Donor-Funded Initiatives

Elders and Knowledge Keepers from the Treaty 7 and Calgary area meet with individuals and groups to provide education, storytelling, and a spiritual component to programming and services, including ceremony and smudges.
Supported by Suncor Energy Foundation.

A series of short-term, paid, community engagement roles that support individuals and collectives living and working in Calgary and surrounding First Nations communities. A variety of residencies are offered and filled annually: Children’s Artist/Illustrator, Indigenous Artist, Newcomer Artist, Author, Musical Artist, Historian, Entrepreneur, Storyteller and Indigenous Elder-in-Residence.
Elder-in-Residence, Indigenous Artist-in-Residence, and Newcomer Artist-in-Residence positions are supported by TD.

Provides free pads and tampons to anyone who needs them by making them available in Library restrooms across the system, with no stigma or judgment.
Supported by Shoppers Foundation for Women’s Health.

Raises awareness and engages the community in critical dialogue about human rights and the Holocaust through physical exhibits and virtual tours, programs and events, community storytelling opportunities, and enhanced Library collections related to human rights.
Supported by the Balaban Family, the Krell Family, and Viewpoint Foundation.

Provides access to career planning resources and career coaches who can help with job searching, resume and cover letter development, interview skills, and more.
Supported by the Government of Alberta.

Delivers a free book in the mail every month to children up to their fifth birthday, enhancing access to reading material and building a lifelong love of reading.
Chapter Sponsors: Canada Life; Lori Egger and Steve Laut; Leah and Ernie Hagel; Hunter Family Foundation; Barbara Killick; the McNamara Family; MEG Energy; the Moffit Charitable Foundation; Lorraine and Peter Moore; Mortgage Connection; Sticks & Strings Foundation; UTILITYNET and Sandstone Energy. Supporters and Partners: Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library; The Dollywood Foundation of Canada.

Provides support from newcomer-serving agencies and organizations in the community, including assessment of needs, referrals, language training, child support, education and skills training, employment, and community connections.
Supported by RBC Foundation.

Connects first responders and literacy to provide unique opportunities for students in Calgary to engage in literacy skill-building while cultivating relationships with local police, fire, and EMS.
Supported by James and Patricia Burns and the BURNSWEST Corporation.

Brings artists to Library locations across the city for free performances and workshops across various art forms, including music, dance, drama, and movement, enhancing access to life-enriching arts and culture experiences and supporting emergent artists in reaching new audiences.
Supported by Mary Rozsa de Coquet and the Rozsa Foundation.

A mobile library that brings storytime, books, activities, and Library resources to day homes in neighbourhoods throughout Calgary, with emphasis placed on areas where access is constrained by financial or other barriers.
Supported by Burns Memorial Fund for Children; CNRL; Calgary Flames Foundation; Spruce Meadows Leg Up Foundation.

StoryWalks are self-guided learning and literacy experiences that enable you to read through a whole storybook as you walk through a park or follow a public path, promoting active mind and body and supporting literacy in all forms.
StoryWalks are sponsored by Sticks & Strings Foundation.

Provides free access to mental health and recovery support, health information, and service referrals on a drop-in basis at select Library locations throughout the city.
Supported by BMO Financial Group, Boone-Poole Family Foundation; the City of Calgary.