Meriah Caswell, Author at Carleton Place Library

Submit a volunteer opportunity to the Join & Connect Board

As per the library’s Local Community Information Policy we cannot display any materials that promote commercial services, personal ads, or faith-based materials whose primary purpose is the promotion of faith (however events sponsored by local religious groups may be displayed).

If you have any questions about your submission, please contact jhawkins@carletonplace.ca for more information!

Submit a club or community group to the Join & Connect Board

As per the library’s Local Community Information Policy we cannot display any materials that promote commercial services, personal ads, or faith-based materials whose primary purpose is the promotion of faith (events sponsored by local religious groups may be displayed).

If you have any questions about your submission, please contact jhawkins@carletonplace.ca for more information!

About the Homebound Delivery program

We provide regular and Large Print books, audiobooks, magazines and more. We’ll even help you decide what to read or listen to!

If you are interested in this free delivery service please contact Julia at 613-257-2702 extension 6505.

You are eligible if you are:

Physically disabled
Advanced in age
Suffering from a long-term illness
Temporarily ill
Residing in a nursing home
Residing in a retirement residence
Children suffering from a long-term illness
Confined to home due to an accident

About the Centre for Equitable Library Service

The library provides access to CELA (Centre for Equitable Library Service) for patrons who have difficulty reading print due to a visual, physical or learning disability. With over 200,000 items in accessible formats, the CELA collection represents Canada’s largest collection of alternative format books and online resources. The collection is in both English and French and includes:

Books and magazines in audio, eText and braille
More than 50 community, national and international newspapers
Descriptive films and television programs
Children’s picture books with added Braille
Canadian content and other resources for all ages and interests.

Eligibility Guidelines:

Access to the CELA collection is available only to people with perceptual disabilities as defined under the provisions of the Copyright Modernization Act, which includes:

Learning disability: an impairment relating to comprehension
Physical disability: the inability to hold or manipulate a book
Visual disability: severe or total impairment of sight or the inability to focus or move one’s eyes.

How to register to use the collection:

Eligible Carleton Place Public Library users with a valid library card can register for this service by contacting library at 613-257-2702 or by email at mcaswell@carletonplace.ca. If you do not already have a library card, staff will get you registered as part of the CELA registration process.

Access to the collection is offered in a number of ways:

Download books to your computer or mobile device, such as an iPhone
Download books to your own DAISY player over a wireless connection without using a computer
Through pre-loaded Envoy Connect players (which you can borrow from our library!)

Visit the CELA website for more information about the collection.

For more information on Accessibility, please see our library’s Accessibility in the Library policy.

Feedback Process

Patrons with disabilities are encouraged to provide feedback about library goods, services, or facilities.

The library accepts feedback:

In person. Any library staffperson will accept feedback and refer it to a supervisor if requested.
By telephone. Contact the library at 613-257-2702.
Via email. Comments may be sent to library@carletonplace.ca
In writing. Carleton Place Public Library, Attn: Meriah Caswell. 101 Beckwith Street, Carleton Place, ON. K7C2T3.

If a response is requested, one will be sent within 21 business days of receipt, and will include information on what action will be taken in case of a complaint. Responses can be sent in writing, in person, by telephone, or via email.

Kill-A-Watt meter

Kill-a-Watt meters measure the electrical consumption of home appliances. Plug the meter into any 120 VAC, three-prong (grounded) electrical outlet, and then plug your appliance into the meter. Devices circulate for one week. Place a hold today with your library card.

Carbon Dioxide Monitors

Ventilation and carbon dioxide (CO2) measurements are two of many precautions that can be taken to protect yourself and your community from airborne infections. Comparing indoor CO2 readings to the baseline outdoors can give us an idea of how well a space is ventilated with fresh air from outdoors.

Monitors circulate for seven days at a time. One monitor loan per card at a time, and up to three renewals. Visit the library catalogue to place a hold on a monitor.

Connect to the Aranet4 App

Download the Aranet4 app from the App Store or Google Play Store.
Enable Bluetooth on your device.
Tap Pair New Device.
Select the device and enter the code on the front of the Aranet4 monitor.
Your app will now begin reading the air quality.

Tips for the most accurate Reading

Take the device outdoors in an open area away from crowds. After a few minutes the reading should be between 400-450 ppm, that means it’s properly calibrated. If the device is not properly calibrated, follow the instructions in the user manual:

Aranet4 User Manual

Always take readings at least 2 meters away from people’s faces or your readings may be artificially high.
Readings should be performed when the space is occupied. If you expect 30 people in the room, you’ll want to take a reading with 30 people present.
You may notice the readings stay steady, rise continuously, or cycle from higher to lower values. These patterns provide hints to how the space is ventilated and may guide your troubleshooting to improve ventilation in the space.

Disclaimer: these devices are not carbon monoxide detectors and are not life safety devices.

What do I do if the C02 is high?

Know your risks and make a list of other mitigation factors in place. For example, if everyone is wearing masks/vaccinated/feeling well we might be more tolerant of a slightly higher reading.
Look for simple solutions to bring more fresh air into the space. Try opening doors/windows and using fans to promote flow.
Check your HVAC settings to make sure the system doesn’t turn off when the temperature set point is reached. This might involve switching the fan from “auto” to “on”.
Check for other sources of CO2 in your building, vehicle or other closed space. Other than breathing, combustion (e.g. a gas stove) can also introduce CO2 into a space.
Sometimes a professional engineer or HVAC technician may be able to come help troubleshoot problems that are not an easy fix.
In cases when it is not possible or practical to further reduce the CO2, you may choose to add additional precautions while in the space. Precautions may include reducing time spent in the space, wearing masks, or adding a properly sized High Efficiency Particulate Air (HEPA) filter.

The CO2 monitoring devices were provided to the Carleton Place Public Library through Community Access to Ventilation Information, CAVI.

Did you borrow a carbon dioxide monitor from the library? If so, CAVI would like to hear from you! Click here to provide your anonymous feedback directly to CAVI.

Envoy Connect Talking Book Player

picture of a hand holding an Envoy Connect device

The Envoy Connect is a solar-powered audiobook player with a simple, tactile keypad designed for blind and low-vision users. Members with a visual, physical, or learning disability can join the Centre for Equitable Library Access (CELA) and download titles to their own player using the CELA Connect Software or slip it into the included postage-paid envelope and have CELA staff in Toronto, reload your Envoy and mail it back.

The library has a small selection of pre-loaded Envoy’s for qualified members to try before purchasing their own from CNIB Smartlife.

By borrowing this item patrons agree that they qualify as having a visual, physical, or learning disability that prevents them from using print materials.

Eligible customers with print disabilities have access to additional accessible collections through CPPL’s partnership with the Centre for Equitable Library Access.

Radon Monitors

Digital Radon Monitors circulate for 21 days at a time, with one monitor loan per card and up to three renewals. These monitors are available for loan during the heating season, generally October to March — in line with Health Canada’s recommendations.

Due to high demand, a late fee of $5.00/day will be charged for late returns.

**Please note, Radon monitors work best when your home is closed up and heated. Borrowing during the colder months will give the most reliable results.**

What is Radon?

Radon is a naturally occurring colourless, odourless and tasteless radioactive gas that forms when uranium breaks down in soil, rock and water. It can be found at high levels in buildings all over Ontario, including Carleton Place and Beckwith. When radon is released from the ground outside it gets diluted by fresh air and is not a concern. When radon enters indoor areas through floors, holes, and cracked foundations it can accumulate to higher levels and be a risk to our health.

When and how long should I test for?

For the most accurate result, monitoring should be done over several months. The best time of year to test is when our windows close between Fall and Spring, so less fresh air is circulating. CPPL’s monitors may be loaned for 3 weeks, which is enough time for there to be an indication that a home or building has a concerning level of Radon and may need further testing.

What does my test result mean?

The higher the radon level, the higher your risk of developing lung cancer with long-term exposure. Health Canada recommends remedial action for radon levels that are above 200 Bq/m³, targeting the lowest radon level achievable in your home. A public health inspector at the Leeds, Grenville & Lanark District Health Unit can help you interpret your test results and decide whether consultation with a certified radon mitigation professional is necessary. Public Health Inspectors can be contacted at 1-800-660-5853 or contact@healthunit.org.

Where can I find more information?

Further information can be found on the Leeds, Grenville & Lanark District Health Unit, Health Canada and Take Action on Radon sites.

Disclaimer: these digital monitors are a screening tool only. All patrons need to conduct a long-term radon test or hire a radon measurement professional to get an accurate measurement of the radon level in their home.

eBooks, eAudiobooks, eMagazines, and More

Hoopla

Stream movies, TV shows, music, graphic novels, audiobooks, eBooks and more! Enjoy up to three titles a month. Get the Hoopla App:

Google Play Store
Apple App Store

OverDrive

Provides access to over 20,000 ebooks, magazines, and eAudiobooks which can be downloaded to a tablet, e-reader or accessed through a browser on your computer. Get Libby, the OverDrive app:

Google Play Store
Apple App Store

Library Membership Information

Acceptable Identification

Acceptable Proof of Address

- Health card with photo
- Citizenship card
- Passport
- Student ID card
- OAS (senior’s card)
- Employer-issued photo ID card
- Ontario Identity Card

- Any Benefit Statement issued by the Government of Canada
- Bank account statement
- Utility bill (telephone, hydro, water, gas, cable TV)
- Motor Vehicle Permit
- Mortgage, rental or lease agreement
- Property tax assessment or bill
- Insurance policy (property, auto, life)
- Employer record stating that you are an employee of Carleton Place or Beckwith (pay stub or letter from employer on company letterhead)
- Youths ages 14-17: Parental proof of address accepted

Online User Registration

Completing this form grants you a temporary library card with 10 days of access. With your temporary card you can place holds on library materials and access some digital resources (Hoopla excluded). To receive your library card and full access to all library resources, please bring photo ID and proof of address to the library.

To apply for a temporary library card online please fill out this form.

Out of Region Members

Beginning October 01, 2021 a $90.00 user fee will apply to all residents outside of Carleton Place and Beckwith.

For more information, please see the library’s Circulation Policy.

Babytime

These sessions are drop ins only and it can fill up quickly! Please bring a blanket for baby to rest on during the session as we’ll be doing lots of songs and activities on the carpet. You don’t even need a library card to attend!

Babytime is open to everyone, even if you’d only like to come to one or two sessions. The new drop in format has been working well, but make sure to get here early–we can only accommodate the first 15 babies and parents. Once the room is full, we will put a notice on our door to let parents know they should try again next week and we’ll have a fun resource pack to take home. We’d appreciate limiting attendance to two adults plus baby, please, to allow space for everyone.

Toddler Time

This program is also provided in an accessible space, with access to our meeting space from our outdoor ramp. We expect these sessions to be a little noisier or busier than some programs due to the age of the children, so please prepare if you have sensory issues if necessary.

If your child is in need of accessible reading options such as Braille books, dyslexia-friendly options such as decodable books or audiobooks, we can provide you with options for reading at home. Please feel free to let us know ahead of time if your child would like some of these options, or if they have other sensory or accessibility issues that may prevent them from enjoying our space or the program. We’d be happy to try to accommodate. You can email Heidi at hsinnett@carletonplace.ca

Storytime

Storytime takes place on Wednesdays at 10am before the library opens and allows everyone to have lots of fun and choose books once the session is over. No registration is required, but please plan on being here for the starting time of 10am. Fall Storytime runs from September 10 – December 17. If the buses are cancelled when the weather gets cold, we do not run storytime or other children’s programs as we understand that many parents will also have older children at home as well.

Storytime is our weekly early literacy program for children aged 2-5. We sing songs, read great books and practice lots of early literacy skills in a fun manner. This is the perfect session for families with children of a variety of ages as we work hard to engage everyone through lots of activities and get kids to enjoy books. If your child hasn’t really had the opportunity to meet or socialize with other children, this is the perfect setting to get them started. We do a lot of repetition to make sure kids start to keep comfortable and learn about routines and following direction. It’s a great session to get your child ready for school!

Accessibility Info

This program is also provided in an accessible space, with access to our meeting space from our outdoor ramp. During most storytime hours, the library is still closed to regular visitors so please plan on using the side door access–posters are placed on the front door with arrows providing direction to the accessible space.

While we do periodically offer sensory-friendly storytime programming, there are also always sensory objects available for children who might need some stimulus-calming during the session. We expect these sessions to be a little noisier or busier than some programs due to the age of the children, so please prepare if you have sensory issues if necessary.

If your child is in need of accessible reading options such as Braille books, dyslexia-friendly options such as decodable books or audiobooks, we can provide you with options for reading at home. Please feel free to let is know ahead of time if your child would like some of these options, or if they have other sensory or accessibility issues that may prevent them from enjoying our space or the program. We’d be happy to try to accommodate. You can email Heidi at hsinnett@carletonplace.ca

Find out more about intergenerational storytime!

Waterside is an accessible space with easy-access electronic door buttons at the front door. Please feel free to bring in strollers or other child-friendly vehicles such as carts or wagons when visiting for storytime.

Many seniors don’t receive a lot of visitors and very few see children so this is a great opportunity for them to experience the joy of youth in their comfortable setting and try something new. Kids will enjoy the quiet, cozy environment of Waterside–we’ll meet in the front lobby and do all of the same fun songs, stories and early literacy activities that we do at the library, but on a different day in a different place. If you can’t make it to our storytime that week, you’ll have another opportunity to get out and enjoy an activity.

Waterside is located at 105 McNeely Avenue. There is plenty of free parking up front or at the rear of the building and we’ll end each session with a fun stamp, sticker or treat just to wrap things up. No registration is required–please invite your friends to come along! We’d love for these sessions to really grow this year.

French Storytime

French Language Storytime returns on Saturday, November 15th at 10:30am & Saturday, December 6th at 10:30am!

The Carleton Place Public Library is proud to partner with Conseil des écoles catholiques du Centre-Est to offer a monthly French language storytime program!

French Storytime is open to children of all ages and is primarily aimed at those who speak French, although all levels of French are welcome. This can be a great session for parents who want to expose young children to the language when they don’t speak it themselves, and it’s also great for those in French Immersion who need extra practice.

French Storytime in 2026

Saturday, January 24 – 10:30am

~~Saturday, February 21 – 10:30am~~ Cancelled.

Saturday, March 28 – 10:30am

Saturday, April 18 – 10:30am

Saturday, May 23 – 10:30am

No registration is required–just come to the library on one of the Saturday mornings listed in our calendar and enjoy a fun hour of stories and songs in French.

Reading Dragons & Friends

How does Reading Dragons and Friends work?

Reading Dragons and Friends are collectible playable cards featuring mythical creatures like dragons, unicorns, griffins, and more.

Children track the time they spend reading in 30-minute increments to earn cards – using their reading tracker to track the time spent reading. After completing four 30-minuite reading periods, they can come to the library to collect a family of Reading Dragons and Friends.

Anyone can start the program and collect up to four families (13 cards!) a month!

How do we start?

You can start collecting Reading Dragons and Friends cards anytime! Just ask to register for the program at the front desk!

Reading Dragons and Friends is a reading incentive program developed the Dover Public Library in 2019 – it is used by over 400 libraries across the globe and has helped foster a love for reading in thousands of children worldwide.

Please email Julia with any questions at jhawkins@carletonplace.ca

Reading Dragons Club!

The Reading Dragon Club is a new after-school program created to provide a safe, welcoming space for kids aged 7-12. Participants can join in to read, play games, trade or battle their reading dragon cards, and even make some new friends.

We typcally meet the third Wednesday of the month from 4:30-5:30 PM, however due to scheudling issues we may meet the second or fourth week of the month occasionally – please keep an eye on our social media or website to confirm the dates for our meetings each month.

Please email Julia with any questions at jhawkins@carletonplace.ca

Book Dragons Club!

The Reading Dragon Club is a new after-school program created to provide a safe, welcoming space for kids aged 7-12. Participants can join in to read, play games, trade or battle their reading dragon cards, and even make some new friends.

We typcally meet the third Wednesday of the month from 3:30-4:30 PM, however due to scheudling issues we may meet the second or fourth week of the month occasionally – please keep an eye on our social media or website to confirm the dates for our meetings each month.

Please email Julia with any questions at jhawkins@carletonplace.ca

Babysitter's Course

Join us for a Babysitter’s Course during the March Break, perfect for ages 11-13. This all day course will run on Friday, March 20, 2026, from 9am – 3pm and will teach participants basic first aid and practices to help keep them and the young people they are responsible for stay safe. This course is brought to us from the people at 13 First Aid–a certified program from the Red Cross Society. Each successful participant will receive a certificate upon completion.

Register

If you use the code CPKIDS10, you’ll receive a 10% discount on this course which is regularly $75.

Stay Safe Course

To register for the Saturday, May 2nd, 2026 course at the Carleton Place Public Library, please click the link below. You may also use code CPKIDS10 for a 10% discount on this course. Spaces are limited!

Register

Summer Literacy Tutoring

PLEASE NOTE: The first round of Summer Literacy Tutoring is now full. Registrations began on Monday, May 4, 2026 and filled up on the first day. There will be a second round open to the public starting Thursday, May 28, 2026 at 7pm. We will not need Teacher Recommendations for this round, but parents are reminded that these sessions are for children currently in Kindergarten to Grade 2 who are struggling with their reading, not those who just want to continue practicing their reading skills over the summer.

What’s Coming Next for our Summer Litteracy Tutoring?

On May 1, 2026 we contact all local schools and ask teachers to recommend students for the program–those kids who might benefit from a few weeks of tutoring one-on-one to help with the summer reading slump. Our tutors prepare lessons based on the teacher reports and work with their students for a 2-week period to help strengthen skills, work on reading confidence, and encourage a love a books and reading that will hopefully carry through to the next school year.

What if My Child Doesn’t Get a Spot With One of the Tutors?

This is a very popular program and spaces fill up quickly. Once all spaces are full, we will still offer a weekly “Reading Buddy Friday” program with the tutors that is open to everyone each week, even if they are not participating in the literacy tutoring program. Registration begins on the Monday of each week in the summer. Please call the library at 257-2702 for more information.

Teen Volunteer Opportunities!

We are starting to take names for our Summer Volunteering schedule. If you're interested, please see the details below to get your name included.

Each student will be provided training and will be expected to volunteer a certain number of pre-determined shifts per month. Some of the work will involve working on library shelves to make sure they stay neat and in order, other time volunteers might be required to work a special event like a craft night or library event.

If you are interested in volunteering, please send Heidi an email at hsinnett@carletonplace.ca to touch base and set up a time to begin volunteer training. Parents–while we know many of you are interested in helping to set up your teen with fun volunteering options, we prefer they contact us themselves so that we can make a connection and get a feel for how they will interact with library staff.

We appreciate our young volunteers and strive to provide each teen with a safe and rewarding volunteer environment.

Queer Sphere!

We're getting ready for the Pride Picnic on Tuesday, June 30th at 1:30pm. Join us for our last Queer Sphere meeting before summer (June 10 3-4:30pm) where we'll finish up the last items to be ready for our fun Family-friendly event!

Adult Book Club

September 14, 2026 – Exhalation by Ted Chiang

October 19, 2026 – Author Night! This month’s author is John Scalzi. Read any book by this author. Find the library's collection of John Scalzi books here.

November 9, 2026 - The Feather Thief by Kirk W. Johnson

December 14, 2026 – The River by Peter Heller

January 12, 2027 – Theme Night! This month's theme is "Classics Retold". Read any re-imagining of a classic story. Find a list of suggested books here.

February 8, 2027 – Say Nothing by Patrick Radden Keefe

March 8, 2027 – Case Histories by Kate Atkinson

April 12, 2027 – Yellowface by R.F. Kuang

May 10, 2027 – Once There Were Wolves by Charlotte McConaghy

June 14, 2027 – Theme Night! This month's theme is "Favourite Short Stories". Read or re-read any short story collection, and tell us about it! Find a list of suggested collections here.

Cookbook Book Club

Calling all food lovers and culinary explorers—CPPL’s Cook Book Book Club is dishing up something special, and we want YOU to join the feast!

Our upcoming meetings are on:

Wednesday, March 4, 2026 and the theme is: Dips and Spreads Month! Get into a spread of flavors! Join us and share those irresistible dips and spreads that elevate any gathering.
Wednesday, April 1, 2026 and the theme is: Dumplings! Delight in the pocket wonders from around the globe! Present your favorite dumplings, stuffed with surpises, stories, and flavor.
Wednesday, May 6, 2026 and the theme is: Appetizers! Start the feast right! Show off your go-to starters and let’s kick off our meeting with some enticing appetizers.
Wednesday, June 3, 2026 and the theme is: Camping Foods! Pack up the taste of the wild! Bring your campfire favorites and let’s savor the tastes of adventure and the outdoors.

Family Pride Connect

Our upcoming meetings are on:

Thursday, April 2, 2026– 6-7pm
Thursday, June 4, 2026 – 6-7pm

Alzheimer's Society Caregiver Support Group

The Carleton Place Public Library is proud to partner with the Alzheimer’s Society of Lanark, Leeds and Grenville to offer a Caregiver Support group.

Interested participants can contact the Alzheimer’s Society of Lanark Leeds Grenville at 1-866-576-8556 or e-mail Geralynne Smith at Gsmith@alzllg.ca.

Community Volunteer Income Tax Program

The Carleton Place Public Library is proud to partner with ConnectWell Community Health and their income tax specialists to offer the Community Volunteer Income Tax Program at the library in March and April 2026.

Please see the dates above for this program. Drop in only–please arrive and sign up for a half hour session.

This is a free income tax program run by community volunteers, In partnership with Canada Revenue Agency.

Do you struggle with doing your income tax? Would you like help in filing your tax return?

Community Volunteer Income Tax Program

ConnectWell, in partnership with Canada Revenue Agency, is running the Free Community Volunteer Income Tax Program throughout Lanark County/Renfrew County again this year. Members of the community, who have a modest income, can have their income tax returns prepared and e-filed by one of our registered, trained and skilled volunteers.

This program is run year round via telephone, but in March and April of each year they offer in person clinics for those who would prefer in person.

Filing income tax is essential in order to receive benefits such as GST/HST credits, Child Tax Benefit, Guaranteed Income Supplement, Working Income Tax Benefit, Provincial Benefits (Trillium) or in order to apply for Social Housing programs, Ontario Works or Ontario Disability Support Program.

When you are ready to file your taxes over the phone or in person, please have available;

Proof of ID
Tax slips for all income (such as T4, T4A, T5007)
Tax slips for deductions (such as Child’s fitness, T2202A, medical or donation slips)
Property tax or rent costs
Date of birth for dependents
Notice of assessment from previous year
If you are completing someone else’s tax return, including your spouse or dependent, you must have their written permission.

Known for her intimate and riveting films, director Kim O’Bomsawin now invites us to experience the vibrant universe of Ninan Auassat: We the Children. Shot over more than six years, the film brings us the moving stories of three groups of children from three different Indigenous nations: Atikamekw, Eeyou Cree and Innu.

In following these young people through the crucial milestones of childhood, right to the threshold of adulthood, we witness their daily lives and aspirations, along with the challenges they face.

Filmed from “a child’s eye-view” and presenting a groundbreaking vision of contemporary Indigenous youth, this documentary is notable for the complete absence of adult voices and “experts on young people”—holding space instead for a new generation with a burning desire to be heard.

The result is a captivating journey that becomes a call to action, at a time when the voices of young people echo, demanding the right to be recognized and an opportunity to blossom.

A big thank you to the organizers of the 5th Annual Indigenous Cultural Fair at the Zion Memorial United Church in Carleton Place. Please be sure to stop by the fair on Saturday, May 9 from 9:30am - 3pm to take part in the many activities and Indigenous learning experiences.

Bike Locks

Bike locks available for same-day loan for use while at the Library. No renewals. Chord and lock must both be returned to Public Services Desk before closing time (8:00 pm Mon-Thu, or 5:30 pm Fri-Sun).

The library is not responsible for lost, damaged, or stolen property.

Check bike lock availability here.

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