Free literacy activities, virtual programs, and more at Calgary Public Library

Written by Rachel Braeuer

Calgary Public Library always has lots of ideas for how to visit faraway places and spaces and get excited about new ideas, all at home and in your community. Use your free Library card to get started today!

Don’t have a Library card? Visit your nearest Library location, call 403-260-2600, or visit calgarylibrary.ca/join to sign up for free and start using your membership immediately.

Start a family book club with Family Reading Kits. To recognize Family Literacy Day on January 27, Family Reading Kits are available at six Library locations. Featuring four different titles for school-age children and one picture book, the kits include discussion questions to spark lively conversations, related activities, and more staff-recommended titles to keep reading as a family.

Visit Central, Crowfoot, Fish Creek, Nose Hill, Seton, or Shawnessy libraries to choose from New Kid, Forest World, Race to the Sun, The Little Prince, and Ada Twist, Scientist and pick up the free activity booklet, as well. Family Reading Kits are self-led, so your family can read as many as they like!

Find your nearest Library location with Family Reading Kits by visiting calgarylibrary.ca/family-reading-kit.

Attend programs - virtually! Every week, the Library offers a wide selection of free, online programs to foster early literacy skills and connect with other families. Join us virtually to learn fun rhymes, songs, and tickles to infuse literacy into your everyday routine with Baby Rhyme Time, A-B-C You and Me, and 1-2-3- Count with Me. Or explore the five senses and get new ideas for creative play with Words and Wiggles and create a new bedtime routine with Bedtime Storytime.

Find more information about free programs for babies and toddlers at calgarylibrary.ca/family-literacy-programs.

Older kids can find programs specific to their interests, grow their curiosity about the world around them, and develop new or existing skills. Kids can read to certified therapy dogs in the Story Pals program or work on literacy skills with a mentor in Reading Buddies. Plus, they can join discussions about space, reptiles, or bugs, or try some at-home experiments as part of a STEM program. There’s a program for every interest and everyone!

View all school-age programs at calgarylibrary.ca/kids-and-teen-programming.

There are programs just for parents, too! Learn how to better support your child’s learning with Kitchen Table Classroom, an ongoing series with educational experts. The upcoming March virtual program will focus on supporting students in Grades 3 to 6 with reading and is free to register. All previous sessions can be found online and have covered topics like using books to talk with kids about tough subjects, motivating infrequent readers, and more. 

Find them all at calgarylibrary.ca/kitchen-table-classroom.

Make screen time intentional and educational. Feel good about screen time with educational resources from the Library. Our digital resources for kids include games like CodeCombat that teach kids how to code in Python or JavaScript while they defeat enemies and collect gems. Books come to life with BookFlix, TumbleBook Library, and audiobooks in the Overdrive eReading room.

Explore these digital resources and more at calgarylibrary.ca/kids-resources.

Not sure where to start with digital resources? We can help with that, too. Niche Academy offers video tutorials that walk members through our digital resources, from log in to log out.

Find answers to your questions at calgarylibrary.ca/niche-academy.

Check out our reading lists for kids. Want suggestions for books that rhyme, stories that happen outdoors, or tales of fantastic beasts? Looking for the most popular books of 2021? Staff-recommended lists are constantly updated and are a great way to discover new family-favorite titles to read together.

Find new books for your family at calgarylibrary.ca/kids-booklists.

Visit one of 21 Calgary Public Library locations or go online at calgarylibrary.ca to discover free programs, resources, and services for you and your family. Feeling Social? Find the Calgary Public Library on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, and LinkedIn @calgarylibrary.