Powell River Public Library

05/30/2026

May 30 to June 5 celebrate Go by Bike Week and pedal on over to the library get your Go By Bike Week bookmark.

PRPL teamed up with Bike Lund to make these fabulous beauties illustrated by Prashant Miranda - don't forget your helmet!

Bike Lund Prashant Miranda

05/28/2026

It's almost the end of May and Poetry Circle is coming to a close for now.

You are very much invited to drop in to Poetry Circle before it goes on summer break, TODAY Thursday, May 28 from 4:30 to 6:00 pm at PRPL.

Poetry Circle is a a shared creative space for poetry with Amira Abouelalla. A place for listening, connecting, and being inspired…and of course, POETRY!

for more information about Poetry Circle and other programs at the library visit prpl.ca

05/28/2026

This year's National AccessAbility Week theme is "Building a Strong, Accessible Canada."

Significant progress has been made to eliminate and prevent barriers, and by continuing to work together, we can build a truly accessible, inclusive and equitable Canada.

Equitable access is one of PRPL's core values. We are committed to providing a welcoming, inclusive place for all community members.

To learn more visit prpl.ca and click on Accessibility

05/27/2026

With the weather warming up, now is the perfect time to prepare for wildfires 🔥

If a wildfire threatens your home or community, you may need to leave quickly ✔️

Build grab-and-go bags for everyone you live with, including pets 👈

This list will get you started:

• Food and water
• Phone charger and power bank
• Battery-powered or hand-crank radio and flashlight
• First-aid kit and medications
• Personal toiletries such as an extra pair of glasses
• Copy of your emergency plan and important documents
• Seasonal clothing and an emergency blanket

Once you’ve got the basics, customize everyone’s bag to meet their needs, such as medications and comfort items

Check out the full list at preparedbc.ca/grab-and-go

Prepare for wildfires: PreparedBC.ca/wildfires

Alt text: A backpack on a table with emergency supplies.

05/27/2026

WEDNESDAY! May 27, 7 pm, The Patricia Theatre
“Ghost in the Machine ‘is a gripping and urgently relevant investigative documentary that exposes the buried history of artificial intelligence, not as a neutral system of algorithms, but as a technology shaped by racism, misogyny, eugenics, and entrenched power structures long before it entered everyday life,’ notes a release. ‘Challenging the myth of AI as inevitable or objective, the film traces how narratives of progress and efficiency have obscured deeper political and cultural agendas, revealing the ideological foundations beneath systems now reshaping modern society.’”

05/26/2026

05/23/2026

It was such a rich and rewarding evening of poetry last night at the Spring Poetry SLAM—full of laughter, courage, and those electric moments only a room of poets can create, all stewarded masterfully by emcee Damien John. Thank you, Damien, for your clarity, your humanity, and the way you held the space with such care.

Thank you to everyone who came out to compete, to step up to the open mic, and to those who came simply to listen. Deep gratitude as well to qathet Friends of the Library for gathering donations at the door to make those cash prizes possible.

After a first round that ended in an unusual three‑way tie—sending six poets into ROUND TWO—the SLAM judges named three winners: FLASH BEING claimed the top prize and added his name to the SLAM Medallion, Theo Rosenfeld earned second place, and Shelley Faust took third.

The points are not the point; the point is the poetry, the gathering, the shared breath. Still, there was a bittersweet note in the air, a reminder of how much our community changes and how deeply we feel those changes.

Hoping to see familiar faces—and new ones—when the next SLAM returns in the fall.

05/20/2026

A reminder that the library will be closed this Sunday, May 24 due to a planned BC Hydro power outage!

Know a young person looking for something to do while the power is out this Sunday?

Go old school and borrow one of our low-tech Library of Things items: Binoculars, Disc Golf Set, or have some fun with your cardboard stash and borrow a Makedo Kit. We also have a fantastic collection of fiction and nonfiction books, graphic novels, and magazines for all ages. No batteries required!

For more information visit prpl.ca!

05/16/2026

Last night in Alberta, Bill 28 passed third reading in the Legislature. The Coalition of Alberta Public Libraries (CAP Libraries) is concerned about the impact of this legislation, particularly as the Province of Alberta moves forward with regulations that we do not believe are necessary.

This morning, CAP Libraries issued the media release to media outlets across Alberta and Canada, raising concerns about how these changes could affect access to materials, user privacy and how public libraries operate. The statement calls for meaningful consultation before regulations are finalized. The proposed changes also raise practical questions about implementation, including costs, operational impacts and how services would be delivered.

The British Columbia Library Association BCLA Board has sent a letter to the Premier of Alberta and the Minister of Municipal Affairs of Alberta, expressing opposition to Bill 28 and urging the Government of Alberta to withdraw all provisions of the bill that pertain to the Libraries Act.

To support members and organizations wishing to engage on this issue, Canadian Federation of Library Associations has developed set of letter templates. These templates are intended as resources and may be modified to reflect local context, organizational voice, and specific concerns.https://cfla-fcab.ca/en/alberta-government-bill-28-and-public-libraries/

For additional information on this issue, please follow updates from CAP Libraries: https://www.caplibraries.ca/

CAP Libraries is raising new concerns regarding anticipated regulatory changes that could drastically impact public libraries and is asking to be consulted before regulations are set.

Since Bill 28 was introduced, CAP Libraries has sent two letters to the Premier and Minister of Municipal Affairs requesting meetings to discuss the proposed legislation.

Write to your local MLA and share your concerns about new regulations that could impact the operation and viability of public libraries: https://www.caplibraries.ca/

05/14/2026

A reminder that the library will be CLOSED on Monday, May 18th for Victoria Day.

The library will be open on Saturday (10 am -5 pm) & Sunday (1-5 pm) as usual.