Preparing for kindergarten is easy with the Library.
Read more about "Get ready for school with your Library!"Seton Library has lots of room — enough room for a helicopter to fit comfortably among the shelves of books and other Library services.When the under-construction Library opens, young children will have the opportunity to explore an Alouette III helicopter, one of 11 Early Learning Centres in the Library system. A partnership with the Hangar Flight Museum provided the decommissioned helicopter. Able to fly at higher altitudes and carry seven passengers, two stretchers, or small cargo loads, the Alouette III was the choice of those who worked in mountainous regions.The incredibly successful installation of Engine 23 at Central Library has inspired other creative spaces, like the Alouette III at Seton Library. Watch the video to get a sneak peek before the Library opens in early 2019.
Read more about "Stories Seton Library Home to Alouette III Helicopter"When Susan Calder’s husband was transferred to Calgary for work in 1996, she was happy to make the move with her young family. But, unfamiliar with her new city, she struggled to find reasons to get out of the house.“I wasn’t working when we first moved here — I was just writing, and spending time with the kids. So I really needed something to keep me active, keep me social,” she says.Her solution came during a trip to Fish Creek Library, when she picked up a copy of the Library’s program guide and noticed a listing for a book club. “I’d never been in a book club before, but I’d always been interested in the concept. It seemed the logical thing to do as a book lover,” she says.Susan fell in love with the club immediately. Not only did it give her a way to make new friends in Calgary, but she discovered that the group was full of people who shared her interest in and love of stories. They offered her a different way of looking at the written word, which helped her to improve her craft as an aspiring author.“It’s been incredibly useful to me as a writer,” she says, “because it’s a look at writing from the reader’s perspective. I can see how almost no book is loved by everybody — no matter how well written. You start to understand that it's really all a matter of taste, and you feel a lot better when people don’t like your work.”At 23 years, Susan is one of the longest-attending members of the book club. While her book club has since become too popular to accept new members, the Library offers other book discussion groups. “What’s really nice about the group is that we often disagree heartily, but there’s never any ill-will about it,” she says of her tight-knit reading community. “We respect each other, and the divergence of opinions is quite lovely. People come away with a bit more of an appreciation for the book, and each other's point of view. You feel like you’ve stretched a bit, and grown, for having read outside of your comfort zone."A New Book Club MemberLittle did Susan realize that her passion for the club wasn’t going unnoticed. Although her husband was an avid reader, she never would have imagined him wanting to join a book club. It came as a total shock when, shortly after he retired in 2007, he asked her if he could tag along to a meeting. “I’d go out on book club day, come home and tell him about some of the discussions — the people, what they had to say. I didn’t really realize that all these years I had basically been selling the book club to him.” Unsure if her husband, who mostly read murder-mystery novels, would be on the same page as her literary-loving friends, Susan was hesitant to allow him to join her, but eventually, she gave in. Luckily for both Susan and her husband, her fears never materialized. Her husband has been a member of the club for over a decade now, even volunteering to lead discussions on the occasion that the group pursues a murder-mystery.“We don’t often talk about the books before the club meets, because we don’t want to influence each other’s opinions,” she says, “We’re able to approach it as individuals. But we do sometimes like to talk about them after, and it’s a social event as well, so it gives us something extra in common that we can do together.”More PossibilitiesThe Library is about much more than books for Susan and her family. “When we moved to Calgary, the opportunities just opened up. There were more possibilities for me to engage with the Library. There was more offered to me,” she says.Aside from attending her monthly book club, she also sharpens her writing skills with workshops and writing programs, attending several each month. She and her husband frequently borrow DVDs and CDs to watch movies and listen to music, and once attended Tech Mentors for three weeks in a row to get help fixing their computer.“Right now, we’re planning a trip to Italy,” she says, “so I’ve just taken out a series of audiobooks and things to try to learn a few essential words of Italian before we go.”Susan also likes to give back to the Library, and frequently shares her talents through panel discussions and readings of her work. Now an accomplished local author, Susan discussed her latest book, To Catch a Fox, in May at the Writing as Medicine program, and will discuss her contributions to the literary art exhibit Print(ed) Word: The Salon Series, which is displayed in the Central Library's TD Great Reading Room, in August.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 Opportunities Just Opened Up' A book club at the Library was the beginning of Susan Calder's Library Story"Our three seasonal Artists in Residence are paid community engagement residencies that support artists, collectives, and arts organizations working in Indigenous art and placemaking, children's art and illustration, or the Newcomer experience.Residents work in a designated space at Central Library and engage with the public at libraries across the city.
Read more about "Bringing art into the Library."Visit the Library on a virtual field trip!
Read more about "Bring the Library into your classroom"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"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 Shawnessy Library Shawnessy Library opened in September 2001, and is located inside Cardel Rec South, a recreation facility in south Calgary. It is also the only location to share facilities with a school. On opening, it replaced the Midnapore Library, which opened in 1998, but quickly required greater capacity to serve this growing community. Shawnessy was the only Library serving the area south of Fish Creek until the opening of Seton Library in 2019. To bring necessary services to patrons on the edge of the city, the Book Truck based at this location made five bi-weekly trips into the community, more than any other regular Book Truck route. Library staff are known to move between locations during their careers, but Shawnessy Library is famous in our system for hanging on to staff. Many of the people who work at this tight-knit location have been there since opening day! Photo: Calgary Public Library Archives, Our Story in Pictures
Read more about "History of Shawnessy Library"Preparing for kindergarten is easy with the Library.
Read more about "Get ready for school with your Library!"Join us to celebrate new Canadians at the Library. During this ceremony, between 50-80 people who have recently passed their citizenship exam will be sworn in as Canadian citizens, followed by live music and refreshments.
Read more about "Citizenship Ceremonies at Central Library"History of Forest Lawn Library Forest Lawn Library was added to the Calgary Public Library system in 1962, when the village of Forest Lawn was annexed by the City of Calgary. Originally the Forest Lawn Association Library, it was started by a group of engaged citizens and first located in the Bow River School. At the time of annexation, the location had collected more than 152,000 volumes, had 45,000 dedicated borrowers, and an annual circulation of over 867,000! This location has moved many times — first to the Marks Building on 17 Avenue in 1962, then in 1965, to a shopping centre down the road. On July 16, 1973, its current location opened at 4807 8 Avenue SE. Significant renovations were completed in 2004, nearly doubling the size of the location to 10,500 sq. ft. The location is currently the only Library with two Early Learning Centres; the Forest Lawn Library Nature Playground opened in 2017, followed by the indoor ELC, “Explore Energy,” in 2018. Photo: Calgary Public Library Archives, Our Story in Pictures
Read more about "History of Forest Lawn Library"Celebrate Hindu culture at Central Library. Experience breathtaking art, music, and dance, learn about travel to India, traditions and customs, take a free yoga class, and enjoy...
Read more about "Hindu Heritage Month at the Library"Calgary Public Library is committed to equity, diversity, and belonging Calgary Public Library is committed to equity, diversity, and belonging. Everyone should be able to realize their potential at Calgary Public Library. Everyone has a right to feel respected, safe, and valued within the Library and community. To ensure that, we must work to eliminate societal barriers and create a welcoming space in our programs, services, internal operations, and institutional culture. We have a responsibility to build and maintain an environment of equity, diversity, belonging, and dignity in all spaces we occupy and in all aspects of our community role. We continue to listen, learn, and act in collaboration with Library staff, volunteers, the City of Calgary, partners, and community.
Read more about "Calgary Public Library is committed to equity, diversity, and belonging"Our staff are here for you! If you have questions about our computer lending program or any other Library service, call out Library Hotline at
Read more about "Have more questions? Contact our Library Hotline"Everyone Belongs at the Library Let's work together to create a welcoming and safe space we can all enjoy. During your visit to the Library, please: Respect others Respectfully coexist and be considerate of others in Library spaces Take responsibility for those in your care during your visit Follow the directions of staff and security Stay safe Stay awake and alert in Library spaces Use furniture, equipment, and spaces for their intended purposes Keep all valuables and personal items with you Some behaviours are unacceptable and may result the loss of Library privileges including: Abuse, discrimination, or harassment of any kind towards others Using intoxicating substances Illegal activity Carrying or using a weapon Damaging or stealing Library property Violation of Library agreements, guidelines, or policies
Read more about "Everyone Belongs at the Library"