The Sooke branch of the Vancouver Island Regional Library is offering free programs for children, teens and adults throughout the month of March.
There will also be special programming during the Spring Break, from March 14 to 24, says librarian Adrienne Wass.
For more information, please call the library at 250-642-3022 or online at virl.bc.ca/programs-and-events.
Weekly Kids’ Programs
Preschool Storytime – Tuesdays, 11 to 11:45 a.m. Join in for stories, songs, rhymes, fingerplays and more. A different theme is celebrated every week. Every storytime ends with a craft. Ages 3 to 5. Drop in; no registration required.
Babytime – Thursdays, 10:30 to 11 a.m. Rhymes, songs and stories will help develop babies’ early literacy and language skills. Caregivers are encouraged to relax and socialize afterwards. For babies aged up to 18 months. Drop-in; no registration required.
Paws 4 Stories – By appointment. Help make learning to read a positive experience for your child with a therapy dog trained to be a supportive reading companion. Through the St. John Ambulance Paws 4 Stories program, the Sooke Library Branch now offers free, 15-minute readings sessions with a registered therapy dog for children aged 6 to 11 years old.
Sooke German Kinderspielgruppe – Saturdays, 3:30 to 4:30 p.m. German-speaking caregivers are invited to join Sooke’s Playgroup (Kinderspielgruppe). German songs, rhymes and reading short stories will be shared. For children aged up to six years. Drop-in; no registration required.
Spring Break Programs for Kids
Spring Break: A Fun and Fancy Tea Party – Monday, March 14, 2 to 3 p.m. Dress up in your fanciest clothes and join us for a tea party. All kinds of costumes (and hats!) are welcome. You’ll also get to meet Timba, the library’s Paws 4 Stories therapy dog. For ages up to 12 years. Drop-in; no registration required.
Spring Break: A Dragon Storytime – Tuesday, March 15, 11 to 11:45 a.m. Meet some not-so-scary dragons through stories, songs and rhymes. You’ll even get the chance to create your own pet dragon to take home. For ages 3 to 5 years. Drop-in; no registration required.
Spring Break: Creative Collage – Monday, March 21, 2 to 3 p.m. Join in for inspiring stories and crafting fun. Create your own collage to take home using simple but stunning techniques. All materialssupplied. For ages 6 to 12 years. Drop-in; no registration required.
Spring Break: Fractured Fairy Tales – Tuesday, March 22, 11 to 11:45 a.m. What if Cinderella had giant feet? Or the three little pigs became friends with the wolf? Come listen to some famous fairy tales, told with surprising and funny twists. For ages 3 to 5. Drop-in, no registration required.
Spring Break: Puppet Show – Wednesday, March 23, 2 to 2:30 p.m. Join in for a puppet show loosely based on a well-known story. Which one? Come to the show and see if you can guess. Suitable for all ages. Drop-in, no registration required.
Adult Programs
Knitting Circle – Tuesdays, 6:30 to 8 p.m. Knitting doesn’t need to be a solitary activity All levels welcome; if you want to learn to knit, bring a pair of five millimetre straight needles, and either “dishcloth cotton” or “worsted-weight yarn” of medium-to-light colour. Drop-in; no registration required.
Sooke Writers’ Collective – First Wednesday of every month, 6:30 to 8 p.m. For writers in and around the Sooke area – writing support and writing practice. For more information, please go online to sookewriters.com or email at info@sookewriters.com.
Zero Waste Sooke – Third Wednesday of every month, 6:30 to 8 p.m. Help Sooke become a greener, cleaner community. For more information, please go online to zerowastesooke.ca or email info@zerowastesooke.ca.