Learn to Speak Pirate!

Ahoy! I'll let you in on a little secret - the Brooks Public Library and the Shortgrass Library System will once again will be offering a free language learning program through our databases called Mango Languages. Mango teaches practical conversation and cultural awareness for the world’s most popular languages.

In celebration of Mango, I wanted to share with you one of the coolest languages that you can learn from Mango: Pirate! Aye me hearties, you too can learn to parley with any and all the gentlemen o' fortune that you meet. (Note: "Gentlemen of Fortune" Pirate for "Pirate". Arr, isn't learning fun?)

According to Mango's website, in just a few minutes, you'll learn:
•A few choice names to call your lazy excuse of a crew.
•The finer points of swashbuckling.
•A bit about Pirate history, and the part it played in forming modern democracy.
•All sorts of practical Pirate lingo!


To begin Mango's Pirate Language Course click here.

Wii Game Day

Wii Game day continues on Thursdays from 3:30pm to 5:00pm until the end of June. Preteens and teens ages 7 to 18 are welcome to come in and see if they can beat the best! We supply snacks and drinks, so come out for some exciting gamer action!

And remember - Wii Game Day will be switching to Friday afternoons in July and August. Join our Summer Reading Program Coordinator Rachel for all the fun and excitement all summer long. Each we we'll select two games to face off for game day play. Vote all week long for the game you want to play on Friday. The game with the most votes wins!

6th Annual Cowboy Poetry

Ready for some Cowboy fun on Wednesday June 8th? Rustle up the family and come on down to the Brooks Public Library's 6th Annual Cowboy Poetry event. Help us to celebrate Rodeo Week with a Free BBQ Lunch starting at 11:30am and then entertainment at High Noon.

Gather 'round and enjoy performances from our featured artist, Bud Edgar the Comedy Cowboy, and special guests Mayor Martin Shields, Griffin Park School Grade 3 classes, and Holy Family Academy’s Grade 5 class. So grab your hats and boots and come on down, this is an event you won’t want to miss!

Toddler Time and Story Time

At the library, we want to do what we can to encourage younger children to start enjoying books at an early age. On Mondays we begin our next sessions of Toddler Time and Story Time. It’s a great way to start younger children headed on a path towards reading. Toddler Time is for children ages 3 and under and runs from 10:15am to 11:00am. Story Time is for the children ages 4 to 6 and runs from 2:00pm to 2:45pm. Toddler Time and Story Time run in six week sessions at a cost of only $6 per child per session. Both programs fill up quickly, so be sure to register early.

Celebrate Stieg Larsson this June @ BPL

This month we're celebrating Stieg Larsson, the international bestselling author of the Millennium Trilogy (The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo, The Girl Who Played with Fire, and The Girl Who Kicked the Hornet's Nest). Join us this month for:

* Millennium: the story
Saturday June 18, 2:00pm to 4:00pm

The Millennium trilogy by Swedish author Stieg Larsson is THE literary phenomenon of the last decade, with 15 million books sold worldwide, 25 translations in over 40 countries, and a movie that is blasting box-office records in Scandinavia and several European countries. And the Millennium saga has only just begun. This portrait of Stieg Larsson reveals the story of an outstanding success – a worldwide phenomenon who at the age of 50, died from a sudden heart attack before his first novel was even published. This planetary triumph is analyzed by close friends and relatives of Stieg Larsson; by his publisher, his journalist colleagues and by various professionals who have worked on the Swedish film versions of the series.

*Definitely Not Plato Book Club
Wednesday June 22, 7:00pm to 9:00pm
Join us as we discuss this month’s books - The Millennium Trilogy: The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo, The Girl Who Played with Fire, and The Girl Who Kicked the Hornet’s Nest by Stieg Larsson.

* Go Online
Follow us on our Facebook page ,Twitter feed, and MySpace page. We'll have daily trivia and questions about author Stieg Larsson and his books all month long.

* Read the Books
Check out the eBooks from Library to Go, or come on down to the Brooks Public Library and check out the books today.

Pruning Trees and Shrubs

Spring is just around the corner! For all you weekend warriors who have been stuck inside during this long winter, we’ve got a treat for you. Our new Home and Garden series begins this month and will feature speakers who are experts at home repairs, gardening, and general home maintenance. Join us for our first session, Pruning Trees and Shrubs on Tuesday March 29th at 12:00 Noon. Our guest speaker, Nigel Seymour, will discuss basic pruning procedures for trees and shrubs in the home landscape. This is a free session and everyone is welcome to attend.

Facebook for Non-Profits

Every volunteer organization faces the same problem – how do we effectively advertise our message to the public? Facebook for Non-Profits runs Monday March 28th at 12:00 Noon and will show you how to advertise to a new audience. With over 500 million users on Facebook, your organization can connect with people in your community who you may not otherwise be able to reach. Topics covered in this session will include: creating a Facebook Page, engaging your audience, and tips for spreading your message. This is a free session and everyone is welcome to attend.

Reading with Ronald

Join the Brooks Public Library for Reading with Ronald on Wednesday February 16th at 10:30am. Ronald McDonald® will be in the library for a fun filled story hour full of surprises. This is a free event and everyone is welcome to attend. This interactive learning experience is brought to you by your local Brooks McDonald’s®.

This Month in the Gallery

New in the Gallery this February is Remnants of Community. Pursuing a long-held dream, Calgary metal artist Simon Wroot embarked on an extensive tour of Alberta churches, and the result is this exhibition of fifteen artworks. Each piece is accompanied by its story; who created it, where and when, what denomination, what kind of life has it had, and where and what is it now. Simon’s miniature landscapes are created by tracing the various components of the scene on a computer, cutting these shapes with a jeweler’s saw from four different metals, and texturing the surface. The pieces are then pinned together in layers to create a low-relief view of the building and its surroundings, which is then mounted on a piece of slate. This exhibit will be up all month long so come check it out!

Around the World in 28 Days

Around the World in 28 Days continues this week. This popular noon hour program invites speakers from the community in to discuss the countries they’ve lived in or have visited. Every week we travel to a new and exciting place - it’s a great way to spend your lunch break. On Friday February 11, Tunde Adenuran will be in to talk about Nigeria. Come in and learn about the world’s eighth most populated country as Tunde takes us on a tour of this vast country and shares his insider knowledge! This is a free event and everyone is welcome to attend. Don’t forget your lunch!

Around the World in 28 Days - Singapore

February starts out with a bang at the Brooks Public Library! Our annual Around the World in 28 Days is back again. This popular noon hour program invites speakers from the community in to discuss the countries they’ve lived in or have visited. Every week we travel to a new and exciting place - it’s a great way to spend your lunch break. On Friday February 4, Lucy Newnes will be in to talk about Singapore. Come in and learn about the world’s fifth busiest port as Lucy takes us on a tour of this world city and shares her insider knowledge. This is a free event and everyone is welcome to attend. Don’t forget your lunch!

Reading with Ronald

The Brooks Public Library is proud to announce that Ronald McDonald® will be coming to the Brooks Public Library on Wednesday February 16 at 10:30am for a special story hour. Come down and enjoy stories, jokes, and fun surprises! This free event is geared towards kids ages four to eight, but everyone is welcome to attend. For more information please call the library at 403-362-2947.

This learning experience is brought to you by your local Brooks McDonald's®.