Programming Policy: Programming supports the Library’s mission to stimulate imagination and inquiry. Programming provides information, invites public discussion, encourages curiosity and creativity and promotes literacy and reading. Programming also promotes the library’s services and resources. This policy defines the provision of programming at the Library.
- Drawing: Art Afternoon – Wednesday, October 14th 1-3pm
Join us for a relaxed, zero-stress, 2-hour drawing class designed specifically for absolute adult beginners. In this single interactive session, you will learn the fundamental secrets of visual arts: how to quiet your inner critic, train your brain to see like an artist, control your pencil, and use light and shadow to make flat shapes jump off the page.
No judgment, no high pressure, and no artistic background required—just a fun, welcoming space to try something new. Register online below
- Catapult Creation Station – Saturday, October 17th at 11am
Saturday, October 17th at 11am. Catapult Creation Station!
Ready, Set, Launch! Drop-in to design and decorate your own mini catapult launcher using our craft sticks, plastic spoons, elastics, and more, and then test your aim with our creative challenges! Are you ready?
Drop-in. All materials provided.
- October After School Hangout – Wednesdays at 4pm
Calling all the nature lovers! Come explore the wonderful world of leaves with fun activities, crafts, and lots of autumn fun!
Did you know that the first Winnie the Pooh book was published on October 14th, 1926? 100 years ago!
Join us for a fun-filled after-school celebration inspired by the Hundred Acre Wood! Kids will enjoy Winnie the Pooh-themed crafts, games and activities, along with a special birthday treat as we celebrate 100 years of Pooh Bear adventures!
Ontario Public Library Week is the 3rd week in October! Join us tomorrow after school for Silent Library Challenge.
Can you complete the challenge without making a sound? Kids will test their focus, creativity, and quiet skills through fun library-themed challenges and activities.
Get ready for a monstrously fun after-school adventure! Kids will enjoy monster-themed crafts and creative activities. Come join us for an afternoon of giggles, imagination, and monster-sized fun!
- October is Canadian Library Month!
It’s Canadian Library Month! During the month, libraries and library partners across Canada raise awareness of libraries’ valuable role in the lives of people in Canada.
The theme this year is Loud for Libraries which challenges long-standing perceptions of libraries as quiet, passive spaces. While libraries continue to offer spaces for reading, learning, and reflection, they are also vibrant community hubs for dialogue, creativity, connection, and civic participation. The theme reinforces the idea that libraries are not only places to visit, but institutions worth speaking up for.
Being loud for your library can look like:
Checking out materials
Attending programs & events
Sharing your love on social media
Voting for candidates who support the libraryThere’s so much waiting for you at your library!
- Libby will require passwords/PINs
Libby will require a password or PIN along with your library card number to access your account. The password is linked to the one indicated in your library account. For Stirling-Rawdon Public Library card holders the default PIN is “books”. If you have changed your PIN from the default and need assistance please contact us and we’re happy to help.
After October 15th Libby may prompt you to verify your card the next time you take an action. From the popup message, tap Verify Card. Enter your library card and PIN or password. Once you’re signed in, you will get a success message.
- DIY Like a Girl – Tuesday, October 27th at 6pm
Build confidence using the essential hand tools every homeowner should know. In this hands-on workshop, you’ll learn how to safely use a hammer, screwdrivers, Allen keys, pliers, an adjustable wrench, a utility knife, and a hacksaw while tackling common household tasks. Along the way, you’ll discover practical tips, avoid common beginner mistakes, and gain the confidence to handle everyday repairs and projects around your home.
Space is limited to just 12 participants to ensure everyone receives plenty of hands-on practice and individual guidance. No experience necessary—just bring your curiosity and a willingness to learn! Register online below
- Family Paint & Sip – Tuesday, October 20th at 5pm
Join us for a spooktacular evening of family fun, creativity, and tasty treats! Create your very own adorable Halloween ghost painting. Mix up a creepy-cool Halloween drink that’s as fun to make as it is to sip! Build a delicious Halloween treat with sweet caramel and apple goodness!
Come dressed in your favourite Halloween colours and get ready for some messy, magical, family-friendly fun!
All ages welcome • No experience necessary • Come create, sip & celebrate! Register below
- Kinusaiga: Adult Craft Night – Tuesday, October 6th at 6pm
Join us for an Adult Craft Night featuring Kinusaiga, the beautiful Japanese art of creating fabric pictures without sewing.
Learn the basics of this unique craft and create your own decorative fabric artwork using colourful fabric scraps and simple techniques. Come craft, chat, and enjoy a creative night out at the library! Register online below
- Art Afternoon: Decoupage – Wednesday, September 30th at 1pm
Wednesday, September 30th at 1pm. Get creative and enjoy a relaxing afternoon at the library! Learn the art of decoupage and create your own unique piece using napkins, modpodge, and creativity. No registration required. For adults.
- Author Visit: Linda Henderson – Tuesday, September 22nd at 6pm
Join us for an author talk featuring a short reading from the children’s book Spooky Needs a Friend, followed by a conversation about the author’s memoir and its exploration of grief, loss, healing, and finding hope through difficult times. This heartfelt presentation offers something for both children and adults, bringing together the themes of friendship, love, loss, and resilience. Everyone welcome.
- Library Book Club: Tuesday, September 15th at 2pm
Love talking about books but don’t always want to read the same thing as everyone else? In this club, you pick your own book based on our monthly theme. At our meeting, we’ll share what we read, compare experiences, and maybe discover a few new titles for our to-be-read lists. It’s all about connecting over stories, without the pressure of one set reading list. No registration required, new members always welcome. Our September theme is: something we enjoyed reading over the summer.
- Lego for Adults: Tuesday, September 15th at 6pm
Unwind, get creative, and build something fun! Join us at the library for a relaxed evening of LEGO building. Each participant will receive a small LEGO kit to put together while enjoying good company and a little nostalgia. Register online below
- Opening Reception: Robyn Watson – Wednesday, September 9th 4:30-6:30
Contemporary abstract artist Robyn Watson will be on display in the library Art Gallery throughout September and October. Join us for an opening reception to meet and chat with the artist and enjoy some light refreshments.
Everyone welcome.
- After School Hangout – Wednesdays at 4pm starting September 9th
After School Hangout returns Wednesday, September 9th at 4pm! Everyone welcome, no registration required, simply drop in after school for different games, activities and crafts each week! Recommended for ages 5 and up.
Celebrate National Teddy Bear Day with games, crafts, and teddy bear fun! Bring your favourite teddy bear and join us for a cozy, bear-filled adventure at the library.
Get ready to squish, roll, and create! Join us at the library for a fun-filled celebration of National Play-Doh Day with activities, challenges, and lots of Play-Doh fun.
Ahoy, mateys! Set sail for a swashbuckling adventure at the library! Kids will explore the world of pirates through fun games, activities, crafts, and treasure-hunting adventures.
Get ready to create, experiment, and have fun! Kids can explore hands-on technology and STEM activities using Sphero, Makey Makey, Snap Circuits, and more. Come tinker, play, build, and discover what you can make!
- Boundaries Without Guilt – Tuesday, August 18th at 6pm
A practical community talk about learning how to say no, protect your energy, and stop overextending yourself without feeling selfish or guilty.
Brad will discuss why boundaries can feel so uncomfortable, especially with family, work, parenting, caregiving, and relationships. This talk will explore how people end up taking on too much, why guilt often shows up when they start making changes, and how to handle difficult conversations with more confidence and less resentment.
The focus will be on building healthier relationships, reducing burnout, and learning how to care about others without constantly abandoning yourself.
- Maker Fair – Wednesday, August 19th 1-4pm
Get creative at the library’s MakerSpace! Explore, build, and create at your own pace. Try coding and driving Sphero robots, invent with Makey Makey, experiment with a variety of hands-on maker tools, or get crafty with fun art and DIY projects. Whether you’re designing, tinkering, crafting, or just curious to try something new, there’s always something to make! No registration required, for all ages
- National S’Mores Day – Tuesday, August 11th at 1pm
Join us at the library for a sweet celebration of National S’mores Day! Kids will make their own delicious s’mores treats while enjoying fun activities, games, and stories inspired by this classic campfire favorite. Come ready for gooey fun, creativity, and a tasty summer treat! Registration required. For all ages.
- Super Mario Party – Saturday, August 8th at 11am
Come join us for a legendary trip into another galaxy with our Super Mario Party! Whether a long term fan, or newly introduced, enjoy out of this world activities, crafts, and so much more! This Saturday! No registration required.
- The Wonders of Your Watershed – Friday, August 14th at 10:30am
Join Lower Trent Conservation staff and participate in activities and demonstrations all about our watershed and how Lower Trent Conservation works to keep things safe and healthy!
We’ll learn about, watershed management, bugs, invasive species and more. No registration required.
- Nerf Battle: July 25th
Library Takeover: The Ultimate After-Hours Nerf Battle! Join us for an epic nerf battle! It will be an all-out face-off as you take cover between the shelves!
Register online below
- Family Paint & Sip: July 28th
Enjoy a relaxing and creative evening with the whole family at our Paint & Sip program! Families will work together to create a shared painting masterpiece, then unwind by making a fun mocktail and a sweet treat to enjoy together. It’s a perfect mix of art, creativity, and quality time, no experience needed!
Register online below
- Art in the Park: July 18th
The Stirling-Rawdon Public Library will be attending Art in the Park on Saturday, July 18th! A celebration of creativity at Farmtown Park. Artists & artisans displaying and selling their amazing work. BBQ lunch and ice cream will be available. Admission by donation.
Join us at Farmtown Park, 437 West Front Street, Stirling from 10am to 4pm. The library will be selling art, and handmade items as a fundraiser for the Library Art Gallery and future Library programming.
- National Mac N Cheese Day: July 14th
Celebrate National Mac & Cheese Day at the library with this deliciously fun program for kids! Participants will create their own tasty mac and cheese creations while exploring different toppings and flavors. Come enjoy cheesy fun, creativity, and a favorite comfort food with friends! Registration required. For ages 6 and up.
Register online below
- Chalk Day: July 11th
This Saturday, July 11th at 11am, Chalk the Walk: Library Edition! Help us add a little colour outside of the Stirling Library by designing and colouring on our sidewalks with chalk! There will also be sidewalk games to play, like hopscotch, and colouring pages to enjoy!
No registration required. For all ages.
- When hard work becomes survival mode: Tuesday, July 21st at 6pm
A practical community talk about what happens when working hard, pushing through, and carrying responsibility stops feeling productive and starts becoming survival mode.
Brad will discuss how burnout can show up in everyday life through irritability, exhaustion, anxiety, poor sleep, shutdown, resentment, and feeling like you can never slow down. This talk is for anyone building a business, raising a family, working long hours, farming, caregiving, or trying to hold everything together while feeling worn down behind the scenes.
The focus will be on recognizing the signs earlier, understanding why slowing down can feel so hard, and learning realistic ways to keep going without burning yourself out.
No registration required.
