Welcome back!

Two days ago, the temperature reached 30, today it’s cloudy and cool.  Autumn is coming and school is here.  It has been wonderful to see so many of you over the past week, taking books out, working on computers, playing board games… Speaking of board games, there are loads of things to do in the library learning commons.  As well as over 12,000 different books, we have a puzzle board, Read More …

Indie Bookstore Day

This Saturday, April 27, is Independent Bookstore Day in Canada!  Why would you buy books from an independent, rather than a chain or a giant superstore type seller?  Well.  Independent bookstores are owned and operated by book lovers, also known as readers.  And they sell books.  You might also find some book-themed t-shirts or socks, a few games, or puzzles.  But – the majority of the store will be filled Read More …

Earth Day 2024 www.earthday.org/earth-day-2024/

I think that we can all agree that the weather is (and has been) doing weird and wacky things.  Dry springs and summers leading to devastating wildfires, crazy storms, extreme temperatures.  Sometimes it is scary and I wonder (and worry) about the future.  Something is definitely going on with our environment. The first Earth Day was celebrated in 1970 in the US.  In the more than 50 years since then, Read More …

Library Monitors

Did you know that our Library Learning Commons has over 13,000 unique titles?  And more items than that.  Fiction, non-fiction, DVDs, magazines. We have a great collection!  But what happens when you want to find something specific?  Without good organization, it could be really difficult to find that particular book you’re looking for.  When items are returned, they have to go back on the shelf – in their proper place.  Read More …

Local History or History in Your Backyard

As a community, we are more purposefully looking at our history.  Here in Burnaby, history did not begin with the first white settlers.  Well before the late 1800s, when Europeans started settling here, from time immemorial, this land was home to others.  What do you know about them?  Looking for a place to start?  Burnaby Village Museum has done some research for you:Others have come and settled here as well.  Read More …

Mountain Reads

It’s October!  And October brings many of my favourite things – cooler days (which mean I get to start wearing my sweaters!), leaves changing colour, Thanksgiving, and Halloween (do you also buy more candy than you can possible give out?). But the other thing is a new crop of Mountain Reads titles. This year, Ms. Barsky and I went ‘Book Tok’-ing for inspiration.  While I don’t TikTok, it seems that Read More …

Black History Month

February is a busy month.  We are a week into Black History Month and heading towards Freedom to Read Week.  I want you to take just a few minutes to reflect that unfortunately, this is not just history.  Even today, there is a need for each of us to consider our role and responsibilities in this area.  There are displays of books here at the Library Learning Commons.  In the Read More …

Black Excellence Day

Today in Burnaby schools we are celebrating Black Excellence Day.  This is an opportunity to learn about “Black history … Black stories, Black art and Black people, and a day to stand in solidarity with Black Canadians”.  What do you know about the contributions Black Canadians have made to our country and the ongoing struggles they continue to face?  We are so grateful that our School District is providing time Read More …

BMSS’s Own Published Author

We have a newly arrived book in our library, authored by our own grade 9 student, Cara.  Like many others, Cara sometimes found learning online during Covid tiring and frustrating.  Her story, Rainbow Puppy Daycare, came out of that experience.  When she needed breaks, she would make up stories about her favourite things – rainbows, unicorns, and her EA’s dogs.  Mr. Laroque, her EA, helped her develop these into the Read More …