With the bitterly cold weather we’ve been receiving lately, many Weyburn residents have been searching for things to do from the comfort of the great indoors. Thankfully, the Weyburn Public Library is open every day during the winters months. The library offers much more than just books and all of their materials, services, and programs are free to the public. In fact, accessing everything the library has to offer is as easy as signing up for a library card.

"You can get a free library card as long as you're a resident of Saskatchewan," explained Branch Manager Matthew Rankin. "What we ask, normally, is that you just have a piece of Saskatchewan issued ID, specifically a driver's license or an ID card, but there's different combinations of stuff we can accept. And you just come in, sign up, and you're able to access our systems."

Of course, the library offers fiction and non-fiction books for all ages, including children's and young adult sections, but they also offer much more than that. Not only do they have the latest magazines and newspapers available, but they offer a quiet and cozy place to read them. And for those looking to escape the cold weather, the library recently purchased therapy lights so patrons can get some much needed "sunlight" while they read.

For anyone not wanting to venture out in the cold weather, the library has several options. Rankin said there are digital items available such as e-books, e-magazines, and audio books.

"If you have a library card and a password, which we provide when you register, you can just go onto your app store on an Apple device or the Play Store on an Android device and just download the SILS app to your phone. You can access the catalogue, you can renew items, and you can place holds. So if you're not able to make it to the library you can still do basically everything you can by coming in."

Other digital borrowing resources used by the library include Hoopla, OverDrive, Libby, Press Reader, Flipster, Tumble Books, Centre for Equitable Library Access, and National Network for Accessible Library Services.

Wifi is also free at the library and they have computers available for anyone presenting their library card or photo ID.

"You can use a bunch of different video game systems. We have adventure gaming where kids can come in and just use the Xbox One to play Minecraft."

Matthew Rankin displayed the virtual reality video game system available at the library.

There is also a virtual reality video game system available to play at the library, not to mention a large array of toys thanks to yearly donations from Quota International of Weyburn. Toys can also be borrowed from the library. Children's Programmer Cora-Lynn Sexton said the Toy Lending Library is a great resource that has seen a very positive response from users.

"Especially if there's some grandparents with their grandchildren coming to visit and they don't have a lot of toys at home, so they come and they check-out a few toys to take home, or we have people visiting and they come check-out toys," shared Sexton.

Rankin said many residents don't realize that borrowing materials from the library can help them save money.

"If you check any of your receipts when you check-out items at the library you'll notice at the bottom it will tell you how much you saved during this particular transaction, so typically it's the cost of the items that you're taking out, and then it shows you the total that you saved for the year. So, basically, it's just demonstrating how much money you're saving as an individual by using the library compared to, like, buying items outright. So just a small thing to show our value and we can help you out by having books you would normally have to purchase or get from somewhere else."

Adult Programmer Rheanelle Callfas holds Art Attack! monthly.

The library also offers free regular programming, such as Toddler Storytime on Tuesdays and Wednesdays, and Preschool Storytime on Fridays. There are programs directed towards teens and adults as well. Many of the free programs they offer change from month-to-month, with some special events like mini-golf. You can find out what the library is offering this month by checking out their website HERE. For those missing the theatre experience since the closure of the Soo Theatre last year, the library offers adult matinees on Fridays and family matinees every fourth Saturday.

 

Branch Manager Matthew Rankin showed off a few of the library's services, including books and periodicals, microfilm, a new 3-D printer, DVD and Blu-ray selections, computers, and the Toy Lending Library: