Calgary Public Library – Alexander Calhoun

Great neighbourhood library – small – but you can order any book and get it delivered to this branch. Parking is easy and free and you can borrow films, audiobooks, and any classic you want.

Alexander Calhoun is small but it does the job. If you’re looking for a library with a large selection of books and lots to browse through, this may not be the place for you. It never seems overly busy, though, and the people who work here are nice enough to not make faces when I make my quarterly trip into the library to pay fines. Since I usually reserve & pick up books, it works well for me overall.
I’m about equidistant between this library and the one in Signal Hill but drive past this one on a much more frequent basis.
A yearly membership is only $ 12 (if you’re not constantly paying fines, like me) and the library has a pretty good online account management system & library catalogue, of course. If only they’d put fine payments online :)

Why do I love this library? Well, it’s close to where I live, that’s why. It’s a great little location with a pretty good selection and generally pleasant service. A great thing about the library is that if the book isn’t available at your location, you can request a hold and have it sent to a more convenient spot. I don’t mind doing this when there is something I really want to read, but you just have to wait a few days for it to get there.
They have computers inside for people to use if they need and offer free wi-​fi (with membership) if you are looking for a quiet place to work. The $ 12 fee did bug me when I first moved here (I’ve lived in Toronto and Halifax where getting a library card is free), but that’s the price you pay for borrowing books and DVDs here in Calgary. The DVD section isn’t too bad if you are looking to pick something up, especially since the video stores on 17^th are now all closed.
So, even if this location isn’t closest to you, find another one and support your local library people! Happy reading!

I’ve recently discovered the magic of working from the library. For those of us, who can work from home, the library is an amazing opportunity to enjoy a great working space, without the temptation of Ellen or Oprah.
The membership to the Calgary-​area libraries is only $ 12 a year and pretty much gives your free-​reign on any of their locations in the city, plus they have free wi-​fi or some desktops computers you can work from. You don’t even have to drop your books/​dvds off at the same spot you picked them up at. Blockbuster should take note!
This location is called the Alexander Calhoun branch and it is relatively small. It is right on the bus route, but I don’t think it sees a ton of traffic. There are some nice tables, but there aren’t a ton, so if you get your space, hold on to it. The staff is really nice and very helpful. I think they were surprised that I wanted a membership, but I’ve now made it my mission to make the library cool again!