Thank you for your interest in presenting a program. Please call 403-260-2600 or email programming@calgarylibrary.ca
Stories are cultural teachings handed down through generations. Remember that stories are there to educate or help you; they are not frivolous or strictly for entertainment.
Read more about "Treat stories as a gift."Whether it’s physical books, online resources, or just a change of scenery, Megan Powell has found what she needs at the Library.As a small business owner, Megan uses various free Library resources to help build and grow Little Dot Creative, a branding and website studio.“I know that if there’s a problem, I can find something at the Library to gain knowledge and solve it,” she says.Megan has been turning to the Library for many years. Her childhood was filled with storytimes at Southwood Library, followed by checking out picture books with her family and hauling them home.She remembers a giant bin for Library books in the hallway of her house, and the joy that came from picking a new book each night before bedtime.“The Library has always been a part of my life, and it has just continued on into adulthood,” Megan says.Gaining New KnowledgeDuring an internship in university, Megan needed to use InDesign, a software program she had little experience with. She used her Library card to access Lynda.com, a free Digital Resource full of short online expert-led video courses, covering software and topics like web design and business skills.“I learned how to use InDesign and all the Adobe programs, including Photoshop and Illustrator, which are now used daily in my business,” she says.When Megan needed a solution for organizing her company’s financials, she put the book Profit First on hold, read it, and adopted new strategies. “There are so many amazing free resources that have helped me in my business and career,” she says. Megan occasionally brings her work to libraries, including Quarry Park and Central Library. She enjoys how the atmosphere is different from a co-work space or a coffee shop.‘So Many Resources’As an organizer with the Rising Tide Society’s Calgary chapter — a free group for creative entrepreneurs — Megan uses larger bookable meeting rooms to host events and co-work days.“Knowing that we have a free resource to be able to do that is amazing,” Megan says. Plus, she adds, the beauty of Central Library makes it an ideal place for a group of creatives to congregate.At those gatherings, Megan is quick to gush about the benefits of a free Library card, from more than 100 online resources to weekly Small Business Tuesdays programs to easily accessible eBooks and eAudiobooks.“I just don’t think people know that there are so many resources and so many things attached to the Library,” she says.Amid the isolation and stress that can come with running a small business, Megan says she has found support at the Library.“It’s reassuring and comforting to know that these resources are available at your fingertips, completely free to you,” she says.We want to know how the Library has made a difference in your life. Submit your own Library Story online.
Read more about "Stories ‘Amazing Free Resources’ Megan Powell’s Library Story began when she started her business"Calgary Public Library Announces New Program in Partnership with Calgary Fire Department MEDIA RELEASEFOR IMMEDIATE RELEASEJanuary 8, 2019Calgary, AB — The Calgary Public Library in partnership with the Calgary Fire Department is thrilled to announce a new program that launches this week.From January through June, children and families will have the opportunity to participate in weekly drop-in Firefighter Storytimes at select Library locations. Visitors will enjoy a story read by a local firefighter, and, availability and weather permitting, a tour of a working fire engine – a special experience for children of all ages. This unique partnership will also see firefighters sharing life-saving fire safety tips with the communities in which they serve.“What better way to inspire early learning and literacy in children than with real-life firefighters reading to them?” said Mark Asberg, Director of Service Delivery for the Calgary Public Library. “These local heroes are helping to set the foundation for future learning. We are proud to be working with our partners at the Calgary Fire Department to bring lifechanging programs like this to Calgary’s youngest citizens.”The Library first partnered with the Calgary Fire Department for Engine 23, a popular early learning installation at the old Central Library. Following firefighter and truck visits during 2018 Love Your Library Day, a plan was made to pilot an expanded storytime program across the library system. After the closure of the old Central Library, Engine 23 was moved into storage and plans are underway to install it at a new community library location in 2019.“The Calgary Fire Department encourages our members to visit public libraries in our communities and spend some time reading to children,” says Calgary Fire Chief Steve Dongworth. “I want to thank the Calgary Public Library for working with us to help spark a love of reading among children and ensuring they have access to the reading resources they need.”The Library locations selected for the pilot program were chosen based on their proximity to local fire stations. Storytimes will take place on Sunday afternoons at two different Library locations, beginning at 2:00 pm. Each storytime will last about 30 minutes.A full list of dates and locations of upcoming Firefighter Storytimes can be found at calgarylibrary.ca/programs.Calgary Public LibraryCalgary Public Library, with 688,000+ members and 21 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. new Central Library — the newest gathering place for our city — opened on November 1, 2018.- 30 -Media Contacts:Mary KapustaDirector, CommunicationsCalgary Public Library403.774.7256Mary.Kapusta@calgarylibrary.caGemma PasquarelliAccount ExecutiveEdelman403.817.0622Gemma.Pasquarelli@edelman.com
Read more about "Stories"CMLC Announces Artist for New Central Library’s Public Art Program International artist Christian Moeller to create three-piece sculpture and a mural that uses 11,000 booksCALGARY, AB — Calgary Municipal Land Corporation (CMLC) — lead developer of Calgary’s Central Library, a $245 million fully-funded civic amenity in the re-emerging neighbourhood of East Village — is delighted to announce the public art installations for the New Central Library and to introduce the artist who’ll create them.“Our search for an artist whose work would befit a landmark facility like the New Central Library began in 2014, when we issued a Request for Qualifications (RFQ) from local, national and international artists,” says Susan Veres, senior vice president of strategy & business development. “More than two hundred artists and artist teams from all over the world responded to the RFQ—an emphatic testament to the significance of the opportunity.”The budget for the commission was guided by City of Calgary’s Public Art Policy, which includes a “percent for public art” strategy for funding the acquisition, administration and management of public art in Calgary. To complete the public art installations for the New Central Library, the selected artist worked with a budget of $2 million which is inclusive of all fees, expenses, and fabrication costs, delivery and installation.Through a robust and multi-staged selection process which was informed by the City of Calgary’s Public Art Program, the responses CMLC received—239 in total—were first narrowed to a list of 35. The task of establishing a shortlist to then advance to a Request for Proposals (RFP) stage was guided by a Volunteer Art Committee comprising a community resident, an artist and representative from ACAD, a curator from Glenbow Museum, a rep from Calgary Public Library and a rep from Calgary Arts Development organization. Non-voting members/observers included reps from CMLC, City of Calgary Public Art Program and the NCL design team.Read the complete media release on CMLC's website.
Read more about "Stories"Three beginner camps in Blackfoot, Cree, and Michif, the language of the Métis people, are being offered this fall in partnership with the Aboriginal Friendship Centre of Calgary.Language is a crucial part of a culture, and these sessions are intended to help revitalize language within city limits. Teneya Gwin, Indigenous Service Design Lead at the Calgary Public Library, says she hopes people will see it as an opportunity to build community.“The Library is a place where all people are welcome,” Gwin says. “Indigenous people have the chance to reconnect to their language, and non-Indigenous people are introduced to the language.”The camps were full within a few weeks of registration opening, and having a wait list speaks volumes, Gwin says. They had heard from the community that opportunities like this were wanted, and the Library was fortunate to partner with the Aboriginal Friendship Centre on this initiative.“Language is so connected to culture,” Gwin says. “Language is a huge component of who you are as an Indigenous person, and a lot of Indigenous people are at risk of losing their language.”There’s plans to offer intermediate-level gatherings starting in January for Blackfoot, Cree, and Michif, and Gwin says she hopes to be able to offer more Treaty 7 languages in the future.Register for camps like these or view more Library programming at calgarylibrary.ca/programs, accessible with your free Library card.
Read more about "Stories"Fast Facts The City of Calgary has been planning for a new Central Library since 2004, when it first devoted funds to study future library needs. Throughout 2012, more than 16,000 Calgarians participated in an extensive public engagement program to provide input into the function of Central Library and the role of the Library within the community. The building’s architects are Snøhetta, an international firm, and Calgary’s DIALOG, while CMLC leads the construction. The 240,000 square foot building has five levels that will contain about 600,000 items. Construction began in 2014 with a real feat of engineering: encapsulating the LRT. It was the first time in Calgary’s history an active LRT line was encapsulated and used as a foundation for a building above. The final steel beam of Central Library’s skeletal structure serves a dual-purpose; it’s a time capsule of steel. In March 2017, nearly 700 library lovers of all ages inscribed the massive beam with messages of congratulations and inspiration for future generations. Central Library is a fully-funded $245 million project, paid for by the City ($175 million) and CMLC ($70 million). The Calgary Public Library Foundation’s Add-In Campaign allowed donors to enhance collections, programs, and services across the entire Library system.
Read more about "Fast Facts"Caretakers of the Land
Read more about "Learn more about the Caretakers of the Land "For Indigenous people, the land is their mother, providing enough for people, animals, plants, the waters, and the land to live in harmony with each other. It is where their laws, values, and practices come from.
Read more about "What is a land acknowledgment, and why is it important to learn?"Elizabeth Haynes is a Calgary-based Author and Speech-Language Pathologist. Her work includes poetry, short stories, novels and memoirs.
Read more about "Elizabeth Haynes"Prior experience with a culture influences how engaged we are by its' stories. Learning about the storyteller and their culture often makes it easier for children to connect to the material.
Read more about "Learn in advance."Prior experience with a culture influences how engaged we are by its' stories. Learning about the storyteller and their culture often makes it easier for children to connect to the material.
Read more about "Learn in advance."Meg Braem is an award-winning playwright and dramaturg based in Alberta.
Read more about "Meg Braem"It is up to you to find meaning in a story. The goal isn’t to walk away with a solution or answer, but to be self-reflective: what is the story trying to teach you?
Read more about "Listen to understand."Listening is harder than watching. It is ok to close your eyes, shift positions, and not watch the Elder the entire time. Sharing stories is hard work, too, so allow Elders the space to take their time.
Read more about "Help create a safe space."Be mindful to not interrupt the Elder who is sharing until they give you the space to speak. This shows the Elder that you respect them and their teachings.
Read more about "Give your time and attention."