Whether you’re looking to help develop your student’s literacy skills or simply foster a lifelong love of books, you’ve come to the right place. Check out our list of free eResources to help your child discover the magic of reading and writing as they learn new things, read about their interests, and follow the adventures of their favourite characters. Use your free Library membership to access these great apps and resources in the Digital Library. No Library card? No problem. Sign up for free online and start using it now. Beanstack Need some help finding great reading material? Beanstack has you covered. Get personalized reading recommendations for every member of the family, sent weekly to your inbox. eReading Room for Kids Visit the eReading Room for Kids to borrow children’s eBooks for free with your Library card. Read or listen to eBooks on your computer or take them with you on your mobile device with the free Libby app. Check out our One Week Loans for Beginning Readers. There’s no wait time, and you can have two early readers checked out at once. When you're done, just return them and check out two more. Bookflix Cuddle up and read with Bookflix! Find your favourite picture book classics paired with related non-fiction books for early readers. Read aloud together or watch and listen to an animated version of the picture book. Enhance reading comprehension with quizzes and puzzles after the story. Does your early reader love big trucks? Check out the Imagination section, where you can read or listen along to the picture book I Stink (about a smelly garbage truck) paired with a Mighty Machines book (about real garbage trucks). (Ages 6 – 8) Canadian Encyclopedia Read and learn about Canadian history and culture in the Canadian Encyclopedia. Search for a specific topic or browse more than 30,000 multimedia items, including images, maps, games, audio, and video. For help with essays on important Canadians, try reading the special collection on women in Canadian history in the Canadian Encyclopedia. These short articles tell the stories of Canadian women — including 47 Indigenous women — who paved the way in music, art, politics, sports, suffrage, and leadership. (Ages 9 – 12) Learning Express Learning Express is a database offering practice tests and tutorials for students in Grades 4 and up, including reading comprehension and math. There are also helpful career exploration resources for high school students considering their next steps after graduation. Kanopy Kids Kanopy is a free movie and TV streaming app with a section just for kids. Your child can watch their favourite cartoon characters and educational shows from any device. Love a good story? Visit the kids’ section of Kanopy to watch animated versions of your child’s favourite books with beloved characters like Pigeon, Scaredy Squirrel, and Curious George. (Ages 5–10) TumbleBook Library Listen and read along with animated story books for young children, their parents, and teachers in TumbleBook Library. Read-alongs are a wonderful way to help improve your child’s reading skills as they hear the story read to them and follow the text at the same time. Check out their cute and colourful read-alongs that are perfect for beginner readers. (Ages 5 – 7) Older kids can enjoy read-alongs too! Browse a selection of chapter books that your older child will love, or check out their collection of read-along children’s classics like Anne of Green Gables.
Read more about "Stories Reading and Writing eResources for ages 5 – 12"Calgary Public Library Announces New Program in Partnership with Calgary Fire Department MEDIA RELEASEFOR IMMEDIATE RELEASEJanuary 8, 2019Calgary, AB — The Calgary Public Library in partnership with the Calgary Fire Department is thrilled to announce a new program that launches this week.From January through June, children and families will have the opportunity to participate in weekly drop-in Firefighter Storytimes at select Library locations. Visitors will enjoy a story read by a local firefighter, and, availability and weather permitting, a tour of a working fire engine – a special experience for children of all ages. This unique partnership will also see firefighters sharing life-saving fire safety tips with the communities in which they serve.“What better way to inspire early learning and literacy in children than with real-life firefighters reading to them?” said Mark Asberg, Director of Service Delivery for the Calgary Public Library. “These local heroes are helping to set the foundation for future learning. We are proud to be working with our partners at the Calgary Fire Department to bring lifechanging programs like this to Calgary’s youngest citizens.”The Library first partnered with the Calgary Fire Department for Engine 23, a popular early learning installation at the old Central Library. Following firefighter and truck visits during 2018 Love Your Library Day, a plan was made to pilot an expanded storytime program across the library system. After the closure of the old Central Library, Engine 23 was moved into storage and plans are underway to install it at a new community library location in 2019.“The Calgary Fire Department encourages our members to visit public libraries in our communities and spend some time reading to children,” says Calgary Fire Chief Steve Dongworth. “I want to thank the Calgary Public Library for working with us to help spark a love of reading among children and ensuring they have access to the reading resources they need.”The Library locations selected for the pilot program were chosen based on their proximity to local fire stations. Storytimes will take place on Sunday afternoons at two different Library locations, beginning at 2:00 pm. Each storytime will last about 30 minutes.A full list of dates and locations of upcoming Firefighter Storytimes can be found at calgarylibrary.ca/programs.Calgary Public LibraryCalgary Public Library, with 688,000+ 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 14.6 million physical and digital items and with 6.8 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.- 30 -Media Contacts:Mary KapustaDirector, CommunicationsCalgary Public Library403.774.7256Mary.Kapusta@calgarylibrary.caGemma PasquarelliAccount ExecutiveEdelman403.817.0622Gemma.Pasquarelli@edelman.com
Read more about "Stories"Explore your career and education options and learn how to plan for the future.
Read more about "Choices Explorer"Read more about "Find holiday episodes of children's TV shows on Kanopy Kids"
The new year is a popular time to set goals for the months ahead. Let the Library help you make those resolutions stick! With hundreds of free resources, programs, and books at your fingertips, we’re confident that you can crush this year’s goals.Get active If taking better care of your health is on your list this year, but you know you won’t follow through with a gym membership, join us for some fun, free exercise at the Library. Put your best foot forward at Swingin’ Sundays or loosen up with Yoga at Central Library. Learn some easy new meals from our Eat Clean booklist, and research ways of improving your wellness using Health Source.Watch your wallet If money is on your mind after an expensive holiday season, sign up for free finance programs to learn how to take control of your money, curb your spending, and grow your wealth. Staff-curated titles can also help you Tighten Your Financial Belt.Learn a new language On Rosetta Stone, you can learn over 30 languages, including Spanish, Italian, Japanese, Chinese (Mandarin), Hindi, and Persian (Farsi), for free with your Library card, or improve your English skills with interactive lessons. If you prefer in-person instruction, stop by an ESL Coffee and Conversation meeting, or visit the Indigenous Languages Resource Centre. Treaty 7 Language Books are also available to sign out at several community libraries.Make some memories Looking for a new way to spend quality time with loved ones this year? Free drop-in programs like Chess in the Library, Crack the Code, and Firefighter Storytime are fun for every age, while little learners in particular will love exploring our Early Learning Centres. Back at home, have a free movie night with selections from Kanopy. You can also check out Ancestry for free during your next Library visit to learn about the family you didn’t know you had.Read more We knew you would ask — and we’ve got tips to help you fit more books into your busy schedule. Can’t decide what to read first? Check out our staff-curated booklists to get some ideas to suit your interests. Make reading an event by joining a Book Discussion Group or signing out a Book Club in a Bag with friends. Save some money and cancel subscriptions — you can turn your mobile device into an eReader and audiobook player all in one with Libby and take your book everywhere you go.Sign up for your free Library card to get started!
Read more about "Stories New Year, New You with Library Resources"100L, H, 4.6…OMG! Understanding Reading Levels Did you know that the children’s collection at Calgary Public Library includes thousands of books? With so many options, it can be intimidating to choose books for your growing reader.One way to choose reading material is based on a book’s reading level. Reading levels are common in a school setting but can be confusing for caregivers wondering how reading levels apply to their child’s learning-to-read journey.What are reading levels?Schools may use a variety of leveling systems to help guide the book choices children make when reading. “Leveled readers” allow students to be challenged enough by the book that they are growing as readers, but not so challenged that they have lost all meaning and enjoyment from it. Books organized by reading levels are a classroom tool, meant for schools and the school market. In some cases, leveled-readers series can only be purchased by schools and the rights are not available for public libraries.Using leveled readers is just one way for students to experience books and to support the learning-to-read journey. Reading levels do not always align with a child’s age or ensure that a reader at that level will be personally interested in the topic.“A level is a teacher’s tool, not a child’s label.” (Fountas and Pinnell) There are several reading level book series you may come across, including these common systems:Fountas and Pinnell is one of the most widely used leveled reader series in the classroom. This publisher assesses the text of a book on criteria including word count, high frequency words, and sentence complexity. There are 27 Fountas and Pinnell reading levels.The Accelerated Reader (or AR) program was developed by Renaissance Learning, Inc. and uses quizzes to assess a reader’s skill. Their system of leveling books is called the ATOS® reading formula, which evaluates the text of a book based on average sentence length, average word length, vocabulary grade level, and number of words in the book. ATOS levels are numerical — the lower the ATOS® score, the easier the text should be.The Lexile Framework measures both an individual’s reading ability and a text’s readability. The Lexile levels are based on reading comprehension tests taken by students across the United States. The Lexile ranges change when new test scores are reported. Generally, the lower the number, the simpler the text. The letters before the Lexile numbers are “Lexile codes,” two-letter designations to give more information about the book. For example, AD stands for Adult-Directed, which is for books meant to be read to children by an adult.Publisher leveled readers are usually a series of books with their own system of leveling that vary from publisher to publisher. These books can be purchased at a bookstore or found at the Library and may also be used in a classroom. At Calgary Public Library, these books are called “X Books” or “Easy Readers.” For example, HarperCollins produces the popular “I Can Read!” series, which has six levels. The title Batman: Dino Dilemma is a level 2 reader, which the publisher says is geared towards kids who can read on their own but still need a little help.Should I use reading levels at home?While it may be helpful to understand what reading levels mean, recent best practice in education and public libraries is to focus on fostering a love for reading first. Children learn to love reading when they are allowed to read what they want and families read together often in English and/or in their home language. Public libraries have books published in a wide range of world languages.Reading above or below the level that corresponds with the student’s grade or age is fine and often encouraged. A reader may be drawn to a challenging or “stretch” book if it’s about a particular topic that they enjoy. This is a great workout for their reading brain and an opportunity to share a good book together. A reader may also find it enjoyable and relaxing to read a book that is easier and familiar. Building positive associations with reading can help a child become a reader for life.Tip to Try When Choosing A New Book:Have your child choose a book that they will enjoy. Invite them to read the second page. Together, hold up a finger for each word they are not sure of or do not know. If there are five or more words they did not know, consider an easier book. If your child needs support to help them become a stronger reader, consult an education professional.Where should I start?The Library’s children’s collection complements kids that are learning to read and aims to support them by encouraging a love of reading. While the X Book or “Easy Reader” collection is targeted for kids learning to read, there are other collections that children enjoy, such as Z picture books, audio books, and nonfiction. Choose books with high interest characters, great illustrations, and humour to help keep readers engaged. An interested reader who is having fun is more likely to keep reading.The most important thing to do is to encourage any reading. All reading is good reading, whether fiction, nonfiction, comic books, chapter books, audio books, or picture books. Library staff are happy to help recommend amazing stories that are a great fit for your growing reader, whether in print or digital format. See a list of staff recommendations of Easy Readers for every reader.Easy readers and other collections are also available in digital format through OverDrive and TumbleBook Library, with audio options and accessibility features. Exploring a variety of formats helps children experience the joy of reading in different ways.Additional Resources:Reading Rockets Scholastic Family Literacy Brochure from the Calgary Board of Education This blog post is published as part of The Kitchen Table Classroom: A Series to Support Learning from Home, a partnership with Edmonton Public Library. Visit our Programs page to register for the next live online workshop in the series, coming up in January.
Read more about "Stories"Welcome to LitCon, a virtual festival for kids and teens. During the festival, young writers, readers, artists, and musicians, can connect with their peers and professional writers to learn more about their creative passions. LitCon is open to educators and students from Calgary and area from Tuesday to Friday, and to any Library member in Grades 4-12 on Saturday at Central Library.Educators can sign entire classes up, or students can attend individually.
Read more about "Discover the literary arts from May 30 – June 3"Did you know that sensory play lays an important foundation for your child’s learning? It encourages brain development, open-ended thinking, fine motor skill building, and even language learning. We’ve rounded up our favourite sensory activities for preschoolers who love to paint — all you need are a few household objects. Besides, who doesn’t love getting a little messy?Sensory Spice Painting This simple activity engages the senses with fragrant spices and encourages your little one’s fine-motor skills as they mix and paint with brushes. What you’ll need:Paper, washable white paint, four small containers, four paint brushes, and four kinds of ground spices like cinnamon, turmeric, paprika, and cardamomWhat to do:Pour washable white paint into four small containers or bowls, then add one spice to each bowl. The more spice you add, the deeper the colour. Use paint brushes to mix the spices into the paint until blended. Watch your preschooler paint with the beautiful and fragrant earth-toned shades. Be mindful that spice paints have the potential to stain clothes. Sensory tip: ask them which spice they like the smell of best, and why. Shaving Cream Finger Painting Soft, cool, and fluffy, shaving cream is a sensory delight for little hands to play in — you don’t even need paint brushes for this activity. What you’ll need: Shaving cream, kitchen table or tray, rags for cleaningWhat to do: Spray shaving cream on your kitchen table (or a cookie tray) and let children spread it all over with their hands. They can squish it between their fingers, draw pictures in it, or practice their letters. Give them wet rags to clean it up with after, and you’ll have a sparkling clean table. Snow PaintingIf there’s snow outside, this is a great way to engage in outdoor sensory play with preschoolers. What you’ll need:Spray bottles, food colouring, snow What to do:Fill spray bottles with water and add food colouring to each bottle. Spray the coloured water on the snow to write letters, create pictures, or turn your backyard into a snowy rainbow. Your preschooler’s creativity will shine with these simple but engaging sensory activities. 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 for your free Library card.Sources:Craftulate: Sensory Spice PaintingLittle Rock Family: 6 Sensory-Stimulating Activities using Common Household ItemsFive Minute Fun: Five-minute Sensory Play Ideas
Read more about "Stories Three Sensory Activities for Preschoolers Who Love to Paint"Deciding to apply for citizenship in a new country is a big decision, but it’s also exciting. If your goal is to become a Canadian citizen, you can start preparing for your citizenship test right now from home.Use your free Library card to access these resources from the Digital Library. They make studying simple and stress free!Don’t have a Library card? You can sign up for free online and start using it immediately.Learn about your rightsFind out all you need to know about the rights and responsibilities of Canadian citizens by downloading the official study guide for the citizenship test. This guide is provided by the Government of Canada and contains information about the history of Canada, how our government works, symbols of Canada and its regions, and more.BrainFuseConnect with tutors online to get answers to your questions as you prepare for the Canadian Citizenship Test. Tutors are available from 2 pm to 11 pm every day. BrainFuse also has an adult learning centre that includes Canadian Citizenship practice tests and resources to help you excel. Canadian EncyclopediaUse this resource to learn more about Canada’s history and culture through images, maps, videos, timelines, and other media. The Canadian Encyclopedia also provides classroom resources, quizzes, and study guides.Road to IELTSNewcomers to Canada can expand their verbal and written communication skills with this resource. Road to IELTS can help you prepare for the International English Language Testing System exam with Reading, Listening, Speaking and Writing courses. You can also use a personalized study planner to stay on track.
Read more about "Stories Preparing for the Canadian Citizenship Test from Home"Helping your school-age child with their science lessons at home? Check out our curated list of free digital resources from our Digital Library to help supplement their study sessions, keep their hands busy with science experiments, or spark their curiosity with fascinating science topics they’ll want to learn more about. 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. Flipster Flipster is a platform for reading digital magazines that can be accessed on most devices. It offers a wide variety of magazines, including educational magazines for kids. Try searching these magazine titles: Is your child crazy about pandas, lions, or other zoo animals? Check out the Zoobooks digital magazine for full issues to satisfy their current animal obsession. (Ages 8 – 12) Make learning exciting with Brainspace, an augmented reality science and technology magazine for kids. Your child can make the articles come to life through interactive elements that can be unlocked on each page using a smartphone or tablet. Discover articles on scientific topics in other fun and educational magazines kids love to read, like Owl, Kayak, and Faces. PressReader PressReader gives you unlimited access to digital editions of newspapers and magazines from around the world. Find issues of popular science magazines for kids. They can explore animals from all over the globe in Wild and Canadian Geographic Kids, or discover the world of innovation, science, and technology in Whiz. National Geographic Kids National Geographic Kids is a database of articles, photos, videos, and eBooks for kids filled with interesting facts and information about our world. Explore the Science and Tech section to watch videos and read books about all kinds of cool topics, like robots, natural disasters, and outer space. 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. For young scientists who learn by doing, it also has easy science experiments you can do at home. Why do airplanes fly? How does temperature affect motion? Use the super-simple Science Project section to find out. (Ages 6 – 8) Your beginner baker can explore the science of yeast with this easy kitchen experiment. Once you log in to World Book Online for Kids, choose Science Projects and then Microscopic Life. All you’ll need is a cookie sheet, some water, a spoon, and a lamp to get a hands-on look at how bats use sound to see. Go to Science Projects > How bats use sound to find this activity. (Ages 8 – 12) What's your favourite animal? Discover where they live, what they eat, and how they sleep with the World of Animals section. (Ages 5 – 9) Kanopy Kids Kanopy is a free movie and TV streaming app with a section just for kids. Your children can watch their favourite cartoon characters and educational shows from any device. Season 3 of Science Max brings concepts like gravity, friction, and hydraulics to life in fun videos. Tune in to see an antacid rocket, a pumpkin drop, a mousetrap boat, and air surfing. (Ages 8 –12) Science Reference Centre The Science Reference Centre lets kids learn about famous scientists and research topics in applied sciences, biology, chemistry, earth science, energy, and astronomy, and offers great curriculum support for teachers. Looking for science experiment ideas? Check out their selection of science experiment books by searching for titles such as Science Experiments with Food and full-text experiment guides like the Egg in a Bottle experiment. Gale Virtual Reference Library eBooks Online Find full-text eBooks for learners of all ages in the Gale Virtual Reference Library on subjects including coding, business, science, and travel. Kids love DK Eyewitness books. They cover a range of topics, like animals, history, geography, weather, technology, and more. No need to place a hold; you can start reading them right away!
Read more about "Stories Science eResources for ages 6 – 12"Whether you’re looking to help develop your student’s literacy skills or simply foster a lifelong love of books, you’ve come to the right place. Check out our list of free eResources to help your child discover the magic of reading and writing as they learn new things, read about their interests, and follow the adventures of their favourite characters. Use your free Library membership to access these great apps and resources in the Digital Library. No Library card? No problem. Sign up for free online and start using it now. Beanstack Need some help finding great reading material? Beanstack has you covered. Get personalized reading recommendations for every member of the family, sent weekly to your inbox. eReading Room for Kids Visit the eReading Room for Kids to borrow children’s eBooks for free with your Library card. Read or listen to eBooks on your computer or take them with you on your mobile device with the free Libby app. Check out our One Week Loans for Beginning Readers. There’s no wait time, and you can have two early readers checked out at once. When you're done, just return them and check out two more. Bookflix Cuddle up and read with Bookflix! Find your favourite picture book classics paired with related non-fiction books for early readers. Read aloud together or watch and listen to an animated version of the picture book. Enhance reading comprehension with quizzes and puzzles after the story. Does your early reader love big trucks? Check out the Imagination section, where you can read or listen along to the picture book I Stink (about a smelly garbage truck) paired with a Mighty Machines book (about real garbage trucks). (Ages 6 – 8) Canadian Encyclopedia Read and learn about Canadian history and culture in the Canadian Encyclopedia. Search for a specific topic or browse more than 30,000 multimedia items, including images, maps, games, audio, and video. For help with essays on important Canadians, try reading the special collection on women in Canadian history in the Canadian Encyclopedia. These short articles tell the stories of Canadian women — including 47 Indigenous women — who paved the way in music, art, politics, sports, suffrage, and leadership. (Ages 9 – 12) Learning Express Learning Express is a database offering practice tests and tutorials for students in Grades 4 and up, including reading comprehension and math. There are also helpful career exploration resources for high school students considering their next steps after graduation. Kanopy Kids Kanopy is a free movie and TV streaming app with a section just for kids. Your child can watch their favourite cartoon characters and educational shows from any device. Love a good story? Visit the kids’ section of Kanopy to watch animated versions of your child’s favourite books with beloved characters like Pigeon, Scaredy Squirrel, and Curious George. (Ages 5–10) TumbleBook Library Listen and read along with animated story books for young children, their parents, and teachers in TumbleBook Library. Read-alongs are a wonderful way to help improve your child’s reading skills as they hear the story read to them and follow the text at the same time. Check out their cute and colourful read-alongs that are perfect for beginner readers. (Ages 5 – 7) Older kids can enjoy read-alongs too! Browse a selection of chapter books that your older child will love, or check out their collection of read-along children’s classics like Anne of Green Gables.
Read more about "Stories Reading and Writing eResources for ages 5 – 12"The value of Intellectual Freedom Calgary Public Library is committed to the principles of intellectual freedom and to ensuring that we provide the widest possible access to information and resources, to encourage informed discussions, diverse opinions, and learning in our communities. Intellectual Freedom is defined in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights: Everyone has the right to freedom of opinion and expression; this right includes freedom to hold opinions without interference and to seek, receive and impart information and ideas through any media and regardless of frontiers. The Canadian Federation of Library Associations affirms: That all persons in Canada have a fundamental right, subject only to the Constitution and the law, to have access to the full range of knowledge, imagination, ideas, and opinion, and to express their thought publicly. The availability of an item within our collection does not indicate the Library’s endorsement of its content. Some content in our collection may be seen as controversial, unconventional, or unpopular, and perhaps contrary to the mission and values of the Library, but its presence in our collection reflects our commitment to intellectual freedom. The Library endorses the Canadian Federation of Library Associations’ Statement on Intellectual Freedom , and the International Federation of Library Associations and Institutions’ Statement on Libraries and Intellectual Freedom . The ultimate right and responsibility for the choice and use of Library materials rests with the individual. Responsibility for children's or teens' choice and use of resources rests with their parent(s) or legal guardian(s). Read the Calgary Public Library Board policy on Intellectual Freedom
Read more about "The value of Intellectual Freedom"Learn about the Library’s paid residency and placemaking programs, current opportunities, and learn from past artists' experiences. Hear from arts organizations, AFA and...
Read more about "Residency and Grant Opportunities for Artists"