If You Build It, They Will Come

Following in the footsteps of Oslo's Deichmanske bibliotek and Stuttgart's City Library, Calgary's $245 million Central Library is expected to open its doors to the public on November 1st. The library is located in Calgary's historic East Village, itself part of a huge revitalization project. "This [library] doesn't belong only to the rich, or to a university...everybody has access to it," says Calgary Public Library's chief executive officer Bill Ptacek. 

Gone are the days when the public library was thought of as a dying institution. Libraries like the Calgary Central Library, or the 216,000-square-foot "super library" set to be built in Ottawa, prove that, more than ever, we consider libraries a necessary part of our community. 

Check out the Globe and Mail's article here. 

History, Family, Promises

Through touching narrative and surreal illustration, Margie Wolfe's The Promise tells the true story of two sisters, her Mother and her Aunt, forced into labour at Auschwitz during the holocaust. Before being stolen away, they received from their parents three gold coins and a promise to keep - stay together. Wolfe, co-founder of Second Story Press, recently joined CBC's The Next Chapter to discuss the story behind the story, her family's history, and the making of the book - Listen to the full discussion here. 

Black Klansman Movie Trailer

The trailer for the highly anticipated film BlacKkKlansman is here! 

Based on the novel of the same name (albeit spelled differently) Black Klansman tells the true story of Detective Ron Stallworth, Colorado Springs Police Department’s first African American detective. Upon discovering an ad in the local paper reaching out to anyone interested in joining the Ku Klux Klan, Stallworth responds with a yes, thereby launching himself into an incredible months-long undercover investigation.   

BlacKkKlansman is directed by Spike Lee and produced by Jordan Peele. Check it out in theatres August 10^th. 

James Comey in Toronto

It’s been one year since former FBI director James Comey was fired. His recently-released book A Higher Loyalty discusses Comey’s career in the American government as well as ideas surrounding ethical leadership. In his interview with Piya Chattopadhyay on CBC’s The Current, Comey discusses the ways in which leadership should remain focused on truth, integrity and fairness; he also provides us with the one question we should ask before making a significant decision: "How would I explain this to my grandchildren?". 

Listen to the interview here.

Tomi Adeyemi

We’ve all agreed that Tomi Adeyemi is pretty much the greatest right? Her viral reaction to unboxing her first book sure isn’t the only reason! In her phenomenal interview with CBC’s Q with Tom Power she describes her personal relationship with character representation in fiction, and how her debut novel works to change that. In The Guardian she talks empowerment and inspiration from West Africa. And in this review from The Atlantic, her novel is explored for its incredible value in the Black Lives Matter Movement. We can't get enough!

Reading Without Walls

Books have tremendous power in expanding our horizons. So many of us have unique stories, and so many of these stories are told through books! In the spirit of expanding these horizons, National Ambassador for Young People's Literature, Gene Luen Yang has announced the Reading Without Walls Challenge encouraging readers to explore books of diverse voices, genres, and platforms. If you're a teacher, encourage your students! If you're a bookseller, encourage your customers! If you're a lover of books, take the challenge - and read beyond your comfort zone! 

STEAM guides: Owlkids

Fostering learning and curiosity is so important for students - and to usher forth the next generation of big thinkers! STEAM learning and inquiry works to engage students on a deeper learning,  building on critical thinking, creativity, and innovation that will be critical to tackle the issues the next generation may face. This STEAM guide from Owlkids has all you could need, from simpler classroom activities to in-depth explorations - perfect for any teacher or parent looking to spark the curiosity in their students! 

Bookworms to B.C.!

From Galiano to Kootenay, British Columbia is full of Canadian Literary gems! Take in the Galiano Literary Festival from the ocean side Galiano Inn; Get lunch at The Library Lounge in the Hume Hotel; Or grab a coffee at Oso Negro, one of the best coffee shops on the west coast. B.C. is no doubt a must visit destination for every bookworm. 

The Big Cloud

Camille Seaman has spent years as an environmental photographer; today her book The Big Cloud comes out...and it's a stunner.