Your Support Helps Build Readers for Life
We believe great cities are defined by the ability of all who live there to access information, gain knowledge and receive the support they need to enrich their lives and personal well being. There is no other organization in Calgary that reaches more people and impacts individual lives in so many ways as does the Calgary Public Library.
The Calgary Public Library is a leader in foundational literacy supports delivering 20+ programs in three key areas; 1) basic literacy (reading, writing, and numeracy), 2) technological or digital skill development, 3) language learning. These foundational literacy programs is what Building Readers for Life at the Calgary Public Library will support.
For 100 years, the Calgary Public Library has supported the learning and life enrichment needs of Calgarians at every life stage helping them to access the information, resources and programs they need. Each year more than 5.5 million people visit the Calgary Public Library which is made up of a network of 18 branches throughout the City of Calgary.
Early Literacy: Foundation for Life
Studies indicate a child’s ability to read has a direct impact on their future – everything from employment and earning potential to confidence and social standing. Reading is an essential life skill, and learning to read begins at birth. Parents are the child’s first and most valuable teacher and one of the roles of the public library is to support parents as their children learn to read. Children who read gain knowledge and experience that gives them self-assurance when encountering the world around them. They become stronger students and develop the learning skills they will need to thrive in the new knowledge economy.
Literacy Levels in Calgary
The 2004 Calgary Literacy Needs Assessment found the following:
- 8% of Calgary’s population (57,000+ people) has serious difficulties with any type of printed material
- 31% (nearly 235,000) struggle with all but the simplest reading and writing
- 30% of our youth drop out of high school
- 36% of our population aged 16 to 25 have low literacy levels