Ancient Egypt in Liverpool

Dr. Tobin received his education in Halifax at Dalhousie University where he took a B.A. in Classics and an M.A. in Patristic Theology.

From Pine Hill Divinity Hall he received a Master of Divinity.

Later, he moved to Israel where he studied at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem and received his PhD in Egyptology. He taught at Saint Mary’s University in Halifax for many years where he established the first program in Egyptology east of Toronto. He authored several books and numerous articles on Egyptian myth, religion, literature and history and is a highly respected scholar in his field. He has studied 19 ancient and modern languages, among them Russian and Church Slavonic. Dr. Tobin retired from St. Mary’s in 2005 and now lives in a country farmhouse in New Germany. Egyptology is the study of ancient Egyptian history, language, literature, religion, and art from the 5th millennium BC until the end of its native religious practices in the AD 4th century. The Library Cafe begins at 10 a.m.

In celebration of Family Literacy Day 2009, ABC CANADA and Oxford Learning (Official Family Literacy Day World Record Attempt Sponsor) are encouraging all Canadians to participate in the attempt to break the Guinness World Record for "Most Children Reading with an Adult, Multiple Locations." Organizations across the country will host World Record Attempt events and the South Shore is no exception. South Shore Public Libraries and Bridgewater Mall invite you to attend the local effort to break this world record. Join Library staff at the Bridgewater Mall for a family storytime, featuring five Robert Munsch favourites, on Saturday, Jan. 24 beginning at 10 a.m.

Admission is free. Drop-ins are welcome, although families can register for organizational purposes by calling 543-2548.

South Shore Public Libraries is a proud partner in Read to Me!, a provincial, hospital-based program developed to help families enrich their child’s early years with books and reading. It is a practical and effective response to the province’s high incidence of child poverty and low literacy levels. This year dozens of Read To Me! Jamborees will be held across the province in conjunction with Family Literacy Day. Join the party for stories, songs and other goodies for the little ones as the babies rock’n roll. Tots and Toddlers, birth to age 4, will giggle and coo at the Read To Me! Jamborees at Thomas H. Raddall Library on Thursday, Jan. 29 at 10 a.m., the Lunenburg Library on Tuesday, Jan. 27 at 10 a.m. and 1:30 p.m., and the Bridgewater Library at 10 a.m. and 1 p.m. on Wednesday, Jan. 28.

Refreshments will be served. Space and supplies are limited; please register at your library by Jan. 26.

Small Communities - Big Books Behind big ideas are big books. This winter the Library will host a book club with only one book, of significant stature, to read from January - March. Since it first appeared in an English translation in 1885, Don Quixote has been wooing readers to join the Man of La Mancha on his knightly quest. The novel, written by Spanish dramatist, author and poet, Miguel de Cervantes, was written in two parts; Part 1 in 1605 and Part 2 in 1615, the year before Cervantes’ death.

Without a doubt, Don Quixote is a big book filled with big ideas and is one that has inspired artists, singers, authors and dramatists with its timeless story. We have chosen the Edith Grossman translation. In Harold Bloom’s introduction to this 2003 edition he declares: “The aesthetic truth of Don Quixote is that it makes us confront greatness directly.” The library has several copies available for borrowing, but you may want to browse through bookstores in order to be able to read the 940 pages at your leisure. The first meeting is Tuesday, Jan. 20, followed by meetings on Feb. 17 and March 17.

All meetings start at 7 p.m. Everyone is welcome to join but please register for “Small Communities-Big Books” by emailing info@southshorepubliclibraries.ca or by phoning 634-8008.

The Raddall Reading Club is a new book club that has started meeting at the Thomas H. Raddall Library in Liverpool. New members are welcome! The next meeting is Tuesday, Jan. 20 and discussion will revolve around Seven Days and Seven Sins by local author Pamela Ditchoff. All meetings take place at 7 p.m.

The Library's first Writer-in-Residence program is over, and by all accounts, was a tremendous success. Over 50 people participated in the three-month residency. If you're one of them and would like to share a snippet of your work and/or would like to hear from others, you're invited to Open Mic Night at the Bridgewater Library on Thursday, Jan. 22 beginning at 7 p.m. Length of readings will vary depending on number of participants. Drop-ins are welcome.

Residents of the South Shore living more than 10 km from a town or mobile library stop, or who are physically unable to visit a branch may be eligible to have their books mailed to them at no cost though the Books By Mail Service. Once registered for Books By Mail, you can select books by phone or through the Library’s website.

Watch for details on upcoming Library programs in this column, or check the Library website at southshorepubliclibraries.ca. South Shore Public Libraries. Read. Discover. Learn. Share.