The Fire Truck: 22 Tons of Early Learning

The Fire Truck

22 Tons of Early Learning

Central Library will soon be home to a full-sized, real fire truck—and yes, it will be installed inside the library!

When the Calgary Fire Department offered to loan us a decommissioned fire truck, we seized upon this opportunity to create an innovative early learning experience. After much planning and design, we’re installing the truck in Central Library’s Shaikh Family Welcome Gallery, where it will remain until New Central Library opens in 2018.

Soon, Calgary’s youngest citizens will not only read about fire trucks, but also suit up, jump in the truck, and rush to the scene of accidents and infernos to bring aid and assistance. Because the fire truck isn’t just a 22-ton vehicle in a building: it’s a suite of experiences. It’s authentic. Kids can play on it and interact with it in a very real way.

Dials, levers, gadgets, and specially designed programming—along with plenty of space to play in and around the fire truck—allow kids to create their own imaginative stories and narratives, helping them develop problem-solving skills and peer-to-peer social development as they engage in cooperative play. A reimagined staircase will connect the installation to the children’s area on the second floor.

Floor to ceiling hoarding will shroud the fire truck for approximately two

months while we retrofit it for playful use at its new home. During most of this time, patrons can watch the fire truck’s transformation through the south windows near the C-Train line. Towards the end of April, social media and our website will update Calgarians on our progress, and a formal public opening with the Fire Department will take place in June.

The fire truck will stand as an impossible-to-turn down invitation for kids and their families to come downtown to interact with a large-as-life, imagination-sparking installation designed to foster learning. Along with building literacy, we are bringing to life those special Library experiences that become treasured memories for our patrons.

The Calgary Public Library system has undergone its own transformation during the past two years as we prepare for the opening of New Central Library. We are recreating the physical spaces in which patrons of all ages can interact with Library resources and staff. Each of our community libraries create a community hub that inspires learning for all ages.

The fire truck is another example of the incredible learning experiences our dedicated, imaginative staff and engaged partners are creating for Calgarians.

National Poetry Month

Salman Rushdie said, “a poet's work is to name the unnameable, to point at frauds, to take sides, start arguments, shape the world, and stop it going to sleep.” If true, Calgary Public Library hopes to inspire poets of all ages as they create a thoughtful ruckus in April as part of National Poetry Month celebrations.

#Poembit Contest

Throughout April, the Library encourages everyone to share bits of poetry on Twitter. Anyone in Canada can tweet an original poem less than 140 characters in length with the hashtag #poembit. Our panel of judges will read all the tweeted poems and award one poet per week with a $50 Library Store gift certificate and bragging rights! We’ll showcase the winners (and some of our favourite entries) on our Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram channels. Throughout April, Central Library will feature a wall celebrating the winners’ poembits!

Calgary’s Poet Laureate

Rosemary Griebel represents the Calgary Public Library on the jury to select Calgary’s third poet laureate. The Mayor will be announcing our city’s 2016/2017 poet laureate on April 25.

Talon Books Poetry Launch

One of Canada’s best poetry publishers, Talon Books, will launch four new works by poets Weyman Chan, bill bissett, Jordan Abel, and Clint Burnham at Central Library on April 28 at 7:00 pm. Award-winning author Larissa Lai will host the launch.

National Poetry Month is one of the largest literary celebrations in the world, with schools, publishers, libraries, booksellers, and poets celebrating poetry’s vital place in our culture.

Fish Creek Library’s Early Learning Centre

The hoarding is down; let the play begin!

Fish Creek Library’s Early Learning Centre reopened on March 18 to a delighted crowd of excited families with young ones.

Activity stations—including a designated toddler area, a theatre (complete with backdrops), a reading nook (in a forest), a creative station with tables and white/blackboards, and more—make for a dynamic environment where children learn through play!

Baby/Toddler Area

Board books, sensory toys, crawl space, mirrors, light cube

Small Build Materials

Duplo, KEVA blocks, light table, small manipulatives (figurines, counting toys, etc.)

Large Build Materials

Octoplay, Imagination Playground blocks, Lego, etc.

Storytelling/Dramatic Play

Theatre props, books, puppets, etc.

Creative Writing/Art Centre

Paper and writing materials, black/white boards, staff-led art activities

Reading Nook

Thematic book bins, soft (cozy and contemplative) joint seating, space for quiet activities (reading, puzzles, etc.)

Parent Resources

Group seating, parent handouts, magazines, etc.

The Bulletin Board

Tippity Tap: A Celebration of Typewriters

Janine Vangool, publisher of UPPERCASE magazine, presents a short history of the typewriter and reads from her book, The Typewriter: A Graphic History of the Beloved Machine.

Tuesday, April 12, 6:30 pm | Memorial Park

An Evening with Lawrence Hill

The award-winning author reads from his newest book, The Illegal at a sold-out event on April 18!

An Evening with Wade Davis: White Darkness and the Living Dead

Wade Davis recounts his work investigating zombies and the Haitian voodoo culture, where he was propelled into a world beyond his imaginings and developed a deep appreciation of a fascinating culture.

Thursday, April 21, 7:00 pm | Central Library

Shaganappi Closes, Westbrook Opens

Shaganappi Library will close effective April 11 to prepare for the Grand Opening of the Library at Westbrook Station, 1421 33 Street SW on April 23.

If you’re excited about our newest library and curious to see what it’s like, we have good news: staff are invited to have a first look at the brand-new Westbrook Library. Everyone who attends the Sneak Peek will be entered to win a $100 Library Store credit!

You’re also welcome to attend the Grand Opening the following day!

Westbrook Library Staff Sneak Peek

April 22, 2:00 –7:00 pm

Westbrook Library Grand Opening

April 23, 10:30 am

Nose Hill Library will undergo renovations throughout the summer!

The library won’t be closing, but there may be some service disruptions along the way to a vibrant, revitalized community library.

Contest—King Kirby!

Bulletin readers—win two tickets to see Sage Theatre’s King Kirby, the story of the man who created the Fantastic Four, the Avengers, Captain America, and others . . . and why most people don’t know his name. Cam Ascroft and Tereasa Maillie are involved in the production.

Email dangerous@librarybulletin.ca by midnight, April 10 for your chance to win tickets!