The more reading a student does (whether it’s over the summer or during the school year), the more opportunity they have to build and strengthen their comprehension, vocabulary, critical thinking skills, background knowledge and efficiency. Research has shown that children without summer reading and learning support may lose one to three months of the reading skills they built in the previous school year. This, in addition to a disrupted and stressful school year, might leave families wondering, how can we keep reading and learning this summer, while still having fun?Join the Ultimate Summer ChallengeBlast off to free summer fun with the Ultimate Summer Challenge at Calgary Public Library. Kids ages 0 – 12 can reach reading milestones, complete activities, and attend free interactive online programs. Those ages 13 – 17 can join the Teen Takeover. Registration automatically enters you to win prizes that are out of this world! Tracking your progress online helps you earn badges and qualify for weekly prizes.Sign up for Ultimate Summer ChallengeRead aloudA great way to expose kids to books that are slightly outside their range is by reading more difficult books aloud. Generally, it is good for kids to read things at their independent level and be read to at a higher level because it helps to build vocabulary and helps makes the listener a better reader.Do something unexpectedRead in unexpected places and ways, like a tent or around the campfire. Switch roles and have kids read to you at their bedtime!ListenListening to audiobooks counts as reading too! Listening to books can be a great way to immerse yourself in a series and can make a long car trip fly by. Download kids audiobooks for free with your Library card in our Digital Library.Browse audiobooksRead before you watchRead the book before you watch the movie. Why not start a family book club this summer and invite grandparents who live far away to read the book too? Check out great online videos of Canadian author readings and illustrator demos from the Canadian Children’s Book Centre.Go to Canadian Children’s Book CentreShare through a book swapKids love to read recommendations from friends. This summer ask a group of friends to bring three to five titles over for a book swap. Kids will ask each other about the books and you'll naturally get the same kind of conversations that go on in the classroom.Get recommendations from the LibraryNeed new ideas? The Library is always a good place to start looking for children’s books. Check out our recommended reads for summer.See the listThis 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 website for information on the next live, online workshop in the series and for more tips and tools to support learning from home.
Read more about "Stories Top Tips for Reading and Learning All Summer Long The Kitchen Table Classroom: Slide into Summer""Calgary Public Library is committed to eliminating racial and social equity barriers. We stand with the communities we serve against racism and injustice." – Sarah Meilleur, CEOLinks and ResourcesThe Library is a signatory for the Urban Libraries Council’s Statement on Race and Social Equity. Children's Books on Racism on OverDriveChildren’s books on racism and prejudice as well as information about the history of African Americans in the US, including books about Harriet Tubman, Martin Luther King, and Rosa Parks. Black Lives Matter Reading List on OverDriveA reading list to help you stay informed about the history of systemic racism in America and the work of those who are trying to make a change. An Essential Black Lives Matter Film List on KanopyIf you're feeling overwhelmed by the news and want to take action, take the first step and deepen your understanding of racism and the experiences of Black people in America with these powerful and timely documentaries from Kanopy. The Skin We're In Reading List on OverDriveThis list of adult fiction books addresses racism as a topic.I Hope You Get This Message Reading List on OverDriveTeen reads about racial equity, social justice, and diversity.
Read more about "Stories Race and Social Equality Resources"This App Gives You Access to Hundreds of Video Tutorials for Free Become a pro at something without ever needing to leave the house (or even get off the couch). LinkedIn Learning for Library has a huge library of expert-led video tutorials that can help you launch that YouTube channel, take perfect photos, learn to code, or write a hit song. You can even get the app on your phone so you can learn something new anytime, anywhere. Here are a few of our favourite courses that you can access for free. All you need is a library membership to get started (no library card? Get it online and start using it immediately).AnimationEver imagined yourself working in an animation studio? You’re just a few clicks away from getting started in Animation. This course teaches you the basics of how to animate a 2D animal walk cycle, but Lynda offers courses on 3D animation and more advanced techniques as well.PodcastingYou’ve got an idea you want to share with the world, but you’re not sure how to get started. Why not learn how to Produce a Podcast? This course will introduce you to the information and equipment you need to get started so you can begin self-producing your podcast from anywhere. SongwritingWriting a great song isn’t always as easy as it looks, but it can be easier with a little instruction. Whether you’re just writing for fun or an aspiring musician, you’ll find proven tips and tricks to up your lyrical game in this course on Songwriting.Playing GuitarHave an instrument that’s collecting dust? Take music lessons for a variety of instruments, like Acoustic Guitar, or amp up the energy in your house with some Rock Guitar lessons. You can go at your own pace and take the lessons anywhere with you (we think playing the guitar on the front porch sounds like a nice way to spend an afternoon).YouTubingStarting a YouTube channel is one thing but creating engaging content that gets views can be a challenge. Led by viral video creator Ash Blodgett, YouTube Tips Weekly teaches you everything from how to properly host a giveaway to how to monetize your channel. If you’ve got the equipment and the passion, this course is your launch pad to YouTube success.GamingHave you considered turning your love of gaming into a career? This course on Careers in the Gaming Industry will teach you the concepts and skills required to be successful in the modern game industry — whether you want to build and finance your own game or land a job at a triple-A studio, with an indie team, or in mobile gaming. PhotographyYou don’t need an expensive camera to start expressing yourself through great photos. Whether you’re an aspiring influencer or casual photographer, learn how to up your smartphone photography game with this course in Mobile Photography. If you want to create amazing visual art with your camera, check out this course in Creative Photography Techniques. CodingGet started in a powerful coding language with Python for Students. If you’re interested in automation, game development, or web programming, dive into this introductory Python course designed specifically for high school students. By the end, you’ll have the tools and knowledge to build a complete Python project. Want even more free things to do at home? Be sure to check out our Library at Home section for more resources like these.Not yet a member? Sign up for your free Library card and start using it immediately.
Read more about "Stories LinkedIn Learning for Library for Teens"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"It is with heavy hearts that we share the news that Bill Ptacek passed away peacefully on Tuesday, October 15.Bill was a visionary who came to Calgary to bring the new Central Library to life but left his mark in ways we are still counting. He played a pivotal role in re-imagining how Calgarians connect and use libraries and he will be deeply missed.We will remember Bill for the incredible energy and vigor he brought into libraries by creating spaces that are lively, spark discussion, and are welcoming community hubs. But mostly, we will miss his infectious personality and his ability to inspire greatness in all of us.In the coming days and weeks we will determine how to best celebrate Bill’s legacy at the Calgary Public Library and his impact on our community.Our thoughts are with Bill’s family and friends.BiographyBill Ptacek joined the Calgary Public Library as its CEO in early 2014. Previously, Bill was the Director of the King County Library System in western Washington State, where he led King County to become the Library Journal's "Library of the Year" in 2011.During his time at Calgary Public Library he worked hard on developing relationships for the Library with government and community groups, and partnerships with the school boards. He also led multiple new initiatives, including a full rebranding, a new catalogue and website, a focus on safety at the Central Library, free library cards for all, the growth of the Library’s Foundation, and a refresh in the design and collections at all libraries in the system.He was passionate about early literacy initiatives, including building 12 early learning centres across Calgary and actively grew the reach of the Library through two new locations and the opening of the new Central Library on November 1, 2018.Recently, the City of Calgary named Bill as its 2018 Citizen of the Year and the Urban Libraries Council presented him with the 2019 ULC Executive Board Award.
Read more about "Stories Remembering Bill Ptacek"An exhibit featuring miniature red felt dresses is visiting five libraries across Calgary in 2020. Hosted in partnership with Awo Taan Healing Lodge Society, this exhibit is a collaboration of community in support of Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls across Canada.Indigenous and non-Indigenous people were invited to sit and create a red dress at Central Library in fall 2019, and in other communities throughout the province. Each dress represents a missing or murdered loved one.“The Library strives to be a safe space where meaningful conversations take place and community happens. I applaud Awo Taan for their Red Dress Campaign and we are proud to partner with them in the hope that it will promote cross-cultural awareness, provide healing and comfort, and help fight racism,” says Mark Asberg, CEO, Calgary Public Library.The exhibit can be viewed at five libraries throughout March and early April. In addition to the exhibit being available while the Library is open, there will also be a presentation at each location, with personal stories guided by elders and discussions about the importance and support for this national crisis. No registration is required for the exhibit or the accompanying presentation.View the Red Dress Exhibit at these Library locations, and join us for a presentation and discussion at each location. Central Library: March 1 – 7, 2020Memorial Park Library: March 8 – 14, 2020Forest Lawn Library: March 15 – 21, 2020Crowfoot Library: March 22 – 28, 2020Bowness Library: March 29 – April 4, 2020About the Awo Taan Healing Lodge SocietyThe Awo Taan Healing Lodge Society is dedicated to supporting the emotional, mental, physical, and spiritual healing and wellbeing of women during their time of crisis and beyond. The shelter offers a full range of in-house crisis and outreach crisis, healing, prevention programs, Youth programs, Parent Link, Family Wellness Centre. Awo Taan provides wholistic support and guidance to women and children and families from all cultures.About the Red Dress CampaignOriginating from The REDress Project, as an aesthetic response, the Red Dress has become an international symbol for MMIWG. The Awo Taan Healing Lodge Society launched the Red Dress Campaign earlier this year to provide support and awareness workshops to Indigenous and non-Indigenous people. Community outreach has included providing trained support workers to help those affected to share their stories in the hope that it will create a stronger call to action for all Canadians to address this urgent crisis.About MMIWGMMIWG (Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls) is a national crisis that requires the public’s awareness and engagement. Indigenous women and girls are at higher risk and over-represented in sexual exploitation and trafficking compared to non-Indigenous populations.The plight of Indigenous women and girls in Canada has gained international attention and in 2015, the United Nations Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women called on Canada to launch an inquiry and noted its “failure to provide adequate and effective responses” to missing and murdered Indigenous women and girls.An RCMP report, released in 2014 determined there were 1,017 homicides of Indigenous women between 1980 and 2012, revealing a rate of about 2.6 deaths a month. However, the National Inquiry into Murdered and Missing Indigenous Women and Girls noted that the 2014 RCMP report likely underestimated the true number. The inquiry also noted that Alberta had the highest number of MMWIG cases between 2015-2019.
Read more about "Stories The Red Dress Exhibit in Calgary Libraries"Playing “Gallery Games” is a great way to make viewing art a fun and engaging process for children and can help foster visual literacy skills. Many of these games can be played one-on-one as well as in a group. Try playing them while viewing art in person, reproduced in books, or in an online exhibition. All Ages Shape DetectiveNotice and draw the shapes and symbols you see in an artwork on small cards. Children can work alone or in pairs to find shapes in the artwork. For younger children, this activity can be done as a large group to find simple geometric shapes, such as circles and triangles. Line HuntNotice and draw specific lines from the artwork on small cards. Children can work alone or in pairs. Ask a volunteer to act out his or her line through body movement while the rest of the group tries to figure out which line in the artwork is being represented. Painting in ActionAn artist (one of the children) arranges the other children to become the artwork. Children use their bodies to become lines, shapes, colours, as well as objects in the work like rocks, trees, buildings and figures. The artist can guide them to where they need to stand and make suggestions for how to move their body. This is a great activity to learn about space in a painting, like the foreground, middle-ground, and background. Ages 6-9 ArtWordA caregiver or educator writes descriptive words on small cards, one word per card. Some descriptive words examples are smooth, rough, warm, gloomy, bounce, surprise, lonely, etc. Have children choose one card from the pile and try to find a piece of artwork that best matches their word. Encourage them to explain their choice. What will you choose?Divide children into groups and assign a space to each group of children. For example, laundromat, grocery store, school, museum, kitchen, office, restaurant, library, hospital, etc. Each group then must choose five pieces of artwork that they believe would best fit in their assigned space. For example, a group assigned “kitchen” might choose a painting of a bowl of fruit. The group presents their choices and explains why those were chosen above the others. Amazing Shrink Machine Imagine shrinking down to the size of your thumb. You are now able to enter right into the artwork. Where would you enter the picture? Where would you travel? How far could you go? What would get in your way? What sounds can you hear? What can you taste? What can you smell? Art CharadesA child chooses an artwork without telling the group which one. Without speaking, they describe the artwork (lines, shapes, colours, and objects) through movements and actions. The rest of the group tries to guess the work. Older Children and Teens (9 – 17) EliminationImagine that the next place this group of artworks will be exhibited is very small and one of the artworks must be removed. Which one would you choose and why? Be prepared to defend your choice and explain your reasoning. Personal TasteChoose one of the artworks that would appeal to each of the following characters and describe why it would attract them: an elephant, a mosquito, a dancer, a baby, or a teacher. Curator GameAsk children if they know what a curator is. Explain the job of a curator, which is to select and defend artworks to be exhibited in a gallery. In small teams, children are assigned a work of art (or to be more challenging, they choose one they already like). Children then place themselves in the role of the curator and write down some positive statements about the artwork and a statement on why it is included in the gallery. The 33rd annual Children’s Art Exhibition, created by students at Wildflower Arts Centre and North Mount Pleasant Arts Centre, is online at the Calgary Public Library! Enjoy art created by nearly 100 students, ages 3 to 17, in sculpture, drawing, and mixed media.
Read more about "Stories Gallery Games for Caregivers and Educators"On Friday, November 9, Calgary Public Library proudly celebrated its 4,300 volunteers at the 44th annual Volunteer Recognition Awards ceremony, held at Central Library.Library volunteers allow the Library to offer more programs to Calgarians, in more locations, more often. Every year, our volunteers contribute more than 80,000 hours of their time to the Library. During the recent four-day opening celebrations for Central Library, 400 roles were filled by volunteers, who contributed over 1,500 hours. For the tours alone, volunteers engaged with over 1,800 patrons.Volunteers help the Library enhance services and strengthen connections to the community. They help ensure that there is universal access to resources that lead Calgary Public Library members to learn, be inspired, and connect to their community. Library volunteers give their time, energy, and talent — and our members are the direct beneficiaries every year.The following outstanding volunteers received awards at the event:Milestone Service Award – Margaret Manko Rising Star Award – Kim Dolny Emerging Leaders Award – Abby Goldstein Bright Futures Scholarship – Alisha Elbrahim Teamwork Award – Dr. Susan Bennett and Dr. Stefania Forlini Legacy Award – William Musani Library Builder Award – Janet Hutchinson Library Builder Award – Patricia Moore Youth volunteers are integral to the work of the Library. Over 55% of our volunteers are between the ages of 12 – 17. The celebration featured a youth speaker, Asha Nenshi Nathoo, who volunteers for several programs including ELL school success, Action Squad, Conoco Phillips Reading Buddies, and special events.Thank you to each one of our volunteers for another year of incredible volunteering. Your work is an integral part of a strong and vibrant Calgary. You ensure our city and our country is Library strong!
Read more about "Stories Library Volunteers Recognized at Awards Event"Learn about the Greatest Outdoor Show on Earth in our local history section.
Read more about "Calgary's Story"Postcards, images, and more from the wild west.
Read more about "Frontier Life"During Stampede week, we're screening these films for free in the Patricia A. Whelan Performance Hall on Level 1 of Central Library.
Read more about "Grab the popcorn and join us for a movie"Roland is an artist of Stoney Nakoda heritage. Raised in the Alberta foothills, he is widely recognized for his interpretations of nature and traditional themes of language, culture, and history. He is a distinguished mentor to other emerging artists.
Read more about "Roland Rollinmud"Roland Rollinmud
Read more about "Survival Harvesting (Past)"Adrian Stimson
Read more about "Art as Language"Jesse Gouchey, Tanisha Wesley, and Autumn Whiteway
Read more about "The Spirit Within"