Thanksgiving Day Closure: All library locations will be closed on Monday, October 9. Regular hours resume Tuesday, October 10.
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:
Family | Registration Required
Saturdays | October 7 to December 16
10:30 AM PST - 11:30 AM PST
Do you want to hang out with the sweetest dog ever? Come meet Rolo at the Salmon Arm library. Rolo is a miniature poodle and a certified St. John’s Ambulance Therapy Dog. He loves to be read to, petted and talked to. Rachel, his human, is also there to answer questions you may have about Rolo, therapy dogs, and more.
You can sign up for one-on-one sessions or drop- in and see if Rolo and Rachel are free for a chat.
Story Times
Family | Drop-In
Saturday, September 16 at Blackburn Park
10:00 AM PST- 11:00 AM PST
Enjoy stories at Blackburn Park followed by SCA's Summer Bash from 11:00 AM-1:00 PM.
Stories, songs, dancing, puppets and lots of fun and laughter for all ages and stages!
Babies | Drop-In
Fridays | Sept 15 - Dec 15
10:15 AM - 10:45 AM
Babytime is an wonderful way to bond with your baby, have fun, and develop early literacy and speech skills. Join us for an interactive program full of songs, rhymes, tickles, books, and more! Stay afterwards to socialize with other parents and caregivers.
Recommended for newborns to approximately 18 months. Siblings welcome!
Families | Drop-in
Thursdays Oct. 5 - Nov 30 |10:30 AM
Saturdays Oct 7 - Dec 2 | 3:30 PM
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.
Wednesday, Dec 7 | 10:30 AM
Saturday, Dec 9 | 3:30 PM
Happy Hanukkah, Happy Solstice, Merry Christmas, and more! Enjoy seasonal stories and songs that celebrate Canada's December traditions.
Families | Registration Required
Tuesdays September 12 - November 28 | 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.
Babies | Drop-in
3rd Tuesdays of the month | 10:00 AM - 12:00 PM
Gather in a safe, supportive space to share all the challenges, joys, and surprises that come with welcoming a new baby! Facilitated by Deena of Little Mountain Doulas, connect with other new parents and learn more about postpartum health, pregnancy, infant health, and more. Geared towards caregivers of infants 12 months and younger.
Dec 19: Join Missy Morrison Charko, of Say Yes to the Rest Pediatric Sleep Consulting, for information on creating healthy sleep habits for your baby.
School Age | Drop-in
Wednesday, Oct 4 | 3:30 PM - 4:30 PM
Drop-in to the library for some building fun at this block party! You can build with LEGO®, Keva Planks and more! Connect with other kids and break out the bricks & planks for a building bonanza at the library. Siblings welcome!
A responsible adult must stay with children ages 9 and under.
All Ages | Drop-in
Thursday, Oct. 5 |3:30 PM - 4:15 PM
Meet real firefighters and learn how to stay safe from fire.
Wednesday, Oct 11 | 3:30 PM - 4:30 PM
Explore the library's cool STEAM toys, and learn more about Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, and Math in a fun and unstructured environment. Siblings welcome!
Grades 2 - 4 | Registration Required
Reading Buddies is designed to support children who are struggling readers to build their confidence and improve their skills. Children are paired with a teen volunteer and will spend time reading together and playing literacy-based games in a safe, supportive environment. - Little Buddies must be in Grades 2-4 - caregivers of Little Buddies must remain in the library during each session - children must have some reading ability already as this program does not teach them how to read
Family | Drop-in
Saturday, Oct 28 | 11:00 AM - 3:00 PM
Join us for family-friendly entertainment, crafts, and spooky stories with the Salmon Arm Library and The Mall at Piccadilly! Stay tuned for more details.
Tuesday, Oct 31 | 3:00 PM - 5:00 PM
Show off your costumes and collect sweet treats at the library and participating merchants throughout The Mall at Piccadilly.
Weekly on Wednesdays | Nov 1 - Dec 6
3:30 PM - 4:15 PM
Come sing in our Winter Holiday Choir! You can join at any time, and all ages are welcome! Our concert will be in the library at 3:45 PM on Wednesday, December 6.
Registration is required to get a music folder. (You only need to register once.)
School Age | Registration Required
Saturday, Dec 2 | 11:30 AM - 12:30 PM
Art therapist Eiko Uehara will teach us how to make fun winter holiday origami creations. This program is designed for ages 9-12 years.
Saturday, Dec 16 | 11:00 AM - 3:00 PM
Join us for family-friendly entertainment, crafts, and holiday stories with the Salmon Arm library and The Mall at Piccadilly! Stay tuned for more details.
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.
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. 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 Sept 26 | 6:00 pm
Learn how to gather, sort, and store your favourite flower, fruit, and vegetable seeds for next year’s garden!
Saving seeds from your garden is an essential part of food security – and it makes gardening even more cost-effective to boot! Learn the basics from Sherry of the Thompson Shuswap Master Gardeners, and reap even more from your garden this year.
Psst – you can donate seeds to our Salmon Arm Seed Library too!
Tues Oct 3 | 7:00 pm
Join Silver Creek's Lorain David for a evening talk about his new novel, Querencia! Lorain moved to the Shuswap just as the pandemic shut the world down; unable to immerse himself in his new community, he turned to writing - producing his first work of historical fiction.
My Life is in Your Hand (the many loves of Sophia, a Norwegian rebel and Shuswap pioneer) is based on the story of Deanna's great-grandmother, Sophia, who found unimaginable courage to leave her homeland and to cross the ocean alone in search of her el Dorado. Heading West from where she landed in New York City, Sophia moves from desperation to opulence to fighting for her very survival, at last arriving in the North Shuswap in 1910 as one of its first pioneers.
Donation Dropoff: Oct 21 - Nov 3 (during library open hours)
Swap: Sat Nov 4 | 10am - 3pm *See details below!
Do you have a closet full of craft materials that you’re never going to use? Or do you want to try something new but don’t want to invest a lot in new supplies? Join in our Craft & Art Supply Swap!
November 6 - 10
Spread a little kindness this November by making a Valentine for a Veteran!
November 1 - 30
It's time for our 3rd Annual Favourite Reads Photo Contest! Share a creative photo of your favourite book(s) for a chance to win prizes! Bookface? Selfie? Shelfie? It’s up to you!
Community Assistance
1st Thursday of the month | 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.
Fridays | 1:30 - 3 pm
Do you need assistance with housing in Salmon Arm? Drop by the Salmon Arm Library to talk with the Housing Outreach Coordinator for CMHA.
Computer & Technology Training
Check back soon for new dates and times!
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 computers. Examples of topics suitable for the drop-in technology help desk include:
This is a Literacy Alliance of the Shuswap Society initiative.
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
1st Tuesday of the month | 10:00 am - 12:00 pm
*Starts Oct 3 2023!
Come listen to wonderful stories - or even share your own!
Storytelling is all about having a good story and sharing it! Our goal is to cultivate the oral tradition of storytelling in a supportive, positive environment. As storytellers, we hope to create magic between the teller and the listener. Find more details and guidelines on our Events Calendar!
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!
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.
4th Thursdays of the month | 12 pm - 1 pm (online via Teams)
Apr 27: Elizabeth Gaskell's North and South
May 25: Stephen Crane's The Red Badge of Courage
June 22: George Orwell's Nineteen Eighty-Four
Sept 28: Charlotte Bronte's Jane Eyre
Welcome to Classics Book Club, an online book club all about tackling those classic novels you've heard about - but haven't yet read!
While we endeavor to have eBook copies available, participants are responsible for finding their own copy of the book.
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 | 10:30 - 11:30 am
A partnership with St. John's Ambulance Therapy Dog Volunteers
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.
Special Interest Groups
3rd Tuesday of the month | 10:00 am - 12:00 pm
Gather in safe, supportive space to share all the challenges, joys, and surprises that come with welcoming a new baby! Facilitated by Deena of Little Mountain Doulas, connect with other new parents and learn more about postpartum health, pregnancy, infant health, and more. Geared towards caregivers of infants 12 months and younger. Expecting parents and all people who identify as mothers are welcome!
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.
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
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
Next meeting: Monday Sept 11 at 2pm at the Salmon Arm Library.
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 April book sale was a wonderful success, raising over $2200 for the Salmon Arm and South Shuswap libraries. Thank you to all who volunteered at, donated to, and/or supported the book sale!
Next book sale: October 20 and 21 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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