With the advent of spring, a novel initiative is budding in Quebec, combining the charm of a library with the allure of nature. The Bibliothèque et Archives Nationales du Québec (BAnQ) and the Société des établissements de plein air du Québec (Sépaq) are giving you the chance to "borrow" a national park.
Board game bars no longer have a monopoly on game night, since Montreal's BANQ has added over 200 boxed games to its already sizeable catalog. Library card holders can now rent up to three board games at a time for free from the Grande Bibliothèque. That means you don't have to pay a cover charge to battle it out with your date or group of friends, and you can try some pricey recent releases before deciding whether to buy them no roll of the dice required.
Montreal's largest library has a pavilion dedicated entirely to music lovers. Musicians who visit the top floor of the BANQ can play instruments provided by the space, while audiophiles can peruse the library's 10,000+ vinyl record collection and listen to their picks at a private station. The BANQ is a notoriously delightful study space, and its music pavilion is no exception. You can set up at a desk surrounded by musical inspiration, including old music player installations and colourful displays of special records, including a release by Montreal-based Polaris winner Pierre Kwenders.
If you're looking for your next read to enjoy by the fireplace this holiday season, Les Amis de BAnQ is organizing a huge sale of low-priced books on December 8, 9 and 10 at Montreal's largest library. It's a great opportunity to purchase new books in English and French for yourself or as gifts to put underneath the Christmas tree.