Books & Audiobooks
Beekeeper Dave - from Backed by Bees - helps a child in a bee suit hold up a frame of honey bees.
Our Hive
We have two beehives at our Eastside Branch, adopted in partnership with Backed by Bees, a local beekeeping and mead‑making company that works closely with nature and the seasonal rhythms of bees.
Over the course of the year, each hive grows and changes as the queen leads the colony through cycles of expansion, foraging, and honey production – starting at around 30,000 bees and growing to 60,000 – 80,000 bees at its peak as flowers bloom and food becomes available.
Hosting hives at the library supports pollinators in our community while creating opportunities for environmental literacy, shared learning, and conversations about sustainability and our connection to the natural world.
Upcoming Bee Programs
Outdoors
Hive and Seek: Pollinator Survival
May 16th: 02:00 PM - 03:00 PM
McCormick Branch
Age Group: Kids
Registration required
About the Program
Step into the wings of a pollinator and see if you can survive the season! Play as a hummingbird, butterfly, or bee as you gather resources, avoid real-world threats, and navigate the challenges pollinators face every day. This fun, interactive experience helps kids understand the important roles different pollinators play in our ecosystem—all through hands-on, active gameplay that’s perfect for nature lovers and kids who like to move.
Outdoors
Honey Tasting
May 16th: 02:30 PM - 03:30 PM
Eastside Branch
Age Group: Families
Waitlisted
About the Program
A guided tasting that explores the flavours, aromas, and stories behind local honey. Through a sensory experience, participants discover how bees, flowers, and seasons shape every jar.
Outdoors
Hive and Seek: Pollinator Survival
May 20th: 04:00 PM - 05:00 PM
Eastside Branch
Age Group: Kids
Registration required
About the Program
Step into the wings of a pollinator and see if you can survive the season! Play as a hummingbird, butterfly, or bee as you gather resources, avoid real-world threats, and navigate the challenges pollinators face every day. This fun, interactive experience helps kids understand the important roles different pollinators play in our ecosystem—all through hands-on, active gameplay that’s perfect for nature lovers and kids who like to move.
Outdoors
Planting for Pollinators
May 21st: 06:00 PM - 07:15 PM
Eastside Branch
Age Group: Older Adults
Registration required
About the Program
Celebrate World Bee Day with an introduction to WPL’s honeybee hives and local pollinators! Discover fascinating facts about bees, butterflies, birds, and other pollinators, and learn how to attract them to your garden, balcony, or patio with native flowers and shrubs. Explore and interact with the pollinator and sensory gardens in the Naturespace for a fun, educational experience.
Outdoors
An Introduction to the Eastside Branch Naturespace
June 9th: 10:30 AM - 11:00 AM
Eastside Branch
Age Group: Older Adults
Registration required
About the Session
Get to know the Eastside Branch Naturespace in this relaxed, guided introduction. Together, we’ll explore the plants, flowers, trees, and our beehives that make this space so special.
Outdoors
Meet the Bees
July 25th: 02:00 PM - 03:00 PM
Eastside Branch
Age Group: Families
Registration required
About the Program
An engaging, up-close introduction to the world of bees. Learn about hive life, pollination, and the vital role bees play in our ecosystem. Observe a working hive while being guided in a safe and approachable way.