88 things that perhaps you didn’t know!

  • A new Mississippi Mills Public Library (MMPL) app – download from Google Play Store or the App Store! Check your reserves, due dates, renew a book, place a hold, search books, e-books etc… easier!
  • MMPL Youtube channel, with story times and other educational and fun content to complement the library website: www.missmillslibrary.com, full of programs, services and information – as well as an online catalogue – search & reserve books and DVDs from home!
  • Services for patrons with disabilities – visiting library service & CELA’s alternative format collection
  • Meeting or study space for FREE (and for rent), capacities meet public health requirements, masks mandatory
  • FREE WiFi inside & outside library buildings as well as public access computers, printing and scanning services
  • Interlibrary loan services, which provide books or audiobooks not available at MMPL but available from other Ontario libraries. Requests to ill@missmillslibrary.com. Also book purchase suggestions are taken – form on website
  • Memory lab situated at the Pakenham branch. The lab has all the tools you need to convert your old photos and videos into digital formats
  • Two, free and easy “early literacy kits” for use at home, available in library or from the website
  • 12 Mobile Hot Spots to lend, at both branches. Hotspots help communities and individuals in-need access high-speed internet. Residents use hubs in their homes connected to their own devices. WIFI hub loans are for a week
  • Disc golf Frisbees to lend – a 9-hole course is in Gemmill Park!
  • Tagged book collections: Mississippi Mills Reads (popular titles chosen by patrons), PRIDE titles, “Tough Topics,” Indigenous authored/illustrated titles, Black authored/illustrated, Home Hospice & soon “local authors collection”
  • “Zoom room” for private video conferencing at the library
  • Online book club as well as book clubs at both branches
  • Weekly opportunity to chat with the Home Hospice coordinator at either branch, details on website
  • 1000s of movies & documentaries (DVDs) for adults and children at both Almonte & Pakenham branches. Movies in one branch can be requested to the other branch for borrowing
  • Streaming video service – Kanopy – that offers “the world’s finest cinema” (includes unlimited kids programming) available free with your library card via the MMPL website
  • Friendly, knowledgeable staff that offer in-person or online reader’s advisory service
  • Library of Things – 30 things listed! – such as Ozobot kits, Ukuleles, knit kits, 3Doodler, puzzles, memory lab training, DVD binge boxes, early reading games…
  • An ever-expanding collection of graphic novels especially for adults, teens and tweens
  • A beautiful garden at the Almonte branch managed by the area’s Horticultural Society as well as a busy community garden AND a welcoming outdoor space at Pakenham branch – lovely places to visit!
  • Libby / Overdrive digital library from which you can download 1000s of ebooks & audiobooks onto your device
  • Facebook page and numerous Facebook groups
  • Ottawa Museums family passes & Ontario Provincial Park day passes free to borrow
  • A vast collection of kids’ non-fiction materials to support learning from home
  • Various tablet computers for use in-library
  • A teen program that combines library activity with getting high school volunteer hours
  • Chromebooks available to borrow for one-week periods
  • Ancestry.com – Library version – available freely for use in-library and at home (via access through the library website, for a limited time). Explore your family roots!
  • Seasonal STEAM craft-in-a-bag for kids & for teens. STEAM = Science, Technology, Engineering, Art & Mathematics
  • Seasonal activity bags for preschoolers and for seniors as well
  • Public washrooms, accessible washroom, available during regular hours
  • Ottawa Citizen, theHumm, and various other info & news media and magazines
  • A bicycle repair kit and pump freely available at either branch. MMPL is a designated, provincial bicycle friendly biz
  • Corridor Art Gallery with rotating local art exhibitions
  • Projector & screen to borrow for use outside the library
  • A kill-a-watt metre, which measures electricity usage in your home, and Radon testing kits
  • Two branches (Almonte & Pakenham) and all items can be returned to or borrowed from either
  • Contact-less pickup of holds – patrons’ reserves are checked out and placed on reserve shelves for quick pickup
  • A new drop off and pick up mini library branch located in the Appleton Museum (North Lanark Regional Museum)
  • Tech Tutor – book a FREE, in-person, one-on-one 45 min. session (or on-phone) for help with devices or to get help with many other tech issues! The tutor visits both branches
  • Email newsletter – sign up through the website. You’ll only get info about what’s happening at the library!
  • New 3D Printer – take a free training with the tech tutor, then print your projects
  • READy to go backpacks full of picture books that get kids reading! And MapSacks, which include a free pass to the Rideau Valley Conservation Area, plus books and items to help explore nature
  • Baby time on Wednesday mornings at the Almonte Old Town Hall. For details please email mblackburn@mississippimills.ca Also baby time with public health nurse – see MMPL website
  • Bulletin boards at both branches listing community and library events
  • STEM programming – coding, 3D printing! – for preteens and teens online and in-person, check website, programs are semi-regular and fill up quickly
  • French book collection for adults and children in the library, AND 100s of other French ebooks & audiobooks accessible via Cantook Station Digital Library (available via the MMPL website)
  • Large print books; magazines and audio books for kids, teens and adults; access to online Consumer Reports, an in-library music CD collection, many genres
  • A growing local history section in both branches as well as access to the Almonte Gazette archives online and on microfiche, and a link to Almonte’s historic photo archive – via website
  • Locally made items and book bags for sale at the FriendShop thanks to the Friends of the Library
  • Seed library
  • New Sunday hours coming in 2022!

The MMPL mission is to inspire lifelong learning, provide equitable access to information, advance knowledge and strengthen our community.

And finally… one further exciting thing: This fundraising “tap” board at the Almonte branch library this season. More info about this fundraiser to help build a library in the Treaty 3 region of Northern Ontario, please click here! Our local community helping another nearby community!