When you think of library soundscapes, what comes to mind? Is it the whisper of pages turning as someone peruses a book in a quiet corner? The loud exclamations of a child spying a favourite DVD. Perhaps it’s the rhythmic tapping of fingers on computer keyboards. Conversations between friends and neighbours bumping into each other in the checkout line. The muted slap of CD cases being browsed. Giggling school kids working on a group project. The crisp snap of a newspaper stretched across a table. A baby’s cries as a parent hurries to find a storybook.

Memorial Park Library will be hosting a unique synthesis of sound and silence on Monday, April 9 from 12:00 – 1:00pm. “Together Calgary” is an hour of accompanied silence offered by accomplished cellist and singer Morag Northey. This is a non-religious cello meditation available to Calgarians of any or no faith, a time and place “for all people to enjoy these rich, healing tones and silently just be.” People are encouraged to meditate, pray, or daydream, sit, pace, or stand – whatever way they are most comfortable enjoying Morag’s improvisations.

For more information about Morag and Together Calgary, visit her website: http://moragnorthey.com/

We've enjoyed an extraordinarily mild winter this year, although the pessimist in me is certain the weather gods will make us pay later, probably in May. And even though we haven’t had to endure knee-deep snow and weeks of frigid temperatures, it’s still a relief to know the official start of spring is imminent. We’re all searching for the slightest tinge of green in the landscape to reassure us that everything has not been irreversibly desiccated by the incessant winds that have plagued southern Alberta. The hardcore gardeners have been nursing their seedlings along for weeks already. And the procrastinating gardeners, like myself, are surveying with regret the soggy piles of leaves and perennials that we neglected to clean up last fall.

If you’re an urban Calgarian wishing for your own soggy pile of leaves or a place to plant your seedlings, you’ll be interested in an upcoming program on Community Gardening in Calgary at Memorial Park Library. There’s been a surge in urban agriculture over the past few years: more people are growing vegetables, fruits and herbs in their own yards, and community gardens and orchards are proliferating rapidly. There are approximately 52 public community gardens in Calgary now, up from 21 in 2009, and just 9 in 2008.

Apart from the obvious benefit of being able to consume fresh, flavourful produce, there are myriad reasons why you might want to join a community garden including: practicing sustainable living, improving the urban environment, being physically active and creating connections within your community.

To learn more about community gardening in Calgary, register for our program on Saturday, March 24, presented by the Calgary Horticultural Society. And check out these links to more resources and information:

Community Gardening - Calgary Horticultural Society

I’m sure you’ve heard that Calgary is Canada’s 2012 Cultural Capital. If you’re falling a bit behind in your culture consumption this year, here’s your chance to catch up. Memorial Park Library is hosting the fifth annual Writing in the Works on Saturday, March 10 at 1:30pm. Started in 2008 by Rona Altrows and Lori Hahnel, this event showcases five Calgary writers with books in progress, books soon to be published and books on the prowl for publishers. “Writing in the Works has established itself as a highlight of the spring literary season in Calgary,” says Rona, host of Saturday's literary sampling. She's also the author of two books of short fiction, Key in Lock (Recliner Books, 2010) and A Run on Hose (Thistledown Press, 2006), and was Calgary Public Library’s 2007 Writer-in-Residence.

Writing in the Works 5 will feature writers Rita Bozi, Jane Cawthorne, Lori Hahnel, Rea Tarvydas and Robin van Eck. Brief biographies of their writing accomplishments are listed below.

Rita Bozi's career spans writing for several media, acting, and dancing. She is the producer of the annual event Literary Vaudeville – Loud in the Library. Her co-authored hit play, 52 Pick Up, has been performed in five countries and won a Chapters best text award at the Montreal Fringe. Rita is working on a novel, Uprising, and a short story collection, Hungry, High and Hammered. Rita has had recent publications in Pages of Stories and the online journal Unlikely 2.0.

Jane Cawthorne was a finalist for the Howard O’Hagan Short Fiction Award from the Alberta Writer’s Guild for her story “Weight” which appeared in FreeFall magazine. This year, she was a finalist for the PRISM International non-fiction contest. The essay she submitted to this contest will be published in the Spring Issue of PRISM. Some day, it will be the final piece in a book of personal essays. Jane also has a novel in progress.

Lori Hahnel is the author of a novel, Love Minus Zero (Oberon, 2008) and a story collection, Nothing Sacred (Thistledown, 2009), which shortlisted for an Alberta Literary Award. Her work has aired on CBC Radio and appeared in anthologies and journals including The Fiddlehead, Prairie Fire and The Antigonish Review. Work is forthcoming in Rubbing Stone: A Nose Hill Anthology. She is currently marketing a second novel and working on more short stories.

Rea Tarvydas has just completed her first collection of interconnected short stories called The Globe, and is marketing this collection. She has recent publications in The New Quarterly and The Fiddlehead. Currently Rea is writing a novel.

Robin van Eck, born and raised in B.C., moved to Alberta at age 25. She became involved with and wound up working for the Alexandra Writers Centre, where she serves as program coordinator. Robin's stories, book reviews and articles have been short-listed for contests and published online, in literary magazines and anthologies. She is writing her first novel and researching a second.

Book sales will be provided by an independent bookseller during the event, and refreshments will also be available.