DIY Car Repair... At the Library!

Do you have an amateur mechanic in your family? Do you know someone who is using their down time to repair a car?  Do you know a student interested in becoming a mechanic? If so, they might want to check out the Chilton Library. The Chilton Library is a comprehensive database of car repair manuals, step-by-step procedures, wiring diagrams, and much more. In addition to vehicle specific repair manuals, there are Automotive Service Excellence (ASE) test quizzes for anyone wanting practice towards professional certification. 


To access the Chilton Library, visit the Pictou-Antigonish Regional Library website. Select the collections tab and scroll down until you find Chilton Auto Repair. You will need your library card and if you don't already have a card, you can apply for one on the PARL website. Once you are on the Chilton Library homepage, you can find the manual specific to your vehicle by selecting the year, make, and model of the car you are looking to repair. That part is simple, the rest is up to you! 

If your amateur mechanic likes to read about cars in addition to fixing them, they might be be interested in some of the car magazines on PressReader. You can also find PressReader under the collections tab.

The following titles are a few examples of the many magazines you can find on PressReader:

BBC Top Gear Magazine
Car and Driver
Classic Ford
Classics Monthly






Car repair is rarely free but a library card certainly is! Check out what your library has to offer today!

A Primer on PressReader

You may have heard by now that PARL has subscribed to a new service called PressReader. PressReader is a collection of over 7000 digital newspapers and magazines in more than 100 languages from more than 60 countries. With so much content, there is sure to be something of interest to everyone. 

You can find all the information you need to access PressReader from the PARL website. You will need your free library card and your PIN, which is usually the last four digits of your phone number.  If you don't have a card, you can request one online from our website. 

Once you are signed in, browse away for titles that might interest you. You can select different categories, search by language, or by country. In addition to the many newspapers and magazines for adults, there are also a variety of magazines for children and youth. You can scroll down the list of categories until you find "For Kids & Tweens". 

The following titles are just few examples of magazines that children and teens might be interested in reading on PressReader. 

110% Gaming is packed with stories about Minecraft, Fortnite, and other games, plus updates from favorite YouTubers. This magazine is sure to appeal to any young gamer. 















Canadian Geographic features articles about plants, animals, and various other topics. There are also quizzes and games so children can test their knowledge.

















Young Rider is geared towards kids who love horses and ponies and includes articles about animal care, riding tips, and much more. But be warned, there is a classifieds section so don't be surprised if your young horse or pony enthusiast comes away with a bit of a wishlist! 

While you are browsing for magazines for your children, keep an eye out for magazines and newspapers that might interest you as well. If you are looking for the latest news on COVID-19 or want to escape with topics like entertainment or crafts, fashion or fishing, cooking or cars, you will find something in PressReader. 

Happy Reading!

Talking to Children About the Coronavirus

I think it is safe to say that we are all in uncharted territory right now. Routines have gone by the wayside, parents and/or guardians may be working from home (if they are lucky enough to still be working) or they may be putting their own health at risk by heading out to work in one of the essential services that are still available to us. This is a very confusing time for everyone, especially children who are missing their friends, family members, teachers, and other people that they are used to seeing on a regular basis. 

To help families navigate this difficult time, we have compiled a few resources that may be useful in explaining the current situation to children. 

Nosy Crow, a small publishing company based out of the UK, has created a free information book explaining the coronavirus to children. The book was illustrated by Axel Sheffler, illustrator of a very popular children's book called the Gruffalo, and was developed with input from Professor Graham Medley of the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine. You can download the book in PDF format  or read the book directly from their website. 

Little Puddins is a blog and resource site run by Amanda Mc Guinness (The Autism Educator) a parent of children with special needs. Her printable handout Coronavirus Social Narrative  is a helpful tool to for parents of children with autism.

You may also find some helpful books that can be downloaded from OverDrive. You will need a library card to access these books so if you don't already have one, you can apply for one on our website. 

Germs are Not for Sharing by Elizabeth Verdick 

This book is aimed at children ages 4-7 and teaches children what germs are, what they do, and why it is so important to keep them from spreading. 

Tracking an Epidemic by Tamara B. Orr 

This book tasks readers with following clues and using the scientific method to find out what happens during the spread of an epidemic. 

Engineering Solutions for Epidemics and Pandemics by Kara Rogers

This book is geared towards older children and teens and explores epidemic and pandemic threats and approaches to disease detection, prevention, and surveillance. 

Young children might enjoy the catchy TumbleTune  'Til the Virus Ends, available via our website on TumbeBooks.  

Web Resources

PBS Kids has some great articles on their website. Here are two that might be of interest.

• How to Talk to Your Kids About Coronavirus 
• How You and Your Kids Can De-Stress During Coronavirus

Talking to Kids About COVID-19 from Anxiety Canada.

Scholastic has some articles geared towards teachers and broken down by grade level. 

Please let us know if you have any helpful resources that can be added to this site. 

Fun Ways to Explore Poetry with Children

Did you know that April is Poetry Month? Why not take a bit of time to learn about some of the wonderful poets who write for children and live in Nova Scotia. You can download the following books plus other titles by these and other authors from OverDrive with your library card. 

Apples and Butterflies by Shauntay Grant

From patchwork-quilt farmland to the winding red roads, from sandy beaches to the endless stars at night, Apples and Butterflies shows Prince Edward Island shining in the bright blue and gold light of fall. 

Shauntay Grant is a writer and storyteller from Halifax, NS. She was Halifax's Poet Laureate from 2009 until 2011. You can learn more about her on her website. 

Everybody's Different on Everybody Street by Sheree Fitch. 

Sheree Fitch's playful words lead you into this beautiful children's book and invite you to celebrate our gifts, our weaknesses, our differences, and our sameness. Fitch displays her wit and mastery of words in quick, rollicking rhymes that are complemented by Emma FitzGerald's lively illustrations.

Sheree Fitch is one of PARL's former Writers-in-Residence. She is a well-known writer, storyteller, podcaster, and owner of Mabel Murple’s Books Shoppe and Dreamery located in River John, NS.  You can learn more about Sheree Fitch on her website. 

Although not specifically for children, Song of Rita Joe: Autobiography of a Mi'kmaw Poet by Rita Joe is very important to acknowledge. Rita Joe has become known as the Poet Laureate of the Mi'kmaq people. She faced intolerance, ignorance and abuse—searched her culture for strength—and wrote poems of clarity and encouragement that continue to inspire. Song of Rita Joe includes 75 of her poems.  I Lost My Talk is one of Rita Joe's most powerful poems about her experiences in a residential school. It has been published as a children's picture book, illustrated by Pauline Young. You can find copies of that book in our library branches but unfortunately we do not have it available to borrow digitally. 









Exploring poetry with children can be a fun way to exercise some creativity. Here are a few activities you can try at home:

Book Spine Poetry

It's pretty simple... grab a bunch of books and stack them in such a way to create a poem using the titles on the book spines.  Check out this post on the Scholastic website for more information.  Here is an example so you can see how this works:

Dog Days

Super sketchy

Tricks and games to teach your dog

How to speak dog.

Click, clack, splish, splash,

Holes!

Top dogs: true stories of canines that made history.

OK, it's not great. Give it a try and see how what you can come up with!

Found Words Poetry

Cut words out of an old magazine, flyer, or newspaper and use the words to create a poem. You can even glue them on a piece of paper or start a poetry journal. 

Poem in Your Pocket

National Poetry Month is an initiative of the League of Canadian Poets. One of the activities suggested on their website is "Poem in Your Pocket Day" which takes place on April 30. The idea is to take a poem with you in your pocket to share with others. Since that is not possible during all of the social distancing measures that are in place another option could be to share favorite poem with family or friends through a chat or video message.

Happy Poetry Month!

Research Tips From Your Public Library

With so much content available online, it can be difficult to distinguish between credible and not-so-credible sources. The term fake news has entered our vocabulary over the last few years but what does it mean? We hear a lot about coronavirus in the news but what sources are giving us accurate information? And now that many students are working from home to complete their studies, they are relying on online resources more than ever. For these reasons, I thought it might be a good time to share some research tips. Feel free to print the guide or refer back  to this page as needed. 

PARL's Guide to Research

Using the Library (when we are open!)

• You can find books, magazines, newspapers, and other print resources at the library. 

• Visit www.parl.ns.ca to search for books and other items.  Type the subject, title, or author into the search bar at the top right-hand corner of the homepage.When you find a book that looks good, you can click on the subject links to find more like it.

• If the book is not available in your local library, you can place a hold on it and have it sent to your local branch.

• Ask for help if needed!

Using the Internet

• There are lots of great resources available on the Internet but you have to know how to find them. Google can bring you back a million answers but they are not all right!

• The library website www.parl.ns.ca has some topical information especially for health and wellness, local history, and genealogy. Check out PressReader for a variety of digital newspapers and magazines from around the world. Visit NovaStory for local history and a collection of digitized local resources.

• Use this guide to make sure your information is credible.

Evaluating Your Sources

• Is the information current? Check the  publication date of the book or article. If using a website, has it been updated recently?

• Consider the source–  does the author or publication have a bias? Is the author an expert in this field? Do a quick search about them to find out more.Does the website represent a trustworthy organization? Read the “About Us” section if there is one.

• If using Google, do you see something like Ad.?  This is a paid advertisement so the source might not be without bias.

• Does the headline make sense? If it looks too crazy to be true it might be a joke or satire.

• Does the website address look like a valid site? An ending like .com.co can mean this is a fake news site.

• Are there spelling or grammatical mistakes?

• Does the author list other sources or can you find information to back up what you read? 

• Wikipedia is not the best source of information!!!

Let's Talk Copyright!

Found some good information? Using images in your project? Make sure you give credit to the sources. Not doing so is called plagiarism. Many images also have copyright protection so check to make sure you have permission to use them.

When in doubt, please ask a librarian, teacher, or parent. 

For more information about how to document your sources, creating a bibliography, visit our Write Stuff page on our website. 

To Homeschool or Not Homeschool? Good question.

Truth be told, most of us aren't really "homeschooling" our children but many of us are trying to keep some sort of routine until school starts again. Part of the routine often involves making sure children are keeping up some of their literacy and mathematical skills so they don't slide too far out of practice. Teachers are working on the best ways to reach out to their students right now so children will not be left behind.

That being said, there is more to learning than what children are taught in school and this is a good opportunity for children to explore art, music, cooking, tending to pets, and more. Making a recipe, playing a board game, and assembling a puzzle are all great ways to develop family literacy skills. And never underestimate the importance of learning through play.

Access eBooks and Audiobooks For Free at Home!

One of the best things you can do with your children is read. Read widely and read often. Don't worry too much about reading to keep up with school work but let children explore their reading interests whether they be lengthy novels, graphic novels, magazines, non-fiction, cookbooks, joke books, audiobooks, and more. If you didn't have a chance to visit the library to stock up on books before we closed, check out our downloadable eBooks and audiobooks on OverDrive or visit TumbleBooks. You can find something for every age, interest, and reading level. 


If you would like to read (or re-read) the first book in the Harry Potter series, you can download the eBook or audiobook from OverDrive. There are no wait lists so you can start reading right away!  You can also access the book in many different languages. #HarryPotterAtHome

Learn From Your Favorite Authors

Across the world, many of us are in the same situation. This has opened up some amazing opportunities thanks to the generosity and creativity of authors, publishers, artists, to name a few examples. Fans of the Captain Underpants and Dog Man series have the opportunity to learn to draw their favorite characters along with author Dav Pilkey via the Scholastic website at https://kids.scholastic.com/kids/books/dav-pilkey-at-home/. And Mo Willems, author of the Pigeon, Elephant and Piggie, and Knuffle Bunny books is also hosting a series of free online drawing workshops. Visit Lunch Doodles with Mo Willems for more information.

These are just a few examples of the many ways children can exercise their creativity and develop literacy skills at home. Follow this blog for more examples while they library is closed. 


Just a reminder that many of our online services require a free library card. If you don't have a card, you can apply for one on our website.

Online Learning in a Time of Uncertainty

Schools are Closed Until May 1st at the Earliest... Now What? 

As a parent I can understand what was going through the minds of other parents when we heard the news that school closures were being extended until May 1. Lots of us are scratching our heads trying to figure out if and/or how we are going to help our children navigate their studies so that they can end the school year on a successful note. And many teachers are now scrambling on how to make their lesson plans accessible to students online while also reaching the many children and youth who do not have suitable Internet access at home.

While online opportunities are not always the best substitute for personal contact, we at Pictou-Antigonish Regional Library have done our best to increase our online presence so that children, teens, adults (everyone, really) has access to recreational and educational materials while our branches remain closed.

Some of you may already be familiar with TumbleBooks, the collection of online, animated eBooks for children that PARL has subscribed to for the past number of years. From the makers of TumbleBooks, PARL is now introducing TeenBookCloud, a collection of eBooks and audiobooks for aimed at youth in grades 7-12.  TeenBookCloud has something for every interest or reading level and includes a wide variety of novels, classics, and graphic novels. There is also a selection of non-fiction books and videos that may come in handy for various classes.

Unlike many other online library collections, the books in TeenBookCloud are not checked out or downloaded so there is no waiting list and books are accessible right away. 


Here are a few titles in TeenBookCloud that might be of interest:



A Stranger at Home by Christy Jordan-Fenton and Margaret Pokiak-Fenton
A memoir based on Margaret Pokiak-Fenton who, at ten years of age, was a stranger in her northern community after arriving home from a residential school.







The Night Wanderer by Drew Hayden Taylor

Newcomers to the Otter Lake native reserve don’t go unnoticed for long. So it’s no surprise that 16-year-old Tiffany’s curiosity is piqued when her father rents out her room to a complete stranger.But little do Tiffany, her father, or even her insightful Granny Ruth suspect the truth about their guest. The mysterious Pierre L’Errant has a dreadful secret. After centuries roaming Europe as a brooding vampire, he has returned home to reclaim his Native roots before facing the rising sun and certain death. 




The Tale of Despereaux by Kate DiCamillo

Welcome to the story of Despereaux Tilling, a mouse who is in love with music, stories, and a princess named Pea. It is also the story of a rat called Roscuro, who lives in the darkness and covets a world filled with light. And it is the story of Miggery Sow, a slow-witted serving girl who harbors a simple, impossible wish. These three characters are about to embark on a journey that will lead them down into a horrible dungeon, up into a glittering castle, and, ultimately, into each other’s lives. 


In addition to these few suggestions, there are also a variety of classics, Shakespeare plays, Hi/Lo readers, short stories, and even a few books in French. You can find the full collection of books linked from our website. You probably don't need to use your library card to access this collection but it is useful to have one for accessing other resources. If you don't have a library card, you can apply for a free card on our website.