopedia of Science Under the Microscope: Science Tools 2005 World Book Encyclopedia Innovators series These valuable educational resources are loaded with visuals and easy-to-understand information, primarily of interest to students in Grades 5 to 8. The Ontario Trillium Foundation is an agency of the Ontario Ministry of Culture. Contacts: Oxford County Library: Barb St. Clair, 423-1928 The Ontario Trillium Foundation: http://www.trilliumfoundation.org/ Ontario Ministry of Culture: http://www.culture.gov.on.ca/english/culdiv/library/index.html |
Poetry Writing Workshop | 2/11/2005 |
Freeing Your Voice Poetry Writing Workshop with Helen Porter Friday Feb 11, 2005 6:30 - 8:30pm and Saturday February 12, 2005 10:15am – 3:30pm at Ingersoll Public Library $40.00 per person To register, please call the Ingersoll library at 485-2505 The main focus of the workshop will be writing poetry, based on timed exercises and word prompts. We will write and read our poems aloud, and learn to give constructive feedback. There will be some reference to editing and publishing. This is a chance for you to discover and express your own voice as a poet! Whether you are a novice or a seasoned wordsmith, if you want to free up your mind and write , this workshop is for you! Helen Carmichael Porter is one of Canada's best-known storytellers. She has told her stories in theatres, galleries, CBC radio, tv and film. She was the Artisitic Director of the National Storytelling Theatre and wrote five plays and produced four theatre festivals featuring over 200 different perfromers. Currently she writes and performs her own work and teaches at the University of Toronto's Creative Writing Programme at the School of Continuing Studies. In 2004 she toured the Yukon and Alaska as a storyteller and writer. She has been teaching Writer's Craft. Ingersoll Public Library, a branch of Oxford County Library 130 Oxford Street, Ingersoll ON, N5C 2V5 Phone 519 485-2505 Fax 519 485-4028 |
Quit Smoking Ontario 2005 | 1/31/2005 |
Everybody loves a quitter The annual Quit Smoking Contest is designed to give daily smokers 19 and older an incentive to quit. Participation in the contest has been growing annually. In the past four years more than 50,000 Ontario smokers have entered the contest with over 900 local participants. This year, the staff at Oxford County Public Health and Emergency Services want to build on this success and aim to help even more smokers in Oxford County quit for one month and hopefully for good. Smokers enter the contest, set a quit date no later than January 31, 2005, and begin now to prepare to go smoke free for the month of February. The deadline for entries online at www.quitsmokingontario.ca is midnight January 31st. The grand prize is a new Ford Mustang. Seven home theatre systems will also be awarded to regional contest participants. For help to quit smoking: Breaking the Habit Quit Smoking classes are starting in January in Woodstock and Tillsonburg. Call 519-539-9800 Ext 4205 to register. Smokers may call the Smokers Helpline at 1-877-513-5333 or go on-line at www.gosmokefree.ca. The Quit Smoking 2005 Contest is funded in part by Health Canada, and is supported by over 60 local councils on smoking and health and public health units throughout Ontario in with support from: Pfizer; the Industrial Accident Prevention Association; the Ontario Smokers’ Helpline; Ontario Dental Hygienists Association; Canadian Dental Hygienists Association; Ontario Dental Nurses and Assistants Association; Association of Local Public Health Agencies; Ontario Occupational Health Nurses Association; and the Running Room. |
Volunteer Tax Clinics | 1/10/2005 |
Need help with your Income Tax return? If your income is low* and your tax situation is simple, volunteers can help you with your Income Tax return free of charge. This Community Volunteer Income Tax Program is provided by Canada Customs and Revenue Agency. Volunteer Tax Clinics - Outside London - 2005 Volunteer Tax Clinics - London, Ontario - 2005 *We have been advised that low income means $20,000 to $25,000 for a single person and $30,000 to $35,000 for married. |
IN THE EVENT OF SEVERE WEATHER | 12/24/2004 |
The safety of our branch staff is our greatest concern, therefore, when driving conditions are dangerous, our branch libraries may be closed. It would be advisable to phone your local library to ensure it is open before venturing out in bad weather. |
Books for Children 2004 | 12/1/2004 |
GIVE THE GIFT OF READING Books for Children is a family literacy program which puts books in the hands and homes of children in need. You can donate a new board book, picture book, or chapter book suitable for a child from birth up to age 12 ; or you can make a financial contribution (tax receipts will be issued for donations of $10 or more). The books will be distributed through the Salvation Army Christmas hampers this year. Receive a discount when you buy a book (and donate it at the store) at: Merrifield’s in Woodstock, Gospel Lighthouse in Tillsonburg, Coles in Tillsonburg, Patina’s in Ingersoll, and First Page in Ingersoll. Drop off your new board or picture books at these locations: any branch of Oxford County Library, including Ingersoll Library; Woodstock Public Library; Tillsonburg Public Library; Fanshawe College Oxford Campus (369 Finkle St, Woodstock), or one of the Ontario Early Years Centres in Oxford County (in Woodstock at 24 Light Street , in Ingersoll at St. Paul’s Presbyterian Church, 56 Thames St S.; and in Tillsonburg at The Livingstone Centre, 96 Tillson Ave). If you wish to make a financial donation, make out a cheque to : County of Oxford -- Books for Children campaign and mail it to County of Oxford, Box 397, Woodstock, Ontario, N4S 7Y3. Receipts available for donations over $10. |
Food For Fines Dec 2004 | 12/1/2004 |
Oxford County Library is celebrating the Holiday Season with Food for Fines. This is a month-long amnesty for overdue library materials, in effect from December 1 to December 31, at every branch of Oxford County Library. Library users can pay fines for overdue books with a donation of non-perishable food. Just bring your food donation to the library service desk and ask the staff person to forgive your fines. Or, if you have no fines, you can simply donate food! All donations will go toward Christmas hampers and the Food Bank. |
Poetry Evening 2004 | 11/4/2004 |
On Thursday November 4, 2004, the winners of this year's James McIntyre Poetry
Contest were honoured in an evening of poetry in the Town of Ingersoll Council
Chambers. Click here to see photos of the evening. Click here to read the winning
poems. Thanks to all those who made the Poetry Evening and the James McIntyre Poetry Contest possible: M.C. Yvonne Holmes Mott; Ingersoll Mayor Paul Holbrough and former Mayor Mike Hennessy, who handed out the awards; Ingersoll's Cheese Poet Laureate Shirley Lovell; Gail MacKay, who read the first prize winning poems aloud; Jennie Holbrough for providing a musical interlude; the contest judges, Dr. Catherine Ross and Dr. Lynne McKechnie of the University of Western Ontario; and to our sponsors, The Ingersoll Times, the Corporation of the Town of Ingersoll, and Oxford County Library. |
Goodbye DRA Web2 | 10/31/2004 |
About the old Web Catalogue, now replaced October 31, 2004 We have now said good-bye to Oxford County Library’s DRA Web2 catalogue interface. This interface, which had been live on the library website since August 17, 2001, was disabled on the evening of September 30, 2004, in preparation for the changeover from multilis to our new catalogue system, Sirsi Unicorn. In 1997, DRA (our library software and systems provider at the time) provided the “generic” Web2 catalogue interface, so that our users could view the library’s multilis catalogue via the World Wide Web. The Web2 catalogue had advanced features such as internal links from subject headings and authors, which library users have now come to expect. But for users, the first noticeable thing about Web2 was that the interface did not match the look and feel of the rest of library’s website (www.ocl.net) and it was difficult to search. Library staff and users continually complained about search problems, unhelpful instructions, and error messages. Most of all, users wanted to be able to place holds from the website, a function which the system did not support, and which we could not afford in the foreseeable future. At some point, we learned that the Web2 catalogue interface could be customized. A couple of attempts were made to convince overworked web programmers from the IT Department (then IAO) to make the changes, to no avail. However, in 2001 the CAP program had four part-time web programmers, working out of the Ingersoll Branch, and they needed projects. Bryan Yeung, then a library CAP (Community Access Program) employee, now a computer science student at the University of Waterloo, expressed an interest. At the time, Librarian Rosemary Lewis explained the layout and features that the library wanted. Then Bryan downloaded a huge manual, signed up for a DRA listserv, and got to work. Five weeks later, we had our new, easy-to-use web interface. The initial work, enough to allow us to make the new catalogue interface live on the library website, was done in July and August of 2001. The redesigned Web2 interface had many excellent features, including a logical layout, restful, readable colours, and clear instructions. There was a direct link from the library website main page to the catalogue, programmed by Ian Barton. Later, in 2002, Bryan added a spell checker for search terms (author, subject, and title), to help searchers who either could not spell or who made typographical errors (or both). One of the best aspects of this catalogue interface was the “Fake Online Holds” feature. This automatic email feature allowed users to email library staff from a catalogue record to request that a hold be placed on the title. This feature was extremely popular, requiring the library to raise the maximum number of holds allowed to a user – twice! Users did not actually go into the system and place holds – the system did not allow this. At the receiving end of the email were two library workers who retrieved the messages and placed holds for these users. Melanie Law and Christy McCready (until she left for Kitchener Public Library in June 2003) were the Ingersoll library staff members who faithfully read the fake online hold email and placed the holds in multilis with a one-working-day turnaround. They estimate that they placed about 50 holds a day for this service! Technology changes: things that are cutting edge one year are ho-hum the next. Perhaps this project does not seem astounding today. Nevertheless, this unassuming CAP project enhanced catalogue access, provided a method for distant users to place holds and send messages (any time, day or night), and improved service for rural library users, without adding to the library’s technology expenditures. It provided a bridge to the web catalogue features we have today. Bryan Yeung’s Web2 custom interface is still being used. You can view it from links at the City of Kawartha Lakes Library (http://www.city.kawarthalakes.on.ca/Community/Library/index.htm) or go directly to their catalogue ( http://206.47.83.36/html/ ). Rosemary Lewis |
Community Flu Clinics 2004 | 10/21/2004 |
BE HEALTHY THIS FLU SEASON FACT - every year, 1 in 6 Canadians are infected with influenza and 1,500 people die FACT - the effects of the flu can last 3 months or longer FACT - signs of the flu include sudden onset of high fever (>39 degrees celcius), cough, muscle aches FOR BETTER IMMUNITY, YOU NEED A FLU SHOT The flu shot... ... is 70%-90% effective in preventing flu in healthy people ... protects you and your loved ones from the flu ... reduces the risk of missing holiday activities and work due to flu ... is free to Ontario residents over 6 months of age ... DOES NOT CAUSE THE FLU!!! LET BEAT THE FLU WITH A FLU SHOT Flu shots are available through your family doctor or at community clinics offered by Oxford County, Public Health and Emergency Services, and Alexandra Hospital starting October 21, 2004. For a schedule of community clinics, click community clinics. For more information please call: Oxford County Public Health and Emergency Services 410 Buller Street, Woodstock, Ontario, N4S 4N2 1-800-755-0394 or 539-9800 www.county.oxford.on.ca - publichealth@county.oxford.on.ca |
Notice to Patrons of Burgessville Public Library | 10/20/2004 |
Public Meeting - October 20, 2004 Re: Consideration of Amalgamation |
James McIntyre Poetry Contest 2004 | 10/13/2004 |
Attention poets! The 2004 James McIntyre Poetry Contest for original poetry, sponsored by the Ingersoll Times, the Oxford County Library and the Corporation of the Town of Ingersoll, will be held this summer and fall. The deadline for entries is Wednesday October 13, 2004. Anyone can enter. For students, there are “age” categories by school grade. Poems may be in any type of rhyming verse, free verse, limerick, or haiku. Your poem may be on any subject. Please note that we have special awards for poems written on Ingersoll-related subjects, such as the history of Ingersoll, famous people of Ingersoll, Ingersoll today, and cheese. Further information about entering the contest, or to download a copy of the entry form, click here. And don't forget the Poetry Evening! This event honours the poetry contest winners and celebrates the poems of James McIntyre. This year it will be held in the Ingersoll Town Council Chambers on Thursday November 4, 2004, beginning at 7:30 pm. |
Non Diet Weight Management Class | 10/12/2004 |
Trying to Lose Weight? Tired of Dieting? Non Diet Approach to Weight Management Classes Hurley's Independent Grocer's Community Room Tuesday, October 12th, 19th, 26th From 7:00 to 9:00 p.m. Pre-register before October 5th TO REGISTER CALL: Oxford County Public Health & Emergency Services at 539-9800 ext. 239 or 1-800-755-0394 ext. 239 |
New Library Catalogue | 10/8/2004 |
Oxford County Library's new catalogue system is up and running. We went live on schedule, on Thursday October 7, in all 17 branches and at Headquarters. Thanks to all branch and HQ staff, who worked diligently to check our database, input manual transactions, and troubleshoot. Library staff have put forth a phenomenal effort: we thank you! In addition, thanks to Russell Yeung of the IT department, for setting up and troubleshooting printers, scanners, screens, connectivity, and lots else. A special thanks to Sonia Dupuis, our software consultant at Sirsi Canada, who oversaw our successful database migration from multilis to Sirsi Unicorn. And most of all, thanks to Katherine Slimman, consultant and trainer for the Ontario Library Consortium: we couldn't have done it without you. |
Access to your library account on the web! | 10/8/2004 |
NOW you have access to your library account on the web!
- View a list of your loans - Renew books, magazines, videos, tapes, etc. - Place holds - Cancel holds you no longer need - View outstanding fines and charges on your account Get your PIN for secure access: - Bring your library card to the service desk in any branch of Oxford County Library - Ask library staff for your 4-digit PIN Once you have your PIN: - Go to the Oxford County Library catalogue at www.oxford.canlib.ca - or follow the links from the library home page www.ocl.net - Login on the Search/Home page (upper right corner) or Click on My Account - Login with your library card number (bar code number) and your PIN - Or place a hold from within a title record after you have searched for an item - You can change your PIN from the website after you login if you wish. |
New Catalogue | 10/7/2004 |
The transition to Oxford County Library'S new catalogue system begins September 28. We Go Live October 7, 2004. During the transition: Open Regular Hours: All Oxford County Library branches will be open their usual hours during this time. Borrowing books: Current library users will be able to borrow books and library materials from any branch. Starting Thursday September 30, the library staff will record your checkouts in a temporary database. The checkouts will be entered into the new system on October 7. New users: Library staff will be unable to issue new user cards from Tuesday September 28 until the Go Live date of Thursday October 7. New users will be able to pick up their library cards and borrow books after October 7. Catalogue disabled: The library catalogue will be partially or completely disabled from September 28 to October 7. Web catalogue unavailable: Our current web catalogue (linked from www.ocl.net) will be unavailable from Thursday September 30 to Thursday October 7. On October 8, you can log in to our new, user-friendly web catalogue. |
Coming soon! New Library Catalogue! | 10/7/2004 |
October 7, 2004 is the “Go Live” date for Oxford County Library’s new library catalogue system. Our new library catalogue will give user-friendly public access through a web-page. It replaces both the library’s current web-based catalogue (found at www.library.ocl.net) and the terminal-type computer catalogues that are located in the library branches. You will be able to: - Login to a personalized version of the web page - Check your account - Renew books - Place holds online - Update your list of favourites – the catalogue will notify you of new books that fit your profile! New or enhanced features will include: - Simpler, more intuitive catalogue searches - Children’s Library - Bestseller feature, updated weekly - Prizewinning books feature, updated weekly - Colour book jackets - Web interface available en francais |
Catalogue Transition Sept 28-Oct 7 | 10/7/2004 |
The changeover to the new catalogue begins September 28…
We GO LIVE October 7, 2004 You can help us during the changeover: Bring your library card to the library. We need that barcode to record your checkouts! If you usually borrow a large number of books at a time, consider coming into the library before September 30 or after October 7. Consider limiting the number of items you borrow during this time. Have patience. It will be worth it! |
Web catalogue unavailable | 9/30/2004 |
Oxford County Library's web catalogue will be unavailable from Thursday September 30 to Thursday October 7. We apologize for the inconvenience. Our new user-friendly web catalogue will be available on Thursday October 7, 2004. You will be able to:
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Find a Job webpages | 8/30/2004 |
Oxford County Library's web pages for job searchers have been re-vamped for easier navigation and improved functioning. Please direct your comments and suggestions to bstclair@ocl.net. |
Temporary Loan Period Change | 8/30/2004 |
GET READY FOR THE NEW LIBRARY CATALOGUE! As part of the changeover to the new library catalogue system, we are temporarily lengthening the loan period for library materials. Starting Monday August 30, and continuing until Wednesday October 6, library books will be checked out with a due date of 6 weeks, rather than 3 weeks, from the date of checkout. Unless you request a special due date, any books you check out in this time period will have a due date of 6 weeks from the date of checkout. Yes, you may return your books at any time before the due date. On October 7, the day our new system goes live, the loan period will return to the usual 3 weeks. |
Hot Dog Day Aug 27 | 8/27/2004 |
INGERSOLL KIWANIS HOT DOG DAY - FRIDAY AUGUST 27th, 2004 THAMES STREET GAZEBO in Ingersoll (Heritage Park) 11:30 A.M. - 1:30 P.M. FREE HOTDOG & POP DONATIONS WELCOMED TO ASSIST THE SCHOOL BREAKFAST PROGRAM AND OTHER KIWANIS PROJECTS The Kiwanis Club of Ingersoll is holding this Barbecue to thank the people of Ingersoll and surrounding area for helping us to help others over the past eighty-two years. CELEBRATING 82 YEARS OF COMMUNITY SERVICE! |
Madame Buskerfly pictures | 8/25/2004 |
Madame Buskerfly is great! Over 100 children and adults filled the Ingersoll Town Council Chamber to see "A Chick on Sticks" on Wednesday August 25th, from 1:30pm - 2:30 pm. Madame Buskerfly, whose real name is Kristi Heath, uses the circus skills of juggling, stilts, and magic (not to mention humour) to create an entertaining family show. Her signature act is a ballet on stilts - it is unforgettable. This program was sponsored by the Ingersoll Public Library Advisory Committee. See photos available at http://www.ocl.net/madamebuskerfly/ |
Author Krista Breen visits Ingersoll | 8/11/2004 |
Krista Michelle Breen, author of Quicksand: The Mysterious Disappearance of Dakotaroo, was welcomed by readers of all ages on her visit to the Ingersoll Library on August 11, 2004. Krista read from her book, answered questions about her writing, and signed books for her fans. About Krista: "Krista Michelle Breen lives in Rockwood, Ontario, with her two children, Walker and Aniela, and her husband, Doug. Krista's grade school teachers repeatedly asked her to stop talking about horses, stop writing about horses, and to please draw something other than horses. She graduated from the University of Guelph in 1990 with a Bachelors of Science in Agriculture. After graduation Krista spent eight years working for The City of Toronto at Riverdale Farm and today spends her time coaching and training young horses and riders in Hillsburgh, Ontario. She is an Equine Canada certified Instructor and Canadian Pony Club Alumni. Quicksand is her first novel." |
Krista Breen Book Signing | 8/11/2004 |
Come and meet Krista Michelle Breen, author of Quicksand – the Mysterious Disappearance of Dakotaroo. Krista will be at the Ingersoll Library on Wednesday August 11, at 2 pm, to read from her book and sign copies. In Quicksand, “T.J. Thompson's world is thrown upside down when her beloved Appaloosa pony mysteriously disappears into the fog”. It is a suspenseful novel, and is written for children from grade 5 and up. (Adults will enjoy it too!) Copies will be available for purchase at this book signing. |
Low Vision Access Opening | 8/5/2004 |
Opening ceremonies for the new Low Vision Access Centre, donated by the Lions Club of Ingersoll, (link to Club page) were held Thursday August 5, at 3:30 in the Ingersoll Public Library. Click here to see photographs of the event. Read about the Ingersoll Lions' donation of $18,000 here. |
Ribbon Cutting for Low Vision Access Centre | 8/5/2004 |
Opening ceremonies for the new Low Vision Access Centre, donated by the Lions Club of Ingersoll, will be held Thursday August 5, at 3:30 in the Ingersoll Public Library. On May 28, the Ingersoll Lions presented a cheque for $18,000 to the Oxford County Library Board. You can read about the Lions' donation by clicking here. These funds have been used to purchase a special computer workstation for people with low or no vision, a CCTV text viewer, and over 40 books on Compact Disc (audio books). After the ribbon cutting, there will be a special demonstration of the equipment and software, presented by CNIB rehabilitation trainers Mary Ann Marchand and Jennifer Stribbell. All are welcome to attend. |
Bon Voyage, Sam | 7/30/2004 | ||||||
Your OCL family offers the following advice for your journey: Don’t bottom out. Find enough white water to make life interesting. Portage around any falls along the route. And use the calm water to enjoy yourself. |
A Tribute to Sam | 7/26/2004 |
To Sam:
We’ll miss (in no particular order)
|
Peter Rabbit coming to Ingersoll | 7/14/2004 |
Celebrate family reading fun at the Ingersoll Library with a visit from Peter Rabbit, the character from Beatrix Potter’s books. This is a special visit for preschool children and their families. Peter will be in the library on Wednesday July 14, from 1 pm to 2:30 pm. There will be read-aloud stories, activities, and time to visit with Peter. You are welcome to bring your camera and take pictures. This program is sponsored by the Ingersoll Public Library Advisory Committee. |
Summer Reading Club | 7/1/2004 |
Hey kids! Get fired up! Join the Summer Reading Club! Get ready to 'Fire Up Your Imagination'! Join Oxford County Library's 2004 Summer Reading Club. Enjoy books, games, activities, fun, and prizes! For kids of all ages and families reading together: Go to your local branch of Oxford County Library. Sign up. Get a poster, booklet, and stickers. Find out about summer activities and rewards for reading at your branch. Start reading!! |
Mackay Statue Unveiling | 6/30/2004 |
At 11:00 EDT Wednesday June 30 2004 on the lawn beside the Court House on County Square, Oxford County and Aletheia University of Tamsui, Taiwan, will unveil a statue and bust of Rev. George Leslie Mackay, 1844-1901. The statue is a gift to Oxford County from Aletheia University, the descendant of Mackay's "Oxford College in Formosa", the school he founded after 1881 with donations from the people of Oxford County. At almost 10 feet in height and over 3 tons, the statue will be a fitting memorial in Canada and his native Oxford to the "Black-Bearded Barbarian" who pioneered the model of the medical missionary in the Far East from 1872 until his death in his beloved Formosa. Many of the schools, churches, and hospitals in the north part of modern Taiwan had their root in Oxford College in Formosa. The first Canadian overseas missionary, Mackay was an outspoken opponent of the head tax and anti-Chinese racism in Canada, and is a national hero in Taiwan today as much for his unreserved love of Taiwan as for his many "first" accomplishments there. Four delegations totaling 120 people will be attending the unveiling from Taiwan. As well there will be performances by the Ingersoll Pipe Band and Toronto Taiwanese Choir. |
Mr. Oh visits Ingersoll Library! | 6/25/2004 |
Mr. OH's Magical Dragon Quest Show Friday June 25, 2004, from 1:30 to 2:30 pm An excited crowd of about 70 children enjoyed Mr OH's "Magical Dragon Quest Show" on Friday afternoon in the Ingersoll Town Council Chambers. Mr. OH (aka Magician Owen Anderson) performed his awesome and humorous magic show to kick off the library's summer programs. This free show was sponsored by the Ingersoll Public Library Advisory Committee. |
Poetry Reading June 9 | 6/9/2004 |
The members of Poets’ Circle, a poetry writing group which meets in the Ingersoll library, are organizing a community poetry reading for Wednesday June 9, from 7 – 9 pm, in the Ingersoll library program room. This is a wonderful opportunity to meet people who enjoy poetry and to hear other people’s poems. If you are interested in taking part by reading some your poems, please contact Janice at 485-2367. All are welcome. Refreshments will be served. |
Car Seat Check - Ingersoll | 5/29/2004 |
Are your children safely buckled up? Oxford County Injury Prevention Team presents: Car Seat Check Saturday, May 29, 2004 9:00 AM – 12:00 Noon Firehall 110 Mutual St. Ingersoll If car seat is rear-facing, please bring a pool noodle with you For Information Call: County of Oxford, Dept. of Public Health & Emergency Services 539-9800 or 1-800-755-0394 |
Ingersoll Lions donation | 5/28/2004 |
MEDIA RELEASE INGERSOLL LIONS GIVE LIBRARY CAUSE TO CELEBRATE HELEN KELLER DAY May 28, 2004 - The Lions Club of Ingersoll ensured a bright Helen Keller Day, June 1st, for the Ingersoll Library by presenting an $18,000 cheque to establish a Low Vision Access Centre. Members of the Oxford County Library Board accepted the cheque Thursday, May 27th from Lion President, Sandy Callebert, and Lion Sight Chair, Jack Ridley, in the Lions Den in Ingersoll. The Centre will feature a closed circuit television text viewer that will allow a user to magnify onto a screen any book or magazine to whatever size they need in order to read it. Library Vice-Chair, Bill Semeniuk, commented that his elderly mother uses such a device and “would be lost without it because she used to read voraciously and would sorely miss being able to read”. The library will also purchase a special computer workstation with all sorts of additions and software to assist people with low vision (large screen, large print keyboard, scanner). Among other benefits, library visitors will be able to scan a book and have the computer read it to them – using headphones, of course. Also, the library will purchase a quantity of books on Compact Disk. Lions Sandy and Jack had approached Ingersoll Librarian, Rosemary Lewis, earlier in the year to explore how the Lions Club could help the library serve vision impaired people in the community. Rosemary worked closely with the Lions and with representatives of the Canadian National Institute for the Blind (CNIB) to determine what equipment would best serve the Ingersoll community. A focus group was held for people with low vision, including a demonstration by Mary Ann Marchand, a CNIB rehabilitation trainer, of computers and other assistive technology. The cheque presentation was timely as June 1st is “Helen Keller Day” as declared by Lions Clubs International. Keller challenged the Lions at their 1925 international convention to become "knights of the blind in this crusade against darkness." Lions fondly recall her saying, "I am your opportunity. I am knocking at your door." Vision impaired residents of Ingersoll and area will have cause to thank their Lions for acknowledging Helen Keller Day in such a generous and appropriate manner. Sandra Morden, CNIB representative, commented that “the need for this centre will, sadly, only increase in the future as our population continues to age”. The Ingersoll Library is a branch of Oxford County Library. Contacts: Jack Ridley, Ingersoll Lions, 485-3571 Rosemary Lewis, Ingersoll Library, 485-2505 Len Reeves, Chair, Oxford County Library Board, 537-6251 |
Dairy Odes dissed!! | 5/19/2004 |
The Online Dairy Ode Contest website has been noticed internationally. This is not an opportunity for unrestrained rejoicing, however. It is #418 in Dan Crowley's book "505 Unbelievably Stupid Web Pages", published by Sourcebooks in 2003. Oxford County Library has sponsored the Online Dairy Ode Contest, a web-based writing contest dedicated to poetry about cheese and dairying, since January of 2001. This contest came about as part of our celebration of James McIntyre, Ingersoll's famous poet of the Victorian era. McIntyre was the originator, over 100 years ago, of the dairy ode as a genre of poetry. As far as we are able to ascertain, he also coined the term "dairy ode" in his book, "Musings on the Banks of Canadian Thames", published in 1884. The Online Dairy Ode Contest is a lighthearted sister contest to the James McIntyre Poetry Contest for original poetry, held annually here in Oxford County. Grieved as we are by such lack of respect for Dairy Odes and James McIntyre, we are even more horrified by Crowley's careless handling of matters of fact. He refers to "This British site.." Sorry, Dan - we are Canadian! Oxford County Library is called "Oxford Public Library". Close, but No Cigar. Last, but not least, he calls the Online Dairy Ode Contest website "Ode to Dairy Products". Click here for a look at the Online Dairy Ode Contest entry in Crowley's book. |
Book Club 60th photos | 5/17/2004 |
On May 6, 2004, the Ingersoll Book Club celebrated their 60th anniversary with a party held in the Program Room of the Ingersoll Library. The celebration was attended by the current membership many well-wishers and special guests. For a description and photos of the event, click here. |
Spot the Dog Visits Ingersoll | 5/15/2004 |
On Saturday morning, May 15, 2004, children and parents gathered at the Ingersoll branch of Oxford County Library to enjoy a visit with Spot the Dog. Spot, from the colourful lift-the-flap books by Eric Hill, is familiar to toddlers and preschool children. Volunteers dressed up in the Spot costume and came to visit the children. As well, Spot stories were read aloud, and the children participated in various Spot-related activities in the library and the program room. This event was a the result of a partnership of the Ontario Early Years literacy initiative through Janet Stephens, Oxford County Library, through Lou Anne Tessier, and ROAR(Rural Oxford and Reading Environment for Adults and their Dependents, a family reading program), through Nancy Moffat and Trish VanRooyen. Click here for more details and photos. |
NoveList now available | 5/14/2004 |
Oxford County Library now has access to NoveList, the fiction guide from EBSCO. NoveList is a database, similar to a library catalogue, of fiction books. It allows searches by author, title, series, and plot type. It includes fiction for children, young adults, and adults, and searches can be limited by reading level ("Lexile Rating"). Among its many features are reviews, book discussion guides, and read-alike lists. Oxford County Library users can search NoveList by two methods: - In-Library Desktop Access: Anyone can get access to NoveList from within any branch of Oxford County Library. All computers in Oxford County Library branches have a desktop icon for access to our EBSCO databases (to Canadian Reference Centre which is the magazine article database, and to NoveList). Click on the icon: no password or library card number is required from the library computer desktop icon. - Web access: Oxford County Library users can get access to NoveList from any computer with internet, using the library website, http://www.ocl.net. From the OCL website, Catalogue and Books page, (http://www.ocl.net/bookinfo/) and from the Databases and Links page (http://www.ocl.net/databases_links/) , the link identified as "NoveList" takes you to the login screen. When you type in your library card number (14 digits, no spaces), you will have the choice of NoveList or Canadian Reference Centre. One of the most interesting features of NoveList is “Find Similar Books”. After you have found the title record for a book you have enjoyed, click on Find Similar Books (in the upper left corner) and follow the instructions to get a list of novels that are similar to the book you liked. |
Book Club 60th Anniversary | 5/6/2004 |
You are cordially invited to attend the 60th Anniversary Celebration of the Ingersoll Book Club, 1944 to 2004. This event will be held on Thursday afternoon, May 6, 2004, in the Library Program Room. Greetings at 1 pm. The guest speaker will be Vicki Whiting, speaking on her travels to Ethiopia with the Canadian Food Grains Bank. A social time will be held from 2:30 pm to 4 pm. All are welcome! |
Celebrate Healthy Living | 5/3/2004 |
Join us on May 3, 2004 from 7 to 9 p.m. at the CAW Hall, 126 Beale St., Woodstock for this FREE event: Celebrate! Fun, Facts and Food for Healthy Living. Information, activity, participation, displays, fun, food, doorprizes... Presentations on Healthy Eating, "Keep Moving" low impact activity, and yoga relaxation and breathing Hosted by Breast Health Oxford. Sponsored by Oxford Women in Networking, Public Health: Cancer prevention and Early Detection Program, and Zonta |
Turn Off the Screens | 4/19/2004 |
Hey Kids! Turn off the television, video games and computers, except for use with homework, for 5 days. Turn Off the Screens runs from April 19-23, 2004. Complete the attached Turn Off the Screens Log and place it in a draw for a chance to win great prizes. Here is a list of community activities available free to those children who have a Turn Off the Screens Log. You and your family will discover all kinds of things to do instead of watching TV! |
Car Seat Check - Tillsonburg | 4/17/2004 |
Are your children safely buckled up? Oxford County Injury Prevention Team presents: Car Seat Check Love Me – Buckle Me Right Day Saturday, April 17, 2004 9:00 AM – 12:00 Noon Firehall 80 Concession St. E., Tillsonburg If car seat is rear-facing, please bring a pool noodle with you. For Information Call: County of Oxford, Dept. of Public Health & Emergency Services 539-9800 or 1-800-755-0394 |
Used Book Sales | 4/10/2004 |
Used Book Sales will be held in the basement of the Tavistock Library,
31 Maria Street, Tavistock, on: Saturday, April 10 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.* Wednesday, April 14 7 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. Saturday, April 17 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.* Wednesday, April 21 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. Thursday, April 22 7 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. Saturday, April 24 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.* *Open Houses to be held in conjunction with the Saturday Book Sales at Tavistock & District Museum & Archives, 39 Maria Street (former PUC building). GREAT DEALS on a huge selection of books, at prices so low, you’ll fill a bag for under $5! Proceeds to be shared equally between the Tavistock Library and the Museum & Archives Committee. Library proceeds to go towards our Library Air Conditioning Fund. Cash donations gratefully received. Tax receipts can be issued for donations of $10 or more. |
Cancer Month Info | 4/1/2004 |
April is Cancer Month. Read about the Provincial Cancer Plan in the Ontario Cancer News at Cancer Care Ontario. The Cancer 2020 prevention plan also is available. Oxford County Public Health is a partner in the regional prevention and early detection networks along with the Canadian Cancer Society, the Ontario Breast Screening Program and other regional services. We also are a member of the Oxford Cancer Services network. Local support services also link to regional support networks. Regional reports will be submitted and the Provincial Cancer plan is targeted for completion by October 2004. |
Cat in the Hat Event | 2/14/2004 |
The Cat in the Hat Family Literacy Event was held at Ingersoll Public library, on Saturday February 14, 2004. Over 100 children and adults came to the Ingersoll Library for stories and fun, celebrating the Seussentennial, the 100th anniversary of Dr. Seuss’s birth. For photos and a description of the event, click here. |
George Bowering Poetry Reading | 2/4/2004 |
Author and Poet George Bowering will be giving a poetry reading at London Public Library's Central Library, in the Wolf Performance Hall, on Wednesday, February 4, 2004. Bowering, the Parliamentary Poet Laureate of Canada, is currently Writer-in-Residence at the University of Western Ontario. Members of Poets' Circle, a poetry writing group which meets monthly at the Ingersoll Library, will be attending as a group. If you would like to attend this poetry reading with fellow poetry lovers, meet at the Ingersoll Library at 6:30 pm on Wednesday February 4. Admission to this poetry reading is free. |
Poetry Workshop Jan 24 | 1/24/2004 |
Revision: the art of rewriting and revising poetry Poet Gay Allison presents an all-day Poetry Workshop on the art of revising your poems. It will be held on Saturday January 24, 2004, from 10am - 4pm, at Ingersoll Public Library (130 Oxford St, Ingersoll, ON N5C 2V5; 519-485-2505). The cost is $15.00 per person. All are welcome! To register, or for further information, please call the library at 485-2505. Gay Allison is a Saskatchewan poet and feminist who lives in Stratford. |
Harrington Library Booksale | 1/12/2004 |
Harrington Public Library, a branch of Oxford County Library, is having a used book sale. The sale will be held during the library's open hours, Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday evenings, 6-9, and Saturday mornings, 9-12. |
OLA Reading Programs | 1/1/2004 |
OLA, the Ontario Library Association, has 5 Reading Programs: Blue Spruce, for Kindergarten to grade 3 Silver Birch, for grade 4 to grade 6 Red Maple, for grade 7 to grade 9 White Pine, for grade 9 to grade 12 Golden Oak, for adult learners Oxford County Library supports these programs by providing copies of the selected titles. To see the list of the 2004 titles that have been selected for each program, click on the program name above. Additional resources, including author websites, can be found on the Thames Valley District School Board website. Blue Spruce Silver Birch fiction Silver Birch nonfiction Red Maple White Pine |
Food For Fines Dec 1-31 | 12/1/2003 |
FOOD FOR FINES Again this year, Oxford County Library is celebrating the Holiday Season with Food for Fines. This is a month-long amnesty for overdue library materials, in effect from December 1 to December 31, at every branch of Oxford County Library. Library users can pay fines for overdue books with a donation of non-perishable food. Or, if you have no fines, you can simply donate food! All donations will go toward Christmas hampers and the Food Bank. |
Books for Children | 11/22/2003 |
GIVE THE GIFT OF READING Books for Children is a new family literacy program which puts books in the hands and homes of children in need. You can donate a new board book or picture book, suitable for a child from birth to 6 years; or you can make a financial contribution (tax receipts will be issued for donations of $10 or more). The books will be distributed through the Christmas hampers this year. Receive a discount when you buy a book (and donate it at the store) at: Merrifield’s in Woodstock, Gospel Lighthouse in Tillsonburg, Coles in Tillsonburg, Patina’s in Ingersoll, and First Page in Ingersoll. Drop off your new board or picture books at these locations: any branch of Oxford County Library, including Ingersoll Library; Woodstock Public Library; Tillsonburg Public Library; Fanshawe College Oxford Campus (369 Finkle St, Woodstock), or one of the Ontario Early Years Centres in Oxford County (in Woodstock: Dundas St. United Church, 285 Dundas St; in Ingersoll: St. Paul’s Presbyterian Church, 56 Thames St S.; in Tillsonburg: Livingstone Centre, 96 Tillson Ave). If you wish to make a financial donation, make out a cheque to : County of Oxford - Books for Children campaign and mail it to County of Oxford, Box 397, Woodstock, Ontario, N4S 7Y3. Receipts available for donations over $10. For further information, call 539-9800 or 1-800-755-0394 ext 238. |
Poetry Evening Nov 6 | 11/6/2003 |
The winners of the 2003 James McIntyre Poetry Contest will be honoured at this year's James McIntyre Poetry Evening. This enjoyable event will take place on Thursday November 6, 2003, at 7:30 pm in the Town of Ingersoll Council Chambers (130 Oxford St. Ingersoll, upstairs from the Ingersoll Library). Among our special guests that evening will be Gail MacKay reading the poems and Ted Comiskey providing a musical interlude. Afterwards, there will be refreshments and a chance to speak to the judges. Many thanks to the sponsors of the James McIntyre Poetry Contest: The Ingersoll Times, the Corporation of the Town of Ingersoll, and Oxford County Library. |
It's Back! Online Dairy Ode Contest | 11/6/2003 |
Enter Oxford County Library's 2004 Online Dairy Ode Contest, starting November 6, 2003. This is a web-based poetry contest, so you can enter the contest anytime, day or night, from our Online Dairy Ode Contest website. All entries are posted on the website, so you can read the dairy odes, anytime day or night, also.
The contest is exclusively for dairy odes, which are poems written about cheese, milk, yogurt, cows, goats, cheesemaking, dairy farming, or anything else to do with dairying and dairy products. Your dairy ode can be any type of poem, such as rhyming or free verse, limerick, haiku, or any other poetic form. The contest is open to all ages, with school grade categories for children. The winners of the Online Dairy Ode Contest are chosen by online voting. Beginning on July 1, 2004, you will be able to vote for your favourite dairy ode from the dairy ode website. |
Poetry Evening Success | 11/6/2003 |
The 7th annual James McIntyre Poetry Evening was a “standing room only” success!
It was wonderful to hear poems read aloud by Gail MacKay, and to see poets of all ages receiving their awards from the James McIntyre Poetry Contest. Many thanks to our special guest Ted Comiskey who sang two songs: his original (and brilliant) setting for James McIntyre's "Ode on the Mammoth Cheese", and his moving Remembrance Day song, "Red Petalled Flower". Thank you to Bonnie Mott who was our excellent MC again this year; to Shirley Lovell, Ingersoll’s Cheese Poet Laureate, who provided a display and some background on the Mammoth Cheese; to Mayor Michael Hennessy who gave out the prizes; and to our caterer Ruby Miree. Thanks also go to the judges, Dr. Catherine Ross and Dr. Lynne McKechnie, both of the Faculty of Information and Media Studies at the University of Western Ontario, without whom there would be no contest. Many thanks to our sponsors: The Ingersoll Times, the Corporation of the Town of Ingersoll, and Oxford County Library. And last but not least, thanks to the library staff members who did so much to make the evening a success. Click here for some candid photos of the Poetry Evening. |
Norwich Candidates | 11/4/2003 |
Meet and Greet the Mayor Candidates for Norwich Township at the Burgessville Library! Nancy Walther will be working the circulation desk Nov. 4 from 7-9pm and Susan Hampson will be working Nov. 6, 7-9pm, at the Burgessville Public Library, 604 Main St. S., Burgessville. |
Plattsville Library Official Opening Oct 29 | 10/29/2003 |
Thames Valley District School Board and The County of Oxford invite you to the Rededication Ceremony of the Plattsville & District Public School Addition and the Grand Opening of the Plattsville Public Library, a branch of the Oxford County Library Wednesday, October 29, 2003 at 7:00 p.m. 112 Mill Street East, Plattsville, Ontario Plattsville & District Public School (519)684-7436 Plattsville Public Library (519)684-7390 |
Mackay Statue unveiled | 9/18/2003 |
On Thursday, September 18, 2003 , members of the Canadian Taiwanese Community, the Canadian Mackay Committee, Oxford County Council and Administration, as well as representatives from the Ontario Heritage Foundation gathered at Memorial Park in Embro to unveil a new provincial plaque to honour the Reverend George Lesley Mackay. This new plaque, which contains text in Mandarin and Romanized Taiwanese, is placed beside a previous English-French plaque which was unveiled on June 2, 2001 , the 100 th anniversary of his death. |
Plattsville library re-opened at new site! | 9/2/2003 |
Plattsville Public Library, a branch of Oxford County Library, re-opened for service Tuesday, September 2 at its new site in the Plattsville & District Public School, 112 Mill Street East, Plattsville. Dozens of residents dropped in to see the spacious new library in which the public and school libraries share a room and many facilities. Even without all the furniture in place (some awaiting delivery, others awaiting successful completion of fundraising), response was overwhelmingly positive among the 60+ visitors during the 7-9 evening hours. Several new lending cards were issued and one person was overheard saying that he hadn't used the old library because it was so small. Another was overheard telling his wife that this was going to be great, having a place in town to go and sit down and read. Fundraising efforts for new furniture for the combined community/school library continue. Information for donations can be obtained at the library. For open hours, see the Plattsville Library web page at http://www.ocl.net/locations/plattsville/ |
Plattsville library closed, to re-open Sept. 2 | 8/26/2003 |
Plattsville library will be closed from Tuesday, August 26 - Saturday, August 30 inclusive in order to move to the new site. The library will re-open with regular hours as of Tuesday, September 2 at the new location in the Plattsville & District Public School, 112 Mill Street East, Plattsville. |
Kiwanis Hot Dog Day | 8/22/2003 |
Kiwanis Club of Ingersoll presents Hot Dog Day! Come to the Thames St. Gazebo in Heritage Park in Ingersoll, on Friday August 22, from 11:30am - 1:30pm, for a free Hot Dog and pop. Donations welcome to assist the school breakfast program and other Kiwanis projects. For further information visit the Kiwanis Hot Dog Day webpage |
Mackay Statue | 8/8/2003 |
This autumn, citizens of Tamsui, Taiwan, the County's twin, will visit
the County, together with representatives of Aletheia University, Tamsui.
The University is donating to the County a statute of
Rev. Dr. George Leslie
Mackay, who, with funds donated by citizens of the County, in 1881
established Oxford College in Tamsui. Oxford College evolved and expanded
over the decades and became Aletheia University.
On September 18, 11 AM, there will be a formal unveiling in Embro, Dr. Mackay's childhood home, of an Ontario Heritage Foundation plaque to him. Remarkable about this plaque is that it is a translation of the existing G.L. Mackay plaque, with Mandarin characters on one side and Romanized Taiwanese on the other, the language that Mackay mastered and used in his 29 years of teaching, missionary work and medical care for the people of northern Taiwan. Watch this space for further details as they develop. |
Camperoo Lou visits Embro | 7/2/2003 |
News Flash!
Camperoo Lou Survives after 1 hour under the sea in Embro! Camperoo Lou (Library Technician Lou Anne Tessier) visited the Embro branch of Oxford County Library on July 2, 2003. Enjoy looking at the gallery of photos of the event. |
Summer Reading Club 2003 | 7/1/2003 |
Hey Kids! Join in the fun of this year's Summer Reading Club. This is for kids of all ages and families reading together. And it happens in July and August 2003. This year's theme is "20,000 Reads Under the Sea". Here's what you do: Go to your local branch of Oxford County Library. Sign up. Get your poster, booklet and stickers. Find out about summer activities and rewards for reading at your branch. Start reading!! Our thanks to TD Canada Trust, sponsors of the TD Summer Reading Club for Ontario Libraries, and to Toronto Public Library, Southern Ontario Library Service and Ontario Library Services North. |
Community Poetry Reading | 6/11/2003 |
Come and enjoy a community Poetry Reading presented by Poets' Circle, on Wednesday June 11, 2003, from 7-8:30 pm, in the Ingersoll Library program room (130 Oxford St., Ingersoll, ON 519-485-2505). All are welcome to attend. Refreshments will be served. If you would like to read your poetry at this event, please contact Janice at 485-2367. |
Peter Rabbit Visits Ingersoll Library | 6/9/2003 |
Who is Peter Rabbit? Peter Rabbit is the main character in Beatrix Potter's beloved children's book, The Tale of Peter Rabbit, first published in 1903. Peter, who lives with his mother and sisters, Flopsy, Mopsy, and Cotton-tail, has been warned not to go into Mr. McGregor's garden. Peter's Visit Peter Rabbit visited Ingersoll Public Library, a branch of Oxford County Library, on Saturday June 7, 2003, from 10:30-11:30 am. With Peter's assistance, Early Years Coordinator Janet Stephens and Library Technician Lou Anne Tessier presented a variety of fingerplays, rhymes, and stories about rabbits. |
Food for Fines June 2003 | 6/1/2003 |
Again this year, Oxford County Library is celebrating Food for Fines for the entire month of June. This is a month-long fine amnesty for overdue books and other library materials, and will be in effect at all branches of Oxford County Library. Library users may pay fines for overdue materials by donating non-perishable food, which will be contributed to the Food Bank. So now's your chance! Look under the bed, clean out your locker, tidy up your desk... and bring your overdue items and non-perishable food to the nearest branch of Oxford County Library. Food for Fines is in effect from June 1 to June 30, 2003. |
Poetry Reading by Charles Mountford | 5/14/2003 |
Poet Charles Mountford will give a solo reading of his poetry
on Wednesday May 14, at 7pm in the Ingersoll Public Library
program room (130 Oxford St., Ingersoll ON, 519-485-2505).
Refreshments will be served. All are welcome! Charles Hugh Mountford was born in Fort William, Ontario, before it became part of Thunder Bay. He attended the University of Western Ontario and the University of London. He has published two books of poetry: "The Harvest of Glass" and "Henry Hudson". He speaks, reads, and writes French and Persian and is working (very slowly) on translations of poetry from those languages. He also writes opera librettos, one of which was recently produced. He currently lives in Stratford, Ontario, where he looks after a garden and listens to opera. We acknowledge the support of the Canada Council for the Arts and the League of Canadian Poets. |
Online Dairy Ode Contest 2003 | 4/30/2003 |
Enter Oxford County Library's Online Dairy Ode Contest anytime until April 30, 2003. This is a web-based poetry contest: you can enter the contest from our dairy ode website, and all entries are posted on the website. The contest is exclusively for dairy odes, which are poems written about cheese, milk, yogurt, cows, goats, cheesemaking, dairy farming, or anything else to do with dairying and dairy products. Your dairy ode can be any type of poem, such as rhyming or free verse, limerick, haiku, or any other poetic form. The contest is open to all ages, with school grade categories for children. The winners of the Online Dairy Ode Contest are chosen by online voting. Beginning on May 1, 2003, you will be able to vote for your favourite dairy ode from the dairy ode website. |
Poetry Workshop Feb 8 | 2/8/2003 |
Got a poem that's finished but not quite right? Come to *Editing 101*, a Poetry Workshop with poet Julia Penistan. If you are looking for help improving the quality of your work, or have questions on making a good poem better, come and explore many creative ways to edit your poems at the
Poetry Workshop, on Saturday February 8, 2003. The workshop will be held at Ingersoll Public Library, a branch of Oxford County Library, located at 130 Oxford St, Ingersoll ON. The workshop will take place in the library program room, from 10 am to 4 pm. The cost is $15 per person. Please bring your lunch or plan to eat at a local restaurant. To register, or for further information, call Ingersoll library at 519 485-2505. This is a hands on workshop, so bring samples of your poetry that you would like to work on. Workshop leader Julia Penistan is a published poet, and has contributed to Erato's Basket, Network News (Findhorn Foundation), and Teacher's Writing (Northwest Territories Education). She is a three time winner in the James McIntyre Poetry Contest. |
Oxford County Library Board Appointment | 2/7/2003 |
COUNTY OF OXFORD APPOINTMENT Oxford County Council will be making the following appointment: * a citizen (excluding residents from Woodstock and Tillsonburg) to the Oxford County Library Board for the remainder of the present Council term (until November 30, 2003) If interested in this appointment and more information about the operations of the County Library Board is needed, please contact Sam Coghlan, Chief Librarian, County Library Board at 485-7394, ext. 277 or e-mail: sam@ocl.net Personal information of applicants to sit on the Board of the Oxford County Library is collected and held in confidence under the authority of the Public Libraries Act, R.S.O. 1990, chapt. P.44, ss.9(5). Questions regarding this collection of personal information should be addressed to the Chief Librarian, 130 Oxford St., Ingersoll, N5C 2V5, 485-7394. This notice is placed pursuant to the Municipal Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act, ss.29(2). Anyone interested in an appointment to this position is requested to make application in writing, no later than February 7, 2003, to: MR. KEN WHITEFORD, C.A.O./CLERK, COUNTY OF OXFORD BOX 397, COURT HOUSE, WOODSTOCK, ONTARIO N4S 7Y3 |
Burgessville New Hours Jan 1 | 12/11/2002 |
Effective January 1, 2003, open hours at the Burgessville Library will be as follows: Tuesdays 2—4 and 7—9 Thursdays 2—4 and 7—9 Fridays 2—5 Saturdays 9—1. |
Betty Crawford, artist and librarian | 12/10/2002 |
Oxford County Library's webpages honouring Betty Crawford are now available at http://www.ocl.net/crawford/. Betty Crawford, who died in her 93rd year on October 2, 2002, was an artist of note and a founding member of the Ingersoll Creative Arts Centre. Miss Crawford is also remembered by many Ingersoll residents as the popular librarian at Ingersoll Public Library from 1941 to 1972. |
Jingle Bell Jazz | 12/6/2002 |
On December 6, 2002 'Uncle Heavy's Pork Chop Revue' played for kids of all ages in the Ingersoll Town Council Chamber. This family-friendly event was sponsored by Ingersoll Kiwanis Club and Ingersoll Public Library and Oxford County Library. |
Thamesford Library Grand Opening Photos | 11/23/2002 |
Pictures of the Thamesford Library and Resource Centre grand opening Saturday, November 23, 2002 at 2:00 pm. The ceremony was held at the library, located at 165 Dundas Street in Thamesford. |
Historian George Emery Nov 21, 2002 | 11/21/2002 |
You are invited to attend "Reconstructing Ingersoll's Past", presented by George Emery on Thursday November 21 at 7:30 pm at the Ingersoll Public Library, 130 Oxford Street in Ingersoll. This will be an illustrated discussion of Emery's two recent books on Ingersoll, Noxons of Ingersoll 1856-1918 and Adam Oliver of Ingersoll, 1823-1882. In addition, Emery will discuss Ingersoll's history and "Where do we go from here?" Dr. Emery, a former resident of Ingersoll, is Professor of History and Associate Dean, Faculty Of Graduate Studies, at the University of Western Ontario. All are welcome! |
Historical Photo Gallery | 11/20/2002 |
Welcome to Oxford County Library's Historical Photo Gallery. This web-accessible database contains historical photographs, postcards, and other images from Oxford County's past. Users can search the database for names of people, places, and subjects. |
Poetry Evening November 7 | 11/7/2002 |
You are invited to a Poetry Evening and Reception on Thursday November 7 to honour the winners of this year's James McIntyre Poetry Contest. The contest, now in its sixth year, is named in honour of the Cheese Poet of Oxford County, James McIntyre, who lived in Ingersoll 100 years ago.
This enjoyable evening of poetry will include Gail MacKay reading the winning poems, the presentation of the awards, a display of the winning poems, and refreshments. A special feature on the agricultural paintings and sculpture of Ross Butler will be presented by David Butler. Come to the Council Chambers of the Town of Ingersoll, on the second floor of the Town Centre, 130 Oxford Street, Ingersoll, ON (upstairs from the Ingersoll Library) on Thursday November 7, 2002, at 7:30 PM. The James McIntyre Poetry Contest and the Poetry Evening are sponsored by: The Ingersoll Times, The Corporation of the Town of Ingersoll, and Oxford County Library. |
James McIntyre Poetry Evening | 11/7/2002 |
Click Here to see the photos and award winners of the James McIntyre Poetry Evening. The event was held Thursday November 7, 2002 in the Town of Ingersoll's Council Chambers. The Poetry Evening honoured the winners of the 2002 James McIntyre Poetry Contest. |
Special Book Sale | 11/2/2002 |
Oxford County Library is hosting a special Used Book Sale. Location: Lower Level, Ingersoll Library Dates: Saturday, November 2: 9:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. Monday, November 4: 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 noon. |
OCL wins Innovation Award | 10/23/2002 |
The Ontario Ministry of Culture announced Monday that Oxford County Library has won its second Minister's Award for Innovation. It was the start of Ontario Public Library Week and Oxford County Library Board was meeting at its Kintore branch when it heard the news. The Minister's Award for Innovation recognizes new ideas in public library service. Donald Woolcott, Chair of Oxford County Library Board, credited the "positive working and learning for life attitude of a dedicated staff". They "search out new ways to deliver information and assistance to long time library patrons and non-traditional users looking for assistance in solving everyday problems". Service Canada allowed library staff "to spread information across the entire County and to bridge the gap between the rural and more urban settings in the County, bringing equal access to programs". Woolcott is also a member of Oxford County County and is Mayor of Blandford-Blenheim Township. Oxford County Library, in partnership with the County of Oxford and two local offices of Human Resources Development Canada became a 27-month pilot for "Service Canada", an alternative service delivery approach offering federal government information through a community network of access centres. The federal government provided funding to the library for delivering this service, including staff wages, training, promotion and overhead. A report of Treasury Board Secretariat concluded that And that, During the 27 months of the project, 7,250 government inquiries were recorded at Oxford County Library branches (serving a population of 50,000). Government pages visited on the web from public access computers in the library are estimated to have numbered in the hundreds of thousands. As well, countless area residents became aware of government programs and services and used government web sites and information numbers from home as a result of advertising and promotion activities undertaken by Service Canada Oxford. A few examples provide insight into how Oxford County Library's approach has affected people's lives: The Minister's Award for Innovation will be formally presented to representatives of Oxford County Library at the Ontario Library Association conference in January. Oxford County Library Board thanks the federal government for the opportunity to engage in the Service Canada pilot. Oxford County understands the power of partnerships and appreciates the opportunity to demonstrate how this can work, not so much for government, but for the citizens in the communities the libraries serve. Particular appreciation is extended to Human Resources Development Canada and Industry Canada. Contacts: Sam Coghlan, Chief Librarian (519) 485-7394 sam@ocl.net Donald Woolcott, Board Chair (519) 454-8511 donfer@execulink.com For more information about the Minister's Award for Innovation, visit the Ministry of Culture's website at http://www.culture.gov.on.ca/culture/english/culdiv/library/oplsa.htm For more information about Service Canada visit http://www.servicecanada.gc.ca For more information about Oxford County Library visit http://www.ocl.net |
Online Research Contest | 10/8/2002 |
Participate in the 5th annual Ontario Online Research Contest (http://www.elibrary.ca/contest). This contest is supported by the Ontario Library Association, and is part of the celebrations for Ontario Public Library Week (October 21-27, 2002). The contest will begin on Saturday October 12 at 9 am EST and will finish at 5 pm EST on Saturday October 26, 2002. The grand prize winning library user will win a 3360 Nokia cell phone and $100 in Pay As You Go cards, courtesy of Rogers AT&T Wireless. |
Thamesford Library Moving to New Location | 10/8/2002 |
Thamesford Library moving to new location The new Thamesford Library & Resource Centre is nearing completion, and the library is preparing to move into the new building. The Thamesford branch library's last day at 200 Brock Street in Thamesford will be Saturday October 12, closing at 2 pm. The library will be closed from Tuesday, Oct. 15 through Tuesday, Oct. 22. For the convenience of those who wish to return library books during this closed period, the book drop will remain available at 200 Brock Street. The Thamesford library hopes to open the new facility at 165 Dundas Street on Wednesday Oct. 23, at 11 am. For the time being, library open hours will remain the same when the new location opens. |
JAMES McINTYRE POETRY CONTEST | 8/30/2002 |
Ingersoll library is now receiving entries for the 2002 James McIntyre Poetry Contest for original poetry. The contest, now in its sixth year, is named in honour of Ingersoll's famous "Cheese Poet", who lived from 1827 to1906. It is sponsored by the Ingersoll Times, Oxford County Library, and the Corporation of the Town of Ingersoll. The contest is open all ages. For children, there are "age" categories by school grade. Poems may be in any style, such as rhyming verse, free verse, limerick, or haiku. Poems may be on any subject. We encourage poems written on Ingersoll-related subjects, such as the history of Ingersoll, famous people of Ingersoll, and cheese; however, poems written on any other subject may also be entered in the contest. To honour the winners, a Poetry Evening will be held in the Ingersoll Town Council Chambers on Thursday November 7, 2002, at 7:30 pm. This year's deadline for entries is Wednesday October 2, 2002. For further information or an entry form, click here or contact Ingersoll library at 485-2505. |
Historical Mystery Photo | 8/30/2002 |
Help us identify the employees of Ingersoll Machine & Tool Inc. in this 1929 photograph. |
kids.ocl.net goes live! | 7/22/2002 |
Oxford County Library's web portal for children, kids.ocl.net, is now live. The website is aimed at children 4 to 14 years of age; but of course any one can use it. It can be found at http://kids.ocl.net. You can get to it from the OCL website from the "blue buttons" (the main navigation menu), from the kid's links page (http://www.ocl.net/databases_links/reference/kids.shtml), and from What's New on the OCL main page. This website has a number of interactive features: Oxford County Library appreciates comments about this site from children, parents, or any users. Congratulations and thanks: |
Visitors from Tamsui, Oxford's Twin | 6/28/2002 |
A delegation from Tamsui, Taiwan (The County of Oxford's twinned community)
will be visiting the County June 30 and July 1, 2002. The 115 visitors will
be attending a series of events this weekend, culminating in the 65th Annual
Embro Highland Games on July 1. Among other activities, the guests will be attending a church service, touring the Woodstock Museum, and exploring a southwestern Ontario orchard, then travelling on to Tavistock for dinner hosted by Quehl's. On Monday July 1, they will enjoy a visit to birthplace of George Leslie Mackay and the Historic Plaque, and then spend some time at the Embro Highland Games. Oxford County is pleased to extend a warm welcome to these honoured guests. |
Plattsville Public Meeting | 6/13/2002 |
Oxford County Library invites you to a Public Meeting to be held on Thursday, June 13 at 7:00 p.m.at the Plattsville Town Hall. The purpose of this meeting is to receive input from the community regarding the proposed relocation of the Plattsville Public Library to the planned Plattsville Public School addition. All are welcome. |
Summer Reading for Kids | 6/11/2002 |
Hey Kids! Read Around the World this summer! Oxford County Library's *Summer Reading* Program 2002 is called *Read Around the World*! Your local library branch will have activities, games, prizes, special passports, and reading rewards for you during the months of July and August, 2002. For further information, contact your local branch of Oxford County Library. Thanks to TD Bank Financial Group for sponsoring this program. |
Stawberry Social and Book Launch | 5/21/2002 |
The Ingersoll and District Historical Society is proud to present a new book on the history of Ingersoll. Adam Oliver of Ingersoll, 1823-1882: Lumberman, Mill Owner, Contractor, and Politician by George Emery and Glenna Oliver Jamieson will be launched on June 18 at the Society's annual Strawberry Social. The book's price has been changed from $25.00 to $15.00, thanks to
the generosity of the Ingersoll Community Foundation. The Strawberry Social will be a celebration of the 150th anniversary of the Incorporation of Ingersoll (1852), with the Mayor of Ingersoll, His Worship Michael J. Hennessy, welcoming members of the Adam Oliver family. Music by Ted Comiskey will also be featured. Tickets to the Strawberry Social ($6.00) are available by advance sale only from Ernie Hunt (485-1539), Bonnie Mott (485-2062), Ray Bowman (485-1922), or any member of the Historical Society. Mark your calendars: Strawberry Social on Tuesday June 18, 2002, at 6 pm, at the Ingersoll Cheese Factory Museum. |
Norwich Library Public Meeting | 5/1/2002 |
A Community Discussion of a new Norwich Public Library will be held Wednesday, May 15, 2002 at 7:00 p.m. at Norwich Community Centre. For more details click here. Fred Galloway of F.J. Galloway Associates Inc. will present an overview of his draft report Norwich Branch Public Library Draft Feasibility Study. You can view a copy of the report by clicking here. |
Thamesford Library Fundraising | 4/24/2002 |
MEDIA RELEASE For Immediate Release COMMUNITY CHAMPIONS NEW THAMESFORD LIBRARY! A parade of Community Champions has marched forward in support of the new Thamesford Library and Resource Centre which is being built at the crossroads of downtown Thamesford. The Fundraising Committee is pleased to report that $168,487 of the $245,000 target has been raised to date. One of the more eloquent champions for the cause has been Dennis Glover of Glover-Hill Inc, a mechanical contracting firm in Thamesford. At the March 16th sod-turning, Dennis delighted the 300 in attendance when he referred to the dictionary several times and pointed out that the Thamesford Library and Resource Centre would be a cornerstone of Thamesford (as it is located on the corner of Dundas and George Streets.) His announcement of Glover-Hill's donation of $10,000 was very well received. "Books are so important to our lives, to our personal development, to our recreation, to our children", Glover explained, "that I feel helping the library in my community is a crucial investment." Individual and family donations are the integral part of any community fundraising endeavour. The Fundraising Committee is thrilled at the generosity of sponsors to date. Here is a list of donors who are contributing $5,000 or more:
Honorary Fundraising Chair, Kathleen Oliver, is well known and loved in Thamesford and the area. The twinkle in her eye, however has escalated to a brilliant sparkling grin. She shines in the light of the kind generosity her friends and neighbours are showing in support of the library she loves. Nonetheless, the Fundraising Committee is quick to point out that, although we are 68.8% of the way to the target, almost one-third remains to be raised. The Committee trusts that Dennis Glover's enthusiasm will be contagious. Contacts: Bill Semeniuk, Mayor, Township of Zorra 485-2490 Ellen Wallace, Chair, Fundraising Committee 285-2843 |
Thamesford Construction Photos | 4/24/2002 |
See photos of the new Thamesford Library and Resource Centre as it is constructed. |
Author Visit in Ingersoll | 4/13/2002 |
Author Donna Morrissey will visit Ingersoll to read from her new novel, Downhill Chance, published in February 2002. Come meet this fascinating writer on Saturday April 13 at 2 pm in the Council Chambers of the Town of Ingersoll, upstairs from the library, at 130 Oxford Street, Ingersoll, Ontario. Refreshments will be served. |
Online Dairy Ode Contest | 4/9/2002 |
Enter Oxford County Library's unique online poetry contest, the Online Dairy Ode Contest, a poetry contest for poems about cheese, dairy products, and dairy farming. |
Author Visit at Thamesford | 3/25/2002 |
Thamesford Public Library Advisory Committee presents author Miggs Wynne Morris, discussing her book Return of the Drum: Teaching among the Dene in Canada's North. This event will be held Monday March 25 at 7 pm, in the Thamesford Library's temporary location (200 Brock Street in Thamesford). Free Admission. Light refreshment. All are welcome. |
Thamesford Library Sod-Turning Photos | 3/16/2002 |
A large crowd attended the sod turning ceremony for the new Thamesford Library and Resource Centre, on Saturday, March 16, 2002. The event was held at the at the south west corner of the intersection of Dundas and George Streets, the site of the future building. Construction is scheduled to start Monday, March 18, 2002. Click here to see photos of the sod turning. |
Thamesford Library Sod-Turning | 3/5/2002 |
A sod-turning ceremony for the new Thamesford Library and Resource Centre
will take place on Saturday, March 16, 2002 at 11 AM, at the site (the south
west corner of the intersection of Dundas and George Streets). Local
dignitaries will be present as well as major donors. Light refreshments will
be served. Everyone is welcome. Pending approval of the contractor, construction is scheduled to begin on March 18, 2002. MEDIA RELEASE
March 4, 2002 For Immediate Release A sod-turning ceremony will take place for the Thamesford Library and Resource Centre, Saturday, March 16 at 11:00 a.m. The ceremony will take place at the site of the recently demolished library, 165 Dundas Street (former Highway 2, at the corner of George Street). The Thamesford Library and Resource Centre will house Thamesford Public Library, a branch of Oxford County Library. Thamesford, Zorra Township's largest community, has already outgrown the former library and continues to expand. The new facility will also include two community meeting rooms which will be the site of a variety of community activities ranging from pre-school activity sessions in partnership with Oxford Community Child Care to gatherings of the local Seniors' Club. A community policing office will be front and centre in the facility, marking a partnership between the Township of Zorra and Ontario Provincial Police. The $800,000 facility will be serviced with broadband Internet connectivity from the County of Oxford Integrated Network. The Thamesford Library and Resource Centre will be jointly owned by the County of Oxford and the Township of Zorra. The architect is Brad Skinner of Skinner & Skinner Architects, London. Furniture for the facility and equipping of the kitchen will be funded through the fundraising activities of a Fundraising Committee consisting of community members and chaired by Ellen Wallace. The sod-turning will launch the campaign to raise $245,000. Several announcements of major donations will be made at the event.
Contacts: Bill Semeniuk, Mayor, Township of Zorra 485-2490 Ellen Wallace, Chair, Fundraising Committee 285-2843 Sam Coghlan, Chief Librarian, Oxford County Library 485-7394 |
ONT Pilot Project | 3/4/2002 |
Norwich and Tavistock now provide access to OMAFRA (Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs) productions under the ONT pilot project, giving the communities a local outlet for OMAFRA information! |
Family Literacy Celebration | 3/1/2002 |
Bring Mom and Dad out for an afternoon of fun, free activities in
celebration of Family Literacy. Saturday, March 16, 2002 from 1 to 4 p.m., Ingersoll Seniors Activity Centre, 250 Ingersoll Street South (Suzuki building beside Cami). Meet Spot the Dog in person! Special guests will be reading stories throughout the afternoon. Prizes for every child. Free refreshments. For a ride to the event or more information call Early Years Oxford 539-9800 ext. 238. |
Ingersoll Vital Statistics: 1896 - 1934 | 2/19/2002 |
Two new genealogical databases have been added to our website: Ingersoll Vital Statistics Births (1896 - 1934) and Ingersoll Vital Statistics Deaths (1896 - 1934). These data have been transcribed from microfilmed copies of Ingersoll municipal records. |
Giants of Oxford County | 2/4/2002 |
Local author Doug Symons gave a presentation about his new book, Giants of Oxford, to headquarters and branch staff of Oxford County Library gathered at Ingersoll Public Library for their monthly staff development day on January 28. The book is a collection of stories of 29 prominent people who received part of their early education in Oxford County. Following his presentation, Doug distributed a copy of Giants of Oxford to be placed in each of the 18 branches in the Oxford County Library system. Click here to see pictures. |
Oxford Plaques and Hamlets | 2/3/2002 |
New pictures have recently been added to the Historic Plaques in Oxford County database and the Historic Hamlets of Oxford County database, thanks to web programmer and photographer Bryan Yeung. This is an ongoing cooperative project, with Doug Rozell of the County of Oxford, Bryan Yeung of the Community Access Program (CAP), and Rosemary Lewis of Oxford County Library. Many new plaques were discovered while photographying the ones we knew about. If you know of a plaque that is not included in our database, please contact rlewis@ocl.net. |
Harrington Library | 1/25/2002 |
Effective January 1, 2002, Harrington Library's status changed from "Community Library" to full branch of the Oxford County Library. The newly-appointed Branch Supervisor is Mr. Ed Fisher. Oxford County Library extends many thanks to the volunteers who staffed the library over the past several years, and looks forward to their continued involvement with the library. |
Thamesford Library Perspective Painting | 1/5/2002 |
Architects Skinner & Skinner have provided a revised perspective painting of the new Thamesford Library. The new library is currently in the design stage, with construction planned for later this year. The Painting is available in two formats below. |
Poetry Workshop | 12/15/2001 |
A Poetry Workshop with poet Graham McGeorge will be held at the Ingersoll Public Library on Saturday, February 9, 2002, from 10am - 4pm. The cost is $15.00 per person. To register please call the library at 519 485-2505. The Workshop is entitled The Inside and Outside of Poetry, and will focus on creative expression. Graham McGeorge is a published poet and spoken word performer. He has performed his creative works at The Forest City Gallery in London and other venues throughout Southern Ontario. He is interested in experimental and avant-garde writing forms and the creative process, particularly linguistic and psychological underpinnings. He has conducted workshops on poetry, creative writing and personal development. Current projects include a Poetry for Adult Literacy course and a chapbook of prose poems. Graham has a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from the University of Western Ontario. His motto is: "Let's have fun and learn something too." |
Thamesford Temporary Location | 12/14/2001 |
The Thamesford branch of Oxford County Library has moved temporarily to 200 Brock Street in Thamesford. The library will be in this location while the new Thamesford Public library building is under construction. Library hours and services remain the same in the temporary location. |
New Thamesford Library | 11/23/2001 |
The Township of Zorra and the County of Oxford are hosting an open house at 7:00 p.m., on December 6 at the Thamesford District Recreation Centre to unveil plans for the new Thamesford Library. Project architect, Brad Skinner, will present the proposed plans for the new library as well as a |
James McIntyre Poetry Evening Success | 11/8/2001 |
The fifth annual James McIntyre Poetry Evening was held on the evening of Thursday November 8, in the Town of Ingersoll's beautiful Council Chambers. View pictures by clicking here. The purpose of this standing-room-only Poetry Evening was to honour the winners of the James McIntyre Poetry Contest and to celebrate Ingersoll's unique poetic heritage. Gail MacKay, Drum Major of the Ingersoll Pipe Band and retired school principal, read the first prize poems aloud. Special entertainment was provided by KidsPlay, a children's theatre group led by Kathleen Oliver. They performed a short play, written by Ingersoll's Cheese Poet Laureate, Shirley Lovell, on the subject of curds and whey. The MC, Yvonne Holmes Mott, introduced the special guests, Ingersoll Mayor Michael Hennessy, Councillor Ernie Hunt, James Hutchinson, and the contest judges, Dr. Catherine Ross and Dr. Lynne McKechnie, of the University of Western Ontario . Thank you to the contest sponsors, The Ingersoll Times, the Corporation of the Town of Ingersoll, and Oxford County Library. |
Author Donna Morrissey to Visit | 11/2/2001 |
Author Donna Morrissey of Halifax will visit Ingersoll on Friday November 16 at 7 pm, in the Ingersoll Library Program Room (130 Oxford Street, Ingersoll). Morrissey will be reading from her novel, Kit's Law, a Canadian bestseller set in Newfoundland. You may have heard this novel recently on the CBC Radio One show, "Between the Covers". This is a wonderful opportunity to meet the author of a book that has received rave reviews across the country. |
Dave Stone Video | 11/2/2001 |
Sailor's Warning: The Ghost Fleet of Long Point is a new documentary video, told through the eyes of Dave Stone, Long Point beachcomber and historian. Featuring underwater video footage, it brings to life the stories of some of Lake Erie's shipwrecks. The Ingersoll launch of the video will be held in the Council Chambers of the Town of Ingersoll, 130 Oxford Street, Ingersoll, on Friday November 9, from 7-9 pm. Dave Stone will be there for signing. Videos will be available for $25+PST. |
Women's Plight Forum | 11/1/2001 |
November is Wife Assault Prevention Month. This FREE Forum on Women's Plight Globally has speakers from Amnesty International, the Canadian Coalition for Afghan Women and the CAW. View the video "The Shroud of Silence". Participate in discussion and informative displays. Join us on Thursday,November 15,2001 at the CAW Hall, Beale St., Woodstock from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. Everyone is welcome! |
Clifford the Big Red Dog Visits Ingersoll Library | 10/26/2001 |
Who is Clifford? Clifford is the lovable main character in Norman Bridwell's series of picture books for children up to about grade 3. These popular books, featuring the big red dog, his neighbourhood, and his best friend Emily Elizabeth, have recently been adapted for TV. Clifford books emphasize kindness and acceptance, and the importance of community. Clifford stands up for what is right, and he learns from his mistakes.
Clifford the Big Red Dog visited the Ingersoll Public Library on Friday October 26. He was here at 10:30-11:30 am, at 1:30-2:30 pm, and at 3:30-4:30 pm. Approximately 500 excited children, parents, and caregivers were in the library to visit with Clifford. For each of these hour-long visits, the library had a draw for some Clifford books. |
James McIntyre Poetry Evening Nov 8, 7:30 pm. | 10/19/2001 |
Come to the James McIntyre Poetry Evening on Thursday November 8, at 7:30 pm. This event will be held in the Town of Ingersoll Council Chambers, located at 130 Oxford Street in Ingersoll, upstairs from the Library. This is where we honour the winners of the James McIntyre Poetry Contest 2001, and celebrate the poetry of Ingersoll's Cheese Poet. It will be a wonderful evening with readings, refreshments, and special entertainment. Don't miss it! A big thank you to the contest sponsors, The Ingersoll Times, the Corporation of the Town of Ingersoll, and Oxford County Library. |
Needs Assessment Manual Published on Web | 10/15/2001 |
Focus on the Future: Needs Assessment and Strategic Planning for County and
Regional Libraries: A How - To Manual has been published on Oxford County Library's Website. The manual, first published in July 1992 in print form, was developed as part of Oxford County Library's Community Needs Assessment study. The development of the manual was supported by a number of agencies including the County and Regional Municipality Librarians (C.A.R.M.L.), Oxford County Library, Information Oxford, the Ministry of Agriculture and Food, the Ministry of Culture and Communication, the Southern Ontario Library Service and the Ministry of Municipal Affairs. Funding for the manual was provided by the people of Ontario through the Ministry of Culture and Communications. |
CMHA donates books | 10/12/2001 |
The Canadian Mental Health Association Oxford County Branch has donated 5
copies of the book THE LAST TABOO A SURVIVAL GUIDE TO MENTAL HEALTH CARE IN
CANADA to the Oxford County Library for distribution to their branches. The
decision to donate the books is part of an effort to promote public
awareness of issues around mental health and mental illness by providing
information that is interesting, first hand and accurate. About the Authors: Scott Simmie and Julia Nunes Scott is a feature writer for the Toronto Star with more than twenty years' experience as a journalist in radio, print, and television. He was also a foreign correspondent for CBC. As a recipient of the Atkinson Fellowship in Public Policy for l997-l998 Scott chose to explore Mental Health Reform, resulting in his award-winning Toronto Star series "Out of Mind". Julia Nunes, wife of Scott, has significant experience in writing with over 14 years in journalism. Together Scott and Julia look at mental health and mental illness from a personal perspective. They give a clear account of mental illness as the person struggling with the illness and a close family member living with the individual with the illness. The book addresses the stigma associated with mental illness and the resulting barriers in receiving adequate supports during the struggle for recovery. It offers sympathetic advice along with practical information for anyone touched by or interested in mental health or mental illness issues. The books were presented to Oxford County Library on Thursday October 4, 2001. They have been entered in the catalogue (hyperlink to catalogue - or catalogue record of title if that works) and are available for borrowing. |
Celebrating Menopause! Panel Oct 17 | 9/21/2001 |
Celebrating Menopause! The Oxford Heart Health Network presents a panel of 3 guest to discuss Menopause and the variety of options available to women. October 17th. Displays 6:30 Presentation 7 - 9 p.m. Goff Hall, Woodstock Community Complex, 318 Finkle St. Woodstock. To register call 539-9800 ext.239 Seating limited. $5.00 fee. |
McIntyre Poetry Contest Update | 9/20/2001 |
The James McIntyre Poetry Contest for Original Poetry is being held again this year. This is a Poetry Contest for poets living in Oxford County, Ontario, Canada, or nearby areas. The closing date for entries is October 3, 2001. For more information or to download an entry form, go to http://www.ocl.net/projects/poetrycontest/jmcontest.html |
New Web Catalogue Live | 8/17/2001 |
Our re-vamped catalogue website is now a live link from the Oxford County Library website. You can get to it from the top button on the left-side navigation bar, or you can find it with your browser at http://library.ocl.net. |
New Genealogy Resource | 8/13/2001 |
1894 - 1895 Town of Ingersoll Directory |
Province awards County $1.5 million | 7/11/2001 |
The Province of Ontario announced today that the County of Oxford will be the recipient of $1.5 million dollars in round one of the Connect Ontario and GeoSmart funding programs. |
Author Bonnie Burnard in Thamesford April 2 | 3/23/2001 |
Thamesford Public Library Advisory Committee presents a visit by prize-winning author Bonnie Burnard. Burnard's novel, A Good House, won the 1999 Giller Prize for the best Canadian novel in English. Burnard will be at Westminster United Church, 115 George Street, in Thamesford on Monday April 2, 2001, at 7:30 pm. All are welcome. Bring a friend. Light refreshments. Call 285-3219 for more information. Presented by The Writers' Union of Canada and The Canada Council for the Arts. |
Lost in Cyberspace Articles | 3/20/2001 |
Weekly series of articles appearing in The Oxford Review since Summer, 1999. |
Oxford Centre Library Hours Change | 3/1/2001 |
As of Thursday March 1, 2001, Oxford Centre Library will be changing hours of operation on Thursdays and Saturdays. The new open hours will be Thursdays 2-5 pm and 6-9 pm, and Saturdays 10 am - 1 pm. These changes were proposed as a result of a survey of the community and have been approved by the Oxford County Library Board. |
The Oxford Rural Gateway | 2/22/2001 |
Launch of the Oxford Rural Gateway, a collection of links of particular interest to Oxford County farmers and their families. |
Online Dairy Ode Contest | 1/22/2001 |
Oxford County Library is hosting two poetry contests inspired by James McIntyre. |
Gates Centre Launched | 8/10/2000 |
Launch of The Gates Centre at Oxford Centre Library (Formerly East Oxford Library) |
Public Information Meeting and Feasibility Report | 8/9/2000 |
Thomas Ingersoll Statue | 8/6/2000 |
Thomas Ingersoll Statue unveiled at Ingersoll Town Centre. Pictures and related research are available. |
OCL Wins Minister's Award for Innovation | 2/5/2000 |
The prize recognizes the success of Information Access Oxford (IAO) as the library's technology branch. |
Services 4 Children Webpage Launch | 2/2/2000 |
A seachable county wide online database, featuring organizations that provide services to children and young familits. |
Service Canada Launch | 1/19/2000 |
The Honourable Lucienne Robillarld Officialy Opens 14 Service Canada Access Centres In Oxford County. |
Federal Minister Visits Ingersoll Library! | 1/18/2000 |
Coin Takes the Gold! | 10/18/1999 |
The County of Oxford Integrated Network (COIN) is thrilled to share our pride in being awarded a gold medal at the Distinction '99 awards for excellence in the management of information and technology in the public sector, held in Hull, Quebec on October 18, during Technology in Government week. |
Ingersoll library closed 10-2:30 Mon Oct 1 | 4/2/1007 |
Ingersoll Public Library will be CLOSED on Monday October 1 from 10 am to 2:30 pm for Staff Development. That is, the library will open at 2:30pm and close at teh regular time, 8:30 pm. The library will also be CLOSED on Monday Oct 8 for Thanksgiving. |