Easter Holiday Closure: All library locations will be closed Friday, April 7 through Monday, April 10. Regular hours resume on Tuesday, April 11. Happy Easter!
All ORL Branches are closed on statutory holidays.
Have a question? Call us at 250-832-6161 during open hours. For eBook, resource or reference help, please email help@orl.bc.ca or call 1-844-649-8127.
The library has two book return bins - one behind the library, next to the Canadian Tire loading dock and one inside the mall next to the library entrance and open during mall hours. Book drops are locked during extended closures (Easter and Christmas).
Free parking is available in the Piccadilly Mall parking lot.
To find and register for any of our programs, please see the Salmon Arm Branch Calendar of Events or browse the tabs below:
SPRING BREAK
March 18 - 31
Drop-in any time!
Find the hidden images in the library and enter our Scavenger Hunt Draw for a chance to win a prize.
A partnership with St. John's Ambulance Therapy Dog Volunteers
Saturdays March 18 & 25 | 10:15 am - 11:15 am
Families | Registration Required for one-on-one time, or Drop-in to say hi.
Do you want to hang out with the sweetest dog ever? Register for a 15-minute session with Rolo, a certified St. John’s Ambulance Therapy Dog, or just drop in for a quick hello.
Story Times
Stories, songs, dancing, puppets and lots of fun and laughter for all ages and stages!
Fridays Apr 14 - Jun 30 | 10:15 - 10:45 am
Join us for an interactive program full of songs, rhymes, tickles, books, and more! Babytime is an wonderful way to bond with your baby, to meet other parents and caregivers, and to develop early literacy and speech skills.
Recommended for newborns to approximately 18 months. Siblings welcome!
Spring Schedule:
Thursdays April 13 - May 25 | 10:30 am
Saturdays April 15 - May 27 | 3:30 - 4:00 pm
Drop-in!
Story Time celebrates the joys of language and story through the use of music, puppets, picture books, storytelling, and more! Story Time programs are fun! They build social skills, simulate the imagination, and strengthen language, listening and visual skills.
Tuesdays April 11 - June 13 | 6:30 pm
Grab your stuffies and snuggle in for stories, songs and rhymes online!
This online Pyjama Story Time will be brought to you through TEAMS. Registration is required.
A special Therapy Dog session will be on Thursday, March 23 from 1 pm - 2 pm! No registration necessary.
Saturdays Jan 21 - Dec 16 | 10:15 am - 11:15 am
Wednesday, April 5 & 19 | 3:30 - 4:15 pm
Families & School Age | Registration Required
Come sing in our Library Children's Choir! You can join at any time.
A responsible adult must stay with children ages 9 and under. Parents or caregivers of registered choir members are welcome to join.
The choir will perform in the library at 3:45 pm on Wednesday, April 19.
Registration is required in order to know how many choir folders are needed.
Wednesday, April 12 | 3:30 pm - 4:30 pm
Wednesday, May 17 | 3:30 pm - 4:30 pm
Wednesday, June 28 | 3:30 pm - 4:30 pm
Drop-in to the library for some building fun at this block party! LEGO® , Keva Planks and more will be available. Connect with other kids and break out the bricks for a building bonanza at the library.
Tuesday, April 25 | 3:30 - 4:30 pm
Wednesday, May 31 | 3:30 - 4:30 pm
Enjoy snacks and doodling on colouring pages while you listen to a story! Bring a pillow/blanket to snuggle on if you wish.
April and May stories will be announced at a later date.
Wednesday, April 26 | 3:30 - 4:30 pm
Wednesday, May 24 | 3:30 - 4:30 pm
School Age | Drop-in
Come to our TAG meetings and see how you can help make the library a welcoming and exciting place for all teens in Salmon Arm.
Saturday, June 3 | 1:00 - 4:00 pm
Registration Required
Calling all witches and wizards! Don your robes and bring your wands to solve a magical mystery at Toadwarts. Costumes encouraged, but not required.
Go to our Events Calendar to see the full list of online activities, details and dates.
Check out our prerecorded oral stories, songs and rhymes on our ORL YouTube Channel:
Songs and Rhymes
Oral Stories
Pictures from past programs can be found at our Salmon Arm Kids in the Library blog at https://salibrarykids.wordpress.com/
This blog is no longer updated.
All programs and events at the Salmon Arm Library are FREE to the public. Please take careful note of registration requirements. For more information about our programs, please call 250-832-6161 or email sareference@orl.bc.ca
Do you have an idea for a library program that you'd like to attend or host? Please speak with the Branch Head Librarian or contact limage@orl.bc.ca. We'd love to hear your suggestions!
Tues April 18 | 6:30 pm
BC-based authors Dave and Rosemary Neads present their latest book, The Power of Dreams, which tells the story of the couple, already in their 40s, who uprooted themselves from urban life to follow their dream of living in the wilderness.
Saturday May 13 | 10 am - 3 pm
Have extra potted plants, seedlings, seeds, or cuttings that you'd like to re-home? Drop off your labelled items at the Salmon Arm branch and swap for new green goodies!
Saturday May 27 | 10 am - 1 pm
Calling all witches and wizards! Don your robes and bring your wands to solve a magical mystery at Toadwarts. Costumes encouraged (but not required!). Registration is required. Each registrant will be assigned a character; as your character may be essential, please cancel immediately if you cannot attend so your character can be reassigned.
Wed May 24 | 10 am - 12:30 pm
Join us for a fun Q&A session for Experienced Beginners and take your playing to the next level! Registration is required.
Workshop prerequisites: Players can easily play C, F, G, G7, Am, D, Dm, D7 and E7 chords and hold steady rhythm in 3/4 and 4/4 time. Please check with Kristy if you are unsure about your playing level.
Questions? Please contact Kristy Smith at ksmith@orl.bc.ca
Community Assistance
Thursdays April 13th, May 4th, June 1st | 1:30 - 3:30 pm
Do you need free, confidential legal assistance? Our Legal Advocate can assist you with:
provincial and federal benefits programs
employment standards
Drop-in any time between 1:30 - 3:30 pm with your questions! This initiative is generously provided by The Shuswap Family Centre.
Tuesdays | 1:30 - 3:30 pm
Do you need assistance with housing in Salmon Arm? Drop by the Salmon Arm Library on Tuesdays from 1:30-3:30pm to talk with the Housing Outreach Coordinator for CMHA.
Computer & Technology Training
Mon April 17 | 10:30 - 11:30 am
Want to borrow eBooks and eAudiobooks, but not sure how to get started? Come to Libby 101 (for smartphones!) to learn how to:
Tuesdays (March 28 - May 9) | 2 - 3 pm
The Literacy Alliance of the Shuswap Society is offering a drop-in technology help desk to assist with basic questions about using digital devices. This includes tablets, cell phones, laptops and e-readers. Examples of topics suitable for the drop-in technology help desk include:
This is a Literacy Alliance of the Shuswap Society initiative.
Tuesdays (March 28 - May 9) | 1 - 4 pm
Join us at the Salmon Arm Library for free one-on-one tutoring sessions for seniors who have never used computers or have a very basic knowledge of computers. Decide what devices, programs and skills you want to work on.
To register as a learner or tutor, contact Sierre Allison at info@shuswapliteracy.ca or 250-463-4555. This is a Literacy Alliance of the Shuswap Society initiative.
Book Clubs & Literary Events
Fridays April 28, May 26, June 23 | 2:30 - 3:30 pm
When was the last time you could sit back, relax, and let someone else do the reading? Join Lisa for 30-40 minutes of live readings of entertaining stories!
No registration required - just drop in! All are welcome.
3rd Tuesday of the month (April 18, May 16, June 20) | 6:30 - 8 pm
Looking for support and camaraderie as you work on your next literary endeavor? Join the Shuswap Writers' Group at the Salmon Arm Library!
2nd Tuesday of the month | 10:30 am - 11:30 am
Love reading and talking about books? Join our Salmon Arm Reads Book Club! We meet monthly on Tuesday mornings to discuss our latest title in a fun and friendly atmosphere. No registration required - just drop in!
Participants are responsible for securing their own copies; a limited number of copies may be available at the circulation desk (call 250-832-6161 to check availability). Large print copies and ebooks may also be available through our catalogue.
April 11: Flight Behavior by Barbara Kingsolver. “One of the gifts of a Kingsolver novel is the resplendence of her prose. She takes palpable pleasure in the craft of writing, creating images that stay with the reader long after her story is done…(a) majestic and brave new novel.” — New York Times Book Review
May 9: TBD
June 13: TBD
4th Thursdays of the month | 12 pm - 1 pm (online via Teams)
Feb 23: Wilkie Collins's The Woman in White
Mar 23: Wilkie Collins's The Woman in White
Apr 27: TBD
May 25: TBD
Welcome to Classics Book Club, an online book club all about tackling those classic novels you've heard about - but haven't yet read!
Participants are responsible for finding their own copy of the book. Wilkie Collins's The Woman in White is available as an eBook via Libby and also via physical copies in the ORL catalogue.
Online registration is required. Please ensure your email address is entered correctly, as we will be sending you the link to participate shortly before the event. The program is delivered via Microsoft Teams.
To participate, you will need:
Saturdays | 10:15 - 11:15am
Do you love dogs? Then register for a 15-minute session to read with a certified therapy dog. You may sign up for a one-on-one session or as a family group. Bring your own book, or borrow one from our collection. Rolo, our volunteer therapy dog, loves snuggles and stories.
Registration is required. Go to our Salmon Arm Events Calendar to register.
Hobbies, Crafts, & Games
2nd and 4th Mondays | 10:30 am - 12:30 pm
Have you ever wanted to research your family tree? Join our friendly group of genealogists at the library to share ideas, learn new tips and tricks, and solve research roadblocks. Whether you're a beginner or a seasoned family historian, we'll help you with your research. Bring your own computer, or bring a USB drive and use one of ours. We meet every second and fourth Monday at 10:30 am. Drop in, no registration required.
Tuesdays | 1:00 - 4:00 pm
If you spin (or are interested in learning!), join the Shuswap Spinners and Weavers on Tuesday afternoons in the meeting room. Drop-in; no registration required.
Thursdays | 11:00 am - Noon
Interested in playing Scrabble and meeting new friends? Come to the new Scrabble club at the library every Thursday morning!
Fridays | 1:30 pm - 3:30 pm
Join the Odd Socks knitting group every Friday afternoon. New members and all capabilities are welcome! Drop in, no registration required.
1st and 3rd Saturdays | 3:00 - 4:30 pm
Enjoy lively discussion and philosophical debates? Come share your own ideas and broaden your perspectives. No philosophical expertise required!
2nd and 4th Thursdays | 2:30 - 4:30 pm
Come strum with us! Join us for a fun and relaxed jam with fellow uke enthusiasts. All skill levels are welcome, but players should know the basics. Please bring your ukulele and a music stand. Contact Kristy with any questions: ksmith@orl.bc.ca
DnD and Tabletop Games Night - CANCELLED
If you are interested in being the weekly Dungeon/Games Master, email us at sareference@orl.bc.ca and we can bring this program back.
Need assistance? We can draw upon our Reference collection, which includes many print and digital resources, such as vehicle repair manuals, legal reference works, and directories.
Looking for some inspiration on what to read next? Ask our staff for suggestions on good books or authors to read, movies or TV series to watch, or music to listen to. If you’re browsing in the library, we also have displays on various topics.
We display art work from local artists and artist groups in the community. Please contact the Branch Services Supervisor if you are interested in displaying your work in the library: khelta@orl.bc.ca
If you need assistance downloading eBooks and other digital content to your tablet or eReader, we can help! Click here for more information about our digital resources, such as eBooks, or magazines you can download to your tablet for free!
We have 7 Internet stations you can use for free; you just need an ORL library card to log on the computers. We also have a printer (25 cents/page, black and white copies).Our computers have Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, and PowerPoint), as well as Google Earth, and access to subscription services such as Ancestry, Alldata (vehicle repair), BC Codes (BC Plumbing and Fire Codes), and Grant Connect (a fundraising/grants website).
Our photocopier does double-sided copying, as well as enlarging/reducing. Copies are 25 cents/page, and are black and white. You can also scan documents with our photocopier, and email as a PDF copy. Scanning is free, but you have to deposit a quarter to activate the menu. Staff are available if you need assistance.
As of January 2020, we are unable to provide invigilation services at the Salmon Arm Branch. Please contact your nearest branch to inquire about their exam policies. The Salmon Arm Okanagan College campus (250-832-2126) offers invigilation services at a fee.
We can provide an introduction to the library or tailor the visit around a project/assignment. Contact us today to see how we can help your class. To book a free tour for kids, call Ardie Burnham at 250-832-6161 ext. 5828 or email her at aburnham@orl.bc.ca
The Friends of the Library group supports the library through advocacy and fundraising. We have recently helped fund:
We are looking for new members! If you love the library and would like to join our group, please contact trudy.vercholuk@gmail.com for more information. Annual membership dues are $5.
The Friends of the Library book sale in January brought in over $800, to be shared between the Salmon Arm and South Shuswap libraries. Thank you to all who volunteered at and/or supported the book sale!
The next book sale will be April 21 and 22 at Piccadilly Mall.
We appreciate book donations from the public of gently used materials. We will happily accept the following items:
The following materials are not accepted:
Thank you for thinking of the library! If you have more than one box of books to donate, please call ahead (250-832-6161) to ensure we have space.
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