Woof ! Woof!! at the library

Story Pals has been an incredible experience for me and the children participating in the program. Two little girls registered for the program had no idea that they would be reading to dogs and were reluctant the first night. After a while I saw a hand from one of the girls reaching out to Joey the basset hound. Another participant in the program is an autistic child who can't wait to come to the library. His mom told us that hours before he's to leave for the library he keeps asking "Is it time yet?"
Woof!!Woof!!

Dining at the Keg Steakhouse

Did you know that reading library books to the children at your Day Home can reap you a gift certificate to the Keg? Our lucky library lady reads 60 library books to her children per week! At the monthly meeting of the Calgary Day Home Providers they were so impressed with her efforts that they rewarded her with a trip to the Keg! Yeah! (or should I say Yum!)

Looking for Friends in all the right places

Last week I noticed an elderly Asian lady standing by herself away from the Reference Desk, I caught her eye and asked if she needed any help. She came up to the desk and after speaking with her & trying to understand her I found out she was Japanese; she wanted help in finding a friend of hers. The last contact with her friend was a letter with a return address from Lethbridge four years ago. After checking Canada 411 online using the name connected with the return address, I found an address/phone number within Alberta surrounding areas listed in Edmonton. She believed the information was what she needed and wanted to pay me for helping her as she did not have a library card. I told that I could set up a card for her but she said that she didn't know how long she was going to be living. I told she was more than welcome to come in anytime; she thanked me and said that she was going send a prayer up there for me. I told her that I appreciated her offer and she left the library. Willow

Fun Library Quotes

People say that life is the thing, but I prefer reading.- Logan Pearsall Smith

Book lovers never go to bed alone.- Unknown

Research means that you don't know, but are willing to find out.- Charles F. Kettering

Book lovers will understand me, and they will know too that part of the pleasure of a library lies in its very existence
Jan Morris. Quoted in Heart of the Community: The Libraries We Love.

If you have a garden and a library, you have everything you need. ~Cicero

A good library will never be too neat, or too dusty, because somebody will always be in it, taking books off the shelves and staying up late reading them. ~Lemony Snicket

Librarian is a service occupation. Gas station attendant of the mind. ~Richard Powers

A Most Rewarding Exchange

We meet a lot of great people at the library but some are particularly special. A month ago a lady came into the library and requested a library card for her son who has Muscular Dystrophy. She said her son was 16 and about to enter grade 9. He has visual problems and therefore has a lot of difficulty reading. Also he is confined to a wheelchair. This young man had never had a Calgary Public Library card.
I provided her with a regular library card and told her about the services that we offer. Also, I gave her and application form for a special needs card as well. Once she had her card I was able to show her our LPE section and our selection of book cd’s She was very happy when I told her that the CNIB store in Bridgeland sold all sorts of items designed for visually impaired people. Special knives, rulers, guides, telephones, playing cards, various types of magnifying lens and special readers much like a projector under which you place a book or document to be read. She was happy to be able to take home some materials when she left that day. It was really a pleasure to be able to give her this information. This was a very rewarding and meaningful experience for me to be able to help this customer.