Calgary Public Library Foundation

Calgary Public Library's My First Bookshelf program, in partnership with Dolly Parton's Imagination Library, provides free books by mail to participating children up to their fifth birthday. Growing up with books at home is linked to stronger literacy skills and academic success — but more than 500 kids in Calgary are on the My First Bookshelf waitlist.

Tomorrow, we're teaming up with Country 105 : Calgary's Country for Dolly Parton Day! Celebrate her legacy with us as we raise funds to eliminate the waitlist and put more books in children's hands throughout our city. Follow along and help us meet our goal at libraryfoundation.ca/dollyday.

We're counting down to Dolly Parton Day! 💖

On Friday, we'll welcome Country 105 : Calgary's Country to Central Library to celebrate Dolly's life and legacy while supporting Calgary Public Library’s My First Bookshelf.

Help us get ready for the big day by sharing your favourite Dolly song in the comments. 🎶

Don't forget — you can donate now at libraryfoundation.ca/DollyDay!

Locked Library: Creature Feature was the main attraction last Friday at Central Library, with 698 players across 207 teams battling it out for puzzle supremacy. Now that the credits have rolled, we're delighted to share that our cast of participants helped raise more than $23,000 for Calgary Public Library! A special thank-you to our Locked Library sponsors, DCM and HBI - Heritage Business Interiors Inc.

Locked Library will be back in November with HIGH SCORE on November 20. Early bird are available now at LibraryAfterDark.ca. What's your favourite video game? Tell us in the comments!

Next Friday, we're celebrating Dolly Parton with a little help from our friends at Country 105 : Calgary's Country!

Country 105 Mornings will broadcast live from Central Library for a morning dedicated to Dolly, while raising funds to help more children in Calgary access the gift of reading through Calgary Public Library's My First Bookshelf program.

My First Bookshelf, operated in partnership with Dolly Parton's Imagination Library, mails a free book to participating children every month up to their fifth birthday, helping instill a lifelong love of reading from an early age. Dolly made the program possible, but we need your help to keep up with demand. There are 505 kids on the waitlist, and we invite you to come together as a community to get these kids into My First Bookshelf!

Tune in to Country 105 on September 25 and watch this space as we celebrate Dolly Parton. You can help us honour her legacy by donating so more kids can have books to call their own.

Already had your cup of ambition this morning? Get ahead and donate early at libraryfoundation.ca/DollyDay!

Tomorrow at Central Library: it's Locked Library: Creature Feature! Grab one of the last-remaining tickets and join us for four levels of puzzles inspired by classic movie monsters. This event is family-friendly and designed to stump, not spook. Get your tickets at LibraryAfterDark.ca. All proceeds from this event support Calgary Public Library.

We were honoured to be part of the Symons Valley Library groundbreaking ceremony this afternoon.

Anticipated to open in 2028, the 15,000-square-foot Symons Valley Library will provide this growing neighbourhood with programming, services, collections, and welcoming spaces.

We heard from Mayor Jeromy Farkas, Councillor Jennifer Wyness, and Calgary Public Library CEO Sarah Meilleur and we're so excited about this major capital project. Symons Valley Library is just one example of how the Library continues to grow and invest in our community.

None of this would be possible without the generosity of donors who help the Library dream big and create lasting impact — thank you!

A single book can be a lifeline, a lesson, a laugh, or the beginning of a lifelong love of reading. Your donation helps Calgary Public Library bring more books, eBooks, and audiobooks to readers of all ages—so there’s always something new to discover, wherever you are in the city. Help put the next great story into someone’s hands at LibraryDonate.ca.

The countdown is on! Locked Library: Creature Feature is this Friday at Central Library. Join us as we kick off spooky season with a four-level escape room puzzler inspired by classic movie monsters. Tickets still available at LibraryAfterDark.ca. All proceeds from this event support Calgary Public Library's highest-priority needs.

Books open doors — to new ideas, new worlds, and sometimes, a new way forward.

Calgary Public Library is here for every reader, and every donation helps strengthen the collections they count on. Your support will help add more books, eBooks, and audiobooks for people across our city.

Give someone their next great read at LibraryDonate.ca.