News from Mississippi Mills Public Library – Week of April 8, 2026

From the Mississippi Mills Public Library

Here’s the latest news from the Mississippi Mills Public Library (MMPL).

Programs, news and events

All eyes are skyward on Artemis II’s historic journey, but did you know a little piece of our community is up there too? 

Earlier this year the Upper Canada District School Board (UCDSB) participated in the Student Spaceflight Experiments Program (SSEP) Mission Patch Competition. Mississippi Mills students from kindergarten to Grade 6 were invited to submit flight patch designs that reflected the spirit of exploration and the unique character of their community.  359 students from R. Tait McKenzie, Naismith Memorial, and Pakenham Public Schools created designs, which were reviewed by a panel of local community artists.  Patches created by Audrey Sandal of Naismith Memorial Public School and Charlotte Hicks of Pakenham Public School were selected to represent Mississippi Mills and have been sent to the International Space Station!

All 359 designs are now on display at the Almonte Branch in the children’s section – come and find one made by your neighbor, sibling, cousin or friend, and peruse our space collection while you are here!

Youth Makerspace Workshop (ages 10-18). Design a vinyl decal for a small custom notebook. From cool fonts to fun graphics, the options are endless!

No experience necessary. In this guided, hands-on session:

• Master the Tech: Learn the basics of the Cricut cutting machine.
• Learn Pro Techniques: Get hands-on experience with “weeding” vinyl like a pro.
• Take it Home: Leave with a personalized mini notebook that’s totally unique to them.

FREE with your Mississippi Mills Library Card! Pakenham Branch, April 11 from 10 – 11:30 a.m. Space is limited! Don’t miss out on grabbing a spot: https://form.jotform.com/260755486264264

BINGO! Join us at the Pakenham Branch on Friday, April 17 from 4-5 p.m. for some after school fun to kick off the weekend. Pizza! Prizes! BINGO!

For ages 6-12. FREE! No registration required, just drop on in for an hour of fun!

Steam Punk Pirate Conspiracy Escape Room. Do you have what it takes to escape? This free, interactive puzzle-solving adventure awaits groups of up to six brave souls at the Almonte Branch, April 18 and 19 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Suitable for ages 9+ with an adult. Registration required: https://form.jotform.com/260886214191257

Designed, built and tested at the library by local youth aged 11-15 years.

Curious About 3D Printing? Then come on out to the Almonte Branch, April 11 from 11 a.m. to 12 p.m.
Our dedicated volunteer, Grant Montag, will be delivering a high-level presentation to curious minds. This is an opportunity to watch, learn and ask questions. If what you see sounds interesting, subsequent one-on-one training sessions are available. Drop in. No registration required.

National Film Day is April 15. This is a massive, coast-to-coast-to-coast salute to Canadian cinema. Celebrate with us at the Almonte branch with a double feature! Come see both films or pick your favourite. No registration required. Room capacity is 30 people. FREE popcorn!

• 12:30 p.m.: Blackberry (2023) – The story of the meteoric rise and catastrophic fall of the first smart phone.
• 2:45 p.m.: The Grizzlies (2018) – A group of Inuit students’ lives are transformed when they are introduced to the sport of lacrosse.

Note: This special double feature replaces our Film in the Afternoon, held on the fourth Wednesday of the month. There will be no screening April 22.

Looking for LEGO! If you’re busy spring cleaning and want to free up some storage space, please consider donating your mismatched Lego blocks to the library. Whether your grandkids have outgrown it, or you’re just tired of stepping on it, we’re happy to help.

Donations accepted at either branch. Lego will be used to support youth programming at both branches. Thank you!

Workshops are FULL, but there are still spaces available to learn how to use one of the machines on your own this April.

Sign up for beginner training to get started: https://form.jotform.com/260755221643252 THEN book a club time to bring your ideas to life! https://form.jotform.com/260755156147258

Pakenham Walking Group – Starting Friday, April 17. The Pakenham Branch and Bridging Generations are teaming up on Fridays! 10:00 – Meet at the Pakenham Branch’s Coffee Time for a coffee AND a chapter reading from 52 Ways to Walk by Annabel Streets at 10 a.m. Leave for a guided, Pakenham-based walk (approximately 30-45 minutes) at 10:45 a.m. Led by Carmel McCann and Sherryl Smith.

Step out, breathe, and enjoy a little weekly boost – one step at a time!

Futuring in an Age of Uncertainty with Avalyne Diotte, presented by Learning Again in Almonte on April 22 from 7-9 p.m. at the Almonte Branch.

What if the future is not something that simply happens to us, but something we can actively shape? The field of foresight helps people explore possible futures to help mitigate risk, harness opportunity, and make decisions today to shape a better tomorrow. This interactive conversation will introduce “futuring” as a practical way of thinking. Through accessible examples and engaging reflections, this lecture encourages participants to imagine what it might mean to create the future we desire. 

Pay what you can. Registration required: www.learningagainalmonte.ca/lectures-winter-spring-26

Pakenham Community Pantry – now open! Thanks to a group of wonderful volunteers and generous donors, The Community Pantry is now at BOTH library branches!

To use:

• Don’t be shy, please help yourself!
• Take what YOU need
• The pantry is open during library hours

To give:

• Donations accepted during library hours. Please place on the shelves provided.
• Original, unopened packaging (including pet food)
• Please NO glass jars
• Please NO produce, homemade or perishable items (e.g. fresh fruits, vegetables, dairy, homemade jams)

If you have questions or suggestions, please contact: hello@amealforall.ca

Friday, April 24 – 6:30 p.m. at Almonte Branch. Canadian-born, former First Lady of Iceland, Eliza Reid’s inspiring new memoir, The First Lady Next Door, asks the question: What if the life you didn’t plan is the one where you find your voice? Eliza shows how embracing authenticity in all its messiness can become your greatest strength. Eliza’s first book, Secrets of the Sprakkar, was an instant bestseller in Canada & Iceland. Her debut mystery, Death on the Island, is also a bestseller. 

Only a few seats left! To register: https://form.jotform.com/260825563718262.

In partnership with Mill Street Books. Books will be for sale at what will be a memorable event.

April 22 is Earth Day! A global day to celebrate our earth and a call to action for environmental protection, climate awareness and sustainability. Libraries have long been stewards of the reduce-reuse-repair-recycle philosophy. We’ve been resource-sharing and reducing consumption for generations! Come choose a book from our Earth Day displays and learn something new.

Used Marker Drive! Bring your used markers, highlighters, sharpies, pens – any writing utensils that no longer writes – to the Almonte Branch April 20-26. Once collected, these items will be sent to TerraCycle through Staples, where they are cleaned, sorted, and transformed into raw materials for new products such as outdoor furniture, storage bins, and playground surfaces.

While you are dropping off your stash for recycle, guess how many pounds of material we can divert from landfill – the closest guess will win a new pack of markers!

TWO great Earth Day inspired family activities to choose from on the upcoming PA Day, April 24 from 1 – 3 p.m.

• Almonte Branch is making Nature Windchimes with kids 3+
• Pakenham Branch will have Makedo tools available for those 6+ to create their own cardboard structures and sculptures

Come create and play with us! Drop-in. Children must be accompanied by an adult.