Calgary’s Story, presented by Walt & Irene DeBoni, at Central Library Browse documents, newspapers, images, microfilm, memorabilia, and audiovisual material pertaining to the history and development of Calgary and Alberta, from pre-history to the present. Calgary's Story is open during regular Central Library hours .
Read more about "Calgary’s Story, presented by Walt & Irene DeBoni, at Central Library"Marje Wing was working as manager of Memorial Park and Giuffre Family Library (then known as Alexander Calhoun Library) back in 2014, when architects first shared the plans for Calgary’s new Central Library building. Standing at the back of the room, where Calgarians had gathered for the unveiling, Marje remembers feeling blown away by the plans.Fast forward four years and Marje — who is now retired — will start leading patrons through the stunning new Library this November, as a volunteer guide for architecture tours. “I’m very excited,” she says.It’s just the latest volunteer endeavour for Marje, who retired from a nearly 35-year career at Calgary Public Library in 2015. About a year later she began volunteering at the Library.“I really believe in the Library. I love what the Library stands for,” Marje says. “This is my way of continuing to contribute to the Library.”Marje has volunteered with a variety of programs, including ESL programs, Special Events, and Colossal Playdates. “There’s such a huge range of things that you can do as a volunteer. You can find a fit with whatever your interests are,” Marje says.The same reasons that drew Marje to Calgary Public Library as an employee — that it’s a democratic institution, open to everyone — continue to inspire her as a volunteer. Plus, her new gig is a lot of fun.“I get on the floor with the babies at the playdates. I work one-on-one with an ESL student. I get to do things that are so different from when I was working,” she says. “Every time I do a shift at the Library, I come away with a bounce in my step.”Azmin Poonja, Manager, Volunteer Resources, describes Marje as a passionate and committed volunteer. “She is professional, accountable, and a natural leader. Marje is a great asset to our team of volunteers,” Azmin says.Calgary Public Library is recruiting volunteers for all libraries. If you would like to join the Library's team of volunteers, please visit the Volunteers page.
Read more about "Stories Meet our Volunteers: Marje Wing Marje continues a 35-year involvement with the Library by volunteering"Whether you’re a job seeker, or trying to start a business of your own, the
Read more about "Realize your potential with help from the Library."Say goodbye to 2023, and hello to 2024! Join us for a family-friendly, fun-filled day to ring in the New Year on December 31 from 12:00 - 4:00 pm at Central, Crowfoot, Saddletowne, Shawnessy, and Signal Hill libraries. Activities will include a family dance party, a special
Read more about "New Year's Eve at the Library"To mark National Aboriginal History Month in June 2017, Calgary Public Library is displaying Indigenous art at four libraries.Samuel BighettySamuel Bighetty’s art tells the story of the Mathias Colomb Cree Nation in Pukatawagan, Manitoba. Using bright, beautiful colours, his artwork tells the story of hardships and change. Bighetty describes such change through the analogy of a caterpillar turning into a butterfly. “It looks real ugly, walking on the ground,” Bighetty says. “A caterpillar doesn’t know it’s going to turn into something beautiful. [Then] it changes, flies around, has all the colours.” Jessica Liening-WolfeIndigenous artist Jessica Liening-Wolfe showcases her Ojibway culture through traditional beadwork and jewelry. “My mother was a former student of the residential school, so she didn’t grow up with her culture or her language, so I feel that it is up to me to go out there and regain this knowledge,” says Liening-Wolfe. Taylor McPhersonThrough her artistic journey, Taylor McPherson has reclaimed her Miawpukek identity, and is now challenging people to see past stereotypes with her work. Her self-portrait, titled “Identity,” has been displayed across Canada, and found a new home at Judith Umbach Library in June 2017. “To have people recognize my Aboriginal work really means a lot, because I feel a lot of people have been more appreciative in learning about the stories behind it,” McPherson says. Nathan MeguinisNathan Meguinis started drawing at the age of five. His artwork today reflects the deep roots of his Tsuut’ina culture and heritage. Meguinis says what makes Tsuut’ina art distinctive in style is its reflection of Tsuut’ina history and spiritual connections: a belief in one God, one creation, and everything being intertwined. He strives to give people a deeper understanding of his traditional culture through his art. “I’m hoping to enlighten people about the realities that my people faced through my artwork, and at the same time share my culture,” Meguinis says.
Read more about "Stories Indigenous Art Featured at Calgary Public Library"Is your student looking for a good book to read in French or Spanish? Our Digital Library offers tons of free resources for kids who want to learn, read, and listen to books in French or Spanish. Check out our favourite tools below for supporting bilingual literacy. 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. eReading Room for Kids Find popular audio and eBooks titles for French-speaking kids in our eReading Room for Kids, including Harry Potter, Captain Underpants, and Dogman. Borrow kids’ audio and eBook titles in Spanish like Harry Potter, as well as fairy tales and science books. PressReader Read kids’ magazines in multiple languages, including French and Spanish, in PressReader. Enciclopedia Estudiantil Hallazgos Want to find cool facts about your favourite animal or learn how to make a craft in Spanish? Explore the Enciclopedia Estudiantil Hallazgos to learn new words from a visual dictionary, read articles and videos on a variety of topics, and try fun activities like making your own play dough. L'Encyclopedie Decouverte Get students excited about research and strengthen their French language skills at the same time with engaging activities in the L’Encyclopedie Decouverte, aimed at beginner French reading levels. TumbleBook Library Browse a selection of animated French and Spanish eBooks for kids that they can read, watch, or listen to in the TumbleBook Library.
Read more about "Stories French and Spanish Language eResources for school-age kids"Celebrate Neighbour Day at Calgary Public Library. Enjoy special programming at
Read more about "Neighbour Day at the Library"You can have up to five active loan requests at one time. Holds are counted against the general 50-item hold limit for Calgary Public Library members.
Read more about "Borrowing items"Everyone deserves to feel the love on Valentine's Day, but what about every book? We were wondering which materials in our collection might be feeling a little left out on this special day. One particular read, Cousin Bette by Honoré de Balzac, hadn’t been taken off the shelf in a long while. We couldn’t let this phenomenal read continue to gather dust, so we did what any bibliophile would do. We signed it out for the day and took it on a Valentine’s Day adventure it would never forget!Here's what we got up to on our date with our loneliest Library book.We signed out this read from Alberta’s oldest Library, Memorial Park. Initially, we could see why someone might be hesitant to take this book out on a date. A tale of catastrophe, hatred, and revenge, Cousin Bette doesn’t come across as the most compassionate companion. Could we trust this book to not break our hearts? Well, you know what they say — nothing ventured, nothing gained. We’ve been scorned by many a cliffhanger and plot twist in the past, but we couldn’t let our hopes be dashed and give up on finding our one true book love.We spent some time getting to know each other in the Create Space, checking out all the community crafts and engaging games together. Then we played a couple of board games – Bette’s big vocabulary came in handy when we brought out the Scrabble board.It turns out this classic tale is a fan of classical music, so we signed out a few of the available instruments in the Library’s music practice room and serenaded them.As a token of our affection, we offered Cousin Bette a rose. They promised to treasure it always, even though a rose is not a bookmark.We ended our day with a tour of Central Library, sipping on hot chocolate from the café on the second floor. We could have read Bette for hours in the cozy reading nooks throughout the building.But like all good dates, this too had to come to an end. We walked Cousin Bette to the Central Library book return, knowing Library staff would make sure they got back home to Memorial Park Library safely. They gave us their ISBN number in case we ever wanted to hang out again. Speaking for ourselves, we’d be into a second borrow.Want to romance a book of your own this Valentine’s Day? Search for your perfect match among staff-curated lists on Library shelves, and on Libby.
Read more about "Stories The Loneliest Library Book"Artists, community groups, and organizations are invited to submit their work (all mediums including photography) for consideration to be displayed at community libraries. Artwork provides educational and cultural enrichment, encourages lifelong learning, and connects communities. Display space is available without charge. Preference is given to artists who live or work in Calgary. Selected artists are given one-month showings.
Read more about "Bring beauty to the Library"Name Ceremony Takes Place at Crowfoot Library Following Consultation with Crowfoot Family On May 2, the Calgary Public Library hosted a private ceremony at Crowfoot Library to formally receive permission from the Crowfoot family for the use of the Crowfoot name. Elder Herman Yellow Old Woman led the ceremony, which was attended by Bert Crowfoot on behalf of the Crowfoot Family, Library staff, and Blackfoot Elders who work closely with the Library.“I would like to thank you for naming this lodge of knowledge in honour of our great-great-grandfather and Crowfoot ancestors,” said Bert Crowfoot, following the ceremony. “This morning we talked about how there are a lot of issues in the world right now due to ignorance, and places like this institution are going to help bridge that gap between different worlds and different societies.”Crowfoot Library is one of the Calgary Public Library’s busiest locations, receiving nearly 500,000 visits annually. As part of the Library’s ongoing work to become more culturally aware and to honour Truth and Reconciliation, the Library acknowledges that it failed to ask the permission of the Siksika Nation or the Crowfoot family for the use of the Crowfoot name when the Library opened in 2003.In the spirit of Truth and Reconciliation, the Calgary Public Library recognizes that traditional Blackfoot Protocol was not followed when the Crowfoot Library was named. Following consultation with the Crowfoot Family, the Library is honoured to have been given permission to use the name.“On behalf of the Calgary Public Library, I am very happy to be a part of this beautiful celebration that is long overdue,” said Bill Ptacek, CEO for Calgary Public Library. “As one of the busiest libraries in all of Canada, it is important for us to honour the history behind the Crowfoot name and I can assure you that going forward we will always think of Chief Crowfoot and his legacy when we visit this Library.”Learn more about Indigenous Programs and Services at the Calgary Public Library.
Read more about "Stories Crowfoot Library Hosts Name Ceremony"More digital content in public libraries Learn about the issues public libraries face around access and pricing for digital titles, and spread the word on social media with the hashtag #eContentForLibraries. We also want people to keep borrowing eBooks and eAudiobooks from public libraries. The booming popularity of this content is one of the strongest arguments for increased access. Visit econtentforlibraries.org to spread the word
Read more about "More digital content in public libraries"Discover the unique and innovative elements of Central Library’s spaces, services, art and iconic architecture in a free public tour led by a volunteer guide. Each tour can...
Read more about "Central Library Tour"The pandemic fundamentally changed how Calgary Public Library operated for more than two years and has affected how it continues to operate moving forward.
Read more about "The Library During COVID"The Calgary Library is pleased to announce that Sarah Meilleur, currently Director of Service Delivery, has been appointed Interim CEO for the Calgary Public Library, effective Friday, April 9. Sarah Meilleur is replacing current CEO, Mark Asberg, who has accepted a new opportunity at Queen’s University.Sarah Meilleur has worked at the Library for more than a decade in a variety of roles. Her leadership as Director of Service Delivery has included many achievements, including the plan for innovation development and the successful launch of the new Central Library. Recently, she oversaw the Library’s pandemic response and the reopening of locations.As shared in February, the Library Board has formed a CEO Search Committee with the objective of hiring a new CEO for the Calgary Public Library. To support recruitment efforts, the Library Board has engaged Boyden: Canada to complete an executive search.On behalf of the Board, staff, volunteers, and members of the Calgary Public Library, I wish to thank Sarah for stepping into the Interim CEO role. The challenges associated with the COVID-19 pandemic over the past year have clearly emphasized the vital role that Library’s play in our communities and we are thrilled to have her leading the organization forward.Thank you.Avnish MehtaBoard Chair, Calgary Public Library
Read more about "Stories Calgary Library Announces Interim CEO"