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:
Story Times
Stories, songs, dancing, puppets and lots of fun and laughter for all ages and stages!
Fridays Jan 6 - Mar 17 | 10:15 - 10:45 am
Join us for an interactive program full of songs, rhymes, tickles, books, and more! Babytime is an wonderful way to bond with your baby, to meet other parents and caregivers, and to develop early literacy and speech skills.
Recommended for newborns to approximately 18 months. Siblings welcome!
Winter Schedule:
Saturdays Jan 21 - Mar 25 | 3:30 - 4:00 pm
Thursdays Jan 26 - Mar 23 | 10:30 am
Spring Schedule:
Thursdays April 13 - May 25 | 10:30 am
Saturdays April 15 - May 27 | 3:30 - 4:00 pm
Drop-in!
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.
Friday, Jan 27 | 6:00 pm
Friday, Feb 17 | 6:00 pm
Snuggle up for Pyjama Story Time! Featuring longer books, songs and rhymes. Don't forget you Stuffie!
Recommended for children 3 to 6 years, but all are welcome!
Tuesdays Jan 10 - Mar 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.
A partnership with St. John's Ambulance Therapy Dog Volunteers
A special Therapy Dog session will be on Friday, Feb. 17 from 2 pm - 3 pm! No registration necessary.
Saturdays Jan 21 - Dec 16 | 10:15 am - 11:15 am
Families | Registration Required for one-on-one time, or Drop-in to say hi.
Do you want to hang out with the sweetest dog ever? Register for a 15-minute session with Rolo, a certified St. John’s Ambulance Therapy Dog, or just drop in for a quick hello.
Wednesday, Jan 18 | 3:30 - 4:15 pm
Wednesday, Feb 1 & 15 | 3:30 - 4:15 pm
Wednesday, Mar 1 & 15 | 3:30 - 4:15 pm
Wednesday, April 5 & 19 | 3:30 - 4:15 pm
Families & School Age | Registration Required
Come sing in our Library Children's Choir! You can join at any time.
A responsible adult must stay with children ages 9 and under. Parents or caregivers of registered choir members are welcome to join.
The choir will perform in the library at 3:45 pm on Wednesday, April 19.
Registration is required in order to know how many choir folders are needed.
Tuesday, Jan 24 | 3:30 pm - 4:30 pm
Wednesday, Feb 8 | 3:30 pm - 4:30 pm
Wednesday, Mar 8 | 3:30 pm - 4:30 pm
Wednesday, April 12 | 3:30 pm - 4:30 pm
Wednesday, May 17 | 3:30 pm - 4:30 pm
Drop-in to the library for some building fun at this block party! LEGO® , Keva Planks and more will be available. Connect with other kids and break out the bricks for a building bonanza at the library.
Monday, Jan 23 | 3:30 - 4:30 pm
Friday, Feb 17 | 3:30 - 4:30 pm
Tuesday, Mar 21 | 11:00 am - 12:00 pm
Tuesday, April 25 | 3:30 - 4:30 pm
Wednesday, May 31 | 3:30 - 4:30 pm
Enjoy snacks and doodling on colouring pages while you listen to a story! Bring a pillow/blanket to snuggle on if you wish.
January's audiobook will be from The Magic Treehouse series. February's story will be Fortunately, the Milk by Neil Gaiman. The story for March will be from the Dragon Masters series.
April and May stories will be announced at a later date.
Wednesday, Jan 25 | 3:30 - 4:30 pm
Wednesday, Feb 22 | 3:30 - 4:30 pm
Wednesday, Mar 22 | 3:30 - 4:30 pm
Wednesday, April 26 | 3:30 - 4:30 pm
Wednesday, May 24 | 3:30 - 4:30 pm
School Age | Drop-in
The goal of Unplug & Play Week is to encourage families to unplug from technology and enjoy the freedom of play! See more events at: Literacy Association of the Shuswap Society
Saturdays Jan 21 & 28 | 10:15 am - 11:15 am
Families | Register for one-on-one time or drop in to say hi.
Saturdays Jan 21 & 28 | 3:30 pm
Thursday Jan 26 | 10:30 am
Families | Drop-in
Stories & Snacks
Monday Jan 23 | 3:30 pm - 4:30 pm
Enjoy snacks and doodling on colouring pages while you listen to a story! The audiobook will be from The Magic Treehouse series. Bring a pillow/blanket to snuggle on if you wish!
Tuesday Jan 24 | 3:30 pm - 4:30 pm
Come to the library for some LEGO® building fun at this block party! Connect with other kids and break out the bricks for a building bonanza at the library.
Wednesday Jan 25 | 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.
Friday Jan 27 | 6 pm - 6:30 pm
Snuggle up for Pyjama Story Time! Featuring longer books, songs and rhymes. Don’t forget your Stuffie! Recommended for children 3 to 6 years but all are welcome!
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, 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 is not frequently updated.
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? Please speak with the Branch Head Librarian or contact limage@orl.bc.ca. We'd love to hear your suggestions!
Can you create an intriguing story in 500 or fewer characters? If so, enter our Tiny Story Contest!
Deadline for entries: February 14th 2023.
1) Use 500 or fewer characters (including spaces and punctuation!)
2) Up to 3 entries per author
3) Follow the contest guidelines on our Events Calendar
Winner selected by guest judge(s). People’s Choice winner selected by public voting (Feb 15-Mar 1) at the Salmon Arm Library. Entries may be used by ORL on our social media, library displays, and website.
Psst – for reference, the above contest description is 491 characters!
Tuesday Feb 28 | 6:30 - 7:30 pm
Michael Cruikshanks, a Salmon Arm health practitioner, will discuss the concept of Non-Duality and how it can help cope with chronic health conditions and overcome obstacles in daily living.
A health crisis or chronic conditions of pain or other physical and mental health concerns can be mitigated with a new approach. Life's obstacles can become allies when we learn to cultivate a kind and compassionate relationship with all parts of ourselves, even - and especially - the parts we resist and/or are unaware of. The outcome is often having a decrease in chronic pain, overwhelm, fatigue, and an overall improvement in physical, mental, and emotional wellbeing.
Michael trained as an Acupuncturist and had a successful practice for multiple years, before pivoting into BodyTalk, Non-Dual Healing/Counselling (Whole Person Counselling), and Tui Na Massage (Chinese Massage). He operates out of Shuswap Float & Wellness on Hudson Ave in downtown Salmon Arm.
Saturday Feb 4 - while supplies last!
Pick up a craft kit with everything you need to make a felted Valentine-themed owl ornament. Limited number of kits available at the checkout desk.
Community Assistance
On hiatus until further notice - sorry!
Drop by and visit with Carly at the Salmon Arm Library! As the Homeless Outreach Coordinator for CMHA, Carly supports folks in:
Feb 2, Mar 2, April 6 | 1:30 - 3:30 pm
Do you need free, confidential legal assistance? Our Legal Advocate can assist you with:
Drop-in any time between 1:30 - 3:30 pm with your questions!
This initiative is generously provided by The Shuswap Family Centre.
Computer & Technology Training
Check back soon for new dates/times!
This is a Literacy Alliance of the Shuswap Society initiative.
Check back soon for new dates and times!
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
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!
Participants are responsible for securing their own copies; 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.
February 14: Where the Crawdads Sing by Delia Owens. "Tailored to appeal to a wide audience, with its combination of murder mystery, lush nature writing, romance and a coming-of-age survival story." - New York Times
March 14: TBD
Welcome to Classics Weekly, a virtual book club where we tackle a classic novel together and meet online every Thursday to discuss what we’ve read. Participants are responsible for finding their own copy of the book. Titles are available in a variety of formats from the ORL catalogue.
Online registration required. Registration closes one week prior to the first session.
Saturdays | 10:15 - 11:15am
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.
Hobbies, Crafts, & Games
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.
1st and 3rd Saturdays | 3:00 - 4:30 pm
Enjoy lively discussion and philosophical debates? Come share your own ideas and broaden your perspectives. No philosophical expertise required!
2nd and 4th Thursdays (starting January 2023) | 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
DnD and Tabletop Games Night - CANCELLED
If you are interested in being the weekly Dungeon/Games Master, email us at sareference@orl.bc.ca and we can bring this program back.
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
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 Friends of the Library book sale in October brought in over $2500, to be shared between the Salmon Arm and South Shuswap libraries. Thank you to all who volunteered at and/or supported the book sale!
The next book sale will be January 27th and 28th at the South Shuswap Library.
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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