The New Adventures of Engine 23

The New Adventures of Engine 23

Since the early hours of April 4, we’ve been hard at work getting a very special exhibit ready for Calgary. Engine 23—the fire truck that’s set to become our 22-tonne early learning centre at Central Library—is almost ready to be revealed!

Staff are invited to join in on the unveiling of The New Adventures of Engine 23 exhibit on June 17 at 11:00 am. Bill Ptacek, Fire Chief Steve Dongworth and a class from W.H. Cushing Workplace School will be there for the big reveal. Our very own Tera Johnson will lead a special storytime.

This interactive installation, developed through a partnership between Calgary Public Library and the Calgary Fire Department, helps children play and pretend together, learn life-saving fire safety tips, and put on their fire hats and coats to create their very own Engine 23 adventures. It’s guaranteed to bring reading to life for our youngest patrons in some fairly unique ways.

Families can explore Engine 23 any time Central Library is open until we move into New Central Library in 2018. Patrons can also use the reimagined staircase right next to the fire truck to go straight up into the Children’s Library on the second floor! School and daycare tours can be arranged online at calgarylibrary.ca.

Service Design and Delivery teams have been hard at work developing special fire truck programming. The programs below are happening throughout the summer with more great programming coming in the fall, so stay tuned.

Fire Truck Fun! For Toddlers

Mondays at 10:30 am throughout July and August, toddlers (ages 2–3) and their parents/caregivers are welcome to drop in to enjoy a fire-themed storytime while seated atop Engine 23 in the Reading Nook!

Fire Truck Storytime For Families

Fridays at 10:30 am and Saturdays at 10:30 am and 2:00 pm throughout July and August ,toddlers and preschoolers are invited to join us for a special Engine 23 storytime.

Read With Engine 23 (& a Firefighter) For Families

Tuesdays at 2:00 pm, Wednesdays at 1:00 pm, and Thursdays at 2:00 pm throughout June, July, and August, families of all ages are welcome to drop in and join a Calgary Fire Department firefighter for a special family storytime and the opportunity to start their very own new adventures with Engine 23!

An Exclusive Interview with Richard Van Camp

Richard Van Camp is a proud member of the Dogrib (Tlicho) Nation from Fort Smith, Northwest Territories, and spent part of his youth in Calgary. He is an internationally renowned storyteller and best-selling author who has published across all genres and for all ages. Van Camp is featured in two programs on June 10 at Central Library (see The Bulletin Board for details).

The Bulletin recently had the opportunity to interview Van Camp about both his writing and, of course, libraries.

You’ve written books for babies, children, young adults, and adults. As a parent who writes for children, can you talk about the importance of Early Literacy?

I find that now that I'm a dad, I'm always looking for books that bring us closer as a family. Reading bedtime stories is the perfect way to celebrate our full days together. We sing, touch the pictures, create voices for each character, and it's a way for us, as parents, to celebrate and deepen the bond that we have. It's Magic Snuggle Time!

Your bio describes you as a storyteller and author. You’ve also written graphic novels. What are the advantages of engaging in oral storytelling, stories in print, and visual stories (such as comics)?

I'm using print media to honour, celebrate, and document what I'm learning and sharing as a storyteller. You'll see our Dene Laws published in my graphic novel, A Blanket of Butterflies. You'll also see our language, Tlicho, used in dialogue. You'll see a ceremony called Tlicho Naowo in my comic "Tlicho Naowo" in the anthology Moonshot, illustrated by Nicholas Burns. I'm putting everything I have into my comics and graphic novels and dealing with hard-hitting issues facing all communities: like facing escalating gang violence in Path of the Warrior and talking about sexual health in Kiss Me Deadly and restorative justice in Three Feathers.

You’re very prolific, having published 15 books. Is there a book you’re most proud of authoring?

I'm proud to have worked with such incredible editors, artists, publishers. Each book is a celebration of my very best literary accomplishments over the past 20 years.

What role do libraries play in communities?

Every library I've ever visited is a garden of inspiration for all families from all backgrounds. That's why I love going now as a dad. I get to see parents reading with and alongside their children.

Lastly, what’s your library story?

I was always so surprised that more people didn't take full advantage of the Mary Kaeser Library in Fort Smith when I was growing up. To discover that the librarians would do their best to acquire any book I wanted to read through InterLibrary Loan was GOLD. To see what the various public libraries do for everyone is humbling. They have comics, graphic novels, CDs, DVDs, magazines, books—you name it. Theoretically, you could go your whole life now without having to buy another book, movie, magazine, CD, etc. ever again—now that is something to think about!

Mahsi cho! [“Thank you very much”]

Richard

Foundation Street Team

The Calgary Public Library Foundation has an all-new street team! Three University of Calgary students—Allison, David, and Qing—will spend the summer at festivals, art markets, malls, and similar gathering places. They will hand out information on the Library and encourage Calgarians to get their own free Library card. This intrepid team will also be asking for donations to support and enhance Library services and collections. Some of the events they will attend soon are the Night Market in Memorial Park, the East Village Street Fair, and Inglewood Sunfest.

Youth Read Keeps Teens Learning

Summer break is a time of school-free days, sunshine, holidays, and learning loss. This learning loss happens for some because of a lack of access to learning activities over the summer. Low-income students are particularly at risk for learning loss, because they have less opportunity to access educational activities. Calgary Public Library is freely accessible to all Calgarians, of course, and we help keep kids learning and engaged all summer long!

Youth Read, our summer reading program for teens, keeps young adults reading throughout the summer months. It also shows teens that the Library is a fun and welcoming place for them, helping these valuable patrons build a library habit.

In 2013, 738 teens participated in Youth Read. The number of teen participants skyrocketed to 2,732 in 2015. This year, we’re setting a goal of having more than 3,000 participants. The only way to achieve this is with your help. Most teens say that they joined Youth Read in the past because Library staff introduced them to the program. This means that you are the most important part of ensuring the program’s success. And it’s easy: the best thing you can do to support Youth Read is to talk to teens. As Carrie Kitchen, Service Design Lead for Teen Services, says: “Tell your Pages, teen volunteers, program participants, and every teen who walks through your doors about Youth Read!”

Youth Read is meant for teens aged 13–17; however, if 12-year-olds are eager to take part, they are welcome to register. Library cards are required for registration this year. Teens can go to calgaryyouthread.ca and click on “Join Program” to start.

There are three components to our teen summer reading program:

Youth Read is the online summer reading program. Teens register, work through the online challenges, and are eligible for prizes. Participants get one entry per draw for every badge they earn. Youth Read has one grand prize and plenty of weekly prizes. This year’s Grand Prize is an Apple iPad Mini 4.

Youth Read: Challenge Yourself is an added in-library program which will run this summer. In this program, teens come to the Library to work on the Youth Read challenges with help from staff.

Understanding Video Games MOOC: The Library, in partnership with the University of Alberta, Faculty of Arts, is offering a virtual summer camp for high school students interested in learning more about video games. Modeled after the U of A’s “Understanding Video Games” course, this free ten-lesson online program offers an authentic university experience through self-study.

The FAQ page at calgarylibrary.ca/faq/youth-read should answer any questions you or your teens might have. If you can’t find the answer there, ask the Youth Read point person at your location. See the list below for the point person at your library.

Youth Read Point Person

Check in with your library’s point person with your Youth Read questions:

Bowness Anu Guha-Thakurta

Calhoun Lisa-Marie Brunnen

Central Brin-Chenille Bugo

Country Hills Linda Clark

Crowfoot Jenn Galambos

Fish Creek Emma Farquharson

Forest Lawn Carey Lees

Glenmore Sq./Quarry Park Vickie Smith

Judith Umbach Michele Wellsby

Louise Riley Dan Wilson

Memorial Park Ashley Bauer

Nicholls Family Nathan Lawley

Nose Hill Faye Blais

Saddletowne Alyssa Bradac

Shawnessy Jessie Campbell

Signal Hill Theresa McGinnes

Southwood Lindsay Burns

Village Square Anne Hill

The Bulletin Board

The New Library Connect!

The July-August Library Connect will arrive at community libraries just prior to June 17. To keep Engine 23 secret until the unveiling, kindly do not display nor distribute the magazine until 11:00 am on June 17. Thank you!

Magic Tales from the Bow

Stories are full of surprises. They tickle the ear, open up history, and provide a new understanding of home. In this fast-paced program geared towards Grades 1 to 6, Richard Van Camp will share hilarious and inspiring stories that honour the city where he attended elementary school. Get ready to laugh and experience Calgary in a new light!

June 10, 10:00 am | Central Library

Storytelling as Medicine

In this incredibly heartwarming keynote address to the city that saved Richard's life, bestselling author Richard Van Camp will braid together stories from the Northwest Territories and Calgary. Get ready to laugh and appreciate storytelling in a whole new way as we celebrate the great mystery of life and the power of words.

June 10, Noon | Central Library

Story Writing Workshop

Acclaimed novelist Jaspreet Singh delivers an inspiring workshop for emerging fiction writers delving into the balance between fact and fiction, and how best to develop vivid characters.

June 11, 10:30 am | Memorial Park Library

Jaspreet Singh