Submitted by Blair McFarlane 

The air is crisp, the mountains dusted and the leaves are tumbling: fall is here. The time of year where cooler temperatures lead us to cozy up next to the woodstove with a cuppa, a good library book, and perhaps a happy light? Read on for details and see what else is on at the library. 

Happy Lights: We have three LED Light Therapy Lamps available to borrow with your library card. These lights mimic the effects sunlight has on the body like balancing hormones and resetting the body’s internal clock. The full spectrum light can lift spirits, sharpen concentration and improve energy levels. Have it on while you read for an hour and see if you notice a boost in your mood! Happy Lights are available for a three week loan period. 

Late Hours: We are back to our regular evening hours on Wednesday and Thursdays, open 10 a.m. – 8 p.m. Find books or use our computer and print services. Our mezzanine seating space is open to work, study or read.

Story Time: Takes place Friday mornings at 10:45 a.m. in the Columbia Valley Centre Hall (downstairs from the library). Join us for stories, songs and a take-home craft kit! Geared towards preschool age but all welcome. Caregivers are required to show proof of vaccination to attend as of Oct. 24.

Reading Challenge: Can we read for the entire month of November? There are 720 hours in the month and I think the community can easily read for that long within the month. If we have 50 participants join in, it will be less than 15 hours of reading per person- easy peasy! Join in on the challenge beginning Nov. 1 through Beanstack. Download the Beanstack Tracker app (which has a timer function for logging hours) or head to invermere.beanstack.org. Stay tuned for prize announcements!  

Virtual Programs: Join in on the Read Local Book Club where we read local authors and then have the chance to chat with them in the second half of the meeting! November’s book is Confessions of a Failed Environmentalist by Jennifer Ellis. We have copies available at the library and the meeting will take place on Nov. 16 at 7:30 p.m. Teens are welcome to join the Kootenay Teen Book Club too! This month’s book is Displacement by Kiku Hughes and the meeting will be on Nov. 30 at 6:30 p.m. on Zoom. 

COVID-19 and the library: All are welcome inside the library and no proof of vaccination is required. Masks are required at all times. We are able to print and laminate your vaccine passport for you at no charge. Printing the passport at the BC Service Centre provides a few more details needed when travelling, so we recommend heading there first and then come in to laminate. No vaccine passport is needed to enter the library, but it is required to attend library programming like story time. 

Contact us at 250-342-6416 or [email protected].