Accessible by train or car, a free-to-use space is now available for early learners.
The Louise Riley Library is the latest to receive an Early Learning Centre (ELC), joining 14 other libraries across Calgary. The space is donor-funded, designed for kids ages 3-5, and focuses on things like quiet play.
Sarah House, Director of Service Delivery at Calgary Public Library, said the smaller space lends itself well to children with sensory needs.
“We’ve thought about nature in the elements that we’ve included; there’s different pieces that will set a little calming feel to the space. You can see things like bubbles,” she said.
The room is furnished with play mats, interactive wall art, and desks, among other things. Though not as grand as other ELCs, House said the Louise Riley ELC plays into specific community needs.
“At Fish Creek Library, we have a full-size fire truck there and a helicopter at Seton, so we’ve tried to include different elements that the community can enjoy in different spaces,” she said.
“This space, because it is designed for children with sensory needs, is very special. It’s a unique space, and it can be a little bit quieter, because some of our libraries are really busy and we want to be inclusive and make sure that everyone can enjoy the space as well.”
The library’s location itself, being right across from Lions Park station, makes the library and now the ELC extremely accessible, House said, especially with spring break around the corner.
“It is accessible by lots of different ways, we have parking here, but also there is the train,” she said.
“During spring break, I can say for sure, we’ll have lots of activities happening in our locations to engage families and keep that play going. The fire truck is always a big hit. And across the city, we’re seeing numbers come in and visit those spaces regularly.”
Learning centres boost visitation, powered by donors
Since their creation in 2016, ELC’s have increased library visitation exponentially.
“Typically, when we open a new Early Learning Center, we see a 400 per cent increase in visits,” Tracy Johnson, CEO of Calgary Public Library Foundation, said of the spaces.
“These are incredibly popular spaces. There’s going to be so many kids and families participating in storytime and coming and using the elements. We’ve seen the demand. We know it’s there, and we’ll continue to react to that as a funder for the library.”
Every learning centre in the foundation’s system is entirely donor-funded, Johnson said.
“This was made possible thanks to donors to the Louise Riley bubble campaign, which is available and continues to be available for people to participate in,” she said, adding that by purchasing a $123 bubble, donors get their names, or a message of their choosing, displayed on the room’s wall.
Aside from Louise Riley, libraries across the city are being updated, according to House.
“Crowfoot (Library) is currently having a renovation and their space is being adjusted as well, and the Signal Hill Early Learning Center, an outdoor Early Learning Center will open shortly, and that will have different elements as well for people, for kids and families to play outside,” she said.
