Donor impact in 2024

Thank you to our donors for supporting the community through the work of Calgary Public Library.

Thank you!

The incredible support of Calgary Public Library Foundation’s donors continues to enable crucial programs to flourish, foster sector-leading innovations, and help transform Library services and spaces throughout our city. Your generosity helps build a more resilient community and breaks down barriers, making it possible for everyone to see themselves in Calgary Public Library.

Read on to learn more about the impact that Library donors make through their generosity.

My First Bookshelf

Encouraging a lifelong love of reading

Thanks to donor funding, this popular early learning program added spaces for 600 more children this summer. Currently, there are 4,100 children enrolled in My First Bookshelf. In July, the program celebrated an important milestone: the delivery of its 100,000th book.

The program’s waitlist is nearing 600 children, and a child who joins the waitlist today will enter into the program in approximately 12 to 15 months. Donors can support a child’s participation for $6.90 per month. My First Bookshelf is operated in partnership with Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library.

“Jasper has certainly enjoyed all of the books that he received. He has learned a great deal and has been entertained. He re-read many of them many times. The part I loved the most was the snuggle time we shared while reading the books. He is excited about starting kindergarten and is ready. I am sure that books will continue to be a big part of his life. Thank you so much.” —Jerome, parent of MFB graduate Jasper

Free. Period.

Enhancing access to personal care essentials

The Free. Period. initiative addresses the concept of period poverty, which describes a lack of access to menstrual products, education, hygiene facilities, waste management, or a combination of these. Donor support enables the Library to provide free menstrual products in its restrooms for anyone who might need them. 

Engine 23

Promoting fundamental skill development for young Calgarians

Donor support rehomed Engine 23 in April, where it has become the centerpiece of Fish Creek Library’s Early Learning Centre. In the weeks following Engine 23’s grand opening, visitorship to Fish Creek Library went up by 40%. 

Engine 23 at Fish Creek Library is just one of a wide range of exciting resources that aid in the development of physical literacy and fundamental cognitive skills for youth. Donor-funded Early Learning Centres, each with their own unique set of amenities, attractions, and resources, can be found in 13 Library locations across Calgary.

Job Desk

Empowering Calgarians for professional success

Donor support has helped shape this program into a valuable and effective employment support service, connecting job-seekers to professional career counsellors and referral services, helping them apply for jobs, find professional development opportunities, and access career management resources.

The Library’s annual goal is to support 1,000 patrons through Job Desk. In 2024, this target was reached in May, and by the end of August, more than 1,800 Calgarians had accessed Job Desk services. 

“Debbie has been visiting the Job Desk for several weeks. Her intention was to develop a small business in a business administration support role. After assisting with outlining a business plan and model, and a plan for reaching out to potential clients, she has now successfully retained clients and is operating her small business.” —Job Desk Career Coach

Library Goes to Kindergarten

Bridging gaps in access to learning resources

Thanks to donor support, Library Goes to Kindergarten book bags were shared with 7,000 kindergarteners this year! Half of these children received their book bag directly from their school, benefiting from free school supplies and resources designed to help children and their caregivers make the leap from preschool to kindergarten.

Library Membership

Supporting all Calgarians with free resources

Calgary Public Library has more members per capita than any other public library system in North America, and donors enable the Library to serve as a vital resource for the 57% of Calgarians who are active Library users.

As the Library continues to reach new milestones—like seeing its membership grow this summer to more than 818,000 Calgarians, the most members in the Library’s history—donor support will become even more important in ensuring that all Calgarians can see themselves in Calgary Public Library.

“At the Library, I can work in a calm and productive environment. When I’m with friends, I can always count on the Library to help us with our studies. The Library is more than a building to me. It’s a place where with its many pages of inspiration, I can improve myself as a whole.” —Anita, Library member