The floors get quieter as you make your way up inside the Library. The peace and quiet come to a pinnacle in this space where, surrounded by wood-paneled walls and special collections, a bibliophile can read or study to their heart’s content.
This is a space for anyone to speak to Indigenous Elders from multiple nations. Here, Elders are able to provide education, storytelling, and a spiritual component to programming and services, including ceremony and smudges. Drop in on this level of Central Library to experience the space for yourself. Supported by Suncor Energy Foundation.
Indigenous Placemaking in Central Library creates a welcoming environment where Indigenous people can see their culture reflected, and visitors can learn about the original inhabitants of the land that is now Calgary. Find furniture by Glenna Cardinal and a photo and text-based piece by Brittney Bear Hat in the Elders’ Guidance Circle.
Join us in the new Indigenous Languages Resource Centre. Chat with Indigenous Elders, check out traditional items, and even join a language lesson. Stop in during your Central Library visit and say Oki, Amba wathtech, Danit’ada, and hello!
In Calgary’s Story, presented by Walt and Irene DeBoni, enlarged photographs give you a glimpse of what Calgary and its surrounding area used to look like. Materials celebrating the city, southern Alberta, and Western Canada’s unique stories, can be found here.
Stop by the Living History: Glimpses of Our Past installation to see a collection of the area’s history in a digital display.
Named in honour of Cyril & Dorothy Williams and Bernard & Barbara Harris through a legacy gift, the Williams & Harris Shared History Centre ensures that stories are told and collected, through new technology in the Story Studio, and old technology like microfiche machines, typewriters, and more in the Vintage Media Lab.
The Historian in Residence leads workshops and lectures about Calgary, Treaty 7, and Métis Region 3 throughout their six-month residency, presented in partnership with Heritage Calgary.
The Simmons-Harvie Community Living Room, made possible through a gift from Britt Simmons and Janet Harvie, is perfect for reading, studying, socializing, or a different perspective on Calgary’s skyline.
Julia decided to make a donation to name this space in honour of her favourite pastime: reading. Now you can pull up a chair to work, study, or read while enjoying breathtaking views of the city. Don’t forget to peer down to level 3 to get a new perspective on FISH.
Enjoy the 12 handmade books on display on your way into the TD Great Reading Room. Located in the west vestibule, these books are a collaboration between Alberta Printmakers and Loft 112. Can't visit Central Library? Watch the documentary on our YouTube channel that explores the partnership between the authors and printmakers. This project is supported by the J K L MacLachlan Family Fund.
