We are all a bit shocked and concerned about how our fire season started this year and what to expect in the still oh-so-long and dry (?) summer months.
Fire is on all of our minds. Naturally, the question for us in the library is how we can help our community to cope with the stress of the unknown. One way is to learn more about fire, fire behaviour and how to prepare yourself and your surroundings to stay safe when wildfire threatens.
As you can imagine, there are many books and publications about wildfires. I will pick only a few which we have readily available in our library. 鈥� Firestorm鈥� by Ed Struzik is a book about how massive wildfires will shape our future, how they will become the norm and how we need to adjust our society to this new normal.
In 鈥淪tories from the Firestorm鈥�, edited by Ross Freake and Don Plant, more than 65 people share their memories from the 2003 wildfires in British Columbia when huge areas burned up in the North Thompson, Shuswap and Okanagan valleys.
鈥淚nto the Fire鈥� gives you insights of how three firefighters, Jerron Hawley, Graham Hurley and Steve Sackett experienced the wildfire nicknamed 鈥� The Beast鈥澛� in May 2016. Over the course of six intense days, these three joined hundreds trying to save Fort McMurray.
Maybe by comparing these reports with our impressions and worries with the Chetamon fire last year and our recent experience with evacuees from our neighbours to the northeast, we will find a better way to cope with our emotions and anxieties.聽
Parents might want to check out our new children鈥檚 book display.聽 We have brought in many picture books from Alberta鈥檚 TRAC system about fires and storms and how to be prepared for them. In addition, a few of our library staff have created a story walk for everyone about how to prepare for an evacuation. Please come to the library and get a map where you will find this Story Walk in town.
Speaking of story walk . . . The library is again having a Summer Reading Club. Sign up day for this exciting summer activity is Saturday, June 17. Tuesdays at 3 p.m. will be our activity day during the summer and parents are encouraged to come with their children under nine years of age. We will always have a handout for an activity at home.
The same Saturday, June 17, is a day for book lovers to mark on their calendars. The Friends of Jasper Library is holding their annual used book sale. For the first time this year, they will augment it with puzzles and games up for sale. Please come by the library front lawn to check out what will be on offer.
And, last but not least, even before all these events above take place, we have on Thursday, June 1 at 6:30 p.m. two exciting guest speakers for you to get the buzz on bees. Lucas Habib and Layla Neufeld will sweet talk you into tasting honey and mead and show you the dance of bears and bees.
Jasper Municipal Library Staff
