Ottawa – The Ottawa Public Library (OPL) has invited families and children to start 2025 by achieving reading goals and enhancing family reading skills, coinciding with the celebration of Family Reading Day. The library will host about 20 programs dedicated to families at its various branches from January 17 to 31, 2025.

It is noteworthy that Family Reading Day was first held on January 27, 1999, by the ABC Life Literacy Canada Foundation to raise awareness of the importance of reading and family literary activities. This year's theme is “Learning to Be an Environmental Friend, Together,” aimed at raising environmental awareness among families and encouraging children to understand the importance of the environment and its role in their lives.

As part of its mission to promote culture and reading, the Ottawa Public Library offers a series of activities suitable for all family members, including author meet-and-greet sessions, craft workshops, and reading hours for children.

This year's highlights of Family Reading Day include:

• Discover a book and explore an ecosystem with award-winning author Jean Lynn Baillie, at the Sunnyside branch on Saturday, January 25, from 2:00 to 3:00 PM.

• Self-inspired writing with author Mary Demer at the main branch on Saturday, January 25, from 10:30 to 11:30 AM.

• Creating pictures with clay with author and artist Barbara Reid, who will present a pre-recorded session demonstrating how to use clay to make pictures in her books. The video will be shown at select branches at specific times and days.

The library invites families in Ottawa to set aside time to enjoy fun family reading activities and add these programs to their schedules. The library also offers services and events throughout the year that enhance reading goals for families, contributing to fostering creativity and confidence in children.

For more details about programs and activities, you can visit the library's website: BiblioOttawaLibrary.ca.