Have you ever wanted to hunt dinosaur bones or fly a helicopter? Maybe you’ll find the perfect book in a forest or settle down to read in a rainbow! The Early Learning Centres at the Calgary Public Library have been revitalized over the last few years to make libraries a welcoming and enticing place for families to visit and a great place to encourage imaginative play.
Read in a Rainbow at Village Square! Photo Credit: Calgary Library
If you’ve been to any library location recently, you’ll know that this isn’t your grandma’s library. The Calgary Library does have a long and prestigious history and it has evolved into one of the foremost library systems in North America. From 730 000 active members to 25 000 programs and 15 million items circulated (over a quarter are electronic) every year, the Calgary Public Library has reinvented itself to become a vibrant community hub in the 21st century, offering Calgarians something they can’t easily get elsewhere. With core values of inclusion, curiosity, and collaboration, everyone can find a place at one of the city’s 21 library locations.
All the world’s a stage at Fish Creek. Photo Credit: Calgary Library
But let’s be honest. On a cold afternoon, when the little ones are getting wrangy and tempers are getting short, you just need a change of scenery and someplace easy and cheap to distract everyone. The Early Learning Centres at the Calgary Library are, of course, chock full of books for every age and interest, plus they are stocked with a wide variety of toys, specifically chosen to spark a child’s imagination. Older kids or teens will enjoy a variety of games they can play. Give your day a break and head out to the library!
Grab a game and settle in. Photo Credit: Charity Quick
The larger libraries often have exciting features, like the indoor playground at Central Libary or the play area built around a helicopter at the new library in Seton. Whether you want to discover dinosaurs at Country Hills, pretend to fly the hot air balloon up, up and away at Saddletowne, or make your mark on the stage at Fish Creek, kids can enjoy an adventure in an afternoon while enjoying some active play.
It’s time to take off at Seton! Photo Credit: Rob McMorris
Plan a visit during drop-in storytime, for even more amusement. And if you happen to meet up with a friend and someone finds a book they love, then the afternoon just gets better and better!
Discovering dinosaurs at Country Hills. Photo Credit: Calgary Library
