You can learn about and register for programs for children of all ages here. To see which programs you are already registered for, click here
Stories come to life with animated pictures and words that help young children learn to read. Fiction stories are paired with nonfiction books on similar topics to keep the learning going. Choose books about animals, people, imagination, music, counting, and so much more. Continue learning after the story with fun quizzes and puzzles.Not sure how to start? Watch the tutorial in Niche Academy: Bookflix tutorial
Read more about "Read-along storybooks for early learners."Four years ago, Henry Bastidas left his home in Venezuela and moved to Canada. Henry sought a safer place; he lived near the capital city Caracas, one of the most dangerous cities in the world.An engineer in Venezuela, Henry arrived in Calgary speaking only Spanish. He soon started an ESL program at the University of Calgary, where a friend recommended he also attend drop-in ESL classes at the Calgary Public Library. Eager to improve his English, he decided to check out the free newcomer programs.That little tip from a friend spurred Henry to get a Library card, instantly connecting him to his new city. “Back home, we don’t have libraries like this. There, a library is just storage for books,” Henry says. “Here, I love how dynamic the libraries are, all the activities they do. People are engaged and involved and I think that’s a very good thing.”The ESL classes at the Library helped Henry gain confidence in speaking English. Next, he tried out other free Library programs, including small business programs to work on his resumé and LinkedIn profile and technology programs to learn Excel and PowerPoint.Giving BackIn early 2015, less than a year after arriving in Canada, Henry applied to volunteer at Calgary Public Library. “The Library helped me a lot,” Henry says. “After I finished my courses, I decided to try to give back to this community that now I call home.”Henry began volunteering for kids’ math and coding programs, first at Central Library. “I just wanted to try and help kids a little bit with the things I know, like math,” he says. The experience helped him land his first job in Canada; with no work history here, he says the volunteer gig on his resumé was crucial.As Henry has moved throughout Calgary, he’s continued to volunteer at the Library closest to him, including Forest Lawn, Village Square, Fish Creek, and Sage Hill libraries.Today, Henry studies energy asset management at SAIT and works part-time. He continues to volunteer with Math Quest, helping students in Grades 1 to 6 use math to complete challenges throughout the Library. The after-school program makes numeracy fun — for the students, and for Henry.Energizing Experience“The kids get so excited every time they read a card and accomplish any of the quests,” he says. “I like how energetic they are. Every time I leave the Library, I feel like I did something good here. Instead of draining your energy, this gives you more energy.”“Henry’s strong commitment to helping students learn is a real gift to our youth volunteers that he mentors and to the children participating in our programs,” says Muneerah Vasanji, Volunteer Resources Coordinator at Calgary Public Library. “Henry stands out for his solid work ethic, patience, dedication, and leadership. Henry genuinely cares about making a tangible difference in our community and we are so fortunate to have him as an integral part of our volunteer team.”Henry had never volunteered before; it’s not really part of the norm in Venezuela, he says. “But here, I feel like it’s very important to do. Even though sometimes I have a very busy schedule, going to school and working, I always find when I make time to come volunteer I have fun.,” Henry says.Henry continues to be a dedicated Library member, recommending free programs to others and taking time to look around and pick up a new book. “The Library is my happy place,” he says. “There is always something going on, and you can find everything you are into.”We want to know how the Library has made a difference in your life. Submit your own Library Story online.
Read more about "Stories ‘The Library is My Happy Place’ Henry Bastidas helps others learn as part of his Library Story"These videos are part of the Newcomer Stories Collection from the Centre for Newcomers, as their 30th Anniversary Legacy Gift to the Community.
Read more about "Newcomer Stories Collection "Staying indoors and enjoying some time at home? These free Library resources are your new best friends. There’s so much you can do with your Library card without ever having to leave your couch. Let’s get you set up! Books Libby by OverDrive can turn any mobile device (not just eReaders) into a virtual Library. To satisfy your book cravings immediately, we recommend filtering your search to only see eBooks and audiobooks that are currently available for checkout. You should also check out the “Skip the Line” feature, which lets you immediately take out popular and in-demand titles for a week at a time. Get help downloading Libby. Film and Movies With Kanopy, you'll never run out of binge-worthy TV again. Once you sign up online with your Library account information, you can download the free app on Apple TV, Roku, or other television devices and log in to start streaming popular films, award-winning documentaries, and kids shows like Franklin, Little Bear, and Max & Ruby. Get help downloading Kanopy. Music Build your ultimate playlist on Freegal Music, or listen to tunes recommended by staff. You can stream music for three hours each day on this app, and download up to five free songs per week. Popular Top 40 artists like Beyoncé and Ed Sheeran can be found here, but so can relaxing instrumental tracks, and storytimes and songs for little learners. Get help using Freegal. News Stay in-the-know at home with domestic and international newspapers on PressReader. Newspapers and magazines from over 100 countries are available in multiple languages. You can even save and print articles at home with this app. Is New York Times your preferred paper? Access it for free using your Library card. Get help using PressReader. Learning Take some time for you and learn something new from home. You can access tons of online learning courses for free through the Library, including some that offer certificates of completion. Check out Lynda.com and Gale Courses for free instruction from experts in everything from Photoshop and Microsoft, to project management, design, and culture. Want to learn a new language? You have free access to Rosetta Stone and Pronunciator with your Library card. Want to explore more of our free Digital Library offerings? Check out everything that’s available with your free Library card.
Read more about "Stories Free Library Resources You Can Enjoy from Home"Writers ages 13-17 can enjoy weekly co-writing time with their peers.
Read more about "Drop-In Teen Writing Cafe"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"Eleven-year-old Esandi Babaranda loves Calgary’s libraries. She has been visiting libraries weekly for the past four years, ever since her family moved to Calgary from Vancouver.Esandi goes to Crowfoot Library, in the city’s northwest, most often. “It’s beautiful here,” she says.It’s hard for Esandi to pick her favourite thing about Crowfoot Library, because there is so much she likes to do.She enjoys reading, especially the Magic Tree House and Dragon Masters series. Her preferred reading nook at Crowfoot Library reminds her of the comfy leather couch she likes to read on at home.“I like that you can read quietly in those little cubicles,” Esandi says. “It’s my little secret hideout.” She also loves to play at the Library. “The best thing here is the family zone. I spend time with my brother, dad, and mom, making puzzles, playing on the play structures, and participating in Library activities,” she says. Esandi’s six-year-old brother Warun likes playing games on the play structure, joining Library programs, and reading books. Their father Lanka is also a big fan of libraries. Originally from Sri Lanka, he appreciates that Calgary’s libraries are about much more than books.“There’s tremendous opportunities here, for connecting with people, for joining programs,” he says. He has joined a Toastmasters club that meets at Crowfoot Library and taken online classes with Gale Courses.Esandi also gets weekly visits from the Library to her elementary school, thanks to the Book Truck. Esandi likes that she can return books she checked out from Crowfoot Library to the Book Truck, or sign out new books inside the mobile Library.Crowfoot Library is also a good place to study for school, Esandi says. Sometimes she studies at home using Solaro, an online Library resource that has course lessons, reviews, and practice tests. “It’s helped me lots,” she says.For Esandi, the Library is like a good friend. “I’m proud to be a friend of the Library,” she says.We want to know how the Library has made a difference in your life. Submit your own Library Story online.
Read more about "Stories ‘A Friend of the Library’ Esandi Babaranda explores everything a library can offer in her Library Story"'\n ', 'Read the latest news articles published in the ', 'New York Times online', ' newspaper, or research history, technology, and politics in the archives. Find articles and editorials from 1851 to 1922, and 1981 to present.', 'Note: Full access to the Games section is not available with this version.', '\n '
Read more about "'The latest news from the New York Times newspaper'"Houmou Guiro is no stranger to libraries. She has visited them since she was seven years old, checking out books every few weeks. But when Houmou moved from France to Canada two years ago, she discovered a library system much different than the one she was used to.There were books to read in Calgary’s libraries, plus so much more. Houmou joined an ESL Coffee and Conversation Club to practice her English, and later signed up for an ESL Writing Club. She improved her English skills and met friends at the programs, which helped her to feel more at home in a new city.“The Library in Calgary is very awesome,” Houmou says. “In Paris, you take your books and that’s it. Here, you have services for babies, for newcomers. If you want to open a business, you have services. It’s all free and open and you can take 99 books out.”Houmou credits a resumé development program she took at the Library with helping her get her first job in Canada, at a retail store downtown. “I had a French resumé, but it’s very different how you do it in Canada. So I learned how to do it and got help to improve my resumé,” she says.She now works for a not-profit organization called PIA, which offers services and programs to francophone immigrants and refugees in Calgary. In this role, Houmou tells other newcomers about available services in the city, including all they can do with a free Library card.“I tell them ‘You have to go to the Library! It’s very good. You can take out a lot of books and a lot of everything else too,’” she says.Houmou is also an avid reader, regularly checking out French and English titles. She blogs about the books she’s reading and her life in Canada. Lately she’s been reading a lot of books about entrepreneurship and marketing, as she works on launching her own business: a French tutoring service for kids.When Houmou had her first child, Demba, she took him to a weekly Baby Rhyme Time program. “I didn’t know any English songs, so it was very good for me to meet some parents, talk about our babies, and sing with them in English. It was so cool,” she says.She brings 19-month-old Demba to Louise Riley Library or the new Central Library every few weeks, just as her family used to take her to the Library in France. “We play, we take books out, we read. He likes turning the pages,” she says. “He really likes coming here. I like the Library so much too.”We want to know how the Library has made a difference in your life. Submit your own Library Story online.
Read more about "Stories 'It's all free and open and you can take 99 books out' Houmou Guiro's Library Story helped her feel more at home in a new city"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"Take your place in the story circle, a welcoming environment where you’ll have the opportunity to tell a short traditional or personal story. Everyone is welcome to join the...
Read more about "2022 Storyteller in Residence – Tellaround Story Sharing Circle"Napi's World: Stories and Teachings from the Land
Read more about "Stories and teachings from the land."Daniel Rankin and his daughter Christina stumbled across Memorial Park Library, and signing up for a Library card only brought them closer together.We want to know how the Library has made a difference in your life. Submit your own Library Story online.
Read more about "Stories Daniel & Christina Rankin’s Library Story A father and daughter bond in this Library Story"Whether you live right on the edge of Calgary’s city limits and drive to work downtown, or live in the heart of the city and hop on transit to get where you need to go, many Calgarians have a commute to contend with. If that travel time is starting to get you down, don’t worry — you can transform it with these resources, all free with your Library card.AudiobooksIf your drive to work keeps your hands at the wheel, or your walk means keeping an eye out for obstacles, that doesn’t mean you can’t still be catching up on your reading. Library members can stream or download hours of audiobook titles from AudioBookCloud, OverDrive, and Libby to listen to on their way to work.eBooksTired of lugging around books to read on the train or bus? Opt for the ease of an eBook on your phone or tablet. With eBooks from Libby, LitFinder, and a resource just for Alberta eBooks, you can store thousands of great reads right in your pocket. For younger readers, check out BookFlix, Study Buddy, and TumbleBook Library for children’s eBooks.Movies and TV ShowsCan’t find time to watch the latest movies and TV shows? Start and end your day with shows and movies on Kanopy. This Digital Resource offers over 30,000 documentaries, classics, international films, and training videos, including selections from the Criterion Collection, Great Courses, and Frontline series, along with film and TV for kids.Newspapers and MagazinesIf you like to start your day by perusing the morning paper, the Library can help. Use Digital Resources including the New York Times Online, Canadian Newsstream, and PressReader to read news from local and international publications. If magazines are your preference, you can read popular publications with Flipster Online Magazines, and PressReader including People, Macleans, Time, Canadian Geographic, and Vogue.
Read more about "Stories Four Ways to Transform Your Commute with Free Library Resources"