Want to learn a new language, keep the kids busy with a craft, or simply relax with a good audiobook? Check out our treasure trove of free online resources that you can access anytime from home.
There’s something for everyone: virtual storytimes and early literacy activities, study help for students, even free online courses for adults. And of course, stream your favourite music, flip through a digital magazine, or watch an award-winning film.
Blast off to free summer fun with the Ultimate Summer Challenge at Calgary Public Library. Kids ages 0 – 12 can explore a galaxy of reading challenges, activities, and exciting free programs. Those ages 13 – 17 can join the Teen Takeover. All ages could win prizes that are out of this world!
Join the challenge!
Find activities, resources, and tips to help your child learn at home.
Get the resources
Whether you are studying at school or from home, the Library has tools to help.
Go to Library at Home for Teens
Have your baby bounce out some energy and sing along to these short Baby Rhyme Time videos.
Our round-up of sensory play activity suggestions and instructions for toddlers that will keep them busy and learning using household objects.
Join us for stories and songs for the littlest learners through a registered online program such as Baby Rhyme Time or Reading with Royalty.
Find science experiments, at-home art projects and activities from the Questionarium here.
Treaty 7 authors read from their children’s books in this Youtube playlist.
Learn about insect homes, explore space or learn in a new creative skill. Our programs bring in Calgary experts to engage and educate your kids.
You can stream unlimited feature TV shows and movies for kids, including fables like The True Story of the 3 Little Pigs and favourites like Sesame Street, with your library card.
This online resource is packed with easy-to-read articles on animals, people and places along with videos, puzzles and science experiments to make learning fun.
Sign-up for a 30 minute, one-on-one session with a career coach to get help with your resume, interview skills or job search.
The Library’s online programs include sessions from community experts sharing advice on topics including navigating a job search, networking and creating a resume.
Get access to online resources including personalized career plans through Career Cruising, practice tests, and career tutorials through Learning Express and self-guided courses through LinkedIn Learning for Library
Learn from experts how to maintain your mental, physical and financial health at one of our free virtual programs.
This Library staff-created list includes resources to help understand what mental illness is, when you should look for help and how to find it.
Access free mental health and addictions support, health information, and referral to services.
Read the latest issues of your favourite magazines, including The Walrus, Chatelaine, Maclean’s, and Essence.
This digital resource gives you access to newspapers and magazines from more than 100 countries and in multiple languages. Read it on your computer or mobile device.
You can read the latest issues of this newspaper and access its archives and see what the news was between 1851 and 1922.
Book a virtual meeting with us through Librarian On-Call.
Book a virtual meeting with The Elders’ Guidance Circle to share history, stories of the land, culture, and guidance.
Immerse yourself in the articles and photography in National Geographic Virtual Library.
Connect to Pressbooks Public Self-Publishing Platform where you can create, edit, format, and generate print-ready and eBook ready formats for your book.
Sign up for the monthly Food for Thought book discussion group. Each month has a theme and suggested pre-reading.
Take advantage of Libby's Skip the Line Loans. They are available immediately and you have seven days to read them.
Search online through Ancestry Library Edition, or take the Genealogy Basics course through Gale Courses.
Look them up in Birds of the World.
Browse Calgary Library Staff Picks. You can search by subject, age and reading level.
Go to Learning Express. It also has practice tests for occupations including law enforcement, nursing, and real estate.
Get help from Study Buddy. The online resource has eBooks, articles, audiobooks, and worksheets designed for ages six and older.
Watch instructional videos on ArtistWorks where professional musicians give lessons for beginner and intermediate learners.
Curbside Holds Service is a contactless pickup service that allows you to retrieve your holds outside most Library locations throughout the city. Once we notify you that your holds are available, visit the pickup location and call the number posted on the Curbside Holds Pickup sign outside. Our staff will retrieve your holds for you.
Let us find your perfect match. With Build a Book Bag, we’ll help you discover titles you'll want to read — no browsing the stacks required.
Fill out the short online form to let us know reading preferences and the age of the reader (ages 0 – 18+), and our knowledgeable staff will hand-pick titles for a custom book bag based on your personal interests.
Our staff are here for you! Call the Library at 403.260.2600, or send us a message through chat or email to get in touch with a staff member.
Whether you want a personalized book recommendation, need tech support, are looking for help with schoolwork, or need information about current events, our experts can answer any questions you may have or connect you to the appropriate community resource.
Library Hotline is open Monday to Thursday, 9:00 am to 9:00 pm, Friday and Saturday, 9:00 am to 5 pm, and Sunday noon to 5:00 pm.
