The Central Library, a Place for All
The Central Library is the biggest library in Calgary. However, beyond a beautiful building, the library provides a multitude of services and programs with the aim of being a place that can serve everyone.
What is the purpose of a library? Perhaps, if you were my mother, the library is a place to access predictable Edwardian romance novels. My past ten-year-old self would certainly believe the library to be a place for books, movies and unparalleled screentime on library computers while mom goes off to find a new romance novel. In contrast to my own experience with libraries, Calgary’s Central Library serves a function that goes beyond lending books.
The Central Library is a place of connection. Whether as the bridge between Calgary’s downtown and the newly redeveloped East Village, or as a place that facilitates connection within the community. One of the things that stood out to me the most was the multitude of programs and services that the library offers. The programs range from film screenings to baby enrichment activities. However, a notable program was an English language learner workshop, which creates a space within the library for English learners to gather and practice their speaking skills. As a result, the program actually achieves two things: giving language learners a dedicated space to practice and a space that builds community connections between people.
The ability of the library to provide spaces that facilitate community is a result of the offered programs and dedicated spaces. The Central Library has dedicated spaces for different uses. There's a children's area, a teen area, as well as a quiet reading room. Truly, some of these areas made my inner child envious. While teens are given a place where they can be among peers. The children's area of the library is designed to help children learn in the way that suits them best. A place to play in the library. Truly, who wouldn’t be envious seeing that? Furthermore, these spaces continue to build community as people with similar needs from a library gather and interact in those areas.
Beyond dedicated spaces, all library cardholders can rent rooms, borrow. Chromebooks and use library printers to print up to five dollars worth of pages per month. These services may sound familiar to the Edmonton Public Library, however, the difference is that the Calgary library system is nicer to university students on minimum wage incomes, aka me, as there is no cost for all of these services. Through these means, the library aids in lowering some of the barriers that emerge from the inability to access a printer, computer or private space.
Another barrier that the library lowers is the availability of galleries for artists to showcase their artwork for up to a month for free. This creates a space in which artists are able to present their work, even if they do not have connections to other galleries. Beyond allowing for art to be showcased, the library allows for art creation to occur through the various creator spaces. Once again, lowering a barrier for people who may not normally have the means.
Ultimately, the goal of the Central Library is to welcome everyone. Certainly, the programs and services suggest this is a key value of Calgary Public Libraries. However, it is undeniable that the library is used by a variety of people from different backgrounds. The East Village redevelopment has gentrified the neighbourhood, increasing the socioeconomic class of some library users, however, there are also unhoused individuals who find comfort in going to the library. As a result, there is also a security presence in the Central Library. However, it is notable that the library security does not discriminate against the unhoused and, according to the librarian at Central Library, security is very understanding towards the unhoused. Therefore, while the library has the power to exclude the unhoused, they choose not to and instead, embrace everyone.
The Central Library provides a variety of services, intending to cater to as many different people’s needs as possible. It is through the offered services and programs that the library aims to meet the needs of the community. I believe that libraries such as Calgary’s Central Library serve the purpose of helping people navigate the challenges that emerge from barriers; ultimately, becoming places that welcomes all.
Written by Field School Student Jaclynn Mah. Photo of Calgary’s Central Library’s first-floor atrium courtesy of Jaclynn Mah.