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 TD Read With Me program in June 2007 (she has also volunteered for the Library’s Homebound Readers and Proctoring programs). In the TD 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!

The Calgary Public Library is proud to celebrate International Volunteer Day 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.

In honour of National Volunteer Week, April 18 - 24, 2010, the Calgary Public Library is celebrating our volunteers!

National Volunteer Week is the biggest celebration of volunteers and volunteerism in our country. We want to celebrate the achievements and hard work of all the volunteers around you! Calgary Public Library Board will be honouring our dedicated library volunteers with our annual Volunteer Recognition Event on April 23rd. Thank you to our amazing volunteers!

Please take the time this National Volunteer Week to recognize the 12.5 million volunteers nationwide by saying thank you. In the last year, they gave 2.1 billion hours of their time, energy and skills to the benefit of our community services, shelters, hospitals, sports teams, environment, political movements, disaster relief, international aid and development agencies and arts and culture scene to name a few. They are the selfless individuals who demonstrate their genuine compassion for the well being of others and in support of essential causes, by taking action and by making a difference.

Minister Lindsay Blackett has prepared a special video message for National Volunteer Week that talks about the importance of volunteers in our community.

Click here to watch the video!

Calgary Public Library is proud to announce that it is the recipient of the 2009 Literacy Alberta "Award of Excellence" in the organizations category.

This award recognizes the oustanding contribution in the advancement of literacy in Alberta and will be presented at the Provincial Literacy Symposium Banquet on October 23rd in Red Deer. Calgary Public Library is receiving the award on the strength of all our literacy programs for adults and children including programs for:

• Reading
• Writing
• Technology
• English Skills
• Cultural Literacy

We would like to thank our volunteers for your hard work and enthusiasm in making our literacy programs so successful, and for sharing your stories of success.

In the words of our learners and their families:

• "Now, I realize there's no limit to what I can learn. If you want it badly, anything is possible."
• "My daughter looked forward to going every week and seeing her buddy, learning and reading new materials."
• "This program has made it easier for me to have confidence in and out of school organized situations."
• "Now I can see my dreams coming true."

The Urban Leadership Awards program honours Canadian individuals, groups, and organizations that have made significant contributions to improving the quality of life in Canada’s cities and urban regions.

This year, the judges awarded the 1600 volunteers at Calgary’s 17 public library locations the Canadian Urban Institute’s 2009 Local Hero Award – for our volunteers’ steadfast dedication to literacy and learning. Calgary Public Library’s Director Gerry Meek accepted the award on behalf of volunteers in Toronto on June 5, 2009.

“It’s a powerful statement when one of the services a city provides is so valued that citizens enrich it with their own talent and time,” stated CUI President and CEO Glen Murray.

Our volunteers help children read, new Canadians practice their English, seniors use computers, and deliver books to those in residence. To Ellen Humphrey, Assistant Director of Customer Services, the award evidences the cultural diversity of CPL’s volunteer program: our volunteers speak more than 30 different languages, hail from various age and social demographics, contribute countless hours to their communities, and even include a few highly-socialized dogs.

Community Services, and the Calgary Public Library at large, are extremely proud of our volunteers. Congratulations everyone, thank-you for your tremendous contributions.