Most Libraries have community meeting rooms that you can book with your library card. Visit Book a Meeting Space for more information.
In kindergarten, a child’s natural curiosity and eagerness to learn are encouraged through purposeful, play-based activities. These activities teach foundational literacy and numeracy skills, while fostering social and emotional development. Kindergarten is a great way for your child to learn what school is like while having fun, making new friends, and becoming part of their larger community. Whether your child has experienced preschool or not, there are lots of things you can do this spring or summer to help them feel kindergarten-confident this fall!Register your child for a FREE Calgary Public Library card. Get started with a Kindergarten Book Bag from your local Library, available in late April. There are no late fines and all Library programs are free. Explore TumbleBook Library to listen and read along to animated story books (in English, French, and Spanish). It also lets you play online games and watch science videos from National Geographic. This and other great eResources for kids are FREE through the Digital Library. Read books, snuggle, and sing together as much as you can. Point out the words, numbers, and letters in the world around you, wherever you are — at the bus stop, in a store, or in the kitchen. Speak, sing, read, and play together in your home language. Use pencils for writing and practice cutting with child-safe scissors. Make art and draw often. Help your child recognize their name in print. Visit your school’s playground this summer to become familiar with the school grounds and entrances. Encourage them to be a big helper at home by putting toys away and doing other simple tasks. Let your child practise dressing themselves, including outdoor clothing. Shoes with Velcro are a great beginner shoe. Let them practise opening and closing snack containers and using a water bottle. Encourage your child to go to the bathroom independently and wash their hands on their own. Practise going to bed early enough to get the recommended nine to eleven hours of sleep each night. Develop a routine of waking up with enough time you’ll need to get to school. Allow twice as much time for free indoor and outdoor play as time spent on screens. Talk about your child’s feelings around starting school. Assure them that it is normal to feel nervous and excited at the same time. Kindergarten is a big change for the whole family! Ready to register for kindergarten?Children entering kindergarten must turn five years old on or before December 31, 2021. All children must register through their designated school. For more detailed information, including where to find your child’s designated school and information for registering children who are not Canadian citizens, please visit:Calgary Board of Education Calgary Catholic School DistrictAlberta Education’s My Child’s Learning: A Parent Resource (Kindergarten)Check out these great reads to get excited and prepare for kindergarten! This 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 calgarylibrary.ca/programs to register for the next live, online workshop in the series.
Read more about "Stories Top Tips to Get Ready for Kindergarten The Kitchen Table Classroom: A Series to Support Learning from Home"2010s 2011: East Village is chosen as the location of the new Central Library on July 24, 2011. 2012: Saddletowne Library opens on January 3, with an official celebration on January 14, 2012. 2014: Bill Ptacek is appointed as the new CEO. 2015: Thorn-Hill Library is renamed Judith Umbach Library to recognize the contributions of Calgarian Judith Umbach to the Library system. 2016: Nicholls Family Library opens on April 23 and Quarry Park Library opens on July 2, 2016. The Book Trucks start visiting communities without a local Library. 2017: Sage Hill Library opens on June 16, 2017. The Musical Instrument Lending Library launches at Memorial Park Library. 2018: Rocky Ridge Library opens on January 15, 2018. Alexander Calhoun Library is renamed Giuffre Family Library to recognize the Giuffre family’s legacy in the community and their support of the Library. Memorial Park Library is designated a National Historic Site. Central Library, at 616 Macleod Trail South, closes on October 25, 2018. The new location in East Village opens on November 1, 2018, at 800 3 St SE. 2019: Seton Library opens on January 14, 2019. Mark Asberg is appointed as the new CEO.
Read more about "2010s"Get help planning lessons, or take your class on a trip to the Library.
Read more about "Educators"Students, teachers, and families can find everything they need to succeed this back to school season.
Read more about "Back to learning!"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"Online Job Desk lets you chat with a career coach so you can get expert advice at home. Whether you need help writing a resume, building interviewing skills, or getting started...
Read more about "Job Desk Online"Want to help your child discover the joy of reading? It’s easy to help them fall in love with literacy with these simple tips.
Read more about "5 Tips to Motivate Reluctant Readers"Always available eBooks on everything from animals and weather, to history and technology.
Read more about "Gale eBooks"Ruth Scalp Lock Ruth was born on the Siksika First Nation, east of Calgary. Her Father was Blackfoot and her mother was Cree. She was raised in her traditional culture. As a young child, she was placed in the Indian Residential School, where she suffered much abuse. She survived that experience and the following years of addiction and violence. In 1974, she experienced spiritual reawakening and chose a healing path. She worked in many helping places until she had the vision to address the legacy of her people, working for many years to establish a shelter for Aboriginal women based on a cultural approach. Ruth ran for the position of MLA in southern Alberta in 1992 for the NDP. She then ran and was subsequently elected as a Band Councillor at Siksika Nation, where she sat for 18 years. In 2014, she released her book titled My Name Is Shield Woman: A Hard Road to Healing, Vision and Leadership. Today, Ruth is a healer, community builder, and Elder. She is currently involved in the issue of Murdered and Missing Indigenous Women in Canada. Ruth is a voice for cross-cultural understanding and forgiveness, as the beginning of reconciliation of the past and building the future.
Read more about "Ruth Scalp Lock"Collection of sources including the Smithsonian Collection Online and Archives of Human Sexuality and Gender.
Read more about "Alberta Research Portal "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"After attending a 50+ Coffee and Conversation group, Rudy Wagner and his wife Mary Jean decided to keep the conversation going. Now, using a free, bookable meeting room at Signal Hill Library for the past eight years, it’s more than just a casual coffee group — members attend lectures together, share in weekly tai chi lessons, and more, all for free at the Library.Rudy Wagner, eight years with the group“It’s such an interesting group, and as long as we have the space at the Library to do it, I’m happy to make it happen. My wife and I supply the coffee, and the group supplies the conversation! Some of them bake, and so we’ll get to try different foods from different countries around the world. It’s the variety that I love. I used to be a principal at public schools in Toronto, so I’ve been working with the community my whole life, and I just love meeting new people. It’s the companionship. We have new people join us every time, there are no strict rules. People come when they can, there’s no fee. It’s just a place for people to get together and chat.”Mary Jean Wagner, eight years with the group“Our grandchildren were getting older and starting to head off to school, so we weren’t so occupied with them anymore, and I wanted to meet other people. Where we live, there are a lot of people our son’s age. We moved from Toronto to live near him and help with the two grandchildren, but we had difficulty meeting people our age. And I really wanted to make new friends, because it can be hard to meet new people as you get older. So, this was a perfect opportunity for us. We feel that we’ve made friendships here, and others have done the same. The Library makes it easy for us to continue doing what we’ve always loved to do.”Pal Aggarwal, eight years with the group“We came to Calgary from Germany in 2011, my wife and me, and my wife was just coming to the Library for some books. Then she saw this group here and started talking to them. Now we’ve been coming here every week, ever since we came here. It’s a real cosmopolitan group, you see people from all different countries, you have different subjects to talk about, that’s the best part. We are a big group, but there are four of us couples, and now we have each other [over] every once in a while, for dinner at our home. We meet every two weeks at somebody’s house for drinks, it’s nice. We are all very friendly to each other. It’s a real inspiration, it gives you a positive feeling, and I appreciate that.”Elaine Lee, seven years with the group“The best part of this group is that people who feel isolated or don’t know too many people have a place to go. They have a community, and they know that they have something to look forward to each week. It keeps them active. That’s the beauty of the group, they open up to you. It’s not just a weekly meeting, they become like family for those who come on a regular basis. Getting to know them has really been my greatest honour and pleasure, because I really feel like I can bring them joy, and to see them interact with one another and to see how the group has grown brings me so much joy as well.”Jeffrey Quo, two years with the group“I had joined a Library reading club … actually, I joined two. I used to be a computer engineer, but after I retired, I had to find a way to kill the time. That group forced me to read some books which I would never have thought to involve myself in; it forced me to expand my interests, same as this group. I find it quite interesting. I needed to find some new focus in my life. Before I retired, I only focused on my job. Now I need to change my lifestyle. So reading, or making a new friend, that’s important for me. I enjoy that about this group. In this hour we always have lots of new people join us, and we get the chance to know new friends.”Shirley Lutz, two years with the group“It’s fun, it’s free, it’s close by, and the people here are just so warm and friendly. I love the conversation because I get to learn more about the people around me. It’s an interesting group we have, because we have so many different nationalities here. A lot of our people don’t come from around here, and it exposes me to other cultures and ideas, which I really enjoy. Today I just met a new lady who joined us from Vietnam, so I’ve been getting to know her, and she says she’ll be coming back. It’ll be great to have her join our group.”Tam Dang, first-time visitor to the group“I just retired, so I have a lot of time on my hands. So I started to wonder, where can I go? When we work, we wake up, go to work, we come home, we sleep. We have the same routine. But since then I’ve become so bored. I miss having a place to go. Every day I saw my friends and had conversations with them, but now it’s so empty. So that’s why I am looking for a group a bit older, with the same feelings as me. In this group, I can be with people the same age and in the same situation as me. Even though I’ve only seen them this first time, people have already explained to me: we are friends now, and we can talk.”David Stratford, two years with the group“I find the people in the group to be so funny — their little explanations of their lives, where they come from and what they do day to day. They really are absolutely wonderful people to be around. I try to make them laugh, and mostly I can do that. Some can’t hear as well as they used to, so you may have to tell your joke a couple of times. I call us the crumblies — I say I’m going to go visit with the crumblies, because frankly we’re all falling apart a little bit. But I love to be a part of that. We’re all here, we all try, we don’t give up. We’re just trying to live this section of our life fully. If you want to stay young, then you have to think young, and you’ve got to laugh.”
Read more about "Stories ‘To Know New Friends’ Older patrons are using the Library in a new way to create their Library Story"After attending a 50+ Coffee and Conversation group, Rudy Wagner and his wife Mary Jean decided to keep the conversation going. Now, using a free, bookable meeting room at Signal Hill Library for the past eight years, it’s more than just a casual coffee group — members attend lectures together, share in weekly tai chi lessons, and more, all for free at the Library.Rudy Wagner, eight years with the group “It’s such an interesting group, and as long as we have the space at the Library to do it, I’m happy to make it happen. My wife and I supply the coffee, and the group supplies the conversation! Some of them bake, and so we’ll get to try different foods from different countries around the world. It’s the variety that I love. I used to be a principal at public schools in Toronto, so I’ve been working with the community my whole life, and I just love meeting new people. It’s the companionship. We have new people join us every time, there are no strict rules. People come when they can, there’s no fee. It’s just a place for people to get together and chat.”Mary Jean Wagner, eight years with the group “Our grandchildren were getting older and starting to head off to school, so we weren’t so occupied with them anymore, and I wanted to meet other people. Where we live, there are a lot of people our son’s age. We moved from Toronto to live near him and help with the two grandchildren, but we had difficulty meeting people our age. And I really wanted to make new friends, because it can be hard to meet new people as you get older. So, this was a perfect opportunity for us. We feel that we’ve made friendships here, and others have done the same. The Library makes it easy for us to continue doing what we’ve always loved to do.”Pal Aggarwal, eight years with the group “We came to Calgary from Germany in 2011, my wife and me, and my wife was just coming to the Library for some books. Then she saw this group here and started talking to them. Now we’ve been coming here every week, ever since we came here. It’s a real cosmopolitan group, you see people from all different countries, you have different subjects to talk about, that’s the best part. We are a big group, but there are four of us couples, and now we have each other [over] every once in a while, for dinner at our home. We meet every two weeks at somebody’s house for drinks, it’s nice. We are all very friendly to each other. It’s a real inspiration, it gives you a positive feeling, and I appreciate that.”Elaine Lee, seven years with the group “The best part of this group is that people who feel isolated or don’t know too many people have a place to go. They have a community, and they know that they have something to look forward to each week. It keeps them active. That’s the beauty of the group, they open up to you. It’s not just a weekly meeting, they become like family for those who come on a regular basis. Getting to know them has really been my greatest honour and pleasure, because I really feel like I can bring them joy, and to see them interact with one another and to see how the group has grown brings me so much joy as well.”Jeffrey Quo, two years with the group “I had joined a Library reading club … actually, I joined two. I used to be a computer engineer, but after I retired, I had to find a way to kill the time. That group forced me to read some books which I would never have thought to involve myself in; it forced me to expand my interests, same as this group. I find it quite interesting. I needed to find some new focus in my life. Before I retired, I only focused on my job. Now I need to change my lifestyle. So reading, or making a new friend, that’s important for me. I enjoy that about this group. In this hour we always have lots of new people join us, and we get the chance to know new friends.”Shirley Lutz, two years with the group “It’s fun, it’s free, it’s close by, and the people here are just so warm and friendly. I love the conversation because I get to learn more about the people around me. It’s an interesting group we have, because we have so many different nationalities here. A lot of our people don’t come from around here, and it exposes me to other cultures and ideas, which I really enjoy. Today I just met a new lady who joined us from Vietnam, so I’ve been getting to know her, and she says she’ll be coming back. It’ll be great to have her join our group.”Tam Dang, first-time visitor to the group “I just retired, so I have a lot of time on my hands. So I started to wonder, where can I go? When we work, we wake up, go to work, we come home, we sleep. We have the same routine. But since then I’ve become so bored. I miss having a place to go. Every day I saw my friends and had conversations with them, but now it’s so empty. So that’s why I am looking for a group a bit older, with the same feelings as me. In this group, I can be with people the same age and in the same situation as me. Even though I’ve only seen them this first time, people have already explained to me: we are friends now, and we can talk.”David Stratford, two years with the group “I find the people in the group to be so funny — their little explanations of their lives, where they come from and what they do day to day. They really are absolutely wonderful people to be around. I try to make them laugh, and mostly I can do that. Some can’t hear as well as they used to, so you may have to tell your joke a couple of times. I call us the crumblies — I say I’m going to go visit with the crumblies, because frankly we’re all falling apart a little bit. But I love to be a part of that. We’re all here, we all try, we don’t give up. We’re just trying to live this section of our life fully. If you want to stay young, then you have to think young, and you’ve got to laugh.”
Read more about "Stories ‘To Know New Friends’ Older patrons are using the Library in a new way to create their Library Story"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"