Summer Reads 2017

Book a trip

Last snow before Spring?

Perfect day to take a walk to the Library : looks like a Fairy Tale!

Let's be green!

For the weekend, let's be green... at the Beaconsfield Library!

Happy St. Patrick's Day!

Open Books - the living library

           OPEN BOOKS - THE LIVING LIBRARY

 SPECIAL PROJECT

Thursday, March 23 from 1 until 3:00 p.m. 

On Thursday, March 23, Beaconsfield residents will be able to meet with people referred to as Living Books who live or have lived with mental health problems and want to share a message of hope. Entitled Living Books for the occasion, these  real people will share a chapter of their lives with interested «readers».

This national project is based on the Human Library ^TM and take the concept of a classical library with its books in stock, catalogue, regulations and thematic decoration. This « Living  Library » event only includes Living Books, people whose history is directly or indirectly related to issues involving mental health.

                  

Catalogue

À LIVRES OUVERTS 2017 / OPEN BOOKS EVENT 2017

CATALOGUE OF LIVING BOOKS

CATALOGUE DE LIVRES VIVANTS

Opening our hearts to reduce stigma
S’ouvrir et se rencontrer pour réduire la stigmatisation
BOOKS/LIVRES
Résumé

• Derek (English)

Stuck in a dream, nothing felt real. Emotions raised, can’t explain how I feel. That was back in 2009, I was hospitalized then, but now I feel fine. I’m 25 now, still a young man, diagnosed as bipolar, but that’s not who I am.

• Francois (Bilingual)

- 47 years old, diagnosed with schizophrenia at age 20. I once studied physics at university, and I have a mental illness, so technically I’m a mad scientist (but I’m not a villain). I’m also an experienced computer whiz, and I’m currently trying to debug the world’s most powerful computer : my brain. I stutter a bit, so puh-puh-puh-please, n-n-no ca-ca-ca-tastrophes !

- 47 ans, diagnostiqué avec schizophrénie à l’âge de 20 ans. J’ai étudié la physique à l’université et j’ai une maladie mentale, donc techniquement je suis un savant fou (mais pas un villain). Je suis aussi un expert en informatique et je suis présentement en train de déboguer l’ordinateur le plus puissant au monde : mon cerveau. Je bégaie un peu, alors s-s-s’il vous plait, p-p-pas de ca-ca-catastrophes !

• Janet (English)

- Schizophrenic ? Bipolar ? Who am I ? A worker with 35 years of experience helping disadvantaged youth. A person who has had numerous mental health crises. And someone who has the love and support of terrific family and friends, which has enabled me to have a fuller appreciation and understanding of the people I help. Strong, resilient and recently retired .. life is good.

• Linda (English)

- Laughing my way through my many disorders. I am a single mom with chronic depression, fibromyalgia and ADD for 25 years. And that’s just the beginning. Taking care of myself is a full time job .. despite the challenges, I manage to stay positive !

• Rafael (Bilingual)

- Un esprit tourmente qui trouve la paix intérieure (la paix de l’esprit), et comment cette paix contribue a aider les autres dans mes activités quotidiennes (famille, amis, etc…) et dans mon travail de mentor.

- A tormented spirit who found inner peace (a calmer mind), and how I’m using this inner peace to help others both through my daily activities and in my mentorship work.

• Laurence (Bilingual)

- Se rétablir dans la vingtaine et la trentaine après un parcours de consommation qui m’a amené à recevoir des diagnostics de Trouble de personnalité limite, de Trouble bipolaire et autres. (Re)trouver ma place et mon humanité, c’est possible.

- To recover in my twenties and thirdies after a life where I ended up with mental illness diagnosis (Bipolar, Borderline…). Finding back my place and my humanity, it’s all possible.

Genealogists, climb your tree

A new database has been added for you to build your genealogy.
If you are a Beaconsfield resident,  only enter your library card number and your PIN, follow the instructions and build your tree!

YourFolks.com is a genealogy Website created in Quebec, Canada. Those who have little time to spend on their genealogy love it because they can, build their family tree in a few clicks.

YourFolks.com’s mission is to provide its members with simplified tools and professional quality products, using reliable and exclusive services. The site provides users with a unique database, gathering genealogical data on the parishes of Quebec from their founding until late in the twentieth century. Parts of Ontario, Manitoba, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia and Alberta are also covered. 

Decorate the library!  

December 2016

 For the second year local organizations gathered in the Discovery Room of our library, December 6^th, to decorate small live Christmas trees to brighten the library for the holidays.  Thanks go to The Beaconsfield Artists Association, Beaconsfield Garden Club, Beaconsfield Hooking Crafters Guild, Beaconsfield Lawn Bowling Club, Beaconsfield Quilters Guild and the West Island Women’s Centre.

Thank you Huguette, Lucy, Susan, Carole, Salve, Mary, Ti, Hilary, Florence, Janet, Sonya, Julia and Carol.  Library members are enjoying the surprise of finding a real tree tucked in a corner and of course the wonderful aroma of evergreen.

Happy Holiday to everyone!

Beaconsfield launches its first little free library

Inspired by the ‘’Take a book, leave a book’’ movement and with the objective of promoting literacy and the love of reading, the Beaconsfield Library and Culture staff planned to install little free libraries in some local parks. The concept of the little library is for community members to take, return and/or leave a book for others to enjoy. With thousands of little free libraries popping up around the world, the staff wanted to develop a concept unique to Beaconsfield but that shared the same theme of exchanging good books and bringing people together.

It was decided to highlight Beaconsfield’s rich heritage by paying tribute to John H. Menzies. According to the Beaconsfield-Beaurepaire Historical Society ² Menzies could be considered the first man to invest in a commercial venture in Beaconsfield. In 1877, he grew a vineyard and built cottages to create a summer resort. The name Beaconsfield was first used in 1876 by John Henry Menzies as the name of his vineyard (farm 31), in honour of his friend the renowned politician and novelist, Benjamin Disraeli, Earl of Beaconsfield and Prime Minister of England (1874-1880).² Thus was born the idea of modeling the little library after the original Menzies cottages built in 1877 on Lakeshore Road and commonly referred to as the Six sisters.
A call was made to the community for a woodworker interested in reproducing a miniature Menzies Cottage based on the plans we had in mind. Finally, an artisan was commissioned to build one and the design was adapted to meet the specific needs. Beaconsfield artist Bev Wight volunteered her time and creativity and brought the house to life by carefully adding colour, dimension and perspective to make it as authentic as possible.

Community involvement is a key factor in the success of such little libraries as we share skills, creativity and wisdom across generations. Coincidentally, while construction of the first house was underway, Mrs Carole Thériault,  of the Beacon Hill Community Association, approached the City suggesting that Beaconsfield join the Little Library Movement.  With the support of the Beacon Hill Community Association, the first little library was installed in Beacon Hill Park and the Association became the first organized group responsible for weekly monitoring to make sure it is maintained and well stocked. Despite construction delays, just like for real houses, the City’s public works department managed to install the first little library in time for the Beacon Hill Community Corn Roast held on September 11. Library staff were on hand to officially launch this new service, to talk about this initiative and the many programs offered at the library. 

The Beaconsfield little library is the result of community involvement and excellent team work and we are very happy that the Beacon Hill residents appreciate their little library.

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A second little library is in production and we hope to produce more with the help of volunteers. So we invite any skilled wood workers interested in volunteering to contact us and help build literacy throughout the community.