Get your children ready for school with these essential Library resources

Calgary Public Library has what your family needs to feel confident about going back to school. Use your free Library card to access these programs and resources to help set you and your child up for success this September.  

Get ready for Kindergarten with a Kindergarten Book Bag 

Kindergarten is a major milestone for your child. Kindergarten Book Bags are filled with everything you need to support your child starting Kindergarten in fall 2023: age-appropriate Library books, a special bookmark for your child, tips and tricks for parents, and suggestions for more Library resources to help introduce everything from school subjects to navigating new social-emotional experiences.

Learn about Kindergarten Book Bags 

Develop core skills with Library programs   

The Library has programs for school-age kids like Reading Buddies, Math Quest, Code Club, and more that help develop core STEAM skills. Science and technology programs provide real-world scenarios for young learners to practice scientific concepts, too.    
   
For students ages 8 – 12 looking for help with writing (school assignments or personal), Creative Writing Club offers an opportunity to play fun literacy games, explore different writing styles, and get support from a volunteer. 

Check out all Library programs  

Use the Digital Library for study help, tutoring, and test prep

The Digital Library is a great place to find resources to support specific subjects and interests. Start with these top three digital resources to help students succeed:  
 
Brainfuse is an incredible support for students in grades K – 12 that offers free live tutoring, homework help from 2:00 pm – 11:00 pm daily, and a writing lab where students can upload their writing any time to get feedback and edits. Tutors can help students make study guides and flashcards to develop their independent study skills as well.      
 
For students in grades 3 – 12, SOLARO offers support with the Alberta curriculum, including access to practice tests from The Key, SAT and AP exam prep, and more. Practice tests help students identify which areas of the topic to review and links directly to those study guides.   
 
LOTE4KIDS World Language Storybooks is a new digital resource where you and your child can read and listen to picture books online in more than 50 languages. This is a great resource for students in an immersion program, for newcomers who are learning English, or for anyone looking to practice reading in another language.

See all resources for kids

Discover grade-appropriate support for children on the Students webpage

Find book recommendations, recorded storytimes and programs, fun activities to do at home, digital resources on a variety of topics, and more on the Students webpage. Plus, make sure to check out the Indigenous stories from Treaty 7 authors to learn about Indigenous ways of knowing, being on, and relating to the land that we now call Calgary.

Visit the student’s page  

Find tips and tricks to support your child’s learning journey

It can be challenging to try to support your child through learning new concepts and the life changes that come with starting and going back to school. Our webpage for parents and caregivers has videos and articles about getting ready for the first day of school, developing literacy skills, working towards becoming an independent reader, and lots of other ways to support your children’s education at home.

Get support now  

All of these resources are completely free for Library members. Need a free membership for your child? Register online, visit your nearest Library location, or call 403.260.2600 to get started.