Most Libraries have community meeting rooms that you can book with your library card. Visit Book a Meeting Space for more information.
International Women's Day is Monday, March 8. It's a day dedicated to celebrating the social, economic, cultural and political achievements of women, and consider what more needs to be done to achieve gender parity.Calgary Public Library staff pulled together some of our favourite books and movies featuring strong female characters and stories to get you started. Read and watch them this International Women's Day and any day you are interested in stories of perseverance, creativity, and celebration.Biographies and Autobiographies of Incredible WomenThese ten books center around a compelling woman who overcame obstacles and influenced history. Read about a contemporary businesswoman, a Second World War radio operator, a resistance fighter, and a tennis coach. Their stories will take you around the world and through history.See the listBooks by Indigenous WomenFemale Indigenous writers provide stories that echo the timeless wisdom of Elders while encapsulating the modern challenges experienced by women and girls. Celebrate the spirit and intent of International Women's Day by learning more about Indigenous women with these compelling, heartbreaking, and hopeful reads.See the list20 Films About Extraordinary WomenSome of these movies are full of joy, while others are more dramatic. They are all by or about women. From the award-winning documentary Young Lakota to the lush biopic Paula, these films are all available on Kanopy.See the listBooks for KidsThese books for kids celebrate the strength and creativity of women and girls. From the picture book Franny’s Father is a Feminist by Rhonda Leet, to the collection of 100 stories in Good Night Stories for Rebel Girls by Elena Favilli, this list includes recommendations for kids from three to 12 that will also delight the adult reading with them.See the list
Read more about "Stories What to Read and Watch to Honour International Women's Day Our recommendations to celebrate women this Monday, March 8 and everyday"After years of discrimination, threats, and violence because of their sexual orientation, Boban Stojanovic and his partner fled Serbia in October 2016 and claimed refugee protection in Canada. As they adjusted to life as newcomers in Calgary, they began to hear a common question.“Everyone kept saying ‘have you been to the library?’” says Boban, a prominent Serbian human rights activist and key organizer of the Belgrade Pride Parade. “We were like, ‘OK, but why?’ In our culture, you don’t often go to the library. It’s not such an important institution in the everyday lives of people.”At the time, the couple were anxiously awaiting a government hearing to determine if they would be granted refugee status in Canada. Boban describes that period in their lives as a stressful grey zone. “You are in some kind of limbo,” he says. “You can’t make any concrete plan because you don’t know what will happen with you.”Looking for something to take their minds off the looming hearing, the couple heeded the advice they’d repeatedly heard from insistent Calgarians: visit the library. The newcomers walked to nearby Nose Hill Library and asked about becoming members.Boban remembers nervously unfolding his refugee claimant document, the lone piece of identification he had. To his surprise, a Library employee politely handed the paper back and explained that just his full name and address were required for a free Library card.“In Serbia, everything is very bureaucratic,” Boban says. “Here, this institution is open.”‘I belong here’Boban's new plastic Library card felt significant. “This was the first official proof I belong here. I am part of this system. I have some roots in this country,” he says.The card also made him feel equal. “In that moment, I was like every other Calgarian,” he says. “They became a member the same way I became a member.”In awe of the fact one person could borrow 99 books, Boban began to explore books at Nose Hill Library. “Having the opportunity to find all those books was something that really gave me hope,” Boban says. “You must have something to occupy your mind.”As he waited for the upcoming hearing, Boban found a sense of sanctuary at Nose Hill Library. He’d read coffee table books about Scandinavian design and imagine how he would decorate his future home in Canada.Boban also borrowed autobiographies, feeling solace in the fact people he admired had also experienced ups and downs in their lives. “Reading all these books, I was more comfortable with my life,” he says. “Claiming for refugee status or waiting for the decision, it doesn’t mean something bad. Because all those people had … some very challenging periods in their lives.”An Open and Safe PlaceIn March 2017, Boban and his partner learned their claim for refugee status had been accepted. They could now apply for work permits, social insurance numbers, and to become permanent residents of Canada.Today, Boban's partner is improving his English through LINC classes, while Boban works at the Centre for Newcomers in a new role, as Settlement Practitioner for LGTBQ+ newcomers.“I am very lucky and happy and privileged to work there and to help people from my community who just came here,” he says, noting LGTBQ+ refugees face distinct challenges. Boban is grateful newcomers can turn to the Centre for Newcomers and Calgary Public Library, both open and safe places for all.Boban also worked a seasonal job at Pier 1 Imports, a position that drew on the interior design books he loves to peruse. He continues to regularly visit the Library; following a move downtown, he calls Central Library home.Boban now finds himself repeating to newcomers the line he once heard again and again: visit the library. “I never had that perception before that something called a library could be so important to my life,” he says. “Now I do.”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 Library Gave Me Hope’ Boban Stojanovic’s Library Story made him feel at home as a newcomer to Canada"Your free Calgary Public Library card is an important step in finding support in Calgary. At the Library, you can borrow books, movies, and music, use computers and Wi-Fi, print documents, attend programs to practise your English skills, and get connected to newcomer services agencies who can help you. It’s all free!
Read more about "Welcome to Canada and the Library"Get started using the digital resources in Calgary Public Library's Digital Library with simple video tutorials. Find tutorials for our most popular digital resources, including: Libby, World Book, Learning Express, Gale Courses, Freegal Music, Rosetta Stone and more.
Read more about "Learn how to use Calgary Public Library's digital resources the easy way"Bring stories and reading to life for students in Grades 1 through 3! Reading Buddies volunteers share books and play fun literacy games with their “little buddy” in a group setting that’s facilitated by a staff member. Volunteers encourage children to read, and make reading fun! This is a youth volunteer opportunity for Grades 7-12.
Read more about "What will you do?"Track your progress Find your next great book with Beanstack with personalized reading recommendations sent every week to your inbox. Once you s ign up fo r free , you can track your reading on the physical map or on the app — either way, you’re eligible for all the Ultimate Summer Challenge grand prizes.
Read more about "Track your progress"Use the Relais Portal to request titles that Calgary Public Library does not own, including print books, CDs, and DVDs. Search for your title and follow the instructions to submit your request using your Calgary Public Library card, or check on the status of your requests.
Read more about "Access resources from other Alberta libraries"Your free Calgary Public Library card is an important step in finding support in Calgary. At the Library, you can borrow books, movies, and music, use computers and Wi-Fi, print documents, attend programs to practise your English skills, and get connected to newcomer services agencies who can help you. It’s all free!
Read more about "Welcome to Canada and the Library"Calgary, AB – The Calgary Public Library Foundation is launching an ambitious new fundraising campaign to bring the joy and pride of book ownership to children across Calgary. My First Bookshelf, a one-year pilot program at Calgary Public Library in partnership with Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library, will provide one age-appropriate, high-quality book every month to children from birth to age five — for free. The pilot is made possible thanks to The Dollywood Foundation of Canada, Canada Life, Rotary Club of Calgary East, Rotary Partners of Calgary at Stampede Park, and donors of the Calgary Public Library Foundation.“My First Bookshelf is an exciting way for the Library to extend its mission of providing accessible early learning support to children in Calgary,” says Heather Robertson, Director of Service Design for Calgary Public Library. “While children can access a world of information through the Library, having books of their own at home is a powerful way to inspire a lifelong love of reading.”The Calgary Public Library is piloting the program in select communities identified by postal code. The goal is to register 1,000 children for the Calgary program in the first year.Jeanne Smitiuch, Regional Director for The Dollywood Foundation of Canada remarked, “We are delighted this partnership will join 290 other communities across Canada inspiring a lifelong love of books to more than 26,000 children each month.”The Library will review the pilot throughout the year and hopes that additional funding will help to expand My First Bookshelf to more communities in Calgary and surrounding areas. The Calgary Public Library Foundation has a goal of expanding the program to bring a love of reading into the homes of children across Calgary. There are nearly 90,000 children under the age of five in Calgary.“Research shows that having even 20 books at home fosters a love of learning and sets children up for success when they start school,” says Tracy Johnson, CEO of the Calgary Public Library Foundation. “COVID-19 has illustrated how critically important this is, and how children are affected when schools and libraries are temporarily closed. We know this program will resonate with Calgarians and we want to invite them to help support this life-changing program for as little as $5.50 a month.”To donate or for more information, visit libraryfoundation.ca/myfirstbookshelf. —Calgary Public Library FoundationThe Calgary Public Library Foundation empowers people to make a difference in their community. All donations received through the Library Foundation cultivate innovation and bring the Library to those who need it most. Our 21,500 donors are helping to build a stronger Calgary.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. Last year, Calgarians borrowed more than 15 million physical and digital items and visited the Library seven million times.About Dolly Parton’s Imagination LibrarySince launching in 1995, Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library has become the preeminent early childhood book gifting program in the world. The flagship program of The Dollywood Foundation has gifted well over 140 million free books in Australia, Canada, The Republic of Ireland, United Kingdom and the United States. The Imagination Library mails more than 1.7 million high-quality, age-appropriate books each month to registered children from birth to age five. Dolly envisioned creating a lifelong love of reading, inspiring them to dream. The impact of the program has been widely researched and results suggest positive increases in key early childhood literacy metrics. Penguin Random House Canada is the exclusive publisher for Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library all across Canada. For more information, please visit imaginationlibrary.com.Media Contact:Rachael TernerCommunications ManagerCalgary Public Library Foundation403.680.0626rachael@libraryfoundation.caMary KapustaDirector, CommunicationsCalgary Public Library 403.774.7256mary.kapusta@calgarylibrary.caJeanne SmitiuchRegional Director, CanadaThe Dollywood Foundation of Canadajsmitiuch@imaginationlibrary.caTracy LongDirector of Marketing & DevelopmentThe Dollywood Foundationtlong@dollyfoundation.com
Read more about "Stories"'\n ', 'Use the Relais Portal to request titles that Calgary Public Library does not own, including print books, CDs, and DVDs. Search for your title and follow the instructions to submit your request using your Calgary Public Library card, or check on the status of your requests.', '\n '
Read more about "'Access resources from other Alberta libraries'"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"Want to be a March Break Maker? Whether you love coding, enjoy baking fabulous cupcakes, or have always wanted to build a robot, this list is full of books that will inspire the maker in all of us!
Read more about "March Break Makers"C. L. Polk is the award-winning author of “Witchmark” and the Canada Reads finalist “The Midnight Bargain.” They live in Calgary with too many books, not enough cats, and a yarn stash that could last a decade.
Read more about "C.L. Polk"Materials can be returned inside when the Library is open. Exterior book return chutes also remain open during and after open hours at most Library locations.
Read more about "Returns, Holds, and Fines"Discover new and upcoming independent authors from Alberta in a variety of genres from romance to fantasy, biographies to picture books. There's something for everyone to enjoy.Check out the highlighted titles for the best reads as selected by Library Journal.
Read more about "Discover Local Authors"