Calgary Public Library creates impact across the city
Calgary Public Library is more than a place to borrow books. It is a welcoming space where people learn, discover, connect and find support at every stage of life.
A national study of public library impact shows that Calgary Public Library delivers meaningful emotional, intellectual, creative and social benefits for the people who use it. The findings are based on responses from 1,569 Calgary Public Library users and 119 local non-users, as part of the largest study of its kind in Canada. Read the full study here.
A place to learn, grow and belong
Library users experience the greatest impact through knowledge and well-being. Collections, spaces, programs and staff each contribute in different ways, helping Calgarians:
- Discover new ideas and information
- Build knowledge and skills
- Experience well-being, comfort and inspiration
- See the world through other people’s perspectives
- Connect with family, neighbours and the wider community
- Find welcoming places to read, study, work, relax and explore
Across all services and impact areas, Calgary Public Library achieved an overall impact score of 3.2 on a five-point scale.
Collections open the door to possibility
Collections are the most widely used Library service. Ninety-four percent of current users reported borrowing books or accessing online resources during the past year.
With an impact score of 3.4, Collections have a particularly strong intellectual and emotional effect. Users identified knowledge as the strongest area of impact, while books and other resources also help people develop empathy by offering insight into lives and experiences different from their own.
For Calgary families, the Library can become part of a lifelong tradition: discovering stories as children, returning to explore new ideas as adults and sharing that sense of wonder with the next generation.
Welcoming spaces support well-being
Library spaces provide more than a place to access materials. They offer Calgarians somewhere to read, study, work, socialize, entertain children, relax or seek shelter.
Sixty-five percent of current users visited a Library space in the past year. These visits had a moderate but well-rounded impact, with users reporting benefits particularly in well-being and knowledge.
For newcomers, the Library can be an important place to feel grounded while adjusting to a new city. One study participant described the Library as the first place outside her home where she found comfort, reassurance, and opportunity after moving to Calgary from the Middle East.
Programs bring people together
Programs make a powerful difference for everyone who participates in them.
Twenty-six percent of current users attended a program, class, event or workshop in the past year. With an impact score of 3.6, programs ranked highest of any Library service and were especially strong in the social dimension. Participants reported meaningful opportunities to meet people, exchange ideas and take part in their community.
Programs also appear to have room to grow: 38 percent of current users considered them relevant, even though only 26 percent had attended one during the past year.
Expert help when it matters
Library staff help people navigate information, technology and everyday challenges.
Sixty-four percent of current users received guidance from Library staff in the past year. Staff were particularly associated with knowledge and well-being, including help finding materials, using e-readers and solving technology problems.
For people entering a new phase of life, that practical support can make it easier to stay connected, keep learning and feel confident managing new technology and information.
Libraries matter to all Calgarians
The value of Calgary Public Library extends beyond those who use its services regularly.
Most non-users do not avoid the Library because they dislike it. Instead, many say they do not currently need Library services, are too busy or have no particular reason for not using them. Seventy-two percent of non-users agree that a public library is one of the most valuable resources a city can offer its community.
Non-use also does not mean people doubt the Library’s impact. Eighty-one percent of non-users believe public libraries have a significant positive impact in at least one area, while 87 percent of current users identify early literacy as a particularly important area of impact.
Supporting a stronger Calgary
Calgary Public Library helps people access knowledge, develop skills, experience belonging and imagine new possibilities.
Whether someone is discovering their first books, finding support in a new country, learning how to use technology or meeting others through a program, the library creates opportunities that ripple outward — from individuals and families to neighbourhoods and the city as a whole.
Together, we can help Calgary Public Library continue creating places, programs and possibilities for everyone.