Photo by Jessica Patterson
Check out this Open File news article about our Living Library program!
Living Library gives readers an opportunity to borrow a person or “living book”. Volunteers, who are the living books, share stories about their personal experiences of diversity in a safe and welcoming environment.
To search for upcoming living libraries, click here.
One of our current Career Coaching Volunteers has joined Volunteer Calgary as one of their new board members.
Career Coaching is a program where volunteers with HR experience coach people from all walks of life in improving their resumes, creating coverletters and breaking into hidden job markets.
Janeen Scott is a Human Resources Manager by day and by night is committed to helping her Calgary community. Her volunteer experience includes work with the Calgary Public Library, Artemis Foundation, and Students in Free Enterprise.
Congratulations Janeen!
Living Book, My Life in Three Cultures, after presenting her story
to a 50+ Coffee and Conversation Club at the Village Square Library
Living Library Volunteers, share their life stories with the public at events, Living Book Clubs, and Living Library programs. If you are interested in sharing your story with others feel free to apply to volunteer today!
To learn more about attending a living library program search our Programs page for 'Living Library'.
Mark volunteers for the Calgary Public Library’s ESL Conversation Club at Village Square Library. He has been dedicated to helping people improve their language skills there for over 5 years. Here’s what Mark has to say about his volunteer experience:
“Volunteering in the ESL Conversation Club is rewarding. Not only do you learn about other people’s culture, but you also learn about the spirit of assisting new Canadians.
We have kept our member’s interest alive in the ESL Conversation Club by interacting with them on a personal level, making them feel welcome by holding potlucks and by utilizing library materials for them to take home, while at same time taking them outside their comfort zone and giving them an insight into Canadian culture.”
An empathetic, friendly and caring individual, Jane Baker has been a Read With Me volunteer since 2007. In the Read With Me program, volunteers mentor children one-on-one to help develop their literacy skills and interest in reading. Jane donates her valuable time, skills and enthusiasm to the program because, ‘I have a passion for literacy and I can’t imagine my life without it. Seeing that [similar passion for literacy] ‘click’ for a child is magical and gives me goose-bumps’.
Jane has been working with her current buddy, Maryam, since October 2009. Maryam will graduate from the program this spring. ‘I improved lots from working with Jane’, she states. ‘I read out loud better, I read faster and now I can finish a [chapter] book in less than a week. I know how to communicate and my spelling, which was really bad before, is better now. Jane is calm and she’s really nice to me’.
Fathia, Maryam’s mom, had the following further comments: ‘The work Jane has done is amazing. She’s really helped Maryam a lot. Maryam is into books now and she can help herself and help others. She reads for two hours straight every day, whereas she used to hate books before. Jane is patient, reliable and wonderful and I’m so glad that Maryam was matched with her in the program’.
Thank you, Jane, for all the amazing contributions you have made to the Read With Me program and to the lives of your little buddies and their families over the past four years!
On April 8th, 2011 the Calgary Public Library held an annual Volunteer Recognition Event to celebrate the contributions of our wonderful Library Volunteers. Below are a few clips of our event for your enjoyment.
Alisha Kurji speaking on behalf of our youth volunteers:
Mika, Maddie and Laurie Jarratt, volunteers in the Story Pals program:
Arlie Ring, John Dutton Volunteer of the Year Award Winner:
We hope you enjoyed our videos!
Top Row, From Left to Right: Ellen Humphries Deputy CEO of the Calgary Public Library, Deirdre Harris Chair of the Finance and Audit Committee of the Calgary Public Library Board, Peter Li, Chithra Sekar, Sylvia Moore, Dhruhi Shah, Clara Wylie, Lidia Bomba-Sorbo, Arlie Ring, Clara Galvan and Gerry Meek CEO of the Calgary Public Library.
Bottom Row, From Left to Right: Chaitanya Gandhi, Alfredo Albornoz, Arturo Gutierrez, Phil Cresswell.
Congratulations to all the Library Volunteer Award Winners
Library Volunteer Award Winners
Career Coaching - Lidia Bomba-Sorbo
Computer Buddies – Chaitanya Gandhi
Computer Technology – Chithra Sekar
CyberSeniors Connect – Dhruhi Shah
ESL Conversation Club – Elizabeth Smith
ESL Teen Talk – Peter Li
Homebound Readers – Mary James
Homework Help – Anitra Halliday
Living Library – TD Sparks
Libraries in Residence – Clara Wylie
Read With Me – Nicole Kiefuik
Reading Advantage – Shelley Fisher
Reading Buddies – Krishnan Hariharan
Spanish Conversation Club – Alfredo Albornoz, Arturo Gutierrez & Clara Galvan
Family Award - Sylvia Moore and Phil Cresswell
Story Pals-Lori, Mika, Maddie Jarratt
John Dutton Volunteer of the Year Award Winner
Arlie Ring
We had over 550 staff, volunteers, family, and friends celebrate our volunteers on April 8th, 2010 in the John Dutton Theatre at the Central Library.
Our volunteering dogs stole the hearts of our attendees with their story of volunteerism in the Story Pals program. Story Pals is a program offered in collaboration from the Calgary Public Library and the Pet Access League Society (PALS) which gives children struggling with reading a chance to practice reading out loud to a canine companion in the library.
Thank you !
April 10th to 16th is National Volunteer Week!
Volunteers: Passion, Action, Impact
In celebration of National Volunteer Week, the Calgary Public Library would like to thank the volunteers who donate their time to make Calgary a better place. Volunteers are one of the library’s largest assets and not only do they help make our programs successful, they contribute to the vibrancy of our communities and the city at large.
Every day our 1,800 volunteers help improve the lives of Calgarians through language, technology and literacy, and we are so grateful for their efforts.
A special thank you to those who attended the Volunteer Recognition Event on April 8th at the Central Library.
Karen Kost is a warm, friendly, kind and patient individual who has been a valued and diligent volunteer at Calgary Public Library since 2006. She explains that ‘I have the time and I enjoy working with kids and giving back to the community. I also truly believe in the Library. I take out books all the time myself and I would likely be in debt if I had to buy all those books myself’.
Karen began volunteering for the Read With Me program in June 2007 (she has also volunteered for the Library’s Homebound Readers and Proctoring programs). In the Read With Me program, volunteers mentor children one-on-one to help develop their literacy skills and interest in reading. Karen built a strong relationship with her first little buddy, working with him over a two-year period. His parents were very appreciative of Karen’s work with their son: ‘Ms. Kost is an excellent role model. She is a good helper and excellent teacher. She is a very patient and calm lady’.
Karen and her current buddy, Gary, meet once a week at a Library branch to read together for an hour. Gary comments: ‘It’s been really fun working with Karen. We get to read so many books together and the books are really good. We’ve been reading some of the ‘Macdonald Hall’ series by Gordon Korman, as well as ‘Theodore Boone: Kid Lawyer’ by John Grisham. Karen’s really nice and she lets me pick the books I want to read.’
Thank you, Karen, for all the wonderful work you have done on behalf of the Library over the past five years! As noted by everyone with whom you’ve worked, it is very much appreciated!
Maureen Proctor with her nomination
The Library would like to congratulate Maureen Proctor who has been nominated for Volunteer Calgary's Heart of Calgary Award, and Krishnan Hariharan who has been nominated for Volunteer Calgary’s Leaders of Tomorrow award.
Maureen has been a volunteer at the Calgary Public Library for the past nine years, generously donating her time to the Read with Me and Art Circuit programs and to a variety of Special Events. Maureen also volunteers with many other agencies in the city.
Krishnan Hariharan has been a volunteer with us here at the Library since 2004. He has volunteered with Reading Buddies, Computer Buddies and ESL Teen Talk. Krishnan is also an active volunteer in his school community.
Good luck on your nominations Maureen and Krishnan!
Jessica Hagel, Volunteer Resources Assistant is leaving us to follow her dreams. Most of you know Jessica through her work with the youth volunteer programs such as Computer Buddies, ESL Teen Talk and CyberSeniors Connect. Jessica has made great contributions to these programs and we wish her all the best in her future.
Before Jessica left, she wanted to let all her volunteers know how priveledged it was to work with them.
“Thank you to all the wonderful volunteers – you have been so inspirational. I feel privileged to have met so many incredible people, and I hope you all keep up the spirit of lively and active citizenship, for all your days.”
Until we fill Jessica’s position, feel free to contact us at 403-260-2632 or 403-260-2648.
The Calgary Public Library is proud to celebrate International Volunteer Day (IVD) on Dec 5th.
We thank all the volunteers around the world for their contribution of valuable time and skills!
If you are interested in volunteering with the Calgary Public Library feel free to explore the rest of our website including our FAQ's and Volunteer Program Descriptions.
It’s not too often that a young Calgarian gets to shake
hands with our Premier. At the Fantasyland Hotel Ballroom on October 16th,
Aminah Farzana got to do just that.
Aminah was one of 16 recipients from around the province
(and one of just four in her age category) to receive a Great Kids Award for
2010. These Awards are given by the Government of Alberta to recognize youth
who demonstrate compassion, determination, courage, generosity, and strength of
spirit. (You can learn more about the Great Kids Awards here and watch a video of the ceremony here.)
A frequent volunteer with the Calgary Public Library, Aminah
was a natural choice for this nomination and we are so pleased she was selected
as a winner! She’s made quite an impact
on the world around her already.
Aminah came to Canada at the age of seven. Returning to Bangladesh at age ten for a visit, Aminah was struck by the poverty there. "This experience made me thankful to be in Canada, because although my mom was from a middle class family, my dad grew up in a very poor family. My dad managed to break the cycle of poverty through education, and he inspired me to take education more seriously. Now, I'm a firm believer of 'the pen is mightier than the sword' and I hope to engage myself in a profession that will allow me to give back to the society that I am a part of, and that is part of me."
The Library has four programs supported by youth volunteers, and Aminah has volunteered with all four. She has been a technology coach for young children and seniors alike, tailoring lessons to differing ages and skills levels. A self-described "big fan of books", Aminah has shared this fondness with younger readers. More recently, she has led engaging activities for her newcomer peers, encouraging them to develop their spoken English in ESL Teen Talk.
Throughout her volunteer career, Aminah has had a hand in opening the door to new worlds of education, inspiration, and enjoyment.She has found volunteering to be beneficial for herself as well as those she helps. "The hours I put into volunteering give me a sense of fulfillment because I'm doing something productive by helping others."
Aminah's contributions don't stop there. Active in her school community, Aminah is a valued member of the Social Justice Club. Her commitment to thoughtfully living her values, sharing her views respectfully, and hearing others with the same respect, has made an impression on her teachers and fellow students. Her Social Studies teacher has this to say:
“Over the course of the last two years,
Aminah has become an active citizen trying to raise awareness and arouse action
in relation to her passion for ending discrimination and prejudice. In
particular, she spearheaded and spent countless hours on a ‘Safe Classrooms’
campaign in which she designed, created and then posted ceiling-to-floor posters
which depict the various religions, ethnicities, gender and sexual identifications
represented at our high school. This visible demonstration against the marginalization
of minorities got students and teachers alike talking about who makes up our
communities and what it means to be a global, engaged citizen.”
Along with a sleek statue for her memento shelf, Aminah received a new IBM ThinkPad laptop, a gift certificate for her and her family to enjoy the attractions at West Edmonton Mall, and other gifts.
Congratulations, Aminah!!
Angie Cormier is an incredibly enthusiastic and dedicated ESL volunteer in Calgary. Her volunteer work for the ESL Conversation Club at Louise Riley and Nose Hill Libraries over the past 7 years has helped hundreds of Calgarians improve their English skills. Angie fosters a culture of caring in the ESL Conversation Club which makes her participants feel at ease and ready to communicate. Angie truly believes in the library and has an intrinsic desire to make a difference in the lives of the participants. She has befriended participants, going so far as to open her home to a couple from Iran when their apartment fire left them homeless. In turn, Angie and her husband ended up travelling to Iran where they visited that very same couple’s family. Angie says of volunteering: “I am passionate both about the library and the settlement and integration of immigrants, so it is really my pleasure and honour to volunteer.”
Thank you Angie for your dedication and caring.
This can also be viewed at http://www.vesl.ca/fall2010volunteerprofile.html
Meet Janeen, Career Coaching Volunteer
Volunteering has been important part of my life for many years. I have been coaching through the Career Coaching program at the Central library for over 5 years. As an Human Resource Professional this role allows me to use my talents to support Calgarians in their job search. I have met people from all background, professions and demographics. Continually people show me their resiliency and creativity; reinventing themselves. Often times a client will come to the Career Coaching program having been out of work for many months. It is very gratifying to have that client leave with a fresh perspective on their job search.
Many of the people I help stay with me, however there was one women I think of often. This client was in her early 60's and had moved from the Philippines to Canada a few years ago. She had a very successful career in the Philippines as a social worker; a job she loved. She was torn between going back to school to be a social worker in Canada or if she should pursue her love of cooking and get a job in the culinary field. We talked for a while until until I finally said "Whatever you do next does not define you. It won't take away from your 25 years as a successful social worker". With that the tears streamed down her cheeks. She was afraid to leave behind the career she knew. To step into retirement. I don't know what she decided to do, but I believe I helped her see her next chapter in a different way.
Week after week the two hour drop in session is filled with people looking for support, feedback and guidance. The volunteers in the program find individuals ways to reach each client. I believe this service is invaluable to Calgarians looking for work.
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Janeen Scott
If you are a career professional and are interested in helping people job search and build resumes please contact Marian Erb at 403-260-2648, or marian.erb@calgarypubliclibrary.com
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