In need of a break from haybales and country music? Bring a book to the calm oasis of Memorial Park for your lunch hour during the week of Stampede. You can escape the frenzy and...
Read more about "Reading in the Park"100L, H, 4.6…OMG! Understanding Reading Levels Did you know that the children’s collection at Calgary Public Library includes thousands of books? With so many options, it can be intimidating to choose books for your growing reader.One way to choose reading material is based on a book’s reading level. Reading levels are common in a school setting but can be confusing for caregivers wondering how reading levels apply to their child’s learning-to-read journey.What are reading levels?Schools may use a variety of leveling systems to help guide the book choices children make when reading. “Leveled readers” allow students to be challenged enough by the book that they are growing as readers, but not so challenged that they have lost all meaning and enjoyment from it. Books organized by reading levels are a classroom tool, meant for schools and the school market. In some cases, leveled-readers series can only be purchased by schools and the rights are not available for public libraries.Using leveled readers is just one way for students to experience books and to support the learning-to-read journey. Reading levels do not always align with a child’s age or ensure that a reader at that level will be personally interested in the topic.“A level is a teacher’s tool, not a child’s label.” (Fountas and Pinnell) There are several reading level book series you may come across, including these common systems:Fountas and Pinnell is one of the most widely used leveled reader series in the classroom. This publisher assesses the text of a book on criteria including word count, high frequency words, and sentence complexity. There are 27 Fountas and Pinnell reading levels.The Accelerated Reader (or AR) program was developed by Renaissance Learning, Inc. and uses quizzes to assess a reader’s skill. Their system of leveling books is called the ATOS® reading formula, which evaluates the text of a book based on average sentence length, average word length, vocabulary grade level, and number of words in the book. ATOS levels are numerical — the lower the ATOS® score, the easier the text should be.The Lexile Framework measures both an individual’s reading ability and a text’s readability. The Lexile levels are based on reading comprehension tests taken by students across the United States. The Lexile ranges change when new test scores are reported. Generally, the lower the number, the simpler the text. The letters before the Lexile numbers are “Lexile codes,” two-letter designations to give more information about the book. For example, AD stands for Adult-Directed, which is for books meant to be read to children by an adult.Publisher leveled readers are usually a series of books with their own system of leveling that vary from publisher to publisher. These books can be purchased at a bookstore or found at the Library and may also be used in a classroom. At Calgary Public Library, these books are called “X Books” or “Easy Readers.” For example, HarperCollins produces the popular “I Can Read!” series, which has six levels. The title Batman: Dino Dilemma is a level 2 reader, which the publisher says is geared towards kids who can read on their own but still need a little help.Should I use reading levels at home?While it may be helpful to understand what reading levels mean, recent best practice in education and public libraries is to focus on fostering a love for reading first. Children learn to love reading when they are allowed to read what they want and families read together often in English and/or in their home language. Public libraries have books published in a wide range of world languages.Reading above or below the level that corresponds with the student’s grade or age is fine and often encouraged. A reader may be drawn to a challenging or “stretch” book if it’s about a particular topic that they enjoy. This is a great workout for their reading brain and an opportunity to share a good book together. A reader may also find it enjoyable and relaxing to read a book that is easier and familiar. Building positive associations with reading can help a child become a reader for life.Tip to Try When Choosing A New Book:Have your child choose a book that they will enjoy. Invite them to read the second page. Together, hold up a finger for each word they are not sure of or do not know. If there are five or more words they did not know, consider an easier book. If your child needs support to help them become a stronger reader, consult an education professional.Where should I start?The Library’s children’s collection complements kids that are learning to read and aims to support them by encouraging a love of reading. While the X Book or “Easy Reader” collection is targeted for kids learning to read, there are other collections that children enjoy, such as Z picture books, audio books, and nonfiction. Choose books with high interest characters, great illustrations, and humour to help keep readers engaged. An interested reader who is having fun is more likely to keep reading.The most important thing to do is to encourage any reading. All reading is good reading, whether fiction, nonfiction, comic books, chapter books, audio books, or picture books. Library staff are happy to help recommend amazing stories that are a great fit for your growing reader, whether in print or digital format. See a list of staff recommendations of Easy Readers for every reader.Easy readers and other collections are also available in digital format through OverDrive and TumbleBook Library, with audio options and accessibility features. Exploring a variety of formats helps children experience the joy of reading in different ways.Additional Resources:Reading Rockets Scholastic Family Literacy Brochure from the Calgary Board of Education This blog post is published as part of The Kitchen Table Classroom: A Series to Support Learning from Home, a partnership with Edmonton Public Library. Visit our Programs page to register for the next live online workshop in the series, coming up in January.
Read more about "Stories"Early Learning Investment will Prepare Calgary's Children for Lifelong Learning and Success MEDIA RELEASEFOR IMMEDIATE RELEASEDecember 7, 2017Calgary, AB — Local children and families participating in a colossal playdate helped to celebrate the opening of the fourth and final Calgary Foundation Early Learning Centre at Crowfoot Library today.“Play is such an important part of building literacy skills for children,” says Eva Friesen, President & CEO, Calgary Foundation. “We’re so pleased to support these Early Learning Centres that allow youth to grow and learn by being creative and using their imagination at such an important stage of their lives.”Early Learning Centres are vibrant and interactive spaces that focus on play-based learning — one of the five focus areas outlined in the Library’s Early Learning Strategy released earlier this year. Each centre is built around a distinct theme, including energy and motion at Forest Lawn Library, a construction site for little builders at Signal Hill and a “Birds Eye View” that overlooks the clear mountain views at Crowfoot Library.In September, the Calgary Public Library Foundation announced the $1 million transformational investment in early learning from the Calgary Foundation and an anonymous donor. Funding from the Major & Signature Grant established Calgary Foundation Early Learning Centres at Saddletowne, Signal Hill, Forest Lawn and the new space at Crowfoot Library — the busiest community library in the city. The gift will also enhance early learning training for staff and volunteers. The Calgary Foundation is a Founding Partner of Add In—the Campaign for Calgary’s Library.“Thanks to Calgary Foundation and its anonymous donor, we have opened four new Early Learning Centres in the last four months,” said Ellen Humphrey, President and Chief Executive Officer of the Calgary Public Library Foundation. “We want to create a world-leading library model for Early Learning, which includes an Early Learning Centre in every library in the city, but we can’t do it alone.”Through the Library Foundation, the Library is seeking $20 million of philanthropic investment in early learning to support the Library’s Early Learning Strategyopens a new window, which focuses on spaces, people, collections, programs and research. There are more than 89,000 children under the age of five in our city, and research shows that healthy development in early childhood sets the course for a child’s future.To support early learning at the Library, visit addin.ca/early-learning.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 support a system of community libraries across Calgary and activate and enhance the New Central Library. 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 FoundationSince 1955, Calgary Foundation has been nurturing a healthy, vibrant, giving and caring community that values diversity and supports all people. We build a community where citizens are engaged, and where a strong and sustainable charitable sector serves the current and emerging needs of Calgary and area.- 30 -Media Contacts:Mary KapustaDirector, CommunicationsCalgary Public LibraryP: 403.774.7256mary.kapusta@calgarylibrary.caRachael TernerManager of CommunicationsCalgary Public Library FoundationC: 403.680.0626rachael@addin.caJanice FranceyCommunications AssociateCalgary FoundationC: 403.617.1998JFrancey@calgaryfoundation.org
Read more about "Stories"As Calgary Public Library prepares for the opening of the new Central Library on November 1, we’re also saying goodbye to Central Library, our home for the past 55 years. Take a look at photos from our past and see how our beloved downtown Library has served a growing city for more than five decades.Plans for a new Central Library were in the works as early as 1954, amid a space crunch at Memorial Park Library. But after two failed plebiscites for a new library in the 1950s, the project stalled.In 1961, Mayor Harry Hays told Chief Librarian W.R. Castell that a downtown area across from city hall, slated for urban renewal, could include a new library. No plebiscite would be needed this time; the money would come from a surplus in land sales for new subdivisions. In February 1962, construction of a new downtown Library began on the site of a former service station.Central Library, in all its brutalist splendor, officially opened on June 15, 1963. Castell was thrilled. “Except for the day in January 1912 when the doors of the Library opened for the first time to the public, June 15, 1963, will be long remembered as the most important date in the history of the institution,” he said.The Library was designed by J.H. Cook and Associates, a Calgary architectural firm. Its monolithic look was typical of office buildings at the time. Inside, interior details included an orange, gold, and blue-green colour plan, teak bookshelves and catalogue cabinets, white formica tables, and blue and nutmeg carpeting.While opening day featured a speech by Lieutenant Governor Percy Page, not everyone got to hear it. Seventeen people got stuck in an elevator for 35 minutes. As Central patrons know well, elevator challenges have continued over the years.When it opened, Central Library had a children’s area in the basement, next to a newspaper reading room. The main floor housed a circulation desk and a carpeted reading lounge filled with comfortable seating, where smoking was permitted.The second floor, the reference department, offered the Library’s first-ever coin-operated Xerox photocopying machine for patrons. The third floor had music and film rooms, books on art, music, and theatre, and an art gallery operated by the Glenbow Foundation.The fourth floor was used for the storage of books and the fifth floor housed the ordering, cataloguing, and bookbinding departments. Finally, the sixth floor contained the administrative offices and a circular auditorium.In 1963, when Central Library opened, Calgary’s population was just over 275,000. Central Library had a full-time staff of 41, and Calgarians could borrow books free of charge. They used a transaction card system, filling in cards with their names and address to check out books.In the 1970s, as energy prices soared, Calgary became one of the fastest-growing cities in North America. It soon became apparent more room was needed at Central Library.In early 1971, a formal request went to the city for a much-needed extension, and construction started the following year. The six-storey addition to the north of Central Library opened in 1974.A second-floor theatre was added, and the Library was renamed the W.R. Castell Central Library. A metal sculpture was commissioned and added to what was then the front of the Library, a piece of public art by Robert Oldrich known as “Library Frieze.”Over the years, there’s been many renovations at Central Library. A dedicated Canadiana room opened on the main floor in 1967, Canada’s centennial year. In 1981, the fourth floor of Central Library’s north extension was opened to the public. With wider aisles and lower shelves, it was designed to be accessible to people with disabilities.In 1990, work started on major renovations, including an expanded second-floor children’s area, a secure room for the Local History collection, and a new main entrance at the southwest corner. In 1993, Central’s theatre was named in honour of John Dutton, the chief librarian from 1979 to 1991.In 2011, Central Library’s main floor was renovated to accommodate the new City Hall LRT platform. In 2013, a catastrophic June flood profoundly affected Alberta and Calgary, including Central Library’s lower level, where water seepage caused significant damage.In 2016, Central Library welcomed a big addition. A decommissioned fire truck was moved to the main floor. Engine 23 was retrofitted into a space for kids to play, read, learn, and listen to regular storytimes with firefighters.After 55 years in our current home, we can’t wait to welcome you to the new Central Library. Come visit starting November 1.Want to learn more? Read The Calgary Public Library: Inspiring Life Stories Since 1912 by Brian Brennan, explore the online Calgary Public Library Archives: Our Story in Pictures, and visit the Vintage Media Lab in the new Central Library.
Read more about "Stories Saying Goodbye to Central Library Photos Through the Years (1962 – 2018)"Library Donors Invest in Local History and Invite Calgarians to Do the Same MEDIA RELEASEFOR IMMEDIATE RELEASEJuly 24, 2018Calgary, AB—Local history supporters and cultural philanthropists Walt and Irene DeBoni announced a $1 million gift to Calgary Public Library in support of the Library’s local history collection today."Walt and Irene are passionate advocates of Calgary’s history, and have supported the Library’s local history collection for a number of years," said Christine Gingerick, Donor Relations Manager at the Calgary Public Library Foundation. "As we enter Historic Calgary Week, we are delighted to share that the Library has chosen to honour the DeBoni’s with the naming of Calgary’s Story at the new Central Library."Calgary’s Story, presented by Walt and Irene DeBoni, brings Calgary’s and Southern Alberta’s history and heritage to life. Through collections, programs and a digital kiosk, visitors will be able to dive into some of the many stories from Calgary’s past, explore their family history and see photographs of what Calgary looked like at the turn of the century. The feature area will be located on the fourth level of the new Central Library, which Calgarians can explore when the new Central Library opens on November 1, 2018."The Library is a community resource accessible to all, and as history-lovers, it means so much to us to share our story within its newest location," says Walt DeBoni. "We want to invite Calgarians to share their stories by leaving their mark on the new Central Library as a part of the Windows of Opportunity Campaign."Calgarians can choose from three distinct levels of supporting the Library through the Windows of Opportunity Campaign; $100, $2,018 and $5,000. Each level offers different benefits, and all three include adding an inscription to a new Central Library window frame. All donations will support life-changing programs and services at libraries across Calgary. For more information, visit mylibrarywindow.ca.Walt and Irene DeBoni are Founding Partners of Add In — the Campaign for Calgary’s Library, a bold, audacious vision to take a great library system and transform it into the best in the world. The Calgary Public Library Foundation has surpassed $326 million of its $350 million goal for Add In.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. 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.caMary KapustaDirector, CommunicationsCalgary Public LibraryP: 403.774.7256mary.kapusta@calgarylibrary.ca
Read more about "Stories"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"The Library’s vibrant and quality programming for children is made possible with the help and the dedication of student volunteers. Their passion and support in mentoring younger students makes these programs come alive, leaving a lasting positive impact on both participants and volunteers.2020 brought unexpected challenges and put a pause on many volunteer opportunities. The Library is incredibly grateful for its dedicated volunteers who have waited patiently while opportunities were suspended, and we appreciate their eagerness to return to the Library.The Bright Futures Scholarship provides three scholarships, one valued at $3,500 and two valued at $1,000 each to young Library volunteers who are committed, enthusiastic, and take initiative in their volunteer roles.The scholarship is made possible by a gift from Barbara Killick, formerly a senior staff member at Calgary Public Library, and witness to the positive impact made by young volunteers on the lives of Calgarians.Meet the 2021 recipients of the Bright Futures Scholarship:Rachael Peng ($3,500 scholarship)A committed volunteer with the Library since 2016, Rachael finds teaching STEM concepts through Library programs highly rewarding. Volunteering with the Library has spurred her personal growth and motivated her to volunteer in other organizations, like Youth Central’s Youth Volunteer Corps, where she volunteers as a co-chair executive. Rachael was also inspired by the Library’s Math Quest program to continue teaching STEM skills to students, and now works in a leadership volunteer role in Stem Fellowship. Rachael is excited to continue fostering a love of learning in youth while she pursues Engineering in her post-secondary education.Chaitanya Kumar Mahajan ($1,000 scholarship)Chaitanya has been a dedicated volunteer with the Library since he was 12 years old. His enthusiasm for coding and science first prompted him to start volunteering with the Library’s Coding Buddies program, which launched him on a meaningful journey of volunteering in a variety of other Library programs and events. Through these programs, he discovered the joy of helping kids understand and apply new scientific concepts. Chaitanya is moving to Ontario to attend the University of Toronto’s Physics program, where he hopes to teach science and math to kids whose education has been affected by COVID-19.Kayden Ruda ($1,000 scholarship)Kayden is an enthusiastic and engaged volunteer who enjoys helping with programs like Reading Buddies, Coding Buddies, and Math Quest. Logging over 350 volunteer hours with the Library, Kayden often adopted a leadership role in his programs, acting as a mentor to less experienced volunteers. Volunteering at the Library inspired him to take on an active volunteer role in other community organizations, including WinSport. His volunteer efforts have been recognized with a feature in the Library’s former publication Library Connect, the 2019 Western Legacy Award for Youth, and by being selected to participate in the Global Encounters Program India. Kayden looks forward to finding more opportunities to volunteer in university as he pursues Actuarial Science and Business.Congratulations to this year’s winners! Applications for the 2022 Bright Futures Scholarship will open next spring.As Library programs grow and change, our volunteer needs change as well. Visit calgarylibrary.ca/volunteer to view upcoming volunteer opportunities.
Read more about "Stories Meet the 2021 Recipients of the Bright Futures Scholarship Congratulations to these three dedicated student volunteers."More Indigenous language resources, as well as programming that preserves Indigenous culture and heritage, will soon be available at the Calgary Public Library. The Indigenous Languages Resource Centre will help protect, preserve, and promote Indigenous culture, thanks to $1 million in funding from the Government of Alberta.Located at Central Library, this will be the third centre of its kind in Canada, where anyone, with their free Library card, can access language learning, storytelling, elder guidance, and other materials.The project, which builds connections, supports lifelong learning and deepens understanding of community, is launching at the same time the United Nations declared 2019 as the Year of Indigenous Languages.“The Calgary Public Library is thrilled to acknowledge and support the United Nations’ 2019 International Year of Indigenous Languages theme,” said Alayna Many Guns, Indigenous Service Design Lead for the Library. “Language nurtures identity, enhances spirit, and most importantly improves communication amongst families and communities.”More information about programming in the Indigenous Languages Resource Centre will be announced soon.
Read more about "Stories Indigenous Languages Resource Centre to be created at Central Library"Calgary’s oldest Library and its surrounding park were granted special status as a national historic site earlier this year.On Thursday, September 27, Parks Canada and the Historic Sites and Monuments Board of Canada will host a plaque unveiling ceremony at Central Memorial Park and Library at 1:00 pm. All are welcome to attend; dress for an outdoor ceremony.Memorial Park Library is located just south of Calgary’s downtown and opened in 1912. The classically-inspired Library has a grand columned entrance and staircase, rich and ornamental exterior, and elegant interior.Memorial Park Library was the first public Library in Alberta. Annie Davidson, one of Calgary’s cultural pioneers and visionaries, championed the building alongside the Calgary Women’s Literary Club. Beginning in 1906, the group of civic-minded women advocated for the establishment of a free public Library.The site of the future Library, now known as Central Memorial Park, was chosen in August 1908 by city plebiscite. Construction began later that year. Funds for construction came from American businessman and philanthropist Andrew Carnegie, who supported 125 libraries across Canada.Upon opening in 1912, Memorial Park Library quickly proved popular. It became a cultural and educational hub, even housing the city’s first art show in 1912 — an exhibit of 200 European paintings borrowed from local collectors."By the end of that first year, 1912, the original collection of 5,280 books had grown to 12,343, and the number of patrons had grown to 8,911. The most popular authors of the day were Alexandre Dumas père, Gilbert Parker, Ralph Connor, Robert Services, and Lucy Maud Montgomery,” writes Brian Brennan in The Calgary Public Library, Inspiring Life Stores Since 1912.Memorial Park Library continues to be a cultural and educational hub today. It’s now home to the Sun Life Financial Musical Lending Library, the Alexander Calhoun Salon, Wordfest, and much more. Visit this beautiful Library and park — now a National Historic Site — today!
Read more about "Stories Memorial Park Library Recognized as National Historic Site"To mark National Aboriginal History Month in June 2017, Calgary Public Library is displaying Indigenous art at four libraries.Samuel BighettySamuel Bighetty’s art tells the story of the Mathias Colomb Cree Nation in Pukatawagan, Manitoba. Using bright, beautiful colours, his artwork tells the story of hardships and change. Bighetty describes such change through the analogy of a caterpillar turning into a butterfly. “It looks real ugly, walking on the ground,” Bighetty says. “A caterpillar doesn’t know it’s going to turn into something beautiful. [Then] it changes, flies around, has all the colours.” Jessica Liening-WolfeIndigenous artist Jessica Liening-Wolfe showcases her Ojibway culture through traditional beadwork and jewelry. “My mother was a former student of the residential school, so she didn’t grow up with her culture or her language, so I feel that it is up to me to go out there and regain this knowledge,” says Liening-Wolfe. Taylor McPhersonThrough her artistic journey, Taylor McPherson has reclaimed her Miawpukek identity, and is now challenging people to see past stereotypes with her work. Her self-portrait, titled “Identity,” has been displayed across Canada, and found a new home at Judith Umbach Library in June 2017. “To have people recognize my Aboriginal work really means a lot, because I feel a lot of people have been more appreciative in learning about the stories behind it,” McPherson says. Nathan MeguinisNathan Meguinis started drawing at the age of five. His artwork today reflects the deep roots of his Tsuut’ina culture and heritage. Meguinis says what makes Tsuut’ina art distinctive in style is its reflection of Tsuut’ina history and spiritual connections: a belief in one God, one creation, and everything being intertwined. He strives to give people a deeper understanding of his traditional culture through his art. “I’m hoping to enlighten people about the realities that my people faced through my artwork, and at the same time share my culture,” Meguinis says.
Read more about "Stories Indigenous Art Featured at Calgary Public Library"When Marian Erb moved to Calgary from Ireland 36 years ago, one of the first things she did was track down her community library.“As a newcomer, everything—from the architecture to the awesome expanse of Alberta skies—was new and overwhelming. The Library became a sanctuary for me, a home away from home,” says Marian.She recalls the welcoming smiles she received from Library staff on that first visit and the support given as she learned about the many resources the Library had to offer.“Staff are the Library’s most important resource,” she says. “They are the first point of contact for newcomers and ensure they have access to computers so that connections with family and friends back home is maintained as they acclimatize to their new surroundings.”While Marian shares a common language with native Calgarians, she can relate to that “lost” feeling common to the newcomer experience, when an accent can mark you as “different.” So, when she considered becoming a Library volunteer, she was drawn to working with people for whom English was foreign.“Newcomers often feel anxious in their new, unfamiliar surroundings. I remember that feeling and love to help people build confidence as they work to improve their spoken English. Volunteering in the Library’s Conversation Club allows me to reach out with friendship and find common ground…and then the words and stories start to flow.”Volunteering can be a daunting concept, but when asked what attributes aspiring Library volunteers should possess, Marian states that it’s really very simple: they need to love meeting new people, have patience, and be genuinely interested in the program they’ve chosen and the people they’re working alongside.“Volunteering at the Library allows me to do what I love, surrounded by beautiful, wonderful books in the company of friendly, like-minded people helping newcomers begin to feel like they’ve come home.”If you’d like to join the Library’s team of volunteers, please visit the Volunteers page.
Read more about "Stories Meet our Volunteers: Marian Erb Marian's work with the ESL Conversation Club helps find common ground"By day, Sean Brown is a software developer specializing in video game development. By night, he lends his expertise to the Calgary Public Library, volunteering for coding programs for kids and teens.It all started three years ago, when Sean graduated from university with a degree in Computer Science. He was looking to volunteer and knew the Library offered free coding programs. “It seemed like a really good fit,” he says.Sean, who had no previous volunteer experience, quickly settled into the new role. He’s now contributed more than 250 volunteer hours through different Library tech programs at Judith Umbach, Crowfoot, and Central.“I just like coming in and helping out,” Sean says. “It feels really good to go home from the end of a shift and think about all the people you helped.” Another benefit is meeting fellow volunteers, Sean says. “I’ve met a lot of really great friends from the programs.”At Central, Sean has helped two new tech programs get off to a strong start. He volunteered during the pilot for the VR Explorers program, where kids join an immersive journey with Google Expeditions using virtual reality headsets.He also volunteers every week as a Teen Tech Lab Guide for the new Open Lab program, where teens drop in and explore their interests through a range of technologies, from robots to sewing machines.Sean helps teens learn how to code using robots that can be programmed to complete actions — like somersaults and headstands — and respond to interactions. He also enjoys mentoring more experienced teen coders and sharing what it’s like to work in the tech industry.Maja Milavic, a volunteer coordinator at the Library, says Sean has excelled at each of the programs he’s volunteered with. He’s a reliable volunteer who is softspoken, kind, and easy to get along with.“He’s there for the fun, the camaraderie, for helping teens, and for supporting the Library,” she says.If you’d like to join the Library’s team of youth or adult volunteers, please visit the Volunteers page.
Read more about "Stories Meet our Volunteers: Sean Brown Sean found volunteering to be a good fit with his interests and expertise"From July 8 – 17, join us at Central Library to enjoy free Stampede activities, including live music, performances, storytimes, film screenings, and more. There's something for the whole family to enjoy!Remember, road closures will take place throughout the East Village and downtown core on July 8 to facilitate festivities, including 3 Street (in front of the Library). We recommend taking transit to visit the Library throughout Stampede week.
Read more about "Yahoo! It's Stampede week at the Library"Kalum hails from the Blood Tribe in Southern Alberta. He was inspired to make art by his grandparents, who were known internationally for their beadwork and regalia. Working in oil and watercolour, he is known for his portraiture and wildlife depictions.
Read more about "Kalum Teke Dan"The creation of these works inspires collaboration among artists of all disciplines, backgrounds, and experience levels. Having these pieces in the Library helps create an inclusive space for sharing and gathering of all Nations and communities, to learn and grow together.
Read more about "Through Indigenous Placemaking, we welcome artists from or with a connection to Treaty 7 to create permanent installations in Library locations."