events

Easter Carnival Event
Apr
12

Easter Carnival Event

Mark your calendars!!

Kortright Hills Neighbourhood Group is pleased to announce its pre-Easter Carnival event on Saturday, April 12, in the Kortright Hills Public School gym from 12 p.m. to 2 p.m. They have organized fun activities and games.

We will be there distributing free children’s books.

Free Admission

Come join us.

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Free to Read Book Sale
Apr
26

Free to Read Book Sale

Once again The Guelph Tool Library will be hosting the Free To Read book sale, taking place on Saturday April 26, 2025 from 10 am - 3 pm.  Books will be $1 each and they hope to have over 7500 books to choose from for purchasers.

Book collection begins on Saturday, March 1st, and books can be dropped off at the Guelph Tool Library during their regular hours.

The Free to Read Book Sale supports the Books for Inmates Program, a program that supports literacy programs in correctional facilities across South-Western Ontario.  The Free to Read Sale has provided thousands of books and funding to this program since its inception in 2022.

Please visit their website for more information.

If you would like to help out, please contact John Dennis at director@guelphtoollibrary.org for more information.

We will be there distributing free children’s book to the families who come to the sale, so please stop by our table to grab a free book and learn more about the programs we offer.

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Guest Author for Story Time and Craft All Creatures Great and Small Series
Mar
6
to Mar 7

Guest Author for Story Time and Craft All Creatures Great and Small Series

All Creatures Great and Small Series

We have Partnered with Lisa Browning from One Thousand Trees to bring you “All Creatures Great and Small” . Every month we will collaborating with Lisa to bring in a local author to read us one of their stories about an animal and combine it with a fun craft. Please click the link here for a list of all the upcoming events and guest authors.

Author, Arlene Davies-Fuhr, wrote a books about a pig named Zola.

She will reading her book with us at Story and Craft Time on Thursday March 6th and Friday March 7th at 11:00 AM. Lisa Browning will be supplying the materials for the craft we are doing with the book.

We hear that Arlene will also be dressing up as her character Zola the pig. How exciting!!!

About the Book
This is the story of Zola, an ambitious, zealous pig who wears aviator glasses and designs over-the-top adventures for herself. Her zany personality sparkles in the sequined outfits she adores. Zola is an inspiration as she overcomes obstacles and discovers a way to accomplish her dreams.

About the Author
Arlene Davies-Fuhr was an English as a Second Language teacher, a community college English instructor,  and a Mennonite pastor. She enjoys playing the ukulele, dulcimer, and djembe drum. Arlene is quite unconventional and has been called the Queen of Razzmatazz. It’s not a stretch to see ways that Arlene and Zola are similar.

We think Zola is the perfect female inspiration we all need during International Women’s Week this week.

Please see the flyer below.

Thank you Lisa and Arlene

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Book Bash
Nov
3

Book Bash

We can’t wait to attend this event again. This will be our third time, and we always have a great time meeting literacy enthusiasts and many talented authors.

Come by our table to receive a free book and a free button or bookmark.

Thank you for the invite Vocamus Writers Community.

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Booktoberfest
Oct
12

Booktoberfest

Our 3rd Annual Booktoberfest is coming up fast.

Here is what you can expect from the day

Silent auction table (we have tons of stuff this year, some really great items).

A Bake sale table

Craft and activity with the Neighbourhood group.

A live musician.

Three guest authors.

Promoting our Royal City ABC book with a drawing contest for artwork to be featured in the book.

Book donation area. 

Free books, of course

And hopefully, much more.

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Family Fun Day
Sep
28

Family Fun Day

New to Canada? Join us at the Shelldale Community Centre for a free family event. Meet other families and learn more about resources to help you. Including Fun-Filled Activities and Refreshments!

We have been invited to distribute free children’s books to the families at this fun event.

We hope to see you there.

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The Big Book sale
Sep
19

The Big Book sale

The Friends of the Guelph Library are also good friends of ours. They are very generous with the books that do not pass their screening standards and pass them on to us and other organizations that could benefit from them. After the sale, we are welcome to come again and take another look to search for books that would benefit our programs and families. We are so grateful to them.

They have invited us to join them on Thursday, September 19, from 2 to 8 p.m. to distribute books and talk to families about our organization and programs. We can’t wait!

At the Big Book Sale, you can also find games, puzzles, DVDs, and more – all at very affordable prices.

Hosted by The Friends of the Guelph Library

Friends of the Guelph Public Library – Friends of the Guelph Public Library (fgpl.ca)

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Kortright Hills Summer Chill Night
Aug
15

Kortright Hills Summer Chill Night

We have been invited by our lovely friends at the KHNG to distribute free children’s book at the Summer Chill Night. We can not wait to attend. It will be so much fun.

See the flyer below for details.

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Willow West Block Party
Jul
13

Willow West Block Party

We are back again for our third Willow West Shopping Center Block Party.

Can you believe this will be our third time attending this event? It was one of the first events we attended after opening in May 2022. They have supported us since and always ask us to come back. We gladly will.

It will be located in the parking lot of No Frills on Silvercreek Pkwy, at the corner of Willow Rd.

Come see us and get a free book.

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Exhibition Park Neighbourhood Group - Enchanted Park Event
Jun
22

Exhibition Park Neighbourhood Group - Enchanted Park Event

Save the Date, Ex-Park!!! June 22nd from 11AM- 3PM

The EPNG has an exciting event coming up for you with lots of amazing community partners and with the greatest champions, Guelph Neighbourhood Support Coalition.

"Come for the Community Tree Planting, Stay for the Magic!"

Step into a world of wonder and enchantment at their FREE Community Event!

Activities:

Community Tree Planting: Roll up your sleeves and dig in the dirt as we plant the roots of community and nurture our beloved Exhibition Park. Please join EPNG's Park Stewards at 11 AM to plant 100 native trees, shrubs, and groundcover!

DIY Fairy Doors: Let your imagination take flight as you design and adorn your very own magical fairy doors, created by our talented friends at Diyode Maker's Club.

Fairy Door Hunt: Once your masterpiece is complete, you can opt into a neighborhood-wide Fairy Door Hunt! Take your enchanted creations home and place them in your backyard, where they'll become portals to a world of wonder for you and your loved ones to enjoy long after the event is done!

Launch Rockets into Space with Diyode Maker's Club: Blast off into the cosmos with our hands-on rocket launching station! Build your own fairy rockets and watch them soar high into the sky.

Enchanted Book Nook: Hang out with our lovely friends from the Children's Reading Program, create your own bookmark, and bring a free children’s book home.

Adult Book Swap: We will have a Free Book Table just for the grown-ups!

Live Music: Tap your feet and sway to the rhythm of old time folk performed by the talented, Onion Honey. They will be performing from 1:00 to 3:00pm.

Pollinator Activities: Learn all about our buzzing friends and how to support them in our ecosystem. Create caterpillar activities with your families and discover the importance of pollination with our pals at Pollination Guelph.

Enchanted Seeds: Nature Guelph promises a delightful experience with button making and the opportunity to take home native pollinator seeds. It's a blend of creativity, eco-consciousness, and a touch of magic from nature's wonders.

The Dragon: Let your imagination soar as we bring Pokémon into an unforgettable experience. Will you be a daring Pokémon trainer seeking to become the ultimate champion?

Face Painting: Whether you want to be a shimmering unicorn, a fierce dragon, or a sparkling fairy, we've got you covered with Makin' Faces Face Painting!

Human Chess: Become a living piece on our giant chessboard and strategize your way to victory in an epic game of human chess! Exercise your mind while enjoying the thrill of this larger-than-life board game.

Bubble Wand Making: Dive into the world of bubbles with our DIY bubble wand making station! Craft your own whimsical wands and watch bubbles dance and shimmer in the sunlight, reflecting the magic that surrounds us all.

Embrace the magic with a picnic special from our pals at Park Eatery, perfect for a delightful day out.

Date: June 22nd
Time: 11am - 3pm
Location: Exhibition Park

Don't miss out on this FREE community filled day of magical fun for all ages! Spread the word, grab a picnic blanket, and bring your friends and family for an unforgettable adventure in the heart of Exhibition Park.

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Fay and Fluffy at the Guelph youth music centre
Jun
15

Fay and Fluffy at the Guelph youth music centre

We’re thrilled to announce we have been invited to the Guelph Youth Music Centre on Saturday, June 15 at 10:30am for a Drag Storytime and Singalong with Fay and Fluffy! With some big wigs and wild and colourful outfits, Fay & Fluffy bring lots of sparkle to every show, getting kids excited to read, learn, and laugh. Admission is free, but make sure to reserve your tickets in advance as space is limited (QR code attached)! Don’t miss out on what is sure to be a fabulous experience!

We will be there distributing FREE children’s books!

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Beyond the Book
Jun
8

Beyond the Book

Join us on Saturday, June 8th, from 10-2 at the Children’s Reading Room for Beyond the Book, a fun, free family event hosted by the CRR! Three fabulous local children’s authors will read their stories aloud. Participants will also enjoy children’s activities provided by local community partners, an arts and crafts table, a bake sale, a silent auction, and, of course, FREE CHILDREN’S BOOKS to take home! The event will take place outdoors, at the back of 210 Silvercreek Pkwy, under the big Maple tree. We also have a large indoor space available should it be a rainy day. Tell your friends and family! Hope to see you there!

This year's lineup includes,

10:30 - Sandra Wilson from Quite a Character and the Kindness Kangaroo Project will read one of her many stories, most likely in costume, and provide a story-writing activity for the children. We always have so much fun with Sandra; we’re sure you will too!

11:30 - Kasandra Coleman, a new Children’s Reading Room guest author. We are so excited to welcome her to the lineup of amazing local authors we have for you that day. Kasandra has written 3 children’s books. She will be reading her newest book, The You You Are Is Perfect and bringing the guest star of the book with her, Pietro!!! He is so adorable.

12:30 - Lastly, we are excited to welcome another new author, Courtney Harris, to the Children’s Reading Room! Courtney Harris owns You Are What You Create, a mobile creative arts business in Kitchener-Waterloo. Courtney’s programs help children explore their creativity and discover joy from within! Courtney has written a children’s book, and we are overjoyed to have her share it at Beyond the Book!

Activities

  • Silent auction

  • Bake Sale

  • Children’s Activities (Bubbles, sidewalk chalk, puppet theatre, etc)

  • Bookmark making

  • Explore the Children’s Reading Room space

  • FREE CHILDREN’S BOOKS!!!!

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Guelph Tool Library Book Sale - Free to Read Program
Apr
20

Guelph Tool Library Book Sale - Free to Read Program

We have been invited to distribute free children’s books during the Guelph Tool Library Book Sale at the Quebec St Mall on Saturday April 20th from 10-2.

Please come and support this worthy cause.

Please read the Guelph Today article below to learn more on how you can support them.


Guelph Today - article

The Guelph Tool Library is hosting the Free to Read Book Sale on Saturday April 20, 2024 from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m.  In celebration of World Book Day, the Free to Read Book Sale is taking place in the main concourse of the Old Quebec Street Shoppes and will feature over 5000 books for sale! Donations of books can be dropped off at the Guelph Tool Library until Monday April 15.  

The Guelph Tool Library hopes to collect and sell 5,000 books through donations from the public and book drives by community partners. The sale is in support of the Books for Inmates Program, a program that supports literacy programs in correctional facilities across Southwestern Ontario.  One of the challenges for the Books for Inmates Program is to acquire the necessary books for literacy programs. Desired books, such as technical books and books in other languages, are typically not donated.

The book sale hopes to sell those books that are frequently donated, such as best sellers and detective stories, and use the proceeds to purchase the desired books.

The Guelph Tool Library is partnering with a number of groups in Guelph to collect books and support the program. Donations boxes are set up at the Habitat for Humanity ReStore and All Saints Lutheran Anglican Church. There are also two schools, Guelph Collegiate Vocational Institute and St. Francis of Assisi Catholic School, doing book drives with their students leading the efforts.

The collection drive launches Friday, March 1. Anyone wishing to donate gently used books can drop them off at one of several locations throughout the city. These locations include:

  • The Guelph Tool Library (55 Wyndham St N, Unit T8)

  • The Habitat for Humanity ReStore (104 Dawson Rd)

  • All Saints Lutheran Anglican Church (210 Silvercreek Pkwy N, Guelph) 

The program organizers ask that any books be in gently used, readable condition, with no missing pages. The collection drive will run from March 1st to April 15th, culminating in a giant used book sale on Saturday, April 20th in the Old Quebec Street Shoppes in Downtown Guelph. Reading materials that are not suitable for the Books For Inmates program will be sold at the sale. Funds raised will help support the purchase of the most needed items by the Books for Inmates Program. 

https://www.guelphtoday.com/local-news/guelph-tool-library-to-host-free-to-read-book-sale-8389792

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Kortright Hills Neighbourhood Group Eggstravaganza
Mar
23

Kortright Hills Neighbourhood Group Eggstravaganza

Mark your calendars!!

Kortright Hills Neighbourhood Group is pleased to announce their pre-Easter event, "Eggstravaganza," on Saturday, March 23rd, in the gym at Kortright Hills Public School Gym from 12 pm to 2 pm. They have organized a fun scavenger hunt as well as other activities and games.

We will be there distributing free children’s books.

Free Admission

Come join us.

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International Women's Day Guelph Wellington
Mar
6

International Women's Day Guelph Wellington

We are thrilled to be vendors again at the International Women's Day Guelph-Wellington event on Wednesday, March 6, at The Grand Guelph Banquet & Event Centre!

Last year we met so many Women run businesses and entrepreneurs. It was an honour to be in a room with so many powerful and highly driven women.

We can’t wait to see who we are going to meet this year.

This event is put on by Boundless Accelerator and Business Centre Guelph Wellington.

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Regular Programs

Check out our weekly programs!

BUILD YOUR HOME LIBRARY

Wednesdays from 9-12 & 1-5
Thursdays from 9-1
Fridays from 9-12 & 1-5

MUSIC AND STORY CIRCLE

Wednesday, Thursday and Friday at 10am

STORY TIME & CRAFTS

Thursday and Friday at 11am

ROYAL CITY READERS

Wednesday and Friday until 5 pm