When Marian Erb moved to Calgary from Ireland 36 years ago, one of the first things she did was track down her community library.“As a newcomer, everything—from the architecture to the awesome expanse of Alberta skies—was new and overwhelming. The Library became a sanctuary for me, a home away from home,” says Marian.She recalls the welcoming smiles she received from Library staff on that first visit and the support given as she learned about the many resources the Library had to offer.“Staff are the Library’s most important resource,” she says. “They are the first point of contact for newcomers and ensure they have access to computers so that connections with family and friends back home is maintained as they acclimatize to their new surroundings.”While Marian shares a common language with native Calgarians, she can relate to that “lost” feeling common to the newcomer experience, when an accent can mark you as “different.” So, when she considered becoming a Library volunteer, she was drawn to working with people for whom English was foreign.“Newcomers often feel anxious in their new, unfamiliar surroundings. I remember that feeling and love to help people build confidence as they work to improve their spoken English. Volunteering in the Library’s Conversation Club allows me to reach out with friendship and find common ground…and then the words and stories start to flow.”Volunteering can be a daunting concept, but when asked what attributes aspiring Library volunteers should possess, Marian states that it’s really very simple: they need to love meeting new people, have patience, and be genuinely interested in the program they’ve chosen and the people they’re working alongside.“Volunteering at the Library allows me to do what I love, surrounded by beautiful, wonderful books in the company of friendly, like-minded people helping newcomers begin to feel like they’ve come home.”If you’d like to join the Library’s team of volunteers, please visit the Volunteers page.
Read more about "Stories Meet our Volunteers: Marian Erb Marian's work with the ESL Conversation Club helps find common ground"If art is part of your student’s curriculum or you’re simply looking for family-friendly craft ideas and inspiration, our Digital Library has you covered. We’ve rounded up our favourite eResources to help every student channel their inner artist and discover the joy in creating. 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. World Book Online for Kids World Book Online for Kids is an online learning platform developed for young users. Children can explore a variety of topics in easy-to-read articles, images, and videos. You can also solve puzzles while learning fun facts or try out experiments. Is your little musician looking for new ways to make some noise? Build your own Flute, Rubber-Band Strummer, or Coffee-Can Bongos with easy instructions under the Activities icon then choose Make Some Noise. (Ages 6 – 10) Use art to learn about geography! Under the Maps and More icon, try the Outline Maps and Flags feature. Choose a continent and then a country to get a downloadable map of that country and its flag, perfect for colouring or imagining your next adventure. (Ages 6 – 12) Gale Virtual Reference Library Find full-text eBooks for learners of all ages in the Gale Virtual Reference Library on subjects including coding, business, science, and travel. If your child loves wandering through a gallery or museum, take a look at the book Art That Changed the World. It tells an engaging story of art from ancient to modern times and includes photos of important works. (Ages 9 – 12)
Read more about "Stories Arts eResources for ages 6 – 12"Join the Library, Indigenous drum groups, and dancers from Treaty 7 to learn about the different dances performed at a powwow. You'll also learn about protocols and what to expect...
Read more about "Powwow Trail 101 - Tsuut'ina Powwow Demonstration"'\n ', 'Watch over 30,000 documentaries, classics, international films, and learning videos, including selections from The Great Courses. Each patron receives 20 tickets per month to choose films. Each film, season, course listed in Kanopy indicates the number of tickets required.\xa0', 'The Kanopy Kids area features movies and popular TV shows for children ages 2 and up and requires no tickets to watch.\xa0', 'Not sure how to start? Watch the tutorial in Niche Academy:\xa0', 'Kanopy tutorial', '\n '
Read more about "'Stream the best in cinema for free with your Library card.'"Learn to sort and filter data, apply formulas, and create charts and graphs in your online spreadsheets. An Outlook/Hotmail email account is required.
Read more about "Intermediate Microsoft Excel Online"If you've visited the Library or attended one of our programs, you may have heard this land acknowledgment before. But what is a land acknowledgment, and why is it important to learn?
Read more about "Children's Land Acknowledgment"Join us to learn about recent research that challenges the narrative of the prehistory of Rapa Nui (Easter Island) - famous for the “moai” statues, as a civilization that...
Read more about "Rethinking the “Mystery” of Easter Island"Join us as we explore some of the common wildlife species living right in our own backyards, and learn about the clues wildlife leave behind to help us know they were there...
Read more about "STEM Explorers: Who's in Your Backyard?"Join us as we explore some of the common wildlife species living right in our own backyards, and learn about the clues wildlife leave behind to help us know they were there...
Read more about "Wildlife Wonders: Birds of Prey"Learn the top five goals needed in every financial plan, and discover ten habits to help you save money and reduce expenses.
Read more about "Personal Finance: Break the Cycle - Spend Less and Save More"Learn the basics of coding and create your own game with one-on-one help from teen volunteers and Library staff. Designed for beginner coders.
Read more about "Coding Buddies"Take a trip around our very own Galaxy and Beyond! Learn about constellations, nebulae, galaxies and much more!
Read more about "STEM Explorers: Observing the Night Sky"Learn how to loom bead and create some beautiful art. All supplies and looms are provided.
Read more about "Beginner Loom Beading"Our homes can be sacred places that nurture, restore and bring comfort. Learn how to work with colours, textures, patterns and layout to create your own functional and beautiful...
Read more about "Creating Sanctuary - Designing your Home for Health and Wellbeing"Meet new people and learn new games in a fun, casual environment where everyone is welcome. Bring your own games or play one of ours; you can see the list at...
Read more about "Tabletop Game Café"