Most Libraries have community meeting rooms that you can book with your library card. Visit Book a Meeting Space for more information.
"Calgary Public Library is committed to eliminating racial and social equity barriers. We stand with the communities we serve against racism and injustice." – Sarah Meilleur, CEOLinks and ResourcesThe Library is a signatory for the Urban Libraries Council’s Statement on Race and Social Equity. Children's Books on Racism on OverDriveChildren’s books on racism and prejudice as well as information about the history of African Americans in the US, including books about Harriet Tubman, Martin Luther King, and Rosa Parks. Black Lives Matter Reading List on OverDriveA reading list to help you stay informed about the history of systemic racism in America and the work of those who are trying to make a change. An Essential Black Lives Matter Film List on KanopyIf you're feeling overwhelmed by the news and want to take action, take the first step and deepen your understanding of racism and the experiences of Black people in America with these powerful and timely documentaries from Kanopy. The Skin We're In Reading List on OverDriveThis list of adult fiction books addresses racism as a topic.I Hope You Get This Message Reading List on OverDriveTeen reads about racial equity, social justice, and diversity.
Read more about "Stories Race and Social Equality Resources"We can’t wait to show you Calgary’s newest Library! The Seton Library at the Brookfield Residential YMCA opens January 14, 2019, and we want you to join us for our BIG opening weekend!January 19 is the official opening of the Hopewell Early Learning Centre, a space for kids built around a real helicopter courtesy of The Hangar Flight Museum. The celebration, from 10 am to 1 pm, will also include a special family storytime at 11 am, free crafts and activities, treats, games, door prizes, and more.The new 25,000 square foot Seton Library has plenty to offer the growing south Calgary community, such as a Teen Centre, bookable meeting rooms, automated Chromebook lending lockers, and lots of programs and services for children and families, including the Questionarium and the Hopewell Early Learning Centre.Access everything at Seton Library (and our 20 other locations) for free with your free Library card! Get a membership online today or visit any Library location to become a member.See you at Seton Library!
Read more about "Stories Seton Library Opens in the New Brookfield Residential YMCA"Helping your student with their math homework? We can help take the stress out of studying. Make learning math a breeze with our free eResources that offer content tailored specifically for children and students developing their math skills. 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. Bookflix Cuddle up and read with Bookflix! Find your favourite picture book classics paired with related fact books for early readers. Read aloud together or watch and listen to an animated version of the picture book. (Ages 5 – 8) Early readers can listen or read along to the book Everyone Uses Math to see how pilots, firefighters, and cooks use math every day. Then play a Word Match or Fact or Fiction game – they’re so fun, kids won’t even know they’re learning. 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. Superheroes and surfers are the stars of this 15-title series of easy-to-understand math eBooks, from Funky Fractions and Edgy Equations to Glorious Geometry and Dynamic Denominators. (Ages 8 – 12) Solaro Find course lessons, reviews, and practice tests for students in grades 3 to 12 in Solaro. It follows Alberta curriculum and provides online access to the same information found in The Key study guides. (Ages 9 – 17) Find math lessons, flash cards, quizzes, and pre- and –post-assessments that directly support your child’s learning. For instance, the Grade Five section covers Numbers, Patterns and Equations, Geometry, Measurement, and Probability. brainfuse HelpNow brainfuse HelpNow offers free online tutoring for students studying Alberta curriculum. Students studying math in Grades 2 to 12 can access online help from 2:00 pm to 11:00 pm daily. Chat live with a tutor and create your own study tools with flashcards and games. 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. Try some fun and simple math and logic puzzles in the “Activities” section, like using math to find the secret code in your name or solving a numbered puzzle square.
Read more about "Stories Math eResources for ages 5 – 17"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 activeIf 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 walletIf 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 languageOn 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 memoriesLooking 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 moreWe 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"Join us for free activities and programs to celebrate and recognize Canada’s many stories. Activities will include a special storytime, musical performances, The Big Book Borrow...
Read more about "Canada Day at the Central Library"Whether you’re running for mayor, voting for mayor, or just care about the place that you live, here are the books to spark the ideas for a brighter future.
Read more about "Big Ideas, Building Community"Gillian Hynes Committee Membership: Governance; Strategy and Community Term End: 2026 Immersing herself in the pages of books across diverse genres has been a lifelong passion for Gillian. This love for reading traces back to her early childhood and has seamlessly woven itself into her adult years. The roots of this passion run deep within her family; her mother, a former librarian during her teaching career, instilled this fervor for books. Continuing the tradition, Gillian’s young children eagerly explore the Central and Signal Hill branches, returning home buzzing with enthusiasm for their newfound books. Gillian firmly believes the Library is an inclusive space — a haven for learning, community, and connection. Committed to this belief, Gillian serves as a voice for change. Her voice reverberates in support of reconciliation, equity, diversity, and belonging in our communities and workplaces. Gillian passionately strives to cultivate more inclusive and sustainable environments for equity-deserving groups, channeling her enthusiasm towards sustaining these principles within Calgary Public Library.
Read more about "Gillian Hynes"Councillor Kourtney Penner Committee Membership: City Councillor, Ward 11 Term End: 2024 Kourtney has always been an avid reader. As a kid, she loved library day in school, book fairs, and visits from what we now call the Book Truck. It’s no surprise that she studied English Literature in university. Now she enjoys attending and hosting events at the Library, bringing her own children to experience reading and playing, and taking out books (and occasionally returning them on time). Kourtney sees Calgary Public Library as an innovative civic institution, leading the way with both programming and building design. She is keen to support the continued value that Calgary Public Library delivers to Calgarians and encourage ongoing initiatives, especially those focused on youth, seniors, marginalized populations, and low-income Calgarians.
Read more about "Councillor Kourtney Penner"My name is Rachel Murphy and I have two boys, Fraser and Anderson, ages three-and-a-half and two. They are growing up with a love of reading and Calgary Public Library is a big reason why.I spent a lot of time at the Library during my maternity leaves. We attended Drop-in Family Storytimes, and signed out each of the six themed Read and Play kits at Quarry Park Library. The Library was a place where I felt very comfortable bringing my boys because kids are encouraged to learn through play.When my oldest was two, I asked him what his favourite place in Calgary was. I assumed he would say an indoor play place but he said the Library, and that made me feel so happy and proud.Now that I’m back at work, the Library continues to be a big part of our lives. I place holds on books online and then pick them up on my lunch break. My boys’ eyes light up when I come home with Library books as if it’s Christmas morning. My oldest even sleeps with Library books at the foot of his bed for the three-week borrowing period.Currently, the boys are very interested in hockey and trains. I love being able to borrow books because as their interests change, so can their selection of books.We also visit several Library locations every month or two to enjoy the Early Learning Centres, as each one is interactive and centered around a different theme. We love the Early Learning Centres at Fish Creek, Shawnessy, and Quarry Park Library, but our favourite is definitely Engine 23 at Central Library.You can’t beat being able to sit inside and pretend to drive a real firetruck. We also love reading firetruck books in the upper reading area. My boys were both firefighters for Halloween because Engine 23 gave them their love of firetrucks.We are SO excited for the new Central Library to open later this year! Calgary Public Library understands that healthy development in early childhood sets kids up for future success. My family and I are so lucky to live in a place where reading is so accessible and lifelong learning is encouraged. Follow Rachel and her boys on Instagram at @newwestmom.We want to know how the Library has made a difference in your life. Submit your own Library Story online.
Read more about "Stories ‘My Boys Are Growing up With a Love of Reading’ Rachel Murphy is helping her children write their own Library Story"Check out up to 99 items at a time from our collection.
Read more about "Readers"Come Discover What's New and Wonderful at Calgary Public Library on Love Your Library Day MEDIA RELEASEFOR IMMEDIATE RELEASEJuly 17, 2018Calgary, AB — Everybody is invited to Calgary Public Library’s Love Your Library Day, a one-day event at all 20 libraries across the city on Saturday, August 18. This free event is for all, from avid Library users to those curious about what the Library can offer.“As we near November 1, all eyes are on New Central Library,” says Bill Ptacek, CEO for Calgary Public Library. “Love Your Library Day is an exciting opportunity to celebrate our incredible members and highlight our entire Library system that reaches so many people each day. We’ve never held a city-wide open house like this before, and we’re especially delighted at the chance to introduce more Calgarians to Calgary Public Library.”Love Your Library Day will run from 10:00 am to 2:00 pm at each location. Staff have a jam-packed schedule of activities planned, including a city-wide storytime featuring special guests at 11:00 am, family programming, behind-the-scenes Library tours, musical performances, collaborative art and story walls, scavenger hunts, and face painting.On the day, people can celebrate how the Library has made a difference in their life, learn about new services and programs, enjoy refreshments, and enter to win one of 20 door prizes. The Calgary Public Library Foundation will also be selling special limited-edition commemorative community library tote bags on Love Your Library Day for $10 (regular $15). All sales proceeds will support the essential work of the Calgary Public Library.Love Your Library Day is also a perfect time to introduce someone you know to the Library. Whether it’s been a few years since they last checked out a book, or are visiting for the first time — bring a friend to your local Library, sign up for a free Library membership on August 18 and you will both be entered to win our Refer a Friend Grand Prize, valued at nearly $1,000, which includes:Calgary Public Library late fine forgiveness $100 gift certificate and other prizes from Lukes Drug Mart A six-month membership and other prizes from YMCA Four guest passes and other prizes from Studio Bell, home of the National Music Centre Literary swag from the Library Store For more details on special programs related to Love Your Library, please visit calgarylibrary.ca/Love-Your-Library.Community Libraries Get Freshened UpDuring the construction of the new Central Library, the entire system has received a facelift, with all community Library locations being renovated before the November 1 opening. These renovations include new furniture, fresh paint, enhanced technology, more meeting spaces, and 10 Early Learning Centres. Stay tuned for refreshed spaces at Village Square Library and Country Hills Library this fall!Your Library Membership BenefitsYour free Calgary Public Library card gives you access to books, eBooks, programs, online resource, printing, plus much more. Free membership benefits include:Browse and borrow print and digital books, audiobooks, music, movies, magazines, newspapers, and more. E-Library access to more than 100 Digital Resources. Read digital books with OverDrive, learn a language with Rosetta Stone, take online courses with Lynda.com, watch movies with Kanopy, and listen to music with Freegal. Online resource for kids, including animated read-along story books with TumbleBook Library and tutoring with Brainfuse. Access to Early Learning Centres, where children can learn through play. Book free meeting rooms around the city. Free WiFi and three hours of computer use per day. Borrow Chromebook laptops for in-Library use. Up to $5 of free printing per month. Hundreds of free in-person programs for everybody. Calgary Public Library Calgary Public Library, with 650,000+ members and 20 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. Central Library — the newest gathering place for our city — opens November 1, 2018.- 30 -Media Contact:Mary KapustaDirector, CommunicationsCalgary Public Library403-774-7256mary.kapusta@calgarylibrary.ca
Read more about "Stories""Calgary Public Library is committed to eliminating racial and social equity barriers. We stand with the communities we serve against racism and injustice." – Sarah Meilleur, CEOLinks and ResourcesThe Library is a signatory for the Urban Libraries Council’s Statement on Race and Social Equity. Children's Books on Racism on OverDriveChildren’s books on racism and prejudice as well as information about the history of African Americans in the US, including books about Harriet Tubman, Martin Luther King, and Rosa Parks. Black Lives Matter Reading List on OverDriveA reading list to help you stay informed about the history of systemic racism in America and the work of those who are trying to make a change. An Essential Black Lives Matter Film List on KanopyIf you're feeling overwhelmed by the news and want to take action, take the first step and deepen your understanding of racism and the experiences of Black people in America with these powerful and timely documentaries from Kanopy. The Skin We're In Reading List on OverDriveThis list of adult fiction books addresses racism as a topic.I Hope You Get This Message Reading List on OverDriveTeen reads about racial equity, social justice, and diversity.
Read more about "Stories Race and Social Equality Resources"Many children struggle with learning how to read. Some kids can read well but choose not to read. For others, learning disabilities can make reading more challenging.In today's world, kids have the option of many other activities that may keep them busy and distracted from reading. From after school activities and sports to the pull of devices, TV, and video games, reading for fun is often forgotten or avoided. Older kids might think reading is boring since they associate it with technical reading, like worksheets and textbooks in school.There are plenty of things to try that can make reading more interesting and exciting to kids. Here are ten tips to try that might help motivate your infrequent reader:1. Reconsider what counts as reading.There are lots of ways to read, including listening! Audiobooks, radio shows, podcasts, oral stories — including sharing stories of your family and family history — are all great ways to explore literacy outside of written materials.2. Let them choose what they want to read.All reading is good reading. Be open to comics, manga, blogs, graphic novels, short stories, magazines, screenplays, picture books (even for big kids), song lyrics, books of world records and fun facts, profiles of musicians, artists and sports heroes, or gross-out science books. Visit your public library in person and online for a huge selection of reading material. Our expert staff would also be happy to help make recommendations based on your child’s reading preferences.3. Avoid banning what they love to read.From comic books with adult themes to serial tween romances, it’s natural for caregivers to be concerned about the content of their child’s books. But banning what they love can discourage reading. Instead, talk about why you think certain books are offensive and invite them to ask questions. Let your child recommend a book to you so you can read it and discuss the book together. Everyone has different tastes, which is part of the joy of being a reader.Concerned about age-appropriate content? Look for an online booklist curated for your child’s age or interests. You can use the “advanced search” function in your library’s online catalogue to search by collection (i.e. Hindi, Biography), format (i.e. Graphic Novel) and Audience (i.e. teen).4. Let your kids see you enjoy reading.Nearly 60% of kids who are frequent readers have parents who read five to seven days per week, compared to only 15% of kids who are infrequent readers (Kids and Family Reading Report – Scholastic, 2017).5. Read together as a family.Make reading a memorable family event. Set aside regular time for reading, whether as a family or each person reading independently near each other. Children whose parents are involved with them in family literacy activities score ten points higher on standardized reading tests.6. Read in your home language. Children who learn to read in their first language have an easier time learning to read in a second language because they better understand the process of reading.7. Try reading something funny!Read dramatically, use costumes and accents, or read joke books to each other. Have fun when reading aloud together! Try not to focus on their mistakes and simply enjoy the book. These staff-recommended books will help you get your giggle on.8. Relax.When we enjoy something, we want to keep doing it — the same applies to reading. Try to make reading as relaxing as possible at home, especially if reading at school is stressful. Have a special snack or read in a special spot. If there’s a movie adaptation of the book, watch the movie together after you’ve finished the book and decide which you liked better.9. Keep reading sessions short and simple.Research shows that when students believe they can achieve a task, they are much more likely to persevere and overcome challenges. Parents can help build their child’s reading confidence by praising their effort rather than their outcomes. Use affirming language throughout the process to show that you enjoy seeing their efforts. Another strategy is to break reading into smaller parts, even just one paragraph at a time, so that success comes quickly and can be celebrated.10. Find a role model for your reader.Research shows that older boys read less than their female peers. Men that model reading to boys can have a positive influence, especially around a shared interest. Sports statistics, LEGO instructions, musician biographies, etc., all count as reading too!
Read more about "Stories 10 Tips for Motivating Your Infrequent Reader The Kitchen Table Classroom: A Series to Support Learning from Home"After attending a 50+ Coffee and Conversation group, Rudy Wagner and his wife Mary Jean decided to keep the conversation going. Now, using a free, bookable meeting room at Signal Hill Library for the past eight years, it’s more than just a casual coffee group — members attend lectures together, share in weekly tai chi lessons, and more, all for free at the Library.Rudy Wagner, eight years with the group“It’s such an interesting group, and as long as we have the space at the Library to do it, I’m happy to make it happen. My wife and I supply the coffee, and the group supplies the conversation! Some of them bake, and so we’ll get to try different foods from different countries around the world. It’s the variety that I love. I used to be a principal at public schools in Toronto, so I’ve been working with the community my whole life, and I just love meeting new people. It’s the companionship. We have new people join us every time, there are no strict rules. People come when they can, there’s no fee. It’s just a place for people to get together and chat.”Mary Jean Wagner, eight years with the group“Our grandchildren were getting older and starting to head off to school, so we weren’t so occupied with them anymore, and I wanted to meet other people. Where we live, there are a lot of people our son’s age. We moved from Toronto to live near him and help with the two grandchildren, but we had difficulty meeting people our age. And I really wanted to make new friends, because it can be hard to meet new people as you get older. So, this was a perfect opportunity for us. We feel that we’ve made friendships here, and others have done the same. The Library makes it easy for us to continue doing what we’ve always loved to do.”Pal Aggarwal, eight years with the group“We came to Calgary from Germany in 2011, my wife and me, and my wife was just coming to the Library for some books. Then she saw this group here and started talking to them. Now we’ve been coming here every week, ever since we came here. It’s a real cosmopolitan group, you see people from all different countries, you have different subjects to talk about, that’s the best part. We are a big group, but there are four of us couples, and now we have each other [over] every once in a while, for dinner at our home. We meet every two weeks at somebody’s house for drinks, it’s nice. We are all very friendly to each other. It’s a real inspiration, it gives you a positive feeling, and I appreciate that.”Elaine Lee, seven years with the group“The best part of this group is that people who feel isolated or don’t know too many people have a place to go. They have a community, and they know that they have something to look forward to each week. It keeps them active. That’s the beauty of the group, they open up to you. It’s not just a weekly meeting, they become like family for those who come on a regular basis. Getting to know them has really been my greatest honour and pleasure, because I really feel like I can bring them joy, and to see them interact with one another and to see how the group has grown brings me so much joy as well.”Jeffrey Quo, two years with the group“I had joined a Library reading club … actually, I joined two. I used to be a computer engineer, but after I retired, I had to find a way to kill the time. That group forced me to read some books which I would never have thought to involve myself in; it forced me to expand my interests, same as this group. I find it quite interesting. I needed to find some new focus in my life. Before I retired, I only focused on my job. Now I need to change my lifestyle. So reading, or making a new friend, that’s important for me. I enjoy that about this group. In this hour we always have lots of new people join us, and we get the chance to know new friends.”Shirley Lutz, two years with the group“It’s fun, it’s free, it’s close by, and the people here are just so warm and friendly. I love the conversation because I get to learn more about the people around me. It’s an interesting group we have, because we have so many different nationalities here. A lot of our people don’t come from around here, and it exposes me to other cultures and ideas, which I really enjoy. Today I just met a new lady who joined us from Vietnam, so I’ve been getting to know her, and she says she’ll be coming back. It’ll be great to have her join our group.”Tam Dang, first-time visitor to the group“I just retired, so I have a lot of time on my hands. So I started to wonder, where can I go? When we work, we wake up, go to work, we come home, we sleep. We have the same routine. But since then I’ve become so bored. I miss having a place to go. Every day I saw my friends and had conversations with them, but now it’s so empty. So that’s why I am looking for a group a bit older, with the same feelings as me. In this group, I can be with people the same age and in the same situation as me. Even though I’ve only seen them this first time, people have already explained to me: we are friends now, and we can talk.”David Stratford, two years with the group“I find the people in the group to be so funny — their little explanations of their lives, where they come from and what they do day to day. They really are absolutely wonderful people to be around. I try to make them laugh, and mostly I can do that. Some can’t hear as well as they used to, so you may have to tell your joke a couple of times. I call us the crumblies — I say I’m going to go visit with the crumblies, because frankly we’re all falling apart a little bit. But I love to be a part of that. We’re all here, we all try, we don’t give up. We’re just trying to live this section of our life fully. If you want to stay young, then you have to think young, and you’ve got to laugh.”
Read more about "Stories ‘To Know New Friends’ Older patrons are using the Library in a new way to create their Library Story"Two years ago, Michelle Robinson started an Indigenous-focused book club called Chapters & Chat, inspired by the federal government's #IndigenousReads initiative. The book club continues to meet monthly at Forest Lawn Library, where free meeting space is available, to share coffee, snacks, and great conversation. "This book club has changed my life," Michelle says. "It shows me with each session the willingness and desire for reconciliation."We want to know how the Library has made a difference in your life. Submit your own Library Story online.
Read more about "Stories ‘Inclusive as we can to all people’ Michelle Robinson inspires reconciliation with her Library Story"