Visit the Library this March Break to discover fun for the whole family.
Read more about "You deserve a break"When it comes to learning the alphabet, preschoolers benefit from repeated exposure and varied practice with letters. If you’re looking for fun ways to incorporate the alphabet into your child’s day, these simple indoor games are easy to replicate at home and provide a variety of ways to engage with the alphabet.You’ll find both calm, quiet activities to keep them occupied, and more active games that will help them burn off energy. Ready? Let’s have fun with letters!Alphabet Connect-the-DotsThis simple activity promotes letter recognition and gets little bodies moving.What you’ll need: A long roll of art or butcher paper, or sheets of paper taped together, and crayons or markersWhat to do:To start, choose five or six letters to focus on (aim for a mix of letters they know well and letters that are more of a challenge). Using a long roll of paper and some crayons or markers, write the first letter you’ve chosen in random spots on the paper. Then move on to the next letter and do the same thing, until all the letters are written. Each letter should repeat about eight to ten times on the paper. Hand your preschooler a crayon and ask them to draw a line connecting the letters which are the same. For example, they may choose to start with the letter “G” and connect all of the “Gs” they see with their crayon. Source: Hands On As We Grow website Secret LettersWho doesn’t love receiving a secret message? This exciting activity combines the delight of revealing a hidden message with letter recognition practice. What you’ll need: White paper, white crayon, watercolour paint (or homemade paints made of jello powder or fruit juice), and a paintbrush What to do:Use a white crayon to write hidden letters or words on the paper. Hand the note to your child to paint over with watercolours. As they paint, the white wax of the crayon is revealed. See if they can read your message or tell you what letters they see appearing. Note: the message can be adapted to your child’s age and reading level. For toddlers, pictures and squiggles are fun to discover, while older children may be ready for words, phrases, or sentences.Source: Busy Toddler website At-Home Alphabet HuntLetters are everywhere: the cover of a book, a bottle of dish soap, the side of a box. This simple activity reminds little learners that there are letters all around them and promotes everyday reading. What you’ll need:Marker, pad of paper, pencil What to do: On a pad of paper, write out the entire alphabet with a marker in the style of a grocery list, with one letter on each line. Pass your little one the pad and pencil and go on a hunt around your house (or even your neighbourhood) together and have them check off the letters they find on their search. Can they find them all?Source: No Time for Flashcards website Fishing for LettersThis engaging activity fosters the imagination and helps preschoolers learn to recognize letters outside of their alphabetized order. What you’ll need: alphabet fridge magnets, extra magnet, string or yarn, cloth or fabric to act as “water," popsicle stick or wooden spoon, baking sheet (optional)What to do: Create a pretend fishing rod by tying an extra magnet to a piece of yarn at the end of a popsicle stick or wooden spoon, so that the magnet dangles like the hook on a fishing rod. Spread alphabet magnets over some cloth (using blue fabric is a fun touch to represent water) and go fishing for magnets! Tell your child to “stay on the shore” and pick up magnets without walking on the cloth. Each time they “catch” a letter, say the letter out loud together and put it on the fridge or a baking sheet. Once all the letters are caught, see if they can arrange them in order. Writing TrayWriting trays are a wonderful way to help children learn to write letters and practice fine motor skills.What you’ll need:Cookie sheet or a large, shallow container, flour or sprinkles, writing tool such as a spoon or cotton swab (optional)What to do:Spread a layer of flour or sprinkles over the tray and have your child write letters in the tray using either their fingers or a writing tool. Gently shake the tray to erase the letters and start again. This activity also works well for drawing shapes and numbers — or simply let them be creative and draw all kinds of pictures! Musical LettersThis activity is perfect for burning off energy while promoting gross motor co-ordination and quick letter recognition. Plus, who doesn’t love dancing to great music?What you’ll need:Painter’s tape, paper or card stock, marker, music your kids will dance toWhat to do:Using your painter’s tape, create letters on the floor in a random pattern. You don’t need to include every letter but can pick and choose which ones to focus on. Next write out the same letters individually on pieces of paper or card stock. To start, play the music (choose a song that will get your child dancing). As the music plays, let them move around the room and dance like crazy! Stop the music and hold up a letter. They must run to find the letter on the floor that matches the letter you’re holding up. Play the music again and repeat. Source: No Time for Flashcards website Have fun with these wonderful alphabet-learning games! Want even more great early literacy activities you can do at home? Be sure to check out our Library at Home section for more resources like these.Not yet a member? Sign up online for your free Library card to get access to the Library's online activities and Digital Library immediately.
Read more about "Stories Six Fun Alphabet Activities for Preschoolers"Calgary Public Library invites Indigenous people of all nations to apply for the paid opportunity to be a facilitator for our
Read more about "Apply to facilitate the Caretakers of the Land school program"Learn to code by creating your own game, designing a website, and more with one-on-one help from teen volunteers and Library staff. Designed for beginner coders.
Read more about "Code Club"Artists, community groups, and organizations are invited to submit their work (all mediums including photography) for consideration to be displayed at community libraries.
Read more about "Art Exhibit Spaces"Terms of use for access to the internet and other electronic uses through the Calgary Public Library.
Read more about "Public Access Network Terms of Use"In Spring 2020, a new collection will be available for you to browse through the Calgary Public Library website. The Newcomer Stories Collection from the Centre for Newcomers is a digital archive of personal stories shared by new Canadians. This collection of videos offers a glimpse into each subject’s immigration experience, and sheds light on the trials and triumphs of moving to a different country.The videos in this collection were created by the Centre for Newcomers with the help of the Audio and Video Recording Studios located at Central Library. The project was part of the Centre’s Legacy Gift to the Community, celebrating their 30th anniversary, and was made possible with the support of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada, Canadian Heritage, and Alberta Culture and Tourism.The full collection, which includes over 300 personal accounts from new Canadians, will be available to the public in 2020 through Calgary Public Library’s Digital Library, but you can preview a few videos now.
Read more about "Stories Introducing the Newcomer Stories Collection The Centre for Newcomers' 30th Anniversary Legacy Gift to the Community"Display posters for community events or activities at the Library.
Read more about "Third-Party Poster Display Criteria"*These services are currently on hold as the Library gradually reopens.
Read more about "We also offer free spaces for all ages and interests when you visit us in person"MEDIA RELEASE FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE January 20, 2020Calgary, AB – The Calgary Fire Department and Calgary Public Library are proud to announce a new joint project to help all children in Calgary learn about fire safety. Starting Tuesday, January 21, 2020, all library locations and fire halls in Calgary will begin distributing a new Fire Safety Activity Booklet.“Knowing about fire safety is critical for children,” says Steve Dongworth, Chief, Calgary Fire Department. “We are very grateful to the Calgary Public Library for their support in this initiative. Both their credibility with parents and accessibility to all Calgarians makes them an ideal partner in fire safety.”The Fire Safety Activity Booklet teaches kids all about home safety and the life of a firefighter through colouring sheets, puzzles, and games designed to engage school-aged learners. While a popular teaching tool, the activity book previously had not been updated in over 12 years. Calgary Fire approached the Library to help them update the booklet in early 2019.“Calgary Fire has been a great partner to the Library and we were eager to help them update this important fire safety tool,” says Mark Asberg, CEO of Calgary Public Library, "Linking safety and literacy with accessibility ensures that this resource will create safer homes across Calgary."The fire safety campaign will kick off with a Special Firefighter Storytime at Central Library on January 21 at 10:00 am. Visitors can enjoy a special firefighter storytime, meet real-life firefighters, and pick up a copy of Calgary's new Fire Safety Activity Book!Thanks to generous support from the Calgary Public Library Foundation, over 75,000 booklets will be made available to Calgarians this year.For more information on fire safety, please visit calgary.ca/fire For more information on the new activity book and event details, please visit Calgary Public Library. -30-Firefighter Storytime Media Event Details:Date: Tuesday, January 21 | 10 am – 11 am Where: Central Library, 800 3 Street SE What: Fire Safety Booklet Launch 9:30 am Media check-in 10:00 am Welcome and remarks (Fire Chief and Library CEO) 10:15 am Firefighter Storytime 10:45 am RefreshmentsPhoto opportunities will be available throughout the event. Mark Asberg, CEO of Calgary Public Library, and Steve Dongworth, Calgary Fire Department Chief, will be available for interviews on January 21.Fire Safety Facts:The Calgary Fire Department connects with over 1 in 9 Calgarians each year, providing fire safety information through station visits, educational programs and fire safety campaigns, and community events. Calgarians are at greatest risk for fires in their homes, which are most often due to careless behaviours, cooking or defective electrical appliances. House fires can double in size every 30 to 60 seconds. The greatest cause of indoor fire in Calgary happens in the kitchen: an average of 1.2 cooking fires occur every day in our city. Smoke alarms can save you when you are sleeping: in 2016, an estimated one-third of all fires in Calgary happened between 10 p.m. and 7 a.m. Working smoke alarms cut the risk of dying in half in reported home fires. Smoke and toxic gases emitted from household contents on fire can make a person confused, disoriented or even unconscious after just a few short breaths. How fast does fire move? Very fast. According to the National Fire Prevention Association (NFPA), you could have less than 2 minutes to get out safely after a smoke alarm sounds. Calgary Fire DepartmentServiced by 41 fire stations, The Calgary Fire Department is dedicated to health, safety and vitality of Calgarians, and we deliver our services through an integrated program of emergency fire and medical response, fire prevention, education and enforcement. Our service encompasses responding to fire incidents, critical medical interventions, motor vehicle collisions, hazardous conditions, specialized technical rescues including water rescues, calls for public service assistance, and providing community risk reduction through fire prevention activities.Calgary Public LibraryCalgary Public Library, with 740,000 members and 21 locations, has been inspiring the life stories of Calgarians for more than 100 years. It is currently the second largest library system in Canada and the sixth largest municipal library system in North America, with Calgarians borrowing more than 14.4 million physical and digital items and with 6.9 million in-person visits last year. The awe-inspiring 240,000 sq. ft. new Central Library — the newest gathering place for our city — opened on November 1, 2018.Media Contacts:Mary Kapusta Director, Communications Calgary Public Library 403.774.7256 mary.kapusta@calgarylibrary.caMary Ann Houston Communications Planner Calgary Fire Department 587.227.2058 MaryAnn.Houston@calgary.ca
Read more about "Stories New Fire Safety Activity Books Now Available Across Calgary"Embark on a math quest. Explore the Library while completing fun numeracy challenges that support what you learn in school. Caregivers are invited to stay & play.
Read more about "Math Quest"Stream the world's largest collection of on-demand full-length music performances, concert films, and music documentaries. Find Qello Concerts on the Libby app under the "Extras" section on the home screen. When you open Qello Concerts in Libby, you receive a free 7-day pass for unlimited access. After the pass expires, simply return to Libby to renew access for another week. Download the Libby App from the App Store or Google Play. Or, use the Libby app in your browser.
Read more about "Transform your connected devices into the ultimate live music concert film experience"Kay Burns is a multidisciplinary artist and researcher who is exploring the Library’s map collection during her residency.
Read more about "Kay Burns"Join us at Memorial Park Library for an indoor movie screening of the Disney classic, "Frozen 2". Treats and hot chocolate provided. We would love to see you in your favourite...
Read more about "Winter Wonderland: Family Movie Screening of “Frozen 2”"