Calgary Public Library Invites Community to Wish Together and Grow Together this Season

Holiday season kicks off with the 2025 Books of the Year 

The campaign is built around a season of celebration and community, bringing together enchanting winter programming, community wish lists for all ages, and the highly anticipated Books of the Year, released online this morning. 

Calgary Public Library’s 2025 Books of the Year include a historical fiction set in Alberta, a diabolical thriller, and a collection of stories featuring new and acclaimed Indigenous writers. 

“The winter season is the perfect time to visit your local Library to stock up on cozy reads and our Books of the Year picks. We’re also inviting you to enjoy our winter programming which includes a range of free, family seasonal activities,” says Heather Robertson, Executive Director, Service Design and Innovation for Calgary Public Library. “We hope that Calgarians will make the Library part of their holiday plans this year and support our campaign in the spirit of hope and generosity.” 

The Library’s annual winter programming kicks off with the Mayor’s Holiday Storytime at Central Library on Saturday, December 6 at 11:00 am. Calgary's Mayor Jeromy Farkas will read books, share songs and rhymes, and answer questions from the audience. Throughout December, the community can enjoy movie nights with hot chocolate, a gift wrap pop-up, Rozsa Arts music performances, and more at Central and Memorial Park libraries! The full schedule can be found on calgarylibrary.ca/events. 

For those looking to meet their year-end giving goals, the community can make a donation to Calgary Public Library Foundation that will help support the wishes of countless community members. From new board books for babies to robotics kits for teens, the Wish List provides meaningful gift options to support the Library community. 

"Through our Wish List for Calgary Public Library, donors can support the Library in a way that matters most to them,” says Tracy Johnson, CEO of Calgary Public Library Foundation. “This year, every dollar you give will be doubled, creating twice the impact for our Library community. We hope that Calgarians will enjoy exploring the Wish List and finding a meaningful way to give back one that helps make Library wishes come true.” 

Donations to the Library will be doubled until December 31. Visit libraryfoundation.ca/wishlist. 

Quick facts:

  • Since April, Calgarians have raised more than $380,000 to support Library collections through The Fifth Book Campaign.
  • The Library Foundation Wish List is designed to showcase the breadth of ways the Library supports our community all year long. The wishes included will help connect donor generosity to tangible impact at Calgary Public Library.
  • Until December 31, gifts to Calgary Public Library Foundation will be matched up to $100,000 by Viewpoint Foundation and an anonymous donor. 

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