Calgary Public Library Announces New Program in Partnership with Calgary Fire Department MEDIA RELEASEFOR IMMEDIATE RELEASEJanuary 8, 2019Calgary, AB — The Calgary Public Library in partnership with the Calgary Fire Department is thrilled to announce a new program that launches this week.From January through June, children and families will have the opportunity to participate in weekly drop-in Firefighter Storytimes at select Library locations. Visitors will enjoy a story read by a local firefighter, and, availability and weather permitting, a tour of a working fire engine – a special experience for children of all ages. This unique partnership will also see firefighters sharing life-saving fire safety tips with the communities in which they serve.“What better way to inspire early learning and literacy in children than with real-life firefighters reading to them?” said Mark Asberg, Director of Service Delivery for the Calgary Public Library. “These local heroes are helping to set the foundation for future learning. We are proud to be working with our partners at the Calgary Fire Department to bring lifechanging programs like this to Calgary’s youngest citizens.”The Library first partnered with the Calgary Fire Department for Engine 23, a popular early learning installation at the old Central Library. Following firefighter and truck visits during 2018 Love Your Library Day, a plan was made to pilot an expanded storytime program across the library system. After the closure of the old Central Library, Engine 23 was moved into storage and plans are underway to install it at a new community library location in 2019.“The Calgary Fire Department encourages our members to visit public libraries in our communities and spend some time reading to children,” says Calgary Fire Chief Steve Dongworth. “I want to thank the Calgary Public Library for working with us to help spark a love of reading among children and ensuring they have access to the reading resources they need.”The Library locations selected for the pilot program were chosen based on their proximity to local fire stations. Storytimes will take place on Sunday afternoons at two different Library locations, beginning at 2:00 pm. Each storytime will last about 30 minutes.A full list of dates and locations of upcoming Firefighter Storytimes can be found at calgarylibrary.ca/programs.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 14.6 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 — opened on November 1, 2018.- 30 -Media Contacts:Mary KapustaDirector, CommunicationsCalgary Public Library403.774.7256Mary.Kapusta@calgarylibrary.caGemma PasquarelliAccount ExecutiveEdelman403.817.0622Gemma.Pasquarelli@edelman.com
Read more about "Stories"Learn about science, nature, culture, archaeology, and space. Read the complete National Geographic Kids magazine from 2009 to the present, as well as eBooks, videos, and images. Not sure how to start? Watch the tutorial on Niche Academy: National Geographic Kids tutorial.
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Read more about "Recommended reads from the Indigenous Artist in Residence"Share your skills with one of these programs Math, Science, and Technology Math Quest Help students and their families as they complete numeracy quests throughout the Library. School Support: Math Help students in Grades 5 to 9 with their homework, and foster good study habits to inspire lifelong learning. Teen Tech Lab Guide Help teens build their creative and technology skills through inquiry-based exploration. Career Coaching Work with Library patrons one-on-one to improve their job searching skills. Tech Mentors Help Library patrons one-on-one with basic computer questions. Literacy, Art, and Music Play Champions Help foster literacy in your community by sharing early literacy basics with parents and kids up to age five at the Library’s Early Learning Centres. Read With Me Help a struggling reader in Grade 1 to 6 discover the magic of reading by sharing fun books and literacy games.
Read more about "Share your skills with one of these programs Math, Science, and Technology Literacy, Art, and Music"Growing up near Fish Creek Library, Lindsay Hracs would visit the pyramidal building often. “It’s just somewhere I always gravitated to,” she says.Through university — a bachelor’s and master’s degree in linguistics — Lindsay would travel out of her way to study at the Library. Today, Lindsay is a PhD candidate in linguistics, and Fish Creek Library continues to be an important part of her life.It’s now where Lindsay volunteers with the Library’s Learning Advantage program, helping an adult learner. Over weekly meetups in Fish Creek Library’s breakout rooms, Lindsay and her learner work towards her learner’s goal of attending university.These days, they’re reading Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone and working on information processing. When the pair was matched three years ago, the learner was getting by in daily life but struggling with reading and writing."There’s so much stigma around not having perfect literacy skills that the acknowledgment of needing help is a huge hurdle in itself," Lindsay says.Patricia Stephenson, Learning Advantage Program Coordinator, says people are often shocked to learn how prevalent low literacy rates are. Data from Statistics Canada shows that 17% of adults in Canada are essentially illiterate, scoring at level one or below on a system with five proficiency levels.Through one-on-one coaching and support, volunteers with the free Learning Advantage program help others. Lindsay has seen her learner’s literacy skills — as well as her independence and confidence — blossom.For Lindsay, the meetups have become a favourite part of her week. "When you have a personal connection with someone and you can help them meet their goals, it’s just so worth it," she says.While Lindsay brings a deep interest in language and the mind to the volunteer role, such a background is not necessary."Anyone who has time and enjoys books and reading can do this, and I think they should do it," Lindsay says. "It’s awesome."If you’d like to join the Library’s team of youth or adult volunteers,
Read more about "Stories Meet our Volunteers: Lindsay Hracs Helping others meet their goals inspires Lindsay to volunteer"Three Ways to Celebrate Freedom to Read Week Even in 2018, books are still being challenged and facing formal attempts of removal from schools and libraries. Freedom to Read Week, running from Sunday, February 25 to Saturday, March 3, 2018, is an annual event encouraging Canadians to think about and reaffirm their commitment to intellectual freedom, which is guaranteed under the Charter of Rights and Freedoms. Here are three ways Calgarians can participate:1. Pick up a Challenged BookOn Monday, Feburary 26, Bill Ptacek, Calgary Public Library CEO, will launch Freedom to Read Week in Calgary by presenting Mayor Naheed Nenshi and City Council with a copy of This One Summer. Written by Mariko Tamaki and illustrated by her cousin Jillian Tamaki, the award-winning graphic novel is a coming of age story set in Ontario’s cottage country about two preteen friends.This One Summer was named the most challenged book in 2016 by the American Library Association. The book includes LGBT characters, drug use and profanity, and is considered sexually explicit with mature themes. School libraries in Florida and Minnesota have removed the book from shelves, a move protested by free-speech groups.2. Celebrate Rebel Readers On Monday, February 26, from 5:30 to 7 pm, join us for Freedom to Read Week activities at Memorial Park Library. Discover an assortment of “rebel” activities on the Main Floor, including banned books trivia and mugshots, readings from censored LGBTQ content by local drag queen royalty, and a curated collection of books and videos from the Calgary Outlink LGBTQ Library and Fairy Tales Presentation Society. Ages 16 and up. Doors open at 5 pm. The collection will be on display until Sunday, March 4.Then, from 7 to 8 pm, Wordfest, the Writers’ Guild of Alberta, and Calgary Public Library are teaming up to present a surprise, incendiary program on This One Summer. Head to the Second Floor for a discussion about the censorship and controversy surrounding Mariko Tamaki and Jillian Tamaki’s This One Summer. Anne Logan, of the website I’ve Read This, hosts the discussion.3. Flaunt Banned BooksShop the Calgary Public Library Foundation’s Library Store and flaunt banned books. Put a sock in censorship with banned books socks, pour your favourite hot drink into the banned books mug and watch as banned book titles begin to appear, stay warm with a banned books scarf, and brighten up your restricted reading section with a banned books matchbox set. Plus, every purchase through librarystore.ca supports the essential work of Calgary Public Library and enhances programs, services, and collections.
Read more about "Stories"Listen to audiobooks, or read eBooks, digital magazines and graphic novels on your computer, mobile device, or e-reader. New titles are added every week.
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Read more about "Read All Winter Away"Three Ways to Celebrate Freedom to Read Week Even in 2018, books are still being challenged and facing formal attempts of removal from schools and libraries. Freedom to Read Week, running from Sunday, February 25 to Saturday, March 3, 2018, is an annual event encouraging Canadians to think about and reaffirm their commitment to intellectual freedom, which is guaranteed under the Charter of Rights and Freedoms. Here are three ways Calgarians can participate:1. Pick up a Challenged BookOn Monday, Feburary 26, Bill Ptacek, Calgary Public Library CEO, will launch Freedom to Read Week in Calgary by presenting Mayor Naheed Nenshi and City Council with a copy of This One Summer. Written by Mariko Tamaki and illustrated by her cousin Jillian Tamaki, the award-winning graphic novel is a coming of age story set in Ontario’s cottage country about two preteen friends.This One Summer was named the most challenged book in 2016 by the American Library Association. The book includes LGBT characters, drug use and profanity, and is considered sexually explicit with mature themes. School libraries in Florida and Minnesota have removed the book from shelves, a move protested by free-speech groups.2. Celebrate Rebel Readers On Monday, February 26, from 5:30 to 7 pm, join us for Freedom to Read Week activities at Memorial Park Library. Discover an assortment of “rebel” activities on the Main Floor, including banned books trivia and mugshots, readings from censored LGBTQ content by local drag queen royalty, and a curated collection of books and videos from the Calgary Outlink LGBTQ Library and Fairy Tales Presentation Society. Ages 16 and up. Doors open at 5 pm. The collection will be on display until Sunday, March 4.Then, from 7 to 8 pm, Wordfest, the Writers’ Guild of Alberta, and Calgary Public Library are teaming up to present a surprise, incendiary program on This One Summer. Head to the Second Floor for a discussion about the censorship and controversy surrounding Mariko Tamaki and Jillian Tamaki’s This One Summer. Anne Logan, of the website I’ve Read This, hosts the discussion.3. Flaunt Banned BooksShop the Calgary Public Library Foundation’s Library Store and flaunt banned books. Put a sock in censorship with banned books socks, pour your favourite hot drink into the banned books mug and watch as banned book titles begin to appear, stay warm with a banned books scarf, and brighten up your restricted reading section with a banned books matchbox set. Plus, every purchase through librarystore.ca supports the essential work of Calgary Public Library and enhances programs, services, and collections.
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