The 'Build a Book Bag' service is no longer available. You can find books and other Library materials by searching the catalogue. Ebooks and audiobooks are also available through the Libby app.
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Read more about "'Discover Local Authors'"The new year is a popular time to set goals for the months ahead. Let the Library help you make those resolutions stick! With hundreds of free resources, programs, and books at your fingertips, we’re confident that you can crush this year’s goals.Get activeIf taking better care of your health is on your list this year, but you know you won’t follow through with a gym membership, join us for some fun, free exercise at the Library. Put your best foot forward at Swingin’ Sundays or loosen up with Yoga at Central Library. Learn some easy new meals from our Eat Clean booklist, and research ways of improving your wellness using Health Source.Watch your walletIf money is on your mind after an expensive holiday season, sign up for free finance programs to learn how to take control of your money, curb your spending, and grow your wealth. Staff-curated titles can also help you Tighten Your Financial Belt.Learn a new languageOn Rosetta Stone, you can learn over 30 languages, including Spanish, Italian, Japanese, Chinese (Mandarin), Hindi, and Persian (Farsi), for free with your Library card, or improve your English skills with interactive lessons. If you prefer in-person instruction, stop by an ESL Coffee and Conversation meeting, or visit the Indigenous Languages Resource Centre. Treaty 7 Language Books are also available to sign out at several community libraries.Make some memoriesLooking for a new way to spend quality time with loved ones this year? Free drop-in programs like Chess in the Library, Crack the Code, and Firefighter Storytime are fun for every age, while little learners in particular will love exploring our Early Learning Centres. Back at home, have a free movie night with selections from Kanopy. You can also check out Ancestry for free during your next Library visit to learn about the family you didn’t know you had.Read moreWe knew you would ask — and we’ve got tips to help you fit more books into your busy schedule. Can’t decide what to read first? Check out our staff-curated booklists to get some ideas to suit your interests. Make reading an event by joining a Book Discussion Group or signing out a Book Club in a Bag with friends. Save some money and cancel subscriptions — you can turn your mobile device into an eReader and audiobook player all in one with Libby and take your book everywhere you go.Sign up for your free Library card to get started!
Read more about "Stories New Year, New You with Library Resources"The Ultimate Summer Challenge is a fun, free way for all ages to keep reading and learning during the summer months at the Library. Check back later for information and registration about Ultimate Summer Challenge 2024.
Read more about "Ultimate Summer Challenge"Returns, Holds, and Fines How can I return Library materials? Materials can be returned inside when the Library is open. Exterior book return chutes also remain open during and after open hours at most Library locations. I have a hold ready, can I pick it up? Yes, you can enter the Library to pick up your holds. My book is due, but I can’t come to the Library. What do I do? Your items will automatically renew the morning of their due date, up to four times. If you receive email notifications from the Library, an email will be sent on the due date to let you know whether auto-renewal was successful. The Library has permanently moved to a Fine Free model to help Calgarians during this challenging time and reduce barriers to service.
Read more about "Returns, Holds, and Fines"The world outside may be chilly, but there are still so many ways to enjoy winter – both cozy at home and out in the snow! For the month of February, Chinook Blast invites you to bring the whole family to check out local artists illuminating our winter weekend nights with light installations around downtown Calgary.Winter Froth (photographed above by @laurenmneves) is part of Chinook Blast. The balloon installation and selfie booth created by Calgary Party 50 that is on display right outside of Central Library on February 26 — 28 and Stephen Avenue Place on February 19 — 22.That’s not all there is to do for free during the snowy days of February! Here are some more fun and easy ideas for family winter activities that you can access from home with your FREE Library membership. Don’t have a Library card? Sign up online and start using it immediately.Check out this winter fun booklist for kidsThese staff-picked titles will inspire you and your kids to bundle up and explore the wonderful world of winter.Listen to cozy winter playlists on FreegalLet music create a cozy atmosphere in your home with Freegal. Explore playlists curated just for winter vibes or find songs by your favourite artists. Stream up to three hours per day of free music and download up to five songs per week.Watch shows about winter fun on Kanopy KidsStream kids’ TV shows for free on Kanopy Kids! Right now, they have a Winter Fun playlist full of winter-themed episodes of kids’ TV shows, like “What Will Little Bear Wear?” and “Lemonade in Winter.”Learn about what winter is like for Indigenous PeoplesRead about various Indigenous seasonal traditions and what it’s like to live on the Land during the winter by exploring the Indigenous Peoples Atlas of Canada.Learn about winter birds with Birds of the WorldDid you know that some types of birds can only be seen during the winter in Calgary? Dress warmly and go birdwatching in one of Calgary’s parks, then use Birds of the World to learn about the birds you saw.Chinook Blast Book Launch with Radical BooksJoin us during Chinook Blast for a virtual program of author readings and a book launch, featuring eight local authors. A moderated Q and A will follow the readings. The event takes place Saturday, February 27 at 2:30pm.
Read more about "Stories Free Winter Fun with the Library and Chinook Blast"History of Memorial Park Library Memorial Park Library was Alberta’s first public library. The effort to build it was spearheaded by Annie Davidson, one of Calgary’s cultural pioneers, beginning in 1906. As the founder and president of the Calgary Women’s Literary Club, Davidson organized a petition to prove to City Hall that there was enough interest to support a public library in Calgary. American steel industrialist Andrew Carnegie offered Calgary City Council a total of $80,000 to build a library, so long as the City provided the site, books, equipment and maintenance for the facility. The city supplied $20,000, and the Province of Alberta provided $10,000 towards the purchase of books. The money from the Carnegie Foundation would be worth over $2 million in 2022. Central Park Library, as it was known then, opened on January 2, 1912, under the leadership of Chief Librarian Alexander Calhoun, a classics scholar from Ontario. On opening day, it housed 5,000 books, chosen by Calhoun to “satisfy the thirst of all classes of individuals.” The carving of an open book above the main doors of the Library was constructed by local stonemasons, and is still visible today. Memorial Park Library was named a provincial historic site in 1976, and in 2018, the Library and surrounding park were designated a National Historic Site . Following this, in 2020 the location underwent renovations to restore the décor of its interior to more closely resemble what it looked like on opening over 110 years ago. Photo: Calgary Public Library Archives, Our Story in Pictures
Read more about "History of Memorial Park Library"International Women's Day is Monday, March 8. It's a day dedicated to celebrating the social, economic, cultural and political achievements of women, and consider what more needs to be done to achieve gender parity.Calgary Public Library staff pulled together some of our favourite books and movies featuring strong female characters and stories to get you started. Read and watch them this International Women's Day and any day you are interested in stories of perseverance, creativity, and celebration.Biographies and Autobiographies of Incredible WomenThese ten books center around a compelling woman who overcame obstacles and influenced history. Read about a contemporary businesswoman, a Second World War radio operator, a resistance fighter, and a tennis coach. Their stories will take you around the world and through history.See the listBooks by Indigenous WomenFemale Indigenous writers provide stories that echo the timeless wisdom of Elders while encapsulating the modern challenges experienced by women and girls. Celebrate the spirit and intent of International Women's Day by learning more about Indigenous women with these compelling, heartbreaking, and hopeful reads.See the list20 Films About Extraordinary WomenSome of these movies are full of joy, while others are more dramatic. They are all by or about women. From the award-winning documentary Young Lakota to the lush biopic Paula, these films are all available on Kanopy.See the listBooks for KidsThese books for kids celebrate the strength and creativity of women and girls. From the picture book Franny’s Father is a Feminist by Rhonda Leet, to the collection of 100 stories in Good Night Stories for Rebel Girls by Elena Favilli, this list includes recommendations for kids from three to 12 that will also delight the adult reading with them.See the list
Read more about "Stories What to Read and Watch to Honour International Women's Day Our recommendations to celebrate women this Monday, March 8 and everyday"Room Rental Rates Patricia A. Whelan Performance Hall Not-for-profit (three-hour minimum): Rental fee: $100/hour Staff & security fee: $60/hour Combined rental fee: $160/hour Regular booking (three-hour minimum): Rental fee: $250/hour Staff & security fee: $60/hour Combined rental fee: $310/hour Performance Hall, plus meeting rooms Not-for-profit (three-hour minimum) Rental fee: $200/hour Staff & security fee: $60/hour Combined rental fee: $260/hour Regular booking (three-hour minimum) Rental fee: $500/hour Staff & security fee: $60/hour Combined rental fee: $560/hour
Read more about "Room Rental Rates"Aaron J. Noga Committee Membership: Audit and Finance; Governance Term End: 2026 Aaron's lifelong love for reading began in childhood in Saskatoon, where the arrival of the neighbourhood Bookmobile sparked his imagination. His mother's passion for books laid the foundation for his literary journey. Now a father, he sees how reading shapes his son's vocabulary and perspectives. Understanding the transformative power of books, he values their role in shaping minds and fostering empathy. Calgary Public Library serves as a space for diverse communities and celebrates varied backgrounds. It's a safe, inclusive community fostering dialogue and collaboration. Aaron aims to enhance the Library's community impact, nurturing its role as a hub for learning, connection, and belonging. He's excited about contributing meaningfully to the Library, ensuring its lasting value within the community.
Read more about "Aaron J. Noga"At the opening ceremony for Central Library on November 1, five special members joined Library CEO Bill Ptacek and Mayor Naheed Nenshi on stage. Instead of a ribbon-cutting, these people were presented with the first five Library cards issued at the new building. The five members represent more than 670,000 active Library members across Calgary.Alex Grinwis is a 17-year-old Grade 11 student who has been using Calgary Public Library since a very young age. Alex loves reading, and is also passionate about music — playing piano, guitar, ukulele, and currently learning violin. When asked what they’re looking forward to about the new building, they said: “I’m just looking forward to having such a cool space to be able to go and do homework or find new books.”Nikki Brule is the proud owner of Yummy Yogis, a small business she helped develop and grow by using the Library. Nikki does a lot of research for her business at the Library, and often brings along her six-year-old daughter. As an entrepreneur who works from home, she enjoys having a space to come to, surrounded by books, where she can work and connect with others.Mirna Khaled arrived in Calgary from Lebanon in 2015, in search of better opportunities for her children: nine-year-old twins Jalal and Julia. Mirna appreciates the accessibility of the Library as Julia has cerebral palsy and uses a wheelchair. In Calgary, Mirna and her children visit the Library two to three times a week; they like to read, play, and meet new friends. There’s even a book about Julia, written by Mirna and Julia’s aunt, on library shelves!Frank O’Keeffe is a longtime Library member who first got his Calgary Public Library card about 50 years ago. Frank, who is originally from Ireland, is a former teacher who has written and published eight young adult novels. He recently published his first adult novel that staff members at Shawnessy Library helped to review. Frank visits the Library several times a week and brings his wife — who has Alzheimer’s — to the ESL Coffee and Conversation program, for some chitchat and good company. “As an older patron, what I get out of the Library now is companionship,” he says.Felix McLeod Saunders is just two and a half years old and is ready for his first Calgary Public Library card! His mother Maranda is excited to have a new, public space in Calgary where she and her young children can connect with their Indigenous culture and learn together. Plus, Felix is really into books.Special thanks to these five members and to everyone who joined us for the opening ceremony of Central Library!
Read more about "Stories Introducing the new Central Library’s First Five Members"Search encyclopedia articles, interactive maps, timelines, and images. Browse historical events, topic pathways and resource guides. Teachers and parents can also find educator tools such as provincial curriculum outcomes by grade and subject.Not sure how to start? Watch the tutorial on Niche Academy: World Book tutorial.
Read more about "An in-depth research tool for secondary students"Search Canadian history from the 16th century to 20th century through monographs (books), serials (newspapers, annuals and periodicals), and government publications. Find information on major historical events, the development of institutions, genealogy, Canadian literature and politics, trades and tariffs, and more.
Read more about "Research Canadian history with heritage sources and scholarly journals"Get started using the digital resources in Calgary Public Library's Digital Library with simple video tutorials. Find tutorials for our most popular digital resources, including: Libby, World Book, Learning Express, Gale Courses, Freegal Music, Flipster and more.
Read more about "Learn how to use Calgary Public Library's digital resources the easy way"Longer nights mean more time to spend curled up with a good book. Register for the Read 110 Challenge online through Beanstack, and use your reading map to track 110 hours of reading. Sign up from December 15 – February 28 for your chance to win.
Read more about "Read 110 hours and win amazing prizes!"Your free Calgary Public Library card is an important step in finding support in Calgary. At the Library, you can borrow books, movies, and music, use computers and Wi-Fi, print documents, attend programs to practise your English skills, and get connected to newcomer services agencies who can help you. It’s all free!
Read more about "Welcome to Canada and the Library"