You can borrow musical instruments at the Memorial Park Library. You can also take online courses through Artistworks to help you learn how to play them.
Library Renaming Recognizes Transformational Gift MEDIA RELEASEFOR IMMEDIATE RELEASEMarch 24, 2018Calgary, AB — In honour of a $1.5 million transformational gift to the Calgary Public Library, the Library Board renamed the Alexander Calhoun Library the Giuffre Family Library in a special community celebration today.“The Giuffre Family has deep roots in the community and we are delighted to honour them with this library naming,” notes Janet Hutchinson, Chair of the Calgary Public Library Board. “Their investment will support free access to collections, programming and services across the city that will transform the lives of generations of Calgarians.”“Since we came to Calgary from Toronto in 1955, our family has developed a love of reading,” says Joe Giuffre, whose family now numbers over 40. “Each of my children had an interest in a different subject. Their use of the Calgary Public Library’s world of information helped them achieve their goals. Through this investment, our family is honoured to contribute to a legacy of learning in the community.”The Giuffre Family Library is located at 3223 14 Street SW. Later this year, the Library will announce its plans to continue honouring the public service contributions of Alexander Calhoun, Calgary’s first chief librarian and the Library’s longest-serving CEO.“The Giuffre Family has made significant investment in our city, and we are proud to have them join our family of Add In Founding Partners,” notes Ellen Humphrey, President and Chief Executive Officer of the Calgary Public Library Foundation. “With this gift, the Calgary Public Library Foundation has surpassed $324 million of its $350 million goal.”Calgary Public Library FoundationAdd In—the Campaign for Calgary’s Library, is the largest public campaign for a public library in Canadian history. The $350 million campaign will enhance and support a system of community libraries across Calgary and is inspired by the new Central Library, which will open its doors to the world in 2018. To learn more about Add In and the Calgary Public Library’s vision to create the best public library in the world for Calgarians, visit addin.ca.Calgary Public LibraryCalgary Public Library, with 630,000+ members and 20 locations, has been inspiring the life stories of Calgarians for more than 100 years. It is currently the second largest library system in Canada and the sixth largest municipal library system in North America, with Calgarians borrowing more than 14.6 million physical and digital items and with 6.8 million in-person visits last year. The awe-inspiring 240,000 sq. ft. New Central Library — the newest gathering place for our city — opens in November 2018.- 30 -Media Contacts:Rachael TernerManager of CommunicationsCalgary Public Library FoundationC: 403.680.0626rachael@addin.ca
Read more about "Stories"The Moms’ Stairway in Central Library honours moms everywhere. Eveline Wheatley Goodall, the donor who named this special spot, shares the story behind the name.There was no library in the small Alberta town where I grew up — a fact that seems shocking to me now. What is even more shocking is that there was no library in the school. There was a room in the school called the library, but it held typewriters. This was post World War II, in a relatively affluent town.What I did have in those early years of my life was what my mother called the blanket cupboard. Located in our house on the landing of a stairwell, it was child-sized. I remember being lifted into it to retrieve some stored item too difficult for my mother to reach. It also contained books. Once I eagerly learned to read, it was a wellspring of stories. When I finished one book I would simply hand it to my mother and she would reach another from the blanket cupboard.What did I read? The Bobbsey Twins; all the Anne books by Lucy Maud Montgomery; Robert Louis Stevenson’s Treasure Island and Kidnapped. The Hardy Boys and Nancy Drew series likely started me on my life of paying attention and figuring things out. There were many others with titles now forgotten. A travel book, by a writer who swam the Dardanelles and climbed the Matterhorn, most likely started me on my life as a traveller.When I was about ten and in Grade 4, a miracle happened. One of the service clubs in town started a library! Using a basement room in one of the medical clinics, they simply asked the townsfolk for any books they could donate. (No magazines and no Reader’s Digest condensed books.) The library, open Thursday nights and Sunday afternoons, had one full wall of children’s books and three walls of adult books.Thursday night I was there: in the back door of the medical building, down steep stairs, a long hallway, a turn to the left, another long hallway, and in the door. The room was always full of people. Clearly, I was not the only one hungry for more books and the adventure and story and beauty of word they provided.The Moms’ Stairway in Central Library honours moms everywhere. Eveline Wheatley Goodall, the donor who named this special spot, shares the story behind the name.I have continued to love libraries and reading throughout my life. I adore fiction; my all-time favourite author is David Adams Richards. When I moved to Calgary and had my own children we regularly visited our local library, Louise Riley. Today, I borrow books and browse magazines at Nose Hill Library and attend Wordfest events at Memorial Park Library.When Calgary Public Library started work on Central Library and shared renderings, I was thrilled. I thought it was the most beautiful of buildings, the sort of architectural marvel I have longed for in Calgary. My husband and I were eager to support the new Library.As donors, the Library offered us a naming opportunity. I was instantly drawn to a wonderful stairway. This spot links the exciting and unique Jocelyn Louise Anderson Children’s Library and coffee shop, making it a logical place for moms. We chose the name “The Moms’ Stairway” to honour all of those good moms past, present, and future who encourage reading. And, of course, it is named for my Mom too, M. Oren Wheatley. After all, she was my first librarian, reaching into the blanket cupboard in the stairwell to share books.
Read more about "Stories Honouring All Moms The story behind a Central Library stairway"Free Online Resources to Make Studying Easier Studying at home can be stressful, but these free online tools may help make it a little bit easier. From full theatre productions of Shakespeare plays to free online tutoring and practice tests, there’s a wide variety of quality digital resources to supplement your study sessions. We’ve highlighted a few major Alberta curriculum subject areas and some great digital resources to use along with them.French:Take the Learning French course from Kanopy's Great Courses collection, which includes a downloadable PDF workbook. Find photographs and articles about France in the National Geographic Virtual Library or read French magazines and newspapers on PressReader. L’encyclopedie Decouverte combines research with engaging activities to help beginners improve their French reading skills. Brush up on your French speaking and vocabulary with our free language learnings apps: Pronunciator, Transparent Language, and Rosetta Stone Library Solution. Science:Learn about famous scientists and research topics in applied sciences, biology, chemistry, earth science, energy, and astronomy with Science Reference Centre. Develop your scientific knowledge and skills with Learning Express, which has biology, chemistry, and earth science practice. Get Alberta curriculum-aligned online science tutoring with brainfuse HelpNow or access The Key practice tests and worksheets with SOLARO. Read teen science magazines like Brainspace for free on Flipster. Aboriginal Studies:Learn Indigenous languages such as Cree, Dakota, Oji-Cree, and Ojibwe from Transparent Language. Watch the documentary Indigenous Peoples of the Arctic from Kanopy's Great Courses collection and other international films about Indigenous topics, such as the classic Canadian film Nanook of the North. You can also watch films on Indigenous issues from the National Film Board of Canada on NFB Campus. Learn about Indigenous history, perspectives, cultures, and contemporary issues in the Indigenous Peoples Atlas of Canada. Study the colonial experience with Frontier Life, where you can find documents, maps, artwork, and photographs about settlers and Indigenous peoples of North America and beyond. Read SAY, a lifestyle magazine written about and for indigenous people and youth, on Flipster with any device. Math:Learning Express can help you improve your math skills with practice in algebra, data analysis, calculus, geometry, and more. Get Alberta curriculum-aligned online math tutoring with brainfuse HelpNow or access The Key practice tests and worksheets with SOLARO. Canada/Social Studies:Research Canada’s history and culture with articles from the Maclean’s Magazine Archive. The Canadian Encyclopedia lets you search for a specific topic on Canada’s history and culture or browse more than 30,000 multimedia items, including images, maps, games, audio, and video. Discover Canada’s historical figures with the Dictionary of Canadian Biography. Search over 8,500 biographies of Canadians in history. With Early Canadiana Online you can search for information on major historical events, the development of institutions, genealogy, Canadian literature and politics, trades and tariffs, and more from the 16th to 20th century. Get Alberta curriculum-aligned online social studies tutoring with brainfuse HelpNow or access practice tests and worksheets with SOLARO. English Language Arts:Find full-text scholarly journals, literary magazines, biographies, criticisms, summaries, and more with Literature Resource Centre. Learning Express can help you improve reading comprehension, writing, spelling, and grammar with their high school resources. Watch theatre productions and critical analyses of Shakespeare plays and other literary masterpieces on Kanopy. LitFinder lets you explore full-text poems, short stories, novels, essays, speeches, plays, biographies, summaries, and more. Get Alberta curriculum-aligned online ELA tutoring with brainfuse HelpNow or access practice tests and worksheets with SOLARO. Music:Part of the school band? Supplement your musical skills with a variety of expert-led vocal and instrument lessons on ArtistWorks and LinkedIn Learning for Library. If you need some good studying tunes, enjoy currently unlimited, ad-free streaming on Freegal Music or relax with classical music from Naxos Music Library. General Research:Find articles, newspapers, and references books covering all subject areas with MasterFILE Premier. Academic Search Premier gives you access to full-text and peer-reviewed academic journals, magazines, trade publications, and newspapers on all major areas of research. Not yet a Library member? Sign up online for your free Library card to get access to the Digital Library and more of the Library’s online resources immediately.
Read more about "Stories School Resources for Teens"August 19, 2019 – Calgary, AB – The Calgary Public Library is very pleased to announce that Mark Asberg has been appointed CEO effective September 1, 2019. Asberg has been with the Library for more than five years in the role of Director of Service Delivery. He was selected as the Calgary Public Library's CEO after an internal search by the Calgary Public Library Board with assistance from an executive recruitment consultant.“It is an honour to have been selected to lead such an important and inspiring organization. I am looking forward to working with the library team, partner organizations, and Calgarians to grow and expand the positive impact the Library has in the community,” says Mark Asberg, CEO, Calgary Public Library.During his time at the Library, Asberg has led a number of transformative projects and initiatives, including expanding library service to new communities, increasing participation in the library through enhanced virtual and mobile services and sustained growth in programming and outreach, and developing productive partnerships with key government and community groups, including Calgary’s school boards."When we began our search for a new CEO, the Library Board knew that we had incredible talent within the organization already. We are confident that Mark Asberg has the vision, passion and commitment to continue growing the Calgary Public Library and helping our patrons realize their potential,” says Calgary Public Library Board Chair Avnish Mehta.The Library would also like to take a moment to thank Bill Ptacek for his support during this leadership transition. Bill leaves behind a lasting legacy that has set the organization on a course for unprecedented growth and success.Calgary Public LibraryCalgary Public Library, with 722,000+ members and 21 locations, has been inspiring the life stories of Calgarians for more than 100 years. It is currently the second largest library system in Canada and the sixth largest municipal library system in North America, with Calgarians borrowing more than 14.4 million physical and digital items and with 6.9 million in-person visits last year. The awe-inspiring 240,000 sq. ft. new Central Library — the newest gathering place for our city — opened on November 1, 2018.- 30 -Media Contact:Mary KapustaDirector, CommunicationsCalgary Public Library 403.774.7256mary.kapusta@calgarylibrary.ca
Read more about "Stories Calgary Public Library announces new CEO"Nancy Pearl Discusses Why Books and Libraries Matter More Than Ever MEDIA RELEASEFOR IMMEDIATE RELEASEApril 17, 2018Calgary, AB – Nancy Pearl, the bestselling author and renowned librarian who has her own action figure, is coming to Calgary. On April 25, Calgary Public Library will host Pearl at Central Library’s John Dutton Theatre for a free discussion on Pearl’s work and why books and libraries matter more than ever in a post-truth society. If the library world has a rock star – Nancy Pearl is it.The engaging evening will include the Canadian launch of Pearl’s charming first novel, George & Lizzie, as well as a conversation between Pearl and Chad Saunders, whose voice many Calgarians will recognize from his former radio role at CJSW.Pearl — hailed as “America’s Librarian” — has been inspiring and shaping reading tastes for decades through her Book Lust series and NPR commentary. She also created the internationally recognized “One City, One Book” program in Seattle, which Calgary Public Library adopted in 2010 with Aritha van Herk’s Mavericks: An Incorrigible History of Alberta. First and foremost, though, Pearl is a reader who has spent her life promoting reading as one of the greatest experiences anyone can have. “I’m thrilled to be in Calgary to discuss my book and explore the critical importance of reading, truth and literacy in our world today,” Pearl shared.“We are so excited to have Nancy Pearl join us for a rare Canadian event,” says Bill Ptacek, Calgary Public Library CEO. “Her tremendous expertise has already informed various Calgary Public Library features, including staff training and program design. Now all Calgarians have an opportunity to hear Nancy Pearl’s important message about the power of books and libraries.”The free program An Evening with Nancy Pearl takes place Wednesday, April 25, 2018 from 7:00 pm to 8:30 pm at Central Library’s John Dutton Theatre.Calgary Public LibraryCalgary Public Library, with 630,000+ members and 20 locations, has been inspiring the life stories of Calgarians for more than 100 years. It is currently the second largest library system in Canada and the sixth largest municipal library system in North America, with Calgarians borrowing more than 14.6 million physical and digital items and with 6.8 million in-person visits last year. The awe-inspiring 240,000 sq. ft. New Central Library — the newest gathering place for our city — opens in November 2018.- 30 -Media Contact:Mary KapustaDirector, CommunicationsCalgary Public Library403.774.7256mary.kapusta@calgarylibrary.ca
Read more about "Stories"Building Success Through Play Media ReleaseJanuary 18, 2017Calgary, AB — Starting this summer, 16,000 community kids under 17 years of age will benefit from Forest Lawn Library’s Nature Playground— thanks to the Canada 150 Infrastructure Program (CIP150).“Celebrating Canada’s 150th birthday with the creation of a nature playground is an incredible way to ensure everyone understands how foundational play is to all future learning,” says Bill Ptacek, CEO, Calgary Public Library.Calgarians have the opportunity to help us match this generous contribution and raise the full amount needed to build this outdoor early learning centre and empower Forest Lawn families towards a brighter future.”Safe outdoor spaces inspire active, fresh-air-filled play that supports the early learning needs of Calgary’s youngest citizens, helping them develop physical literacy skills and executive brain function, as well as learn about the world around them…putting them on the pathway to future success in school and beyond.The CIP150 contribution of $119,000 was announced January 17 by The Honourable Kent Hehr, Minister of Veterans Affairs and Associate Minister of National Defence, who spoke about the role infrastructure plays in helping Canadians build better lives by learning how to care, share, and play together.Forest Lawn Library is an oasis in this diverse community where families can face particular challenges including low literacy levels and high unemployment, creating a barrier to learning and play opportunities. Forest Lawn Library is a vibrant community hub with more than 272,000 in-person visits annually, providing hundreds of free literacy and numeracy programs each year.The Calgary Public Library Foundation has a goal of raising $51,000 to complete the funding for this project. View the PLAY! video and for more information, or to make a donation, visit addin.ca.Calgary Public LibraryCalgary Public Library, with 570,000+ members, has been inspiring the life stories of Calgarians for more than 100 years. It is currently the second largest library system in Canada and the sixth largest municipal library system in North America, with Calgarians borrowing more than 16.1 million physical and digital items and with 6.2 million in-person visits last year. Preparations are underway for the awe-inspiring 245,000 sq. ft. New Central Library, to open in late 2018.Add In—the Campaign for Calgary’s LibraryAdd In is a bold and transformational initiative of the Calgary Public Library Foundation to create the best public library in the world for Calgarians. The $350 million city-wide campaign will build capacity for each and every community library and will include projects with a strong impact for Library patrons.
Read more about "Stories"MEDIA RELEASEFOR IMMEDIATE RELEASEJune 13, 2018Calgary, AB — The Library is the place to be this summer. Calgary Public Library invites kids, families, and teens to join the Ultimate Summer Challenge, involving more than 500 free programs at 20 libraries.Visit a Library this summer and you might be surprised at what you find: concerts, wandering magicians, exploding science experiments, dance classes, drumming circles, splatter painting, bunny obstacle courses, family yoga, tiny book making, puppy rooms, gardening, and much more. Calgary Public Library is partnering with nearly 40 local artists and community organizations to deliver free workshops, performances, demonstrations, and large-scale installations from now until September 7.The Ultimate Summer Challenge provides fun and educational experiences for everybody. The Library knows not all families can afford camps or lessons while school is out, so all 500+ programs are free. In addition to attending programs at libraries, kids and families can track their reading on Challenge Maps, while teens can complete online challenges. Everybody who registers for Ultimate Summer Challenge is entered to win awesome prizes, including iPads, Library Boss for a Day, and Chromebooks.“This year’s edition of our annual summer learning program is unlike anything we’ve done before,” said Kate Schutz, Service Design Lead, Calgary Public Library. “We’re offering free science, technology, reading, engineering, arts, and math programs. Kids are sure to be surprised, delighted — and learn something new — when they visit the Library this summer.”The Ultimate Summer Challenge is part of the TD Summer Reading Club, which is a national program for kids held by Canadian public libraries. Visit calgarylibrary.ca/summer for a full list of community partners, upcoming programs (including dates and descriptions), and registration details.Calgary Public LibraryCalgary Public Library, with 630,000+ members and 20 locations, has been inspiring the life stories of Calgarians for more than 100 years. It is currently the second largest library system in Canada and the sixth largest municipal library system in North America, with Calgarians borrowing more than 14.6 million physical and digital items and with 6.8 million in-person visits last year. The awe-inspiring 240,000 sq. ft. Central Library — the newest gathering place for our city — opens November 1, 2018.- 30 -Media Contact:Mary KapustaDirector, CommunicationsCalgary Public Library403.774.7256Mary.kapusta@calgarylibrary.ca
Read more about "Stories"Stream music 24 hours a day (until the end of 2020) and download up to five free songs per week. That’s a lot of music to jam out to all December long!
Read more about "Sing along to holiday music classics on Freegal"New Nature Playground Fosters Early Learning for Calgary’s Kids Calgary, AB — Calgary Public Library unveiled its first outdoor Early Learning Centre today at Forest Lawn Library. The Forest Lawn Library Nature Playground will help Calgary’s kids learn and develop foundational skills through play and was made possible with the support of the Canada 150 Community Infrastructure Program and Friends of the Library.“The Canada 150 Community Infrastructure Program represents a sense of unity for Canadians,” said the Honourable Kent Hehr, Minister of Veteran Affairs and Associate Minister of National Defence. “The Forest Lawn Library Nature Playground will bring community members together through a shared interest in learning more about our environment and the outdoors.”The Forest Lawn Library Nature Playground is a fully accessible space featuring large-scale letters for children to play in, under, and around, surfaces for writing and drawing, and moveable elements that children can interact with. Raised berms provide a sensory and spatial feature, which will support creative play and exploration.“We know that learning happens everywhere, especially for children,” says Bill Ptacek, Calgary Public Library CEO. “This new destination will provide 16,000 neighbourhood kids—and even more across the city—with a free and safe place to learn, imagine, and explore their environment.”Early learning and outdoor learning research guided the design of the Forest Lawn Library Nature Playground, which was constructed using a variety of recycled materials, including steel for the fencing and benches, recovered wood for safety surfacing and tree stump seating that would have otherwise become firewood.Since 2016, Calgary Public Library has opened Early Learning Centres at five libraries. The Forest Lawn Library Nature Playground is its first outdoor Early Learning space. For more information on how you can support early learning and the creation of spaces like the Forest Lawn Library Nature Playground, visit www.libraryfriends.ca.Calgary Public LibraryCalgary Public Library, with 600,000+ members, has been inspiring the life stories of Calgarians for more than 100 years. It is currently the second largest library system in Canada and the sixth largest municipal library system in North America, with Calgarians borrowing more than 15.8 million physical and digital items and with 6.7 million in-person visits last year. Preparations are underway for the awe-inspiring 240,000 sq. ft. New Central Library, to open in late 2018.Calgary Public Library FoundationAdd In—the Campaign for Calgary’s Library, is the largest public campaign for a public library in Canadian history. The $350 million campaign will enhance and support a system of community libraries across Calgary and is inspired by the New Central Library, which will open its doors to the world in 2018. To learn more about Add In and the Calgary Public Library’s vision to create the best public library in the world for Calgarians, visit addin.ca.-30-Media Contacts:Rachael TernerManager of CommunicationsCalgary Public Library FoundationC: 403.680.0626rachael@addin.ca
Read more about "Stories"Frank O’Keeffe has lived all over the world, but no matter where he travels one thing never changes — how close he stays to his local library.“I’ve always gone to the library wherever I’ve lived. They are invaluable places in our communities, and have always brought such joy to my family,” he says. “We went to live in Australia for a year when our daughter was two, we even had a library card there as well.”Frank signed up for his first Calgary Public Library card about 50 years ago. Born in Dublin, Ireland, Frank immigrated to Canada when he was 19 years old. Memorial Park Library provided him with a place to visit during the day on his way to and from work.When Frank began university, the library became a place to find free resources on the Canadian history he was studying. He eventually became a teacher, passing on the love of learning libraries instilled in him to students and his own family.“My daughter got her first Library card when she was just a little girl. She was always wanting us to take her to Memorial Park Library and read books — new books, more books,” he says. “And it was so convenient, because you could borrow as many books as you liked.”An Accomplished AuthorFrank is more than just a lover of libraries, though; he’s also an author with books on library shelves, including eight young adult novels. His ninth book is Woodbine, an adult historical fiction novel that follows a young girl and her father as they travel from Paris across Africa in the 1890s, eventually visiting Ireland as the First World War breaks out.Frank says this most recent novel, published in August 2018, could not have crossed the finish line without the help of staff at Shawnessy Library.“Three of the ladies at Shawnessy Library — Olga Tanailova, Kirsten Pedersen, and Nelli Boutchev — were instrumental in that last book being published. Those three read my last manuscript as I was writing it. They helped me research it. I even acknowledged them in the book. It couldn’t have happened without their help.”As a retired teacher and avid history buff, Frank says he enjoys the opportunity writing gives him to inject a bit of realistic humour into everyday life, “because the world can always use more of that.” His next book, The Grand Getaway, set to be published this spring, focuses heavily on that aspect.“It starts with an old folks’ home, and a homeless man. One of the patients at the home is living with dementia, and she wants to go see the Grand Canyon one last time, because she went there when she was young on the back of a motorcycle. And so, this homeless man is accidentally let into the home one day and ends up sort of hiding out there, and the two of them form a sort of unlikely friendship that leads to adventure.”‘Chitchat and Good Company’The characters explore themes that hit particularly close to home for Frank. His wife Patricia was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s 10 years ago. As the couple has grown older and their family’s needs have changed, how they use the Library has changed too.“I certainly used to read a lot, but I don’t have as much time for it now. I try to keep as active as I can, but my life involves a lot of worrying about my wife these days. Helping care for her is the most important thing,” Frank says.The Library has become a part of Patricia and Frank’s weekly routine. On Fridays, Frank takes Patricia out from the care facility where she lives and the pair go to the ESL Coffee and Conversation program at Shawnessy Library, for some “chitchat and good company.” Once a newcomer to Canada himself, Frank empathizes with the people who attend the program.“Many of the folks I meet at the Library are immigrants, just like me,” he says. “As an older patron, what I get out of the Library now is companionship. I’m still pretty active, and I don’t have any health problems, but it can be hard to meet new people. The Library is an important means of communication for me.”We want to know how the Library has made a difference in your life. Submit your own Library Story online.
Read more about "Stories ‘Invaluable Places in Our Communities’ Frank O'Keeffe has been writing his Library Story for over 50 years"Innovative Community Partner Brings Tech Training to Calgary Libraries MEDIA RELEASEFOR IMMEDIATE RELEASEFebruary 11, 2019Calgary, AB — Calgary Public Library is excited to welcome InceptionU, an innovative not-for-profit learning centre, to Central Library.InceptionU is moving into a back of house space on Level 3 of Central Library located at 800 3 Street SE. Here, students enrolled in InceptionU’s EvolveU program will be trained as Full Stack Developers, meaning they have the skills to do both back-end and front-end development work.EvolveU is a six-month full-time program that helps professionals rapidly pivot their careers and become job-ready to thrive in an ever-changing digital economy. Thanks to funding support, the program’s tuition cost is covered for eligible learners. Approximately 30 students will begin classes at Central Library on February 11, 2019. Information on registration and class schedule can be found at evolveu.ca.Additionally, the Library will work with InceptionU to deploy free introductory technology programs across Calgary at select community library locations. The Library hopes to launch these pilot programs later this year.“It was always our intention to use the new Central Library as a hub for innovation and technology, supporting the future growth and prosperity of Calgary,” says Bill Ptacek, CEO of Calgary Public Library. “This partnership cements the Library’s role in our city’s growing technology sector and provides accessible opportunities to our members to learn relevant new skills for a rapidly shifting job market. They have the expertise and we have the ability to bring it to people in neighbourhoods across the City.”“InceptionU has from the beginning been interested in building a world class learning experience that helps Calgary meet the challenges of the future. This only works if we can drive innovation mindsets and abilities through the whole city. Partnering with the Calgary Public Library brings us the opportunity to work with a world class organization that has deep connections in the whole community to get to our vision,” says Gregory Hart, InceptionU.InceptionU offers a new learning experience, focused on building competencies to address skills gaps and meet the demands of the future. This is more than a coding course; EvolveU blends technical and non-technical elements (such as design thinking, critical thinking, creativity, collaboration, and personal development) to build and prepare developers.The program also collaborates with local technology companies to ensure learners are building necessary skills. InceptionU has been operating in Calgary since 2017 and has trained 60 students so far.Calgary Public LibraryCalgary Public Library, with 688,000+ members and 21 locations, has been inspiring the life stories of Calgarians for more than 100 years. It is currently the second largest library system in Canada and the sixth largest municipal library system in North America, with Calgarians borrowing more than 14.4 million physical and digital items and with 6.9 million in-person visits last year. The awe-inspiring 240,000 sq. ft. new Central Library — the newest gathering place for our city — opened on November 1, 2018.-30-Media Contact: Mary KapustaDirector, CommunicationsCalgary Public Library403.774.7256mary.kapusta@calgarylibrary.ca
Read more about "Stories"CALGARY, AB – Today, Linda and Mike Shaikh, local philanthropists and community-builders, announced a gift to support school-aged children during the COVID-19 pandemic and over the summer months when school is out.“When schools closed mid-March, thousands of parents in our city found themselves home-schooling. Education is deeply important to our family, and we want to ensure Calgary’s children have the tools they need to continue their life-long learning journey, whether they’re learning remotely or out of school during the summer,” says Mike Shaikh.Summer Slide refers to the annual challenge for school-aged children to retain learning achievements from the previous school year over the summer months. Summer Slide can disproportionately affect students from lower-income households, creating gaps amongst peers and a harder return to school in September.“Summer Slide is something the Library addresses every year through our Ultimate Summer Challenge, but this year due to COVID-19, the program had to move to a virtual environment,” says Kate Schutz, Service Design Lead for school-age programming at the Calgary Public Library. “This funding allows us to create more online engagement opportunities and provide students with fun, curriculum-connected resources to prepare them for school success and help families navigate this challenging time.”The Shaikh’s gift will support programs and resources for school-aged children at the Library, including: Collections; Beanstack, a free app that encourages children to read with customized reading lists and challenges; and the Ultimate Summer Challenge, the Library’s popular annual summer kids program. Last year, Calgary kids and teens recorded nearly 300,000 hours of reading over the summer.Ultimate Summer Challenge registration is free and can be completed online or at any reopened Library location. In addition to tracking reading hours with a printable Challenge Map, kids can now earn digital badges through Beanstack by completing reading goals and learn at home activities.Teens can complete online challenges and creative projects to earn more chances at winning a prize. Everyone who registers for the Ultimate Summer Challenge is entered into the grand prize draw for amazing items, including iPads, Chromebooks, or customized picture books.The Ultimate Summer Challenge is part of the TD Summer Reading Club, which is a national program for kids in Canadian public libraries. The Ultimate Summer Challenge is also supported by J K L MacLachlan Family Fund. Visit calgarylibrary.ca/summer for more information and to register.In 2015, Linda and Mike Shaikh made a $1 million leadership donation to the Calgary Public Library Foundation, which was recognized with the naming of the Shaikh Family Welcome Gallery in Central Library.- 30 -Calgary Public LibraryCalgary Public Library, with 740,000 members and 21 locations, has been inspiring the life stories of Calgarians for more than 100 years. It is currently the second largest library system in Canada and the sixth largest municipal library system in North America, with Calgarians borrowing more than 15 million physical and digital items and with over 7 million in-person visits last year.Calgary Public Library FoundationThe Calgary Public Library Foundation empowers people to make a difference in their community. All donations received through the Library Foundation cultivate innovation and bring the Library to those who need it most. Our 21,500 donors are helping to build a stronger Calgary.Media Contacts:Nina RehillAccount ExecutiveEdelman403.630.6055Nina.Rehill@edelman.comRachael TernerCommunications ManagerCalgary Public Library Foundation403.774.2543rachael@libraryfoundation.ca
Read more about "Stories Gift from Local Philanthropists Help Calgary Students Learn Over the Summer Funds support Calgary Public Library programs to address learning challenges during COVID-19"Calgary, AB – The Calgary Public Library is piloting a new service in partnership with Wood’s Homes to deliver mental health support for vulnerable patrons facing mental health challenges and addictions. The Wellness Desk at Central Library will provide free, professional mental health care and community referrals in real-time.“The Library is evolving to meet the needs of our city during an unprecedented mental health crisis, one which has worsened due to a pandemic,” says Mark Asberg, CEO for Calgary Public Library. “The Wellness Desk will offer a welcoming, safe, and discreet opportunity for all members of the community to seek help with mental health concerns or issues.”Central Library was chosen to host the pilot due to its centralized location, volume of visitors, and the high-needs population it serves. The Wellness Desk will provide an accessible and critical resource for those who may require immediate, specialized care while on Library premises, or those looking for information and referrals to other services. Any Library visitor will be able to take advantage of the no-cost services the Wellness Desk provides.The Wellness Desk will be staffed by mental health professionals from Wood’s Homes. They will deliver their expertise and care on behalf of patrons and their loved ones who were confronting challenges before COVID-19, help address the significant demand for support as a result of the pandemic and provide general mental health and addictions guidance.“Wood’s Homes is proud to be providing mental health services at the Central Library’s new Wellness Desk,” says Bjorn Johansson, CEO for Wood’s Homes. “Service accessibility and immediacy are contributors to improved mental health, especially in these times when many of us need and help and support. We have a longstanding reputation with the community and see this opportunity as another step in ensuring that Calgarians know we are here to help.”The pilot at Central Library will run from October 6 to December 31, 2020. The Wellness Desk will operate on a drop-in basis during afternoon and early evening hours on weekdays and weekends, adjusting service times to meet the needs of the public.For further details, visit calgarylibrary.ca/wellness.Calgary Public LibraryCalgary Public Library, with 740,000 members and 21 locations, has been inspiring the life stories of Calgarians for more than 100 years. Calgarians borrowed more than 15 million physical and digital items and visited the Library seven million times last year.Wood’s HomesWood’s Homes has long served the mental health needs of Calgarians effectively and with diligence. As a non-profit mental health centre, they provide 40+ programs and services to 20,000 children and their families annually.Media Contact:Shae PollockAccount ManagerEdelman403.817.0632 ext. 5181shae.pollock@edelman.comSylvia MacIverCommunications ManagerWood’s Homes403.270.1768sylvia.maciver@woodshomes.ca
Read more about "Stories Calgary Library Pilots Free Mental Health Services with New Wellness Desk"Whether you’re looking to help develop your student’s literacy skills or simply foster a lifelong love of books, you’ve come to the right place. Check out our list of free eResources to help your child discover the magic of reading and writing as they learn new things, read about their interests, and follow the adventures of their favourite characters. Use your free Library membership to access these great apps and resources in the Digital Library. No Library card? No problem. Sign up for free online and start using it now. Beanstack Need some help finding great reading material? Beanstack has you covered. Get personalized reading recommendations for every member of the family, sent weekly to your inbox. eReading Room for Kids Visit the eReading Room for Kids to borrow children’s eBooks for free with your Library card. Read or listen to eBooks on your computer or take them with you on your mobile device with the free Libby app. Check out our One Week Loans for Beginning Readers. There’s no wait time, and you can have two early readers checked out at once. When you're done, just return them and check out two more. Bookflix Cuddle up and read with Bookflix! Find your favourite picture book classics paired with related non-fiction books for early readers. Read aloud together or watch and listen to an animated version of the picture book. Enhance reading comprehension with quizzes and puzzles after the story. Does your early reader love big trucks? Check out the Imagination section, where you can read or listen along to the picture book I Stink (about a smelly garbage truck) paired with a Mighty Machines book (about real garbage trucks). (Ages 6 – 8) Canadian Encyclopedia Read and learn about Canadian history and culture in the Canadian Encyclopedia. Search for a specific topic or browse more than 30,000 multimedia items, including images, maps, games, audio, and video. For help with essays on important Canadians, try reading the special collection on women in Canadian history in the Canadian Encyclopedia. These short articles tell the stories of Canadian women — including 47 Indigenous women — who paved the way in music, art, politics, sports, suffrage, and leadership. (Ages 9 – 12) Learning Express Learning Express is a database offering practice tests and tutorials for students in Grades 4 and up, including reading comprehension and math. There are also helpful career exploration resources for high school students considering their next steps after graduation. Kanopy Kids Kanopy is a free movie and TV streaming app with a section just for kids. Your child can watch their favourite cartoon characters and educational shows from any device. Love a good story? Visit the kids’ section of Kanopy to watch animated versions of your child’s favourite books with beloved characters like Pigeon, Scaredy Squirrel, and Curious George. (Ages 5–10) TumbleBook Library Listen and read along with animated story books for young children, their parents, and teachers in TumbleBook Library. Read-alongs are a wonderful way to help improve your child’s reading skills as they hear the story read to them and follow the text at the same time. Check out their cute and colourful read-alongs that are perfect for beginner readers. (Ages 5 – 7) Older kids can enjoy read-alongs too! Browse a selection of chapter books that your older child will love, or check out their collection of read-along children’s classics like Anne of Green Gables.
Read more about "Stories Reading and Writing eResources for ages 5 – 12"New Nature Playground Fosters Early Learning for Calgary’s Kids Calgary, AB — Calgary Public Library unveiled its first outdoor Early Learning Centre today at Forest Lawn Library. The Forest Lawn Library Nature Playground will help Calgary’s kids learn and develop foundational skills through play and was made possible with the support of the Canada 150 Community Infrastructure Program and Friends of the Library.“The Canada 150 Community Infrastructure Program represents a sense of unity for Canadians,” said the Honourable Kent Hehr, Minister of Veteran Affairs and Associate Minister of National Defence. “The Forest Lawn Library Nature Playground will bring community members together through a shared interest in learning more about our environment and the outdoors.”The Forest Lawn Library Nature Playground is a fully accessible space featuring large-scale letters for children to play in, under, and around, surfaces for writing and drawing, and moveable elements that children can interact with. Raised berms provide a sensory and spatial feature, which will support creative play and exploration.“We know that learning happens everywhere, especially for children,” says Bill Ptacek, Calgary Public Library CEO. “This new destination will provide 16,000 neighbourhood kids—and even more across the city—with a free and safe place to learn, imagine, and explore their environment.”Early learning and outdoor learning research guided the design of the Forest Lawn Library Nature Playground, which was constructed using a variety of recycled materials, including steel for the fencing and benches, recovered wood for safety surfacing and tree stump seating that would have otherwise become firewood.Since 2016, Calgary Public Library has opened Early Learning Centres at five libraries. The Forest Lawn Library Nature Playground is its first outdoor Early Learning space. For more information on how you can support early learning and the creation of spaces like the Forest Lawn Library Nature Playground, visit www.libraryfriends.ca.Calgary Public LibraryCalgary Public Library, with 600,000+ members, has been inspiring the life stories of Calgarians for more than 100 years. It is currently the second largest library system in Canada and the sixth largest municipal library system in North America, with Calgarians borrowing more than 15.8 million physical and digital items and with 6.7 million in-person visits last year. Preparations are underway for the awe-inspiring 240,000 sq. ft. New Central Library, to open in late 2018.Calgary Public Library FoundationAdd In—the Campaign for Calgary’s Library, is the largest public campaign for a public library in Canadian history. The $350 million campaign will enhance and support a system of community libraries across Calgary and is inspired by the New Central Library, which will open its doors to the world in 2018. To learn more about Add In and the Calgary Public Library’s vision to create the best public library in the world for Calgarians, visit addin.ca.-30-Media Contacts:Rachael TernerManager of CommunicationsCalgary Public Library FoundationC: 403.680.0626rachael@addin.ca
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