It’s finally starting to feel like summer in the Township! As the waters recede and the sun begins to stick around a little longer, why not check out everything your local library has to offer? We have so much happening this month — with much more to be announced — that you’ll definitely want to keep an eye on MLPL this season.
Here’s just a small preview of what’s happening:
Summer Hours begin in Bala on June 6th We’ll now be open Saturdays from 10 AM – 2 PM, Mondays from 1 – 5 PM, and Tuesdays and Thursdays from 10 AM – 2 PM until the end of August. You’ll also find us at the Bala Market throughout the season!
Friends of the MLPL – 15th Annual Silent Auction Get your bidding fingers ready! The Friends of the MLPL Silent Auction launches Thursday, July 9th and runs until 5 PM on Thursday, August 6th. Browse a growing collection of items (with more being added weekly), generously donated by local businesses and community members — all in support of the library! https://www.32auctions.com/mlplfriends15
Our full summer programming lineup launches mid-month! Keep an eye on your inbox and our socials for details on reading challenges, movie nights, crafternoons, Art on the Shelf, family activities, special guests, and much more.
Anniversary Celebration Week is coming August 17th–22nd This year marks the 25th Anniversary of service from the Norma and Miller Alloway Muskoka Lakes Library (Port Carling Branch) and the 139th Anniversary of library service overall in Muskoka Lakes. We’re planning a full week of celebrations, activities, and community events — details coming soon!
Don’t forget — your library card includes access toKanopyand other digital resources perfect for summer evenings and rainy days alike.
Heading to the cottage? Stock up on puzzles, magazines, board games, DVDs, beach reads, and more before you hunker down!
All of our Summer Programming will be announced mid-month, so keep an eye on your inboxes for a special edition Newsletter dedicated to everything Summer @ MLPL!
In the meantime, here’s a sneak peek at just some of what’s coming up at the end of June (and is available to register for, where required):
Friday June 26
Scales Nature Park visits Port Carling from 2–4 PM
Art on the Shelf returns — pick up your canvasses and get creative
Our 3rd Annual Book Sale begins — by donation or fill a bag for just $5
Beading for Reading launches for 2026
Our Adult Summer Reading Challenge begins
Saturday June 27
Crafty Saturdays in Port Carling from 10:30 AM – 12:30 PM
Interactive Story Time — SMILE with Sandy Inkster in Bala from 11–11:45 AM
S.T.E.A.M. in Port Carling from 2–3 PM
And now… onto our regularly scheduled programming! Phewf!
As always, MLPL has a full slate of programs, events, clubs, workshops, and activities happening across both branches for children, teens, adults, and seniors throughout the month of June. Whether you’re looking to learn something new, connect with others, get creative, or simply enjoy a good story, there’s something for everyone at your library.
Children aged 9 and under must have a parent, guardian, or assigned caregiver (this can be an older sibling) remain on the property for the duration of the program.
Join us at the Bala branch from 3:15 p.m. to 4:45 p.m. on Mondays, for an after school program in partnership with Wáhta, with a focus on STEM and Kanien’kehá language learning, with a portion of the program featuring the history of Wáhta. Open to all elementary school-aged children. Snacks will be provided to all registered participants, so please register for this program by calling 705-765-5650 or emailing info@mlpl.ca.
Come to the Port Carling branch on Friday June 5th from 10:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. to get up close with nature! There will be a variety of skulls to examine and learn about with the guidance of our nature-loving staff.
Come to our Port Carling branch on Saturday June 20th from 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. for an inspiring celebration of local authors from across Muskoka. Now in its 13th year, this event showcases readings by established and emerging writers from Muskoka. They will present a variety of genres including historical fiction, poetry, humorous personal anecdotes, suspenseful short stories, and novel excerpts.
Held at our Port Carling branch on Monday June 29th from 9:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.
Empower your child with essential life skills with the Stay Safe! course for youth ages 9 to 13. This course provides children with the knowledge and skills they need to stay safe when they are away from their parents or guardians, both at home and in their communities.
To enroll, your child must be at least 9 years old or have completed Grade 3. Please register for this event by filling out this Google Form, which goes directly to the course facilitator.
For more information about the Stay Safe! Canadian Red Cross course click here.
Jake and Neytiri's family grapples with grief, encountering a new, aggressive Na'vi tribe, the Ash People, who are led by the fiery Varang, as the conflict on Pandora escalates and a new moral focus emerges.
In this highly anticipated collection of poetry, Hollie McNish unpicks the role this word has played in her own life, as well as others, with her trademark mix of humour, fury and compassion.
At times hilarious, at times harrowing, always hopeful - a poetic love letter against the more nefarious effects of purity culture packed with stacks of honeycomb, hand holds and early morning light.
Naomi thought she had the perfect marriage until her husband leaves her and takes up with a 20-something. Naomi finds herself fixating on her husband's new girlfriend and what begins as cynical curiosity soon twists into obsession - and then into something far darker. As Naomi uncovers secrets she never imagined, she realizes her own life may be in danger.
Whether it’s planting a seed, dancing in the rain, blowing out birthday candles, or playing with a puppy, there are so many little things to smile about! From award-winning author-illustrator Emma Quay comes a vibrant, lyrical celebration of the small joys to be found in the everyday.
From “drag and drop” stadiums, to seats made from recycled fish nets, to plant-based game-day food, soccer has an opportunity to lead by example and convince the global community that, by working together, we can create a better future. Includes a game plan of how readers can help, too.
Each month we will include a title or two that a staff member has recently read. Yes, we could call it Staff Picks, but where's the alliterative fun in that?
So, without further ado, please enjoy Rachel's Reading Room!
Having grown up on John Green’s YA novels, I just had to read his second ever non-fiction. Green intertwines the history of TB with its lasting cultural effects and modern day stigmas. Spread throughout are fun facts proving that everything really is tuberculosis - did you know that adirondack chairs (locally known as Muskoka chairs) were popularized for their use in TB sanatoriums?
Ultimately, Green illustrates why, in a world in which we know how to cure TB, it continues to kill over a million people annually. This book is phenomenally researched yet still far from dull, and you can feel Green’s passion throughout. I leave you with a snippet to hopefully entice you:
“What's different now from 1804 or 1904 is that tuberculosis is curable, and has been since the mid-1950s. We know how to live in a world without tuberculosis. But we choose not to live in that world."
It's Never Over, Jeff Buckley covers the life of the rising young star with an otherworldly voice and boundary-pushing artistry, who left the ’90s music world reeling when he died suddenly, at age 30, after the release of his critically acclaimed debut album “Grace.”
Told through never-before-seen footage from Buckley’s archives and intimate accounts from his friends and family, It's Never Over, Jeff Buckley illuminates one of modern music’s most influential and enigmatic figures.
Help Shape the Future of MLPL!
Within the next couple of weeks, MLPL will be launching a new community survey as part of our current review of library services, spaces, and future priorities.
We want to hear from residents, seasonal property owners, visitors, library users, and non-users alike about what’s working well, what could be improved, and what services and spaces matter most to you as we plan for the future.
Keep an eye on our website, social media channels, and your inbox for the official launch and your chance to participate…and please share widely when you do!
