When the City of Calgary announced a local State of Emergency on March 15, 2020, the Calgary Public Library was closed until further notice, and so were our plans for the second quarter of the year. The Foundation was forced to postpone three events immediately resulting in a $160,000 shortfall. While the Library worked quickly to pivot their services to serve our community remotely, we pivoted to support the Library. Thanks to you, we raised $240,000 and counting for the Resiliency Fund.
A Library is an important piece of social infrastructure during normal times and as we have seen over the past year, becomes even more critical during challenging times. Since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic in March 2020, the Library has extended its reach beyond its four walls and illustrated its ability to provide needed relief for individuals and our entire community.
Both the Library and Foundation have explored new ways to reach and support students, jobseekers, newcomers to our city, families, and seniors. Beyond expanding the Digital Library and offering socially-distant services, we are proud to have supported a number of new initiatives which are highlighted in the following pages.
My term with the Board concludes in 2021 and I am proud to have been a part of the Library Foundation. I am confident that the Foundation will continue to enable the Library to remove barriers (to success), innovate, and enable our community to grow and prosper.
On behalf of the Board of Directors, thank you for your continued support of the Calgary Public Library Foundation.
Carl Landry
Chair, Board of Directors
Calgary Public Library Foundation
On February 25, 2020, I was proud to be sitting in a room with 300 library supporters listening to best-selling author and sociologist, Eric Klinenberg. During his talk, he challenged those attending to imagine a world without libraries.
With the temporary closure of libraries due to the COVID-19 pandemic, we’ve now seen how the absence of a library affects a community, yet we’ve also discovered that we’re never truly without one. Even when its physical buildings are closed, the Library will find a way to reach the community.
And, our community has continued to support the Library. In addition to the messages of encouragement and gratitude we’ve received, many Calgarians have stepped forward to support their Library with donations of all sizes. Last year, we said we’d do more with your support. The following pages include a sample of some of the things we’ve accomplished thanks to you, and I look forward to discovering what we can achieve together in 2021.
Tracy Johnson
Chief Executive Officer
Calgary Public Library Foundation
In response to a rallying cry to support local, 5,072 people made a purchase at Library Store in 2020, resulting in the most successful year ever! This accomplishment was especially meaningful as the store was closed from March 15- July 11.
Our jigsaw puzzles sold out five times over, but the breakthrough success story of the year was our “I always have my nose in a book” non-medical mask. Thanks to your purchases, we raised more than $115,000 in support of the Calgary Public Library.
Thank you
With your support, we will continue to expand the Library’s extensive reach; removing barriers, innovating, and fostering resilience, now and in the future.
