You can read all about and register for our programs online here. Calgary Public Library programming is currently happening online, with plans to begin some in-person programs at select locations April 4.
Learn how to craft a song with the right lyrics and melody to express how you feel.
Read more about "The Art of Songwriting"Artist Isabelle Ackroyd shares tips on finding your own drawing style.
Read more about "Finding Your Art Style"Join us for a family-friendly, fun-filled day to ring in the New Year
Read more about "New Year's Eve at the Library "Whether it’s physical books, online resources, or just a change of scenery, Megan Powell has found what she needs at the Library.As a small business owner, Megan uses various free Library resources to help build and grow Little Dot Creative, a branding and website studio.“I know that if there’s a problem, I can find something at the Library to gain knowledge and solve it,” she says.Megan has been turning to the Library for many years. Her childhood was filled with storytimes at Southwood Library, followed by checking out picture books with her family and hauling them home.She remembers a giant bin for Library books in the hallway of her house, and the joy that came from picking a new book each night before bedtime.“The Library has always been a part of my life, and it has just continued on into adulthood,” Megan says.Gaining New KnowledgeDuring an internship in university, Megan needed to use InDesign, a software program she had little experience with. She used her Library card to access Lynda.com, a free Digital Resource full of short online expert-led video courses, covering software and topics like web design and business skills.“I learned how to use InDesign and all the Adobe programs, including Photoshop and Illustrator, which are now used daily in my business,” she says.When Megan needed a solution for organizing her company’s financials, she put the book Profit First on hold, read it, and adopted new strategies. “There are so many amazing free resources that have helped me in my business and career,” she says. Megan occasionally brings her work to libraries, including Quarry Park and Central Library. She enjoys how the atmosphere is different from a co-work space or a coffee shop.‘So Many Resources’As an organizer with the Rising Tide Society’s Calgary chapter — a free group for creative entrepreneurs — Megan uses larger bookable meeting rooms to host events and co-work days.“Knowing that we have a free resource to be able to do that is amazing,” Megan says. Plus, she adds, the beauty of Central Library makes it an ideal place for a group of creatives to congregate.At those gatherings, Megan is quick to gush about the benefits of a free Library card, from more than 100 online resources to weekly Small Business Tuesdays programs to easily accessible eBooks and eAudiobooks.“I just don’t think people know that there are so many resources and so many things attached to the Library,” she says.Amid the isolation and stress that can come with running a small business, Megan says she has found support at the Library.“It’s reassuring and comforting to know that these resources are available at your fingertips, completely free to you,” 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 ‘Amazing Free Resources’ Megan Powell’s Library Story began when she started her business"Tap into your artistic side and discover the fun and creativity in drawing! Gain confidence through guided drawing classes that will build your art vocabulary and expand your...
Read more about "Creative Explorers: Draw! Find Your Inner Artist"If art is part of your student’s curriculum or you’re simply looking for family-friendly craft ideas and inspiration, our Digital Library has you covered. We’ve rounded up our favourite eResources to help every student channel their inner artist and discover the joy in creating. Use your free Library membership to access these great apps and resources. No Library card? No problem. Sign up for free online and start using it now. World Book Online for Kids World Book Online for Kids is an online learning platform developed for young users. Children can explore a variety of topics in easy-to-read articles, images, and videos. You can also solve puzzles while learning fun facts or try out experiments. Is your little musician looking for new ways to make some noise? Build your own Flute, Rubber-Band Strummer, or Coffee-Can Bongos with easy instructions under the Activities icon then choose Make Some Noise. (Ages 6 – 10) Use art to learn about geography! Under the Maps and More icon, try the Outline Maps and Flags feature. Choose a continent and then a country to get a downloadable map of that country and its flag, perfect for colouring or imagining your next adventure. (Ages 6 – 12) Gale Virtual Reference Library Find full-text eBooks for learners of all ages in the Gale Virtual Reference Library on subjects including coding, business, science, and travel. If your child loves wandering through a gallery or museum, take a look at the book Art That Changed the World. It tells an engaging story of art from ancient to modern times and includes photos of important works. (Ages 9 – 12)
Read more about "Stories Arts eResources for ages 6 – 12"Curious about D&D, but don’t know where to start? Learn the basic rules, create a character and leap into your first epic adventure in this online program.
Read more about "Level Up! Gaming Club: Get Started with Dungeons and Dragons"Join CPAWS and Green Calgary as you become a bug scientist with this fun-filled and interactive citizen science program. Discover what pollinators are, explore why we need them...
Read more about "YYC’s Young Citizen Scientists: Pollinators (Ages 10 - 14)"Win over your job competition by improving your interview skills. Learn about different types of questions and how to answer them effectively during this online program.
Read more about "Career Basics: Interview Skills"It's important for all Canadians to learn the true history of Indigenous peoples. Libraries have a big role to play in helping our communities heal by providing resources about Truth and Reconciliation.June is National Indigenous History Month. It's a great time to start your learning journey. Learn with us this month, and all year long — and don't forget to join us in-person to celebrate the cultures and traditions of the Indigenous peoples of Treaty 7.
Read more about "Celebrating and honouring our shared history."For immediate releaseSeptember 10, 2019Calgary, AB – The Calgary Public Library Foundation is delighted to announce a transformational gift from Calgary entrepreneur and philanthropist Susan Anderson; one of the largest gifts in the Foundation’s history. This generous donation will support early childhood literacy by enhancing the Library’s Early Learning Strategy.“The first years of a child’s life are so crucial,” says Susan Anderson. “I believe in the value of childhood education and wanted to participate in making this available to Calgary’s children to give them a strong start toward a successful future.”In recognition of this generous gift, the Calgary Public Library will name the children’s area at the Central Library the Jocelyn Louise Anderson Children’s Library in honour of Anderson’s mother, who was a school teacher.“We see kids with very diverse backgrounds coming to the Library for specialized Early Learning programs and resources,” says Calgary Public Library CEO Mark Asberg. “Donations like this help us continue to open doors for all of Calgary’s children, regardless of their socio-economic background.”The Library’s Early Learning Strategy encompasses five areas of focus: research, spaces, people, collections, and programs. Anderson’s donation will uplift each of these focus areas.Specifically, this donation will enable the expansion of early literacy programming both in Libraries and in the community; enhance collections development for babies, toddlers, and, pre-school children; and update existing Early Learning Centres to reflect current research.There are more than 90,000 children under the age of five in Calgary. Currently, 12 of Calgary’s 21 Library locations have a dedicated Early Learning Centre, with the goal to have an Early Learning Centre in every single location. Early Learning Centres provide children under the age of five a specialized space to learn through play – the best way for young minds to gain essential early learning skills.About the Calgary Public Library Foundation:The Calgary Public Library Foundation supports the Library through fundraising.We connect people and organizations who want to make a difference with the opportunity to improve our community. All donations received through the Library Foundation enhance Library collections, programming, and services.Since 2011, the Library Foundation has been working on Add In, the Campaign for Calgary’s Library. The goal of Add In is to raise $350 million dollars for the Library system. As of June 2019, we have reached 98.5% of our goal.- 30 -Media Contacts:Maegan MarshallCommunications AssociateCalgary Public Library Foundation403 774 2543maegan@addin.caNina RehillEdelman 403 630 6055Nina.rehill@edelman.com
Read more about "Stories Calgary Public Library Accepts Historic Donation for Early Childhood Learning"Thank You Volunteers! On April 15, we celebrated the 75th National Volunteer Week with our 42nd annual Volunteer Recognition Event. The theme of 2016’s National Volunteer Week is “volunteers are the roots of strong communities,” a sentiment with which Calgary Public Library—and Calgarians—passionately agree.Here at the Library, 2,511 Calgarians give back more than 56,980 hours of volunteer effort annually. Our volunteers’ time adds an economic value of $1,538,590 to our libraries and communities every year! Their efforts allow the Library to offer more programs, in more locations, more often, to so many more Calgarians. Library volunteers give their time, energy, and talent—and over 14,000 patrons benefit.We’d like to thank every volunteer for their outstanding contributions to all of the Library’s programs.We’d also like to pay tribute to one of the Library’s very first volunteers, Becky Lathrop. In 1974, Becky started volunteering for the Library’s Homebound Readers program. She was known as unflappable, warm, and supportive. Becky Lathrop passed away on March 8, at the age of 90.The John Dutton Volunteer of the Year Award seeks to recognize an extraordinary individual whose service is exemplary. Marian Erb received the award.“Volunteering at the Library allows me to do what I love, surrounded by beautiful, wonderful books in the company of friendly, like-minded people.” Marian says.The following outstanding volunteers also received awards at the event:Linda Lathrop was recognized for her 10 years of volunteer service for the Library. Betty Giles, our Milestone Award recipient, was honoured for 30 years of voluntary service to the Library. Theresa and Dean Cassidy, the wife and husband team behind the Library’s mascot Curious the Chameleon, received the 2016 Community Spirit Award. Shovon Das was honoured as the Youth Speaker. Darby, a Golden Doodle, along with the intrepid and the equally remarkable Patti Johnston, were honoured for their work volunteering for the Story PALS program. Doug Leisch received the 2016 Literacy Support – Digital Award. Daniel Park received the 2016 Literacy Support – Numeracy Award. Rachelle Dueck received the the 2016 Literacy Support – Reading and Writing Award. Barbara Mathies received the the 2016 Professional Support Award. Doreen Richards received the 2016 Foundation Award. Jon McBurnie received the 2016 Language Coaching Award. Alisha and Inaara Ebrahim received the Emerging Leader Award.
Read more about "Stories"A picture is worth a thousand words, but painting a memory is worth a million. Parents and kids ages 7-12 will work together to paint their favorite memory. Join the Library's...
Read more about "Memory Art-Family"Calgary Public Library now has five mobile libraries that are rolling into communities around the city!Three vehicles are Book Trucks, bringing books, movies, and other Library services directly to the community. Our Book Trucks stop at regularly scheduled locations, and are also available to visit school or community events. Come aboard the Book Truck to get a free Library card, browse and borrow items, return items, or attend seasonal children’s programs.The fleet of libraries on wheels also includes two Story Trucks. These vehicles are designed to bring literacy activities directly to young children at day homes in select neighbourhoods. Library staff share stories, songs, and rhymes with children, through the Library Month at Your Day Home program.For our newest Story Truck, the Library worked with Mo Willems, children’s author and creator of Don’t Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus! and many other beloved titles.“The fact that the Story Truck team is leaving the building and going directly to the kids means they rock that much more!” Mo Willems says.Want the Story Truck to visit your day home? Requests can be made via this form. You can also request a Book Truck visit for your community event or school.
Read more about "Stories Meet the Library’s Newest Story Truck"Three beginner camps in Blackfoot, Cree, and Michif, the language of the Métis people, are being offered this fall in partnership with the Aboriginal Friendship Centre of Calgary.Language is a crucial part of a culture, and these sessions are intended to help revitalize language within city limits. Teneya Gwin, Indigenous Service Design Lead at the Calgary Public Library, says she hopes people will see it as an opportunity to build community.“The Library is a place where all people are welcome,” Gwin says. “Indigenous people have the chance to reconnect to their language, and non-Indigenous people are introduced to the language.”The camps were full within a few weeks of registration opening, and having a wait list speaks volumes, Gwin says. They had heard from the community that opportunities like this were wanted, and the Library was fortunate to partner with the Aboriginal Friendship Centre on this initiative.“Language is so connected to culture,” Gwin says. “Language is a huge component of who you are as an Indigenous person, and a lot of Indigenous people are at risk of losing their language.”There’s plans to offer intermediate-level gatherings starting in January for Blackfoot, Cree, and Michif, and Gwin says she hopes to be able to offer more Treaty 7 languages in the future.Register for camps like these or view more Library programming at calgarylibrary.ca/programs, accessible with your free Library card.
Read more about "Stories"