- Your Library
- Connect
- Events & Programs
- Read, Learn & Explore
You can find books by searching the Library Catalogue. We also have staff recommendations and resources such as Novelist which can help you find the perfect read. Overdrive and the Overdrive APP Libby which offer a selection of eBook and eAudiobooks which you can access from home!
The Calgary Public Library Foundation launched the "My First Bookshelf" pilot program to provide free, age-appropriate books monthly to children from birth to five in select Calgary communities. Partnering with Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library, this initiative supports early literacy and lifelong reading habits. The library, serving 740,000 members across 21 locations, emphasizes accessible learning through innovative programs and community fundraising. With goals to expand citywide, the foundation invites donations starting at $5.50/month to foster childhood education amid challenges like COVID-19 closures. For details and support opportunities, visit https://libraryfoundation.ca/myfirstbookshelf/.
Source: https://calgarylibrary.ca/library-news/my-first-bookshelf-launch
Read more about "Calgary Public Library Foundation Launches My First Bookshelf Pilot Program Providing Free Books to Children Birth to Age Five"Calgary Public Library offers free bilingual literacy resources and programs supporting French and Spanish learning through its Digital Library, including apps like eReading Room for Kids, PressReader, Enciclopedia Estudiantil Hallazgos, L’Encyclopedie Decouverte, and TumbleBook Library. Membership is free and accessible online without a card. The library also hosts community partnerships and volunteer-driven events while advocating for privacy and local control in library services. These initiatives foster language skills, research engagement, and cultural exploration for children. Stay updated on policies and news via their website.
Source: https://calgarylibrary.ca/read-learn-and-explore/bilingual-literacy-resources
The Calgary Public Library supports small business owners and creatives by offering free access to physical books, extensive digital resources like LinkedIn Learning, and expert-led programs such as Small Business Tuesdays. Patrons can book meeting rooms for events or co-working, benefiting from a welcoming atmosphere across multiple locations including Central and Quarry Park libraries. The Library’s policies ensure free membership with access to over 100 online tools, eBooks, and eAudiobooks. Through workshops, community partnerships, and volunteer-driven initiatives, the Library fosters knowledge growth, networking opportunities, and business development in a supportive environment.
Source: https://calgarylibrary.ca/story/whether-it-s-physical-books-online-resources-or-just-a-change-of-scenery-megan-powell-has-found-what-she
Calgary Public Library invests $100,000 to expand its 2SLGBTQ+ collections with 5,000 new books, eBooks, audiobooks, music, and movies, enhancing access to diverse stories and combating misinformation. Supported by the Calgary Public Library Foundation, this initiative includes local 2SLGBTQ+ content in Calgary’s Story archive and aligns with Pride Month celebrations and events like Calgary Pride Week (Aug 26–Sep 4, 2023). The library emphasizes inclusive programming and community partnerships while encouraging donations to sustain resource growth. Policies focus on supporting underrepresented voices amid rising challenges to library services.
Source: https://calgarylibrary.ca/library-news/calgary-public-library-announces-funding-for-resources-books-celebrating-2slgbtq-lives
Calgary Public Library offers extensive physical and digital collections, lending over 17 million items annually. Its Collection team curates popular, accessible books reflecting community interests, highlighted in the 2024 Books of the Year across Adult, Young Adult, and Children’s categories. The library supports diverse reading experiences with local authors and critically acclaimed titles. Beyond lending, it provides programs and events fostering learning and engagement for all ages while maintaining inclusive policies to ensure accessibility. Discover curated picks or explore services online to enrich your literary journey at Calgary Public Library. Source: https://calgary.bibliocommons.com/list/share/422868168_calgarylibraryguestpicks/2673119217_2024_books_of_the_year
Read more about "Calgary Public Library's 2024 Books of the Year: Adult, Young Adult, and Children's Picks"Calgary Public Library offers diverse services, including volunteer-driven book discussion groups led by passionate community members like Jacqueline Jenkins. The library fosters engagement through meaningful programs and partnerships, such as the proposed YMCA West District location. It emphasizes policies protecting privacy and local control amid legislative challenges. Volunteers play a crucial role in delivering enriching events and programs that connect Calgarians with literature and ideas while encouraging personalized volunteer opportunities to give back to the community. Explore more about their initiatives, policies, and events on their official site.
Source: https://calgarylibrary.ca/your-library/stories/jacqueline-jenkins-volunteering-with-cpl
Calgary Public Library offers diverse services and programs to support literacy and learning, including a specialized Learn to Read collection featuring decodable books that aid children of all abilities in developing foundational reading skills. The library promotes reading for pleasure, provides access to various formats like audiobooks and graphic novels, and encourages family engagement with print materials. Policies emphasize accessibility and community involvement through volunteer-driven programs. Recent initiatives include partnerships such as the proposed YMCA West District location and advocacy on privacy issues affecting library services. Register for a free card to explore resources online or at any branch.
Source: https://www.calgarylibrary.ca
The Calgary Public Library offers inclusive services and programs celebrating diversity, including the family-friendly "Reading with Royalty" storytime featuring local drag performers. It provides curated Pride Month booklists highlighting queer literature for all ages and identities, alongside music playlists and films that honor 2SLGBTQ+ lives via Freegal Music and Kanopy. The library supports learning through digital resources like LinkedIn Learning courses on LGBTQ workplace inclusion, Novelist Plus fiction recommendations, Gale archives on LGBTQ history, and global magazines via PressReader. These offerings reflect the library’s commitment to education, community engagement, and accessibility.
Source: https://calgarylibrary.ca/events-and-programs/programs/reading-with-royalty/
Calgary Public Library offers inclusive services and adaptive technologies to support people with disabilities, including Special Services cards that provide extended loan periods, access to large print books, Talking Books via DAISY readers, and home delivery through the Homebound Readers program. The Library partners with care homes for Libraries in Residence and collaborates with CELA to expand accessible materials. Multiple locations feature assistive workstations with tools like braille displays and text-to-speech devices. Sensory backpacks help patrons with sensory processing disorders enjoy library spaces. These programs emphasize accessibility, flexibility, and community engagement across Calgary’s library system.
Source: https://calgarylibrary.ca/your-library/locations/cent/
Calgary Public Library offers accessible, inclusive spaces and programs that support education, community connection, and diversity awareness. Through services like book lending—including Julia and Bella, a children’s book promoting disability acceptance—the library fosters learning and social inclusion for all ages. Policies emphasize accessibility and safe environments for families to engage in events, literacy programs, and volunteer opportunities. The library collaborates with local partners to expand resources while advocating for privacy and local control in service delivery. It remains a vital hub for education, cultural understanding, and community empowerment in Calgary.
Source: https://calgarylibrary.ca/story-details/section-1928