Have you ever wondered about the person for whom this booming little branch by the North Hill Shopping Centre is named? Louise Riley (1904–1957) was the daughter of the distinguished pioneer Riley family who found her own way to be a pioneer with the Calgary Public Library. Always concerned with the needs of young readers and how to reach them, she found a solution with a live radio broadcast, The Children’s Story Hour.

She was also an accomplished children’s author in her own right, winning the Canadian Library Association’s book of the year in 1955 for Train for Tiger Lily. Sadly, she died prematurely in 1957 and two years later, the branch, located on land donated by her father, Ezra, in 1906, was named in her honour. Always a busy branch, it expanded to the nearby Community Health Services building in 2009. Customers still reminisce about the immunization shots they received in what is now the new program room!

Come and celebrate Louise Riley’s legacy by attending some of the new intergenerational programs and gaze at the 1964 portrait by renowned artist H.G. Glyde. Check out the Calgary Public Library Archives for more pictures of this remarkable woman and the branch over the years.

From the very beginning, possibly overwhelmed by his success, Alexander Calhoun felt that the Carnegie library in Central Park was not going to meet the needs of Calgarians for very long. Branches were opened to address the situation but eventually the truth had to be faced – the Central Library was too small. A suggestion was put forth to put an addition on the Carnegie library but the director, by now W.R. Castell, opposed this move believing that an addition would clash with the architecture of the old library (yay!) A new central library was needed.

After much debate on where it should be built the library was invited to take the space beside city hall, the site of an Imperial Oil gas station and in 1962 the demolition began. There was, of course, opposition to putting the library in the “East End” as it was known. What, in 1912, had been the true centre of the city had become, well, kind of run down. But the area was rich in history. Before the site of the library had been a gas station it had been a livery stable – City Horse Exchange, James Twohey, Prop. Next door to him was John Page, the blacksmith. In 1915 the livery seems to have moved and the Canadian Novelty Company had taken its place. Nearby was a vacant lot, which in the 30s became notorious as “Red Square” where local communists, workers groups and other protesters met and staged various actions.

We are soon to build our third Central Library. Let us know your thoughts on what should be included in the New Central Library by filling out a survey at:http://www.calgarynewcentrallibrary.com/

What is your favourite book?

Which page-turner was the one you simply couldn’t put down?

Which story did your children ask you to read over and over?

The Calgary Public Library is celebrating our Centennial and we want you to nominate your favourite books from the past century.

Nominate as many titles as you wish and enter to win a fabulous prize!

Click here to nominate your book online or visit your local library to enter in person.

Together, we will create a Top 100 list of Calgarians top picks!

Glenmore Square Library, one of the few shopping centre branches, opened in 2001 to replace the affectionately named “Milli-Og,” the temporary Millican-Ogden branch that had operated out of the Lynnwood Shopping centre.

Staff and customers recently celebrated the 25^th anniversary in 2011 in a unique way. The guest book was actually ceiling tiles that visitors were asked to sign. These tiles, along with ones done for Alberta Arts Days, now have a place of honour on the ceiling.

	Alderman Carra and his wife signing the guest book at Glenmore Square's 25th Birthday Celebration
	A magician! Children's programming at Glenmore Square

Alderman Druh Farrell reading to the students of Cambrian Heights Elementary School

Congratulations to all the staff and volunteers at the Calgary Public Library on its 100th birthday!

I have fond memories of growing up in Cambrian Heights and spending many hours at the Georgina Thomson library – I was even allowed to cross 14th Street all by myself to get there!

Libraries hold a special place in my heart and it’s a privilege to sit on the library board during this time of growth and renewal as we prepare for the next 100 years.