Canyon Lake Library offers more than just books

The library can help with more than books over the holidays. The library has music that can be downloaded or checked out, movies for entertaining visitors, computers for staying in touch and food ideas for holiday entertaining and people on special diets.

The library offers two Story Time programs: Miss Ginny’s Preschool Craft and Story Time and Toddler Story Time.

On Friday, December 16, Miss Ginny’s Preschool Craft and Story Time celebrated Bruce the Moose. Miss Ginny read stories about Bruce the Moose and Earl the Squirrel. Mr. Bill played songs at the piano with words that he had written for the occasion so that all could sing and dance. At the craft tables everyone made moose masks that they could wear.

Miss Ginny’s Preschool Craft and Story Time meets every other Friday at 11:30 a.m. in the City Council Chamber at City Hall. This free program for children ages 3 to 5 is designed for pre-school development and includes stories, music, movement and a craft children can make and take home. Materials for crafts are provided.

Toddler Story Time meets at the library every Monday at 11 a.m. in the Kid’s Cove at the Library. Mrs. Blackford engages the children with stories, songs and other activities appropriate for toddlers age 3 and under. Although babies may not be able to participate in the songs and movement, hearing the stories and songs, experiencing the socialization and generally being engaged to their capabilities has lasting benefits.

On December 19, the library celebrated the holidays with an edible tree decorating craft. The craft included inverted ice cream cone trees, frosting, marshmallows, marshmallow cream and a collection of tasty edible things as decoration. The program was a family craft to provide an opportunity for parents to play with their food right along with the children. Everyone got into the spirit but not all trees made it past the door before being eaten.

The Library will be closed on December 26 and January 2. Toddler Story Time will not meet on these dates. Library programs that meet on Mondays are cancelled until January 9th. The library will be open regular hours on December 23 and 24. The following week it will be open on Wednesday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., Friday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. and on Saturday from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.

The Teen Book Club meets on Fridays at 4:30 p.m. New members are welcome to this group who each month will read and then discuss a book of their choosing.

The library’s Family Movie Program is held on the last Monday of the month at 4:30 p.m. The movie and popcorn are courtesy of the Friends of the Canyon Lake Library. Due to the holiday closure, there will be no movie on January 2.

Teen activities are on Fridays at 4:30. Teens wishing to assist with the library collection programs and other offerings are welcome to become a member of the Teen Advisory Board. The Board meets once a month on Friday to offer author suggestions, assist in developing programs and provide other insights to help the library serve teens in the community.

The Roots to Grow Tutoring and S.A.T. preparation programs are on hiatus until January 14, 2017.

Free online practice tests for teens and adults needing to pass the DMV driving test are available at the library.

The library offers free books, large print books, free internet access, reading programs, book clubs and more. All programs at the Canyon Lake Library are free to the public and do not require library membership. Membership is required to check out materials and to use many of the internet programs available from home.

The Canyon Lake Library is located inside the City Hall building. It’s open Mondays, 10 a.m. to 7 p.m., Wednesdays and Fridays, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. The library is closed Tuesday, Thursday and Sunday. The Canyon Lake Library is a member of the Riverside County Library System (www.rivlib.net) honoring cards and returns from other affiliated libraries. For more information, call 951-244-9181.