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Thank You Volunteers! On April 15, we celebrated the 75th National Volunteer Week with our 42nd annual Volunteer Recognition Event. The theme of 2016’s National Volunteer Week is “volunteers are the roots of strong communities,” a sentiment with which Calgary Public Library—and Calgarians—passionately agree.Here at the Library, 2,511 Calgarians give back more than 56,980 hours of volunteer effort annually. Our volunteers’ time adds an economic value of $1,538,590 to our libraries and communities every year! Their efforts allow the Library to offer more programs, in more locations, more often, to so many more Calgarians. Library volunteers give their time, energy, and talent—and over 14,000 patrons benefit.We’d like to thank every volunteer for their outstanding contributions to all of the Library’s programs.We’d also like to pay tribute to one of the Library’s very first volunteers, Becky Lathrop. In 1974, Becky started volunteering for the Library’s Homebound Readers program. She was known as unflappable, warm, and supportive. Becky Lathrop passed away on March 8, at the age of 90.The John Dutton Volunteer of the Year Award seeks to recognize an extraordinary individual whose service is exemplary. Marian Erb received the award.“Volunteering at the Library allows me to do what I love, surrounded by beautiful, wonderful books in the company of friendly, like-minded people.” Marian says.The following outstanding volunteers also received awards at the event:Linda Lathrop was recognized for her 10 years of volunteer service for the Library. Betty Giles, our Milestone Award recipient, was honoured for 30 years of voluntary service to the Library. Theresa and Dean Cassidy, the wife and husband team behind the Library’s mascot Curious the Chameleon, received the 2016 Community Spirit Award. Shovon Das was honoured as the Youth Speaker. Darby, a Golden Doodle, along with the intrepid and the equally remarkable Patti Johnston, were honoured for their work volunteering for the Story PALS program. Doug Leisch received the 2016 Literacy Support – Digital Award. Daniel Park received the 2016 Literacy Support – Numeracy Award. Rachelle Dueck received the the 2016 Literacy Support – Reading and Writing Award. Barbara Mathies received the the 2016 Professional Support Award. Doreen Richards received the 2016 Foundation Award. Jon McBurnie received the 2016 Language Coaching Award. Alisha and Inaara Ebrahim received the Emerging Leader Award.
Read more about "Stories"Calgary Expo Reading Challenge The Library and Calgary Expo are hosting a four-month reading contest together. From October 4 to December 10, kids and adults can complete reading and activity challenges, earn badges, explore fandoms, and be entered to win one of five prizes.EligibilityThe CALGARY EXPO Reading Challenge, henceforth referred to as the ‘Contest’, is open to all residents of Alberta who have reached the age of majority in their province or territory of residence at the time of entry and have a valid email address (for underage participants, they must have a legal guardian meet these requirements). Employees and representatives of the Administrators, as well as their advertising and promotional agencies, affiliated corporations and other persons, firms or corporations involved in the development or execution of this Contest, are not eligible to win a prize in this Contest. This contest runs from October 4, 2021 to December 10, 2021 and is created in partnership between the CALGARY EXPO and the Calgary Public Library, henceforth referred to as the ‘Administrators’ of the Contest.Winner Selection ProcedurePotential winners will be selected by random draw starting on Friday, December 10, 2021 at 11 AM MST and notified via email no later than Monday, December 20, 2021.The potential winners will be notified via email. The winners’ name(s) and likeness may be used in future marketing and promotional materials (with written and/or verbal consent from the winner).If the prizes are not claimed ONE (1) week after a potential winner has been notified, a new potential winner MAY be drawn at random (based on the Administrators discretion). ODDS: The odds of winning depend on the number of eligible entrants during the Entry Period, as well as the number of valid entries submitted by each entrant. The PrizesPRIZES: Seven (7) prize packages (1 prize package per winner):One (1) Gold Prize Pack consisting of one $100 Indigo Gift Card and four Weekend Passes to CALGARY EXPO '22.One (1) Silver Prize Pack consisting of one $100 Indigo Gift Card and two Weekend Passes to CALGARY EXPO '22.One (1) Bronze Prize Pack consisting of one $100 Indigo Gift Card and one Weekend Pass to CALGARY EXPO '22.Two (2) General Prize Packs including a $50 Indigo Gift Card and Friday Pass to CALGARY EXPO '22.Two (2) General Prize Packs including a $50 Indigo Gift Card and Sunday Pass to CALGARY EXPO '22.Additional prizes may be provided at the discretion of the Administrators.Entry ConditionsEntries must be the intellectual property of the entrant. Entrants who attempt to, or are suspected of, tampering with the rules and regulations of The Contest and will be disqualified from The Contest. By entering this Contest, each participant agrees to abide and be bound by these contest rules. All decisions of the Administrators shall be final and binding upon the participant. The prize shall be accepted as is and may not be exchanged or refunded for an amount of money, sold or transferred. No substitutions will be allowed. Any unused portion of a prize will be forfeited. If the prize cannot be awarded as described in these rules, the Administrators reserves the right to substitute a prize or prize component with another of comparable value, as determined in its sole discretion. Refusal to accept the prize releases the Contest Parties from any obligation toward the winner. By participating in the contest, the winner agrees to the possibility of their name, voice, or likeness being used in promotional material relating to this contest without additional financial or other compensation. All entrants agree to release the Administrators, their respective directors, officers and employees, from all liability for any damage or loss arising from participation in this Contest or from the awarding, acceptance or use of the prize. The Administrators reserve the right, exercisable in their discretion, to disqualify and ban any participant from this Contest if the participant is found or is believed to have been tampering with the entry process, or the operation of the Contest. The Administrators reserve the right to cancel, suspend, withdraw or amend this Contest in any way, without prior notice or obligation, in the event of an error, technical problem, computer virus, bugs, tampering, unauthorized intervention, fraud, technical failure or any other cause beyond the reasonable control of the Administrators that interferes with the proper conduct of this Contest as contemplated by these Contest Rules. By entering this Contest, each participant agrees that the Administrators will not be liable for any injury or damage from whatever cause associated with or in connection with this Contest. This Contest is subject to Canadian law and void where prohibited or restricted.PrivacyAny personal information gathered from contest entrants in connection with this Contest will be kept in a secure and confidential database and will not be rented or sold. Personal information of the contest entrants will be used for the administration of this Contest for the purposes of this contest only.
Read more about "Stories"Calgary’s oldest Library and its surrounding park were granted special status as a national historic site earlier this year.On Thursday, September 27, Parks Canada and the Historic Sites and Monuments Board of Canada will host a plaque unveiling ceremony at Central Memorial Park and Library at 1:00 pm. All are welcome to attend; dress for an outdoor ceremony.Memorial Park Library is located just south of Calgary’s downtown and opened in 1912. The classically-inspired Library has a grand columned entrance and staircase, rich and ornamental exterior, and elegant interior.Memorial Park Library was the first public Library in Alberta. Annie Davidson, one of Calgary’s cultural pioneers and visionaries, championed the building alongside the Calgary Women’s Literary Club. Beginning in 1906, the group of civic-minded women advocated for the establishment of a free public Library.The site of the future Library, now known as Central Memorial Park, was chosen in August 1908 by city plebiscite. Construction began later that year. Funds for construction came from American businessman and philanthropist Andrew Carnegie, who supported 125 libraries across Canada.Upon opening in 1912, Memorial Park Library quickly proved popular. It became a cultural and educational hub, even housing the city’s first art show in 1912 — an exhibit of 200 European paintings borrowed from local collectors."By the end of that first year, 1912, the original collection of 5,280 books had grown to 12,343, and the number of patrons had grown to 8,911. The most popular authors of the day were Alexandre Dumas père, Gilbert Parker, Ralph Connor, Robert Services, and Lucy Maud Montgomery,” writes Brian Brennan in The Calgary Public Library, Inspiring Life Stores Since 1912.Memorial Park Library continues to be a cultural and educational hub today. It’s now home to the Musical Lending Library, the Alexander Calhoun Salon, Wordfest, and much more. Visit this beautiful Library and park — now a National Historic Site — today!
Read more about "Stories Memorial Park Library Recognized as National Historic Site"A Library card is good for more than just books. Your free membership gives you access to a number of streaming services and online materials. When you get your Library card, you can save on these subscriptions: Do you subscribe to Netflix, Hulu, or Amazon Video? Try Kanopy instead. Stream up to 10 free movies and TV shows per month. Plus, with the newly added Kanopy Kids, you can easily find age-appropriate programming for your kids to watch. You might end up reconsidering your subscriptions to Spotify, Apple Music, or Amazon Prime Music after you try Freegal Music. Freegal Music will have you jamming at work and the weekends; listen to three hours of music per day and download up to five songs per week. Unlimited eBooks are available with more than Kindle Unlimited. Use Libby, your library on-the-go, to download more than 50,000 titles. Read eBooks or listen to eAudiobooks for free on your device. Subscribe to Audible? Again, see Libby. She’s the best friend you never knew you needed. Love staying-up-to-date on the world around you with The Globe and Mail, National Geographic, or The Economist? You can, for free, with your Library card. Access your favourite magazines and newspapers online with Flipster Magazines and PressReader. Love flipping through Vogue or Cosmopolitan? Stay in the know on upcoming trends and celebrities with Libby, where you can read current issues of thousands of magazines from around the world. Your total monthly savings: $73.94. Make the switch today.
Read more about "Stories Six Subscriptions You Can Save On With a Library Card"Growing up near Fish Creek Library, Lindsay Hracs would visit the pyramidal building often. “It’s just somewhere I always gravitated to,” she says.Through university — a bachelor’s and master’s degree in linguistics — Lindsay would travel out of her way to study at the Library. Today, Lindsay is a PhD candidate in linguistics, and Fish Creek Library continues to be an important part of her life.It’s now where Lindsay volunteers with the Library’s Learning Advantage program, helping an adult learner. Over weekly meetups in Fish Creek Library’s breakout rooms, Lindsay and her learner work towards her learner’s goal of attending university.These days, they’re reading Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone and working on information processing. When the pair was matched three years ago, the learner was getting by in daily life but struggling with reading and writing."There’s so much stigma around not having perfect literacy skills that the acknowledgment of needing help is a huge hurdle in itself," Lindsay says.Patricia Stephenson, Learning Advantage Program Coordinator, says people are often shocked to learn how prevalent low literacy rates are. Data from Statistics Canada shows that 17% of adults in Canada are essentially illiterate, scoring at level one or below on a system with five proficiency levels.Through one-on-one coaching and support, volunteers with the free Learning Advantage program help others. Lindsay has seen her learner’s literacy skills — as well as her independence and confidence — blossom.For Lindsay, the meetups have become a favourite part of her week. "When you have a personal connection with someone and you can help them meet their goals, it’s just so worth it," she says.While Lindsay brings a deep interest in language and the mind to the volunteer role, such a background is not necessary."Anyone who has time and enjoys books and reading can do this, and I think they should do it," Lindsay says. "It’s awesome."If you’d like to join the Library’s team of youth or adult volunteers,
Read more about "Stories Meet our Volunteers: Lindsay Hracs Helping others meet their goals inspires Lindsay to volunteer"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"Calgary’s oldest Library and its surrounding park were granted special status as a national historic site earlier this year.On Thursday, September 27, Parks Canada and the Historic Sites and Monuments Board of Canada will host a plaque unveiling ceremony at Central Memorial Park and Library at 1:00 pm. All are welcome to attend; dress for an outdoor ceremony.Memorial Park Library is located just south of Calgary’s downtown and opened in 1912. The classically-inspired Library has a grand columned entrance and staircase, rich and ornamental exterior, and elegant interior.Memorial Park Library was the first public Library in Alberta. Annie Davidson, one of Calgary’s cultural pioneers and visionaries, championed the building alongside the Calgary Women’s Literary Club. Beginning in 1906, the group of civic-minded women advocated for the establishment of a free public Library.The site of the future Library, now known as Central Memorial Park, was chosen in August 1908 by city plebiscite. Construction began later that year. Funds for construction came from American businessman and philanthropist Andrew Carnegie, who supported 125 libraries across Canada.Upon opening in 1912, Memorial Park Library quickly proved popular. It became a cultural and educational hub, even housing the city’s first art show in 1912 — an exhibit of 200 European paintings borrowed from local collectors."By the end of that first year, 1912, the original collection of 5,280 books had grown to 12,343, and the number of patrons had grown to 8,911. The most popular authors of the day were Alexandre Dumas père, Gilbert Parker, Ralph Connor, Robert Services, and Lucy Maud Montgomery,” writes Brian Brennan in The Calgary Public Library, Inspiring Life Stores Since 1912.Memorial Park Library continues to be a cultural and educational hub today. It’s now home to the Musical Lending Library, the Alexander Calhoun Salon, Wordfest, and much more. Visit this beautiful Library and park — now a National Historic Site — today!
Read more about "Stories Memorial Park Library Recognized as National Historic Site"Search businesses and grantmaking databases, including market research reports, trade publications, and philanthropic resources.
Read more about "Business & Investing"Track your reading time and titles in Beanstack to receive recommended reads via personalized weekly emails.
Read more about "Beanstack"MEDIA RELEASEFOR IMMEDIATE RELEASEJune 13, 2018Calgary, AB — The Library is the place to be this summer. Calgary Public Library invites kids, families, and teens to join the Ultimate Summer Challenge, involving more than 500 free programs at 20 libraries.Visit a Library this summer and you might be surprised at what you find: concerts, wandering magicians, exploding science experiments, dance classes, drumming circles, splatter painting, bunny obstacle courses, family yoga, tiny book making, puppy rooms, gardening, and much more. Calgary Public Library is partnering with nearly 40 local artists and community organizations to deliver free workshops, performances, demonstrations, and large-scale installations from now until September 7.The Ultimate Summer Challenge provides fun and educational experiences for everybody. The Library knows not all families can afford camps or lessons while school is out, so all 500+ programs are free. In addition to attending programs at libraries, kids and families can track their reading on Challenge Maps, while teens can complete online challenges. Everybody who registers for Ultimate Summer Challenge is entered to win awesome prizes, including iPads, Library Boss for a Day, and Chromebooks.“This year’s edition of our annual summer learning program is unlike anything we’ve done before,” said Kate Schutz, Service Design Lead, Calgary Public Library. “We’re offering free science, technology, reading, engineering, arts, and math programs. Kids are sure to be surprised, delighted — and learn something new — when they visit the Library this summer.”The Ultimate Summer Challenge is part of the TD Summer Reading Club, which is a national program for kids held by Canadian public libraries. Visit calgarylibrary.ca/summer for a full list of community partners, upcoming programs (including dates and descriptions), and registration details.Calgary Public LibraryCalgary Public Library, with 630,000+ 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"In a time when we’re being called to stay home, there are still plenty of ways to spend time together. In addition to your favourite online Library resources, patrons of all ages can find fun, at-home learning opportunities from educators and organizations offering innovative solutions for staying connected. Science Get a Daily Dose of the Calgary Zoo on their YouTube channel, where they share short, behind-the-scenes videos with their critters. Explore the surface of Mars from the eyes of NASA’s Curiosity rover, or check out their Image of the Day gallery for a high-definition intergalactic image, with fun facts about what you’re seeing. Kids can also tune in for science-themed stories read by astronauts on the International Space Station with Storytime from Space. Art You might know acclaimed children’s author Mo Willems for his books like Don’t Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus and Elephant and Piggy (and this beloved illustrator also designed the Library’s Story Truck). Now you can learn to draw at home with his Lunch Doodles series. Interested in classic artworks? Follow along with #GlenbowFromHome, which includes online gallery tours and other free at-home activities from the Glenbow Museum. Music Freegal is our favourite way to stream contemporary tunes, but if you’re craving a live concert, look no further than the Calgary Philharmonic Orchestra. They have countless hours of concert footage saved to their YouTube channel, ready for you to have a night out at home. Tours You might not be able to leave your house, but you can still go on an at-home adventure with these online tours. Check out these 12 museums you can visit online to experience their exhibits from your couch. Feel like going for a hike? Visit Yellowstone National Park, make the trek along the Great Wall of China, or browse the botanical gardens of the Cincinnati Zoo. Relaxing Want to kick back and chill out during this time at home? Take some time to unwind and listen to Canadian authors share readings of their work. Create some quality time with your family with cooking lessons with Food Network Kitchen chef Michael Symon — or if your board game cupboard is a little empty, play games together online. Looking for more fun to be had at home? Check out the Digital Library for more free resources.
Read more about "Stories"This 60-minute interactive program introduces students to the concepts of misinformation and disinformation in online media. Students are guided to evaluate, identify, and verify information sources using lateral reading and reverse image searching.
Read more about "Help your students learn the difference between fact and fiction."Use your free Library card to take an online course such as Microsoft Office, or take practice tests to help you prepare for professional exams.
Read more about "Learning Tools"Search by author, work, or topic to find full-text scholarly journals, literary magazines, biographies, criticisms, summaries, and more. Literature Resource Center is an interactive research database. You can translate articles to over 40 languages, have articles read aloud to you, highlight and add notes, generate citations, and email, save or download selections and full articles to read later.
Read more about "Anything you want to know about literature"