Stories, tips, book reviews, and more! On BPL News & Reviews you'll find thoughtful reading recommendations from our librarians, tips to make the most out of library resources, and updates on the exciting stuff happening at all of our branches. Letters to Santa at BPL Due to the postal service strike, Santa's personalized replies to letters sent to the North Pole may not arrive in time for Christmas this year. In the meantime, Santa has… Ho Ho Hoopla! Popcorn popping in the microwave, Snowy nights watching Christmas shows…Hoopla movies and music can help to make the Yuletide season merry and bright! Get ready to… Fresh On Our Shelves When the holiday hustle and bustle has you craving a little "me time," there's nothing nicer than curling up with a heartwarming seasonal romance. Lucky for you, we’ve just… Upcoming Changes to Room Rentals at BPL Burlington Public Library provides space for rent at six of our library branches. Whether you’re hosting a meeting, workshop, or presentation, we offer affordable rentable… Donate, Delight & Make A Difference This holiday season, give a gift that inspires readers and dreamers and a lifetime of learning. By donating to Burlington Public Library's Kids Learning Fund, you are… Audiobook Narration 101 We’ve already covered the basics of audiobooks in Audiobooks 101, including all the great reasons to consider adding audiobooks to your life (spoiler: it makes it so easy to… Check Out BPL Book Club 2025 BPL Book Club is all about meeting people and forging friendships over your shared love of reading—and we're thrilled to announce our title selections for 2025.How It WorksIf… Hunt For the Hidden Gems Join us for a head-to-head showdown of the best books you might have missed this year. Our expert staff have selected 12 of the best under-the-radar reads of 2024 spanning… Introducing BPL Reading Challenge Embark on a literary journey in 2025 with Burlington Public Library’s exciting new program, BPL Reading Challenge. Starting this January, we invite adult book lovers to… Kanopy Streaming Update Kanopy is a digital resource that offers high-quality films and television shows that you can access for free with your library card! If you’re interested in using Kanopy,… Stories From the Trenches Every November, we take a beat out of our busy lives to reflect on the devastating impact of war. While the Armistice of 1918, which marked the final ceasefire of the First… Fresh On Our Shelves Deck the halls with boxes of Whitehots fiction! It always feels like a special occasion when we get a shipment of new books. Check out these new page-turners hitting our… Holiday Shopping with Consumer Reports It’s beginning to look a lot like the holiday gift-buying season! With Black Friday, Cyber Monday and Boxing Week sales in sight, it’s easy to feel a little lost in the… New Appleby Relocation Update – Fall 2024 Our New Appleby Branch is moving to 5151 New Street in 2025 as part of the future Robert Bateman Community Centre! The library branch is part of a larger project led by the… OverDrive & Libby for Beginners BPL’s OverDrive digital collection brings hundreds of thousands of eBooks right to your screen, whether you are reading on a computer, smartphone, or tablet. We know… The Librarian's Nightstand - Fall 2024 It’s time to cozy up with a captivating read! This season's offerings include spellbinding tales of fantasy and magic, heartwarming relationship fiction, and a twisty… Introducing BPL’s New Printing System We’re improving our printing and copying services to make it even easier for you!A New Printing SystemStarting the week of October 28, you’ll begin to see a new printing and… Get Ready for BurlLITFest 2024 BurlLITFest is back for its fourth year! Burlington Public Library is excited to announce its 2024 Burlington Literary Festival lineup. The celebration of authors, books, and… Fresh On Our Shelves With a full season of holidays and festive observances just around the corner, it’s fitting that our most recent unboxing revealed some gastrono-mazing cookbooks for the… BPL’s 2024 Kids Big Borrows (so far!) Earlier this year, our Big Borrows story about the most borrowed adult books in 2024 generated lots of interest—which got inquiring readers asking us what Burlington kids are… Around the World With Mango Languages Has the latest issue of your favourite travel magazine sparked dreams of new adventures in exotic places? Start your journey today with Mango Languages easy online language… TeenTober at Burlington Public Library It's time for TeenTober! Celebrated by libraries every October, TeenTober aims to recognize teens and promote year-round library services. We're celebrating with a number of… Libraries for Life with BPL Help us celebrate libraries! October is Canadian Library Month and October 20 to 26 is Ontario Public Library Week. This is a wonderful opportunity to celebrate public… The CEO's Corner - Fall 2024 The crisp fall weather is approaching, kids are back to school and we’re preparing for another busy season at the Library! As we plan for our many offerings, one of the… Telling Tales Festival 2024 Burlington Public Library is excited to be part of the Telling Tales Festival in September—and we can’t wait to see you there!Telling Tales is a huge children’s literary… Fresh On Our Shelves Let's see what new arrivals have recently been unboxed by our Digital Resources & Collections staff—and heading onto our shelves and into your hands soon!New & Hot… Honouring Orange Shirt Day at BPL Orange Shirt Day grew out of Phyllis (Jack) Webstad’s story of having her new orange shirt taken away on her first day of residential school. September 30 is also National… Don't Worry, Get Happy With LinkedIn Learning Is a steady diet of bad news stories and the rising cost of everything making it difficult to see the sunny side of life? LinkedIn Learning, an online resource available free… Back-to-School Books for Kids Amazing job, Burlington kids! You did it—2,432 of you joined Burlington Public Library's Summer Reading Club and kept the pages turning all summer long. As you head back to… Get Set for a Great School Year It's back-to-school time for teachers and students! Set yourself up for success this school year with resources to support learning in the classroom and at home.Burlington… Learn to Preserve the Harvest Late summer is a season of abundance. Fresh, local fruits and vegetables are in their prime. Make this delicious bounty last all year round with simple preserving techniques.… It's Harvest Time! With plenty of sunshine, heat, and rain this summer, gardens and patio planters across the city are overflowing with homegrown goodness. And while you’re enjoying your bounty… Meet the World Languages Collection If you read or speak in a language other than English, have you discovered our World Languages collection of books and movies?Burlington Public Library has a diverse… A World of Magazines at Your Fingertips Unlock free access to a world of top magazines with your library card, instantly through PressReader online resource.With nearly 10,000 national and international newspapers… The Librarian's Nightstand - Summer 2024 Summer's here and it’s the perfect time to get lost in a good book. Read on to see the latest titles our book-loving branch librarians have recently enjoyed. It was fun… Fresh On Our Shelves New books are arriving all the time! Here's a quick look at a few reads our Collections staff recently unboxed that are hitting our shelves soon.New & Hot TitlesFrom the… Seriously Good Series for Young Readers Maybe it was The Chronicles of Narnia, Nancy Drew, The Hardy Boys, or The Hunger Games. Or perhaps Encyclopedia Brown, The Baby-Sitters Club, Goosebumps, or Junie B. Jones.… BPL’s 2024 Big Borrows (so far!) Half the year has gone by already—time sure flies when you’re hooked on fantastic books! Here’s a look at some of the most popular books our Burlington Public Library members… How to Have Fun in the DiscoverySpace Now that summer vacation is in full swing, Central’s DiscoverySpace is buzzing with excitement. DiscoverySpace is a hands-on exploration zone where school-age youth (ages 6… Add Your Top Picks to The NYTimes Poll The folks at The New York Times Book Review recently asked over 500 hundred writers, critics, academics, booksellers, and other book lovers to name the ten best books of the… The CEO's Corner - Summer 2024 Summer at the library is our favourite season for leisure reading! We have plenty on offer to help you make the most of the long sunny days. Take a look at some new and… AI, the Library & You Technology is all around us and it’s evolving faster than ever. Terms like AI (Artificial Intelligence) and machine learning dominate headlines and conversations. It's easy… From Books to Kanopy The next time you’re in the mood to watch a captivating literary adaptation of an acclaimed novel, check out the exceptional movie streaming collection available through… Hello, Board Games! What do Azul, Catan, Hues and Cues, Ticket to Ride, and Wingspan have in common? They’re all hugely popular board games—and they are all FREE to borrow from Burlington Public… Read Canadian, eh! Celebrate this great land of ours by immersing yourself in a Great Canadian Novel—where every story is as awe-inspiring and diverse as Canada itself.Our nation is home to a… Winners of Write Here Write Now 2024 Announced Drumroll, please...we’re ready to announce the winners of Write Here Write Now 2024, Burlington Public Library's annual writing contest.It’s no secret that Burlington has a… Romancing the Regency, Bridgerton Style Dearest Gentle Reader, it appears that the latest installment of the Bridgerton television series has set the ton abuzz with excitement—Burling-TON, that is.So much so, in… Help Us Make Your Library Even Better From Monday, June 10, to Sunday, June 23, you have a special opportunity to share your thoughts and make a real difference by taking our annual Customer Satisfaction Survey."… Exam Cram Study Hall at BPL It's that time of year again! High school students are gearing up for exams—and we're here to support them. Of course, students are always welcome at our branches, but during… Celebrating Older Adults at BPL June is Seniors Month! During this time, we recognize our amazing older Ontarians and their contributions to communities across the province. Check out what Burlington Public… World-Class Speakers at Your Fingertips Burlington readers, take note! With the Library Speakers Consortium online resource, you'll always have the best seats in the house at speaker events featuring world-renowned… Pride Month at BPL In June, Burlington Public Library proudly joins the 2SLGBTQIA+ community to “raise the Rainbow” for Pride Month. This annual observance commemorates the Stonewall Uprising… Indigenous History Month at BPL Throughout June, we honour the history, heritage, and diversity of Indigenous peoples in Canada and celebrate the outstanding achievements of the First Nations, Inuit, and… Brock Researchers Study BPL Spaces As part of our commitment to being a welcoming space for everyone, we are embarking on a journey to better understand the diverse needs and experiences of our community… BPL Book Sale is Back! Readers: Save Saturday, May 25 for the biggest book sale of the year! Our super-sized sale will be in Centennial Hall at Central Branch from 9am to 5pm.Since the runaway… Boost Grades with Brainfuse HelpNow As the weather gets nicer and interests turn to outside fun, it can be challenging for kids to stay focused on end-of-school-year projects, assignments, tests, and exams.… Security Gates Activated at Central Branch Don't be alarmed if your exit creates a buzz the next time you borrow items from Central Branch. We're at the final stage of our system-wide security gate activation rollout… Why Authors Love Libraries (And the Feeling Is Mutual) Occasionally, we get comments from readers concerned that public libraries are harmful to authors’ livelihoods. Their worry stems from the fact that libraries lend books—many… Enter BPL's Annual Writing Contest Calling all aspiring Burlington writers—embark on a literary adventure and let your creativity soar!Burlington Public Library's annual writing contest, Write Here Write Now,… The Librarian's Nightstand - Spring 2024 Spring is sprung, the grass is riz, we wonder what the must-reads is!* Our branch librarians share their most favourite recent reads. Just like this season's variable weather… Improving Access for Everyone According to the most recent national survey on disability by Statistics Canada in 2022, eight million Canadians ages 15 and older reported having at least one disability. Of… Graphic Novels Are for Everyone Isn't 'graphic novel' just a fancy name for a comic book? Unfortunately for graphic novels, a few misconceptions surround their literary value. So, let's debunk some myths… Celebrate Canadian Children's Book Week Children's books hold a special place in our hearts. In honour of Canadian Children's Book Week, April 28 to May 4, give yourself the gift of revisiting a book or two that… Battle of the Books Winners! UPDATE - Grand Battle WinnersCongratulations to the 2024 Burlington Battle of the Books Champions! A big round of applause to all the teams for their spirited competition.… Seed Library is Open! When trees start to bud and plants poke up from the soil, unsurprisingly, our thoughts turn to outside pleasures, where gardening tops the list for many… Get Ready for the Solar Eclipse UPDATE - Disposing of Your Eclipse GlassesWant to send your eclipse glasses to someone who can use them for a future eclipse? You can responsibly dispose of your used eclipse… Celebrate Earth Day Earth Day on April 22 is all about how we—individuals, organizations, and municipalities—can collectively take action every day to create a healthier environment. Global… 2024 Bookmark Contest Winners Drumroll, please... We are thrilled to announce the results of our annual bookmark contest! After tallying up the 2100+ votes cast online, the 2024 winners are:Lea D. (5 and… Archives Open a Window to the Past Observed every year during the first week of April, Archives Awareness Week shines a spotlight on the importance of preserving the documentary heritage of Ontario’s… We ♥ The NYTimes With over 9.7 million digital-only subscribers, The New York Times is one of the most-read online daily newspapers in the world. In addition to covering domestic, national,… International Women's Day Reads to Inspire Inclusion Reading is a powerful way to inspire inclusion and progress. In honour of International Women’s Day, Burlington Public Library’s all-women Senior Leadership Team (and all… Meet Britannica Library Back in the day, before the Internet and the World Wide Web, Encyclopedia Britannica was a popular go-to reference for school projects and general information. Now, over 250… New Appleby Branch Relocation Update Have you heard? Our New Appleby Branch is on the move, relocating to 5151 New Street in 2025. The Branch’s new home will be in the soon-to-be Robert Bateman Community Centre… Hamilton Public Library Customers Welcome Hamilton Public Library (HPL) is currently experiencing extensive service disruptions due to a cybersecurity-related outage at the City of Hamilton. Everyone is always… Burlington Lyrics & Poetry Festival Lineup Announced In April, during National Poetry Month, libraries, schools, publishers, and booksellers across the country celebrate poetry and its vital place in Canadian culture. Here at… Tips on Digitizing Your Family History Creating digital copies of your family photographs is one of the best ways to preserve and share your family history. But before you dive into digitizing those shoe boxes… Save Money With the Library Is the high cost of living squeezing your budget? Swap a few of your spendy habits out for free alternatives from Burlington Public Library—your wallet will thank you.While… Battle of the Books Returns! Battle of the Books is back at Burlington Public Library! Students and teachers, this means it's time to test your book knowledge. Do you know which character in Alice's… BPL Hits 1,000,000 Book Milestone! Big news! Burlington Public Library has hit a huge milestone! In 2023, you borrowed over ONE MILLION physical books from your Library!ONE MILLION! This is the first time we… Banned Books and Why We Love Them Thousands of books are challenged around the world every year for political, legal, religious, or moral reasons. And, sometimes they are removed from schools or libraries… The Librarian's Nightstand - Winter 2024 Reading time is any time—but deep-freeze winter months are especially suited to hibernating with a stack of must-reads.The PicksCheck out the titles our branch librarians… Get Started with Ancestry.ca Exploring your family's history can be an exciting adventure—like solving a mystery wrapped in a puzzle. But without a time machine to help you find your ancestors, we rely… Wiarton Willie's Groundhog Day Picks Update, Feb 2 - News flash! Spring is just around the corner. Thanks, Wiarton Willie!Will it be six more weeks of winter in the Greater Toronto-Hamilton Area—or is spring… Black History Month at BPL Throughout the month of February, we honour and celebrate the legacy of Black Canadians, their communities, their achievements, and contributions throughout our Canadian… The Joy of Reading as a Family Sharing a great story is what family literacy is all about. Taking delight in books together helps children develop a positive association with words and language and… Accessible Formats Show & Tell Many of us take the ability to read print for granted, whether it's a book, a recipe, a grocery store flyer, or medicine instructions. However, it can be challenging to read… Roly Bird Collection Now Online Burlington Public Library is pleased to announce a brand-new collection of digitized items from the Roly Bird Collection is now available in our Burlington Digital Archive.It… Introducing Morningstar Investment Center Investing is all about putting your money to work to earn returns that build your wealth and protect the value of your money over time. And it's important to have reliable… What’s NEW at BPL in 2024 Burlington Public Library is starting 2024 with a few exciting announcements! January ushers in some new collections and a hands-on learning space for school-age kids.… The CEO's Corner - Winter 2024 With our new year just a few days old, I’d like to share some highlights from this past year at Burlington Public Library. We wouldn’t be the library we are without your… Your 2024 Reading Resolutions The start of a new year is a chance to pause, reflect, and think about what you want to achieve in the next twelve months. In the spirit of turning over a new leaf, why… A Library Prescription for Loneliness Let’s face it. Despite the twinkling lights, peppermint drinks, and supercharged cheerfulness, this time of year can be tough to cope with—especially if you feel alone.… Shop Smart with Consumer Reports Whether you’re holiday gift-shopping, looking for a household appliance, buying a new car—or trying to save a few bucks while inflation puts a squeeze on your wallet—being a… Local Authors Welcome! Burlington Public Library’s lending collection is quite eclectic—books, DVDs, jigsaw puzzles, iPads (and lots of other technology), seeds, community passes—the list goes on!… From the Page to the Screen The holiday season is a busy time for movie releases, and this December is no exception. Whenever a bestselling book hits the screen, the debate starts again—Is it better to… New York Times Notable 100 Books of 2023 Hot off the press! The tastemakers at the helm of the illustrious New York Times Book Review have published their annual 100 Notable Books list.Check out which books… The Beauty of Browsing Serendipity describes the “luck that takes the form of finding valuable or pleasant things that are not looked for,” according to the Britannica Dictionary. And serendipity… Selecting Storytime Books When prepping for storytime, our staff have a wonderful collection of thousands of picture books right at their fingertips, but choosing a great book involves a lot more than… Fresh On Our Shelves Have you been looking for new titles to add to your autumn reading list? New books are arriving all the time! With the landscape turning from brilliant to bleak, moody… The Librarian's Nightstand - Fall 2023 The crisp and shorter days of fall have us reaching for our snuggliest sweaters, toasty drinks, and spellbinding reads. Our six book-loving branch librarians have each… The CEO’s Corner - Fall 2023 The season has certainly changed! With a chill in the air, I’m spending more time curled up with a good book and reflecting on the value Burlington Public Library brings to… Keep in the Loop with PressReader Stay informed about local news, national, and international news, with help from your library card! PressReader is your go-to online resource. With your Burlington Public… Make Something BOO-tiful Halloween is creeping up on us, which means it’s time to get started on your costume and decorations! The excitement of being someone—or something—else for the night is… Southeast Expansion Engagement A new, larger location for our New Appleby Branch is in the works, and we want to hear from you. Self-guided engagement panels have been installed at our Central and New… The Countdown to Library After Dark is On! Have you ever dreamed about getting locked in the library after dark? On a spooky Halloween night? With all your friends? Then get ready for the event of a lifetime! In just… Am I the Villain? In the story of your life, are you always the noble hero, or are your motives or actions sometimes less than admirable? On the discussion website Reddit, there’s a… I Know What You Read Last Summer Do your reading habits change with the season? Many people do. The number of books borrowed from the library ebbs and flows depending on the time of year. We also notice that… Introducing the Burlington Digital Archive Burlington Public Library has officially launched the Burlington Digital Archive. This brand-new online portal houses the digitized local history collections of the Library,… New Drop-in Help at the Library When you don’t know where to turn for help, we can connect you with services in the community to answer your questions and lend support.Burlington Public Library is home to a… Meet Me at the Lake Read-Alikes It’s a love story with a very happy ending! Just announced this week, Netflix and the non-profit production company owned by Prince Harry and Duchess Meghan, Archwell… Accessibility Accommodation Feature Added for Programs We want all our visitors to have a comfortable and enjoyable library experience. To help make sure we are ready to meet your accessibility needs when you attend library… Five Things to Do at the Library That Aren’t Reading We sure do love when you come to the library to enjoy books! But there is plenty to do at our branches beyond reading. Try one (or more!) of these five family-friendly… The Librarian's Nightstand - Summer 2023 Our librarians share their top throw-in-your-beach-tote reads for the dog days of summer. These picks are more than just librarian-approved. They come straight from the… Chill Out With a Cool Series Nothing feeds a hungry reading appetite like a book series. If you ever find it hard to part with characters you’ve come to love or wonder what happens next in the story,… Tips on Preserving & Storing Your Family History Properly sorting and carefully storing collected histories is not just for libraries, museums, and archives. Your family history and personal collections are important, too!… The CEO’s Corner – Summer 2023 It’s the start of my favourite library season, Summer Reading! Every summer, public libraries across Canada, with support from TD Bank, focus on celebrating the… Deep Dive Into the Library Website Let’s keep it simple. There is only one “best” place to look for information about Burlington Public Library—our website, bpl.on.ca. Of course, you can find plenty of useful… Pick A Puzzle! Just in time for the backyard party-and-cottage season—jigsaw puzzles are here! Starting on June 28, Burlington Public Library members can select from over fifty puzzles to… Welcome, BPL Board! Burlington Public Library is thrilled to welcome the Library Board of 2023-2026. These dedicated City Council-appointed volunteers represent Burlington residents and make… Enjoy BPL's New Reading Garden Reading and spending time outdoors are two great passions for Burlington residents. We are excited to combine them with our new Reading Garden at Burlington Public Library’s… Exam Time & Study Help The bright days of summer break are almost here—but first come the final projects, papers, and exams before the end of another school year. Students: need a quiet spot to… Halton Libraries Committed to Supporting 2SLGBTQIA+ Communities During Pride Month and all year round, libraries should be a safe space. In light of recent protests in opposition to Pride Month events at Oakville Public Library, we… BPL Receives Heritage Award Burlington Public Library (BPL) recently received the 2023 Burlington Chamber of Commerce Business Excellence Heritage Award. The Library was recognized for its role in… BPL Recognized as Outstanding Non-profit Burlington Public Library has been recognized as an outstanding non-profit organization with two recent accolades.Burlington Chamber of Commerce Business Excellence Awards… The Librarian's Nightstand - Spring 2023 Have you set your summer reading list yet? Don’t worry, we’ve got you covered! These picks are more than just librarian-approved. They come straight from the librarian’s… Try TumbleBook Library Books virtually come alive in TumbleBook™ Library! This popular digital resource is a collection of children's books with interactive audio. It can be used on a desktop,… Mother’s Day Gifts With a MakerSpace Twist As April showers ease into May flowers, it’s a good reminder that Mother’s Day is just around the corner. Mother’s Day on Sunday, May 14th, is the perfect opportunity to… Handpicked For You Starts April 25 “I’m looking for something to read—what do you suggest?” is one of the most frequently asked questions we hear from our customers. Discovering a good read while browsing… A Reader's Guide to Crime Fiction Stories with gripping plots, thrilling suspense, and characters that intrigue and baffle have captivated readers since Edgar Allen Poe’s detective story, The Murders in the… Poetry Pop-up Celebrates Written Word Free poems! That was the call luring delighted passersby to Burlington City Hall on the weekend, where Burlington Public Library staff were creating custom, typewritten poems… The CEO's Corner - Spring 2023 A sure sign spring has sprung at the library is that poetry is in the air! As a part of National Poetry Month (April), I’m thrilled that BPL is running our second year of… Exploring House Histories at the Library Does your home feel like a part of your family? Houses, especially older ones, take on a life of their own. They hold a lot of history and can feel like a portal to the past—… Learn Skills that Matter to You Are you preparing to enter the job market? Are you looking to take on a leadership role at your company? Maybe you want to build your empathy and resilience or learn a new… International Women’s Day Reads For over a century, Canadians and millions around the globe have celebrated International Women’s Day on March 8th to recognize women’s achievements and ongoing actions to… Fitbits and Hotspots and iPads, Oh My! We offer much more than books and DVDs to borrow and take home! A lot has changed over the past ten years—particularly with smart technology—and we've been continuously… IELTS Test Preparation When you apply to become a Canadian citizen or permanent resident or to migrate here as a foreign worker or student, the Government of Canada needs to know that you can speak… Here We Grow Again (Digitally) We're excited to share with Burlington readers that starting today, March 1, you can access over 360,000 digital titles through OverDrive and its app, Libby.Back in 2020,… Customize Your Wedding in the Makerspace With Spring just around the corner, the wedding season will soon be in full bloom. If you are getting married this year, you can add your own flair to the décor using the… Sensory Kits Now Available in Branches Sensory kits are not just for home or school anymore! Burlington Public Library is responding to the special needs of our neuro-diverse customers and beginning to offer… What Librarians Really Do As a professional librarian, if I had a dollar for every time someone said, "Wow, it must be nice to have such a quiet and peaceful job," I'd be rich. Librarianship and… Banned Books and Why We Love Them Thousands of books are challenged around the world every year for political, legal, religious, or moral reasons. And sometimes, they are removed from schools or libraries… Research Your Family History Celebrate Family Day by exploring, sharing, and preserving your family stories for future generations to come. If you would like to research your family history, BPL has… Navigate Our Resources Seamlessly Want to make the most of your Burlington Public Library membership? Check out our RESOURCES page. We have made some upgrades to this section of our website to make it easier… Improving Accessibility at the Library Burlington Public Library (BPL) has added seventeen new automatic door openers at its branches thanks to a generous federal grant from the Enabling Accessibility Fund (EAF).… How to Find Available Titles in the Collection Have you ever browsed our online catalogue, hoping to find a good book to read right now? It can feel like you're looking for a white cat in a snowstorm. But help is at hand… A Romance Reading Primer It's February, and LOVE is in the air! Whether you're new to romance fiction or have been too embarrassed to be caught reading one of "those" books, we're here to tell you… eBooks versus Print Books Have you jumped on the eBook train yet? Are you sold on print books? Is there a reason why you prefer one over the other? At Burlington Public Library, we see the value in… Cheap Dates With Your Library Love No money? No problem! Celebrating the month of love with your sweetheart doesn’t have to cost much when you have a library card. Here are some ways you can spend a date with… Learn a New Language Online Planning a trip to an exotic destination this winter? Want to connect with your grandparents who don't speak English? Hoping to brush up on the French skills you lost after… The Librarian’s Nightstand - Winter 2023 Ready to cozy up with a good book? We’ve got you covered. These picks are more than just librarian-approved. They come straight from the librarian’s nightstand! We asked our… Best Comfort Cookbooks When a blustery day is in the forecast, and it’s time for “a little smackerel of something,” take a cue from a famous literary bear and reach for a pot—crock, stock, or… Updates to Borrowing at BPL We are starting January off with some changes to popular BPL services and collections in order to give more people access to our collection. These changes will be effective… Audiobooks 101 Listening to audiobooks is a wonderful way to get more reading in. Before we get started with some audiobook basics, we’ll settle the age-old debate. Audiobooks—both digital… The CEO’s Corner – Winter 2023 It’s hard to believe we are approaching the end of 2022 already. It was such a joy to revisit this year through BPL’s Your Library Wrapped 2022 video and recap! I’m grateful… Our Top Hidden Gem of 2022 Our 2022 Hidden Gems Tournament has ended and we have a winner! After four rounds of voting, our list of 16 champions has been whittled down to just one. And the winner… Taking Care of Your Library Books Many of our Burlington Public Library members enjoy a good beach read…but sometimes taking a library book on vacation can become a bit too much beach for your read. Exposure… Your Library Wrapped 2022 As we wrap up another great year at Burlington Public Library (BPL), let’s take a deep dive into how you used your library in 2022! We celebrated our 150th year with special… Get Started with OverDrive’s Libby App Do you love to read eBooks? Then read on because this news might be important to you! The original OverDrive app is retiring in early 2023. Soon, it will no longer allow you… Digital Resource Refresh! Starting in the new year, Burlington Public Library will be refreshing the digital resources offered to our community. Based on customer feedback and usage data, we will be… Create Personalized Gifts in our MakerSpace Get hands-on with your holiday giving in our MakerSpace! With our professional-grade equipment and helpful staff, you can create gifts so impressive your recipients won’t… Be a Library Board Trustee Help shape the future of public library service in our community as a Library Board Trustee.City of Burlington is now accepting applications for a four-year term on the… Giftable Goodies to Make and Give Handmade gifts leave a lasting impression—even if they are gobbled up in minutes. Creating something special for someone on your gift list is a chance to think about the… Skip the Wait for Magazines You'll always be first in line for the most popular magazines from the library when you borrow the online edition. And here's a bonus: digital magazines are instantly… BPL certified as a 'Great Place to Work' Burlington Public Library (BPL) has been awarded a prestigious stamp of approval as an official Great Place to Work™ (GPTW). GPTW is the world’s largest ongoing workplace… Save on Streaming Services Enjoy streaming with Burlington Public Library… for free! With inflation causing many households to take stock of their budgets, it might be time to reevaluate how much… Library After Dark Library lovers got a rare chance to explore Central Branch after dark this weekend at Library After Dark. The sold-out event was a BPL first, and ticket-holders were treated… Community Art Project Marks 150 Years A community art project celebrating the library's 150th anniversary has been installed at Burlington Public Library's (BPL) Central Branch. You can find it on the branch's… The Librarian's Nightstand - Fall 2022 Looking for your next great read? Look no further! These picks are more than just librarian-approved. They come straight from the librarian’s nightstand! We asked our six… Tips for At-Home Storytime We love hosting storytime at the library! But we know that sometimes families can’t join us due to illness, timing, or other challenges. With these librarian-approved tips,… 150 Things To Do At Burlington Public Library We're celebrating Ontario Public Library Week! It's a chance to recognize all the amazing opportunities you can unlock with your library card. This year's theme is "One… What a Thrill - Six Spooky Seasonal Reads It’s fall y’all! There’s a chill in the air, making this spooky season the perfect time to snuggle up and sink your teeth into a deliciously dark horror book.If the idea of… How Do We Choose Our Collection? Have you ever wondered how the library selects its material? It’s a comprehensive process that considers many different factors. We purchase thousands of items each year from… Program Registration Date Change It's no secret Burlington Public Library (BPL) has dozens of fabulous, FREE programs available each month. We offer everything from coding classes to Author Talks to dance… Library Receives Rollator Donation Brant Arts Mobility has donated six rollators, also known as “walkers with wheels” to Burlington Public Library (BPL). The devices will be available for use in the library’s… Booker Prize Winner Visits BPL Burlington Public Library (BPL) was honoured to welcome Booker Prize-winner Douglas Stuart to our Central Branch this week for a sold-out Author Talk. Stuart recently… Google Like a Librarian Google is likely your go-to search engine for a quick look-up, whether you’re researching something for education, or just plain fun. But do you sometimes find yourself… The CEO’s Corner Hello! And welcome to our BPL News & Reviews site. If this is your first time visiting, let me help you find your way around. This page of our site includes fantastic… Celebrating 150 Years of BPL This weekend, we celebrated 150 years of library service in Burlington with a great big party at our Central Branch. Supporters of all ages—from 9 months to 90 years—joined… Demystifying the MakerSpace If you’ve never ventured into the MakerSpace on Central’s 3rd floor, the space and equipment inside may seem mysterious or even intimidating. But it’s easier to use than you… BPL Celebrates 150 Years with Birthday Bash Come celebrate our 150th birthday! Burlington Public Library was founded in 1872, and this September we are celebrating our sesquicentennial with a birthday bash.Join us at… Ease Back Into Reading If reading a book has been hard to do the last little while, don’t fret! You are not alone. We’ve experienced a traumatic global pandemic and endured massive disruption in… Five Books That Will Bring You Back to Y2K If you came of age in the Y2K era, you may find it hard to believe the trends of this time have made a comeback. Butterfly clips, wide-leg Modrobes, and baby tees are no… Birding Kits Land at BPL Bird watching kits have hit the shelves at Burlington Public Library. The backpacks are filled with everything you need for a beginner's birding excursion.What's in the… Express Collection is Back at BPL We are excited to announce that our Express Collection is back after a break during COVID. We are reintroducing it as Lucky Express. Why? Finding a Lucky Express title is…