While ORL locations may be closed until further notice, we are here for you online!
Have questions? Email us at help@orl.bc.ca or chat with library staff right from our website. Chat hours: Monday, Wednesday, Friday, & Saturday: 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM; Tuesday & Thursday: 9:00 AM to 7:00 PM.
All ORL Branches are closed on statutory holidays.
The library has two book return bins - one behind the library, next to the Canadian Tire loading dock and open 24 hours; 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).
The Friends of the Library Book Sale is 9am - 4pm on Saturday, January 25th at the Piccadilly Mall. Support the Salmon Arm Library and discover great books for all ages!
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:
View events in calendar format.
For details or registration info, click on an event below.
We are working on ways to provide virtual services during this unpredictable time. Stay tuned for more information to follow.
A little bit of this and a little bit of that: stories, singing, dancing, puppets and lots of fun and laughter for kids of all ages and stages. All library story times are free - just drop in! For more information about our children's programs, please contact the Salmon Arm Branch at 250-832-6161, or email Ardie at aburnham@orl.bc.ca
Bond with your baby through the power of song and rhymes!
This program is recommended for babies, newborn - 18 months and their caregivers. We welcome the whole family to join in the fun!
Winter Baby Time will be on Mondays at 11:00AM and run from January 20 - March 16
Spring Baby Time will be on Mondays at 11:00AM and run from March 30 - May 11.
Toddler Time
Join us for simple songs, stories, rhymes and puppetry fun. Plenty of action for little ones on the go!
This program is geared for ages 18 months to 2 years. The whole family is welcome!
Winter Toddler Time will be on Thursdays at 10:30AM and run from January 23 - March 19.
Spring Toddler Time will be on Thursdays at 10:30AM and run from April 2 - May 14.
Bring the whole family for great stories, silly songs and puppetry fun!
This program is geared for ages 3 to 6 years, but all ages are welcome. Caregivers are encouraged to join in the fun.
Winter Family Story Time will be on Wednesdays at 10:30AM & Saturdays at 3:30PM. It will run from January 22 - March 21.
Spring Family Story Time will be on Wednesdays at 10:30AM & Saturdays at 3:30PM. It will run from April 1 - May 13.
This program runs one Friday a month at 6:00PM and is geared for ages 3 to 6 years. All ages are welcome.
Remaining 2019 Fall date:
December 20 (These stories will be holiday themed.)
2020 Winter & Spring Dates:
January 31
February 7
March 13
April 17
Do you love to sing? Then join the Library Children's Choir for 45 fun filled minutes of choral singing! You can join at any time.
We will have 2 practices a month on Wednesdays from 3:30PM - 4:15PM for the months of February - April. Here are our practice dates:
February 12
February 26
March 4
March 18
April 1
April 8
The concert will be at 4:00PM on April 8. The Choir will practice from 3:30 to 4:00 that day and then do the concert. The concert is about 15 minutes long.
Caregivers may join with their child.
For ages 5 and up.
Registration Required.
Come create something spectacular with our LEGO and Keva Planks.
Children must be accompanied by a responsible adult. Staff will not supervise children during this activity.
Just drop-in at any time between 2:00PM - 4:30PM on these dates:
January 29
February 6 & 20
March 5 & 19
April 2 & 16
May 7 & 21
Pictures from past programs, Summer Reading Club events, and library updates can be found at our Salmon Arm Kids in the Library blog at https://salibrarykids.wordpress.com/
This blog will be updated more frequently during the library closure.
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? We'd love to hear your suggestions! Please speak with the Branch Head Librarian or contact ksmith@orl.bc.ca with your suggestions!
1st and 3rd Mondays, 10:30 am
Have you ever wanted to research your family tree? Have you hit a brick wall in your research? Join our friendly group of genealogists at the library to share ideas, learn new tips and tricks, and solve research roadblocks. Whether you are a beginner or a seasoned family historian, we will help you get started with your research. Bring your own computer, or bring a USB drive and use one of ours. Drop in, no registration required.
Tuesdays and Thursdays, 10:00 am -1:30 pm
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 LASS (Literacy Alliance of the Shuswap Society) initiative.
Tuesdays, 2:00-3:30 pm
Join us every Tuesday afternoon for a fun and relaxed jam with fellow uke enthusiasts. Come strum with us!
Tuesdays, 6-8 pm
Do you want to improve your English? Join the Shuswap Immigrant Services Society at the Salmon Arm Library on Tuesday nights for English conversation practice in a comfortable small group setting. Please call 250-804-2726 to register.
Tuesday evenings, 6-8 pm
If you spin or would like to learn to spin, join the Shuswap Spinners and Weavers Tuesday nights. If you need a spinning wheel you can rent one from the guild. Email shuspin@gmail.com for rental information or visit their blog: http://shuswapspinnersweavers.blogspot.ca/
Tuesday and Friday evenings, 5-8 pm
Calling all D&D adventurers! Come join our friendly group of players every Tuesday and Friday night at the Salmon Arm Library, 5-8 pm. Solve puzzles, combat beasts and create your own adventure! Beginners are welcome! Drop in, no registration required.
Wednesday, February 12, 1:30-2:30 pm
Living with ongoing pain? Join us for a practical workshop to help you manage painful conditions for a better quality of life. UVic's Institute on Aging & Lifelong Health presents research from Stanford's Pain Management program.
Visit www.selfmanagementbc.ca for more information.
Take an afternoon break and join us for a lively discussion of the featured title. Participants are responsible for finding their own copy of the book. Please note: many book club titles are also available in ebook and audiobook formats in the ORL catalogue. Refreshments will be served. Meetings start at 2:00 pm.
Registration is required to get an idea of numbers. Call 250-832-6161 to register or sign up from the online calendar: http://orl.evanced.info/signup/calendar?&lib=1021
January 22: The Stranger in the Woods: The Extraordinary Story of the Last True Hermit by Michael Finkel
February 26: The Witches of New York by Ami McKay
March 25: Circe by Madeline Miller
April 22: Louis Riel by Chester Brown
May 27: A Wizard of Earthsea by Ursula Le Guin
June 24: The Marrow Thieves by Cherie Dimaline
July 22: The Complete Persepolis by Marjane Satrapi
August 26: Eleanor Oliphant Is Completely Fine by Gail Honeyman
September 23: The World That We Knew by Alice Hoffman
October 28: The Nightingale by Kristin Hannah
November 25: Where the Crawdads Sing by Delia Owens
December 9: Letters from Father Christmas by J.R.R. Tolkien
Second Wednesdays, 10:30-11:30 am
Join Nicole from BTrueByou for a gentle introduction to yoga, breathing exercises and meditation. Chair yoga is for everyone who would like a gentle introduction to yoga. We will be using the chair for support with all poses. Drop in to this FREE program!
Thursdays, 2:30-4:00 pm
Life is full of changes and challenges. Learn how to find your balance and stay in control, even during turbulent times. Hosted by the Canadian Mental Health Association.
January 30: Resiliency Through Change
February 13: Mindfulness
February 27: Cultivating Connection
March 12: Mapping Your Wellness
First Thursdays, 1:30-3:30 pm
The Legal Advocacy program provides free confidential information, advice and assistance in areas of poverty law such as: residential tenancy disputes; income assistance; provincial and federal benefits programs; employment standards; and consumer and debt problems. Drop-in any time between 1:30-3:30 pm with your questions!
Friday, February 7, 10:30 am -1:30 pm
Back by popular demand, we are offering another FREE beginner ukulele course with Jackie Bland from the Shukuleles and In My Orange Kitchen. No prior experience necessary, just a desire to have fun, sing and strum. It's easier than you think and more fun than "uke" can imagine!
Registration is required. Please call us at 250-832-6161 or follow the link to our online calendar to register: http://orl.evanced.info/signup/EventDetails?EventId=46589&lib=1021&backTo=Calendar&startDate=2020/02/01
Please bring your ukulele and a music stand if you have one. No ukulele? No problem! We have a limited number of ukuleles available to use during the workshop, so please let us know if you need one.
Fridays, 2-5 pm (January 24-April 3)
Do you have some old clothes that you’d like to turn into something new? Have you been thinking of getting back into some sewing or learning some basic skills? Are you thinking of changing your wardrobe without spending much money? Concerned about the impact of fast fashion on the environment? Any or all of these are good reasons to join the upcoming Calendario Clothing reNew project over these winter weeks.
Runaway Moon Theatre will be holding a series of open workshops where we’ll help people to make new garments and to re-new old ones by combining pre-existing clothes with hand-printed fabric and decorative pieces from our treasure chest. Bring along your old favourites, or something from the thrift shop, as something to start from; or, come and make a design and we’ll help figure out how to make it. All levels of experience welcome!
Fridays, 1-3 pm
Join the Odd Socks knitting group every Friday between 1-3 pm. New members and all capabilities are welcome!
Friday evenings, 5-8 pm
Join our great group of board gamers for our weekly board game night! Our friendly and welcoming group plays all kinds of games from light social games to in-depth strategy games: Catan, Monopoly, Chess, card games, you name it we play it. People are welcome to bring their own games as we're always looking to try new things. All ages are welcome. We hope to see you there!
Please contact Chris Hamlin Gravells at cgramlin@icloud.com if you are interested in attending.
Friday evenings, 6-8 pm
Informal drop-in knitting group for all experience levels. Come share your projects and your ideas!
Saturday, February 29. 10:30-11:30 am
For many years Keri Lafave had contemplated the writing of a memoir and in 2011, she began the 5 year project of putting her experienced in to words. "Unfinished" is a moving memoir that looks at overcoming adversity and ultimately feeling complete.
Saturday, February 29, 1:00-3:00 pm
Please join us for a FREE information session with immigration lawyer Sandra Hakanson. Sandra practices Canadian Immigration and Citizenship law with Ocana Law Group in Kelowna, and can answer your questions about temporary residence, permanent residence, business immigration, Labour Market Impact Assessments, pathways to immigration, Canadian Citizenship, and more. For more information about Sandra, please visit www.ocana.ca
Saturday, March 7, 10:30 am
This presentation will guide you through the first steps of searching for your family's history. It will discuss where to find information on and off the internet, how to organize the information, and how to avoid common pitfalls. If you like, you can bring along your laptops or tablets to practice what you are learning.
Saturday, March 7, 3:00-4:00 pm
Join author Alfred Schalm as he talks about his book, Start Packing We're Moving: A Family History. This is the story of three brothers who grew up on a farm in Poland near the Russian border. It describes the exile to Siberia of all the ethnic Germans of the area, their return journey in 1919, to their eventual emigration to Canada.
2nd and 4th Saturdays, 3:00-4:30 pm
Enjoy lively discussion and exchange philosophical perspectives on various topics led by a skilled moderator. We will meet the 2nd and 4th Saturday of each month. This event is free and drop-in, no registration required.
Whether you want suggestions on a good book to read, or need assistance with in-depth research, our staff can help you. We can draw upon our Reference collection, which includes many print and digital resources not freely available on the internet (such as vehicle repair manuals, legal reference works, and directories).
Drop by, give us a call (250-832-6161) or send us an email at sareference@orl.bc.ca.
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 Head Librarian if you are interested in displaying your work in the library.
If you need assistance downloading eBooks and other digital content to your tablet or eReader, we can help!
Phone us at 250-832-6161 or email us at sareference@orl.bc.ca.
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.
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
Groups of adults can enjoy a tour at the library too! ESL classes, retirement homes, book clubs and more can contact us for further information.To book a free tour for adults call us at 250-832-6161 or email us at sareference@orl.bc.ca.
Meetings are held in April, September and November. The next FOL meeting is at 2:00 pm on Monday, April 20th in the Piccadilly Mall Board Room.
Click below to read the minutes from the 2019 Annual General Meeting:
Friends of the Library Annual General Meeting Minutes (April 2019)
Friends of the Library have recently helped fund:
Have you considered giving the gift of time by joining our Friends of the Library group? The Friends are actively looking for new members who would like to support the Salmon Arm and South Shuswap ORL Branches. If you love the library and would like to help, please contact susankerr4026@gmail.com for more information.
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