‘Literacy matters so much’: Library expansion plan aims to meet growing demand for space

Calgary Public Library plans to add eight new locations and redevelop three existing branches in just under 15 years as the city grows and demand for library space puts pressure on current facilities.

The library’s 2027-2030 strategic plan released Tuesday, outlines a vision to increase its network from 22 locations to 30 and add at least 200,000 new square feet of library space.

Three projects are already underway and fully funded, including the Belmont library, expected to open in 2027, and the Symons Valley and Walden libraries, both expected to open in 2028.

“More outreach is gonna make a difference and one of the things we’re really excited about in this new plan is a real focus on reading,” Calgary Public Library CEO Sarah Meilleur said. “Literacy matters so much, particularly for young children to be successful in school and in their future, but also for the community as a whole.”

The remaining projects are still part of ongoing budget discussions, with the library seeking support from the City of Calgary, the provincial government and private donors.

The West District Library, planned in partnership with the YMCA, is hoped to be part of the city’s upcoming budget cycle.

Meilleur said the total cost of the proposed expansion depends on the individual projects and whether facilities can be developed in partnership with other organizations.

The city provides about 84 per cent of the library’s funding, while the provincial government contributes about 10 per cent, with the remainder coming from the Calgary Public Library Foundation and donor support.

Meilleur said the need for additional space is already evident at existing branches, pointing to difficulty finding seating, high demand for meeting rooms and wait-lists for programs.

“When I want to book a meeting room at a library location, I have to do it two months in advance, just like the community, because there’s so much demand,” she said.

The plan identifies eight new locations in Belmont, Walden, Symons Valley, Skyview Ranch, West District, Tuxedo Park, Keystone and Belvedere.

Three existing locations in North Hill, Southwood and Forest Lawn are slated for redevelopment or replacement.

Temporary options to serve rapidly growing communities are also being considered while permanent facilities are planned and built.

“We opened the prototype Skyview location up in the northeast, a rapidly growing area of the city,” Meilleur said. “It is a small library, it has no books, it’s about digital access and community space and it helps bridge some of those gaps while the new Skyview Ranch Library is in the design phase and being planned.”

Meilleur said similar pop-up locations could help other communities, alongside outreach services delivered where residents already gather.

The strategic plan looks beyond 2030 and aims to increase active library membership from about half of Calgarians today to three-quarters by 2040.

The report projects annual visits will rise from seven million in 2025 to nearly 18 million by 2040, while total circulation is expected to approach 30 million items, up from 17.5 million in 2025.

The plan also calls for growing collections to at least two items per capita, expanding programs and training staff to help Calgarians navigate emerging technologies.

“We have bold goals around increasing our number of programs, but also attendance at all of those programs as well and that all comes down to our fantastic staff,” Meilleur said. “It is the combination of all of those things that is going to help us get to that three in every four Calgarians choosing the library.”

The four-year plan places a renewed emphasis on reading for pleasure and literacy, alongside equity, belonging and access to technology.

“We believe strongly, and our community supports us in the idea that libraries are that great critical civic infrastructure to help everyone build a better tomorrow, for themselves, for their family, and for the community, and the way in which we do that is through stories,” Meilleur said. “Encouraging more readers, finding the fun in reading, and being a place where reading really matters is something we’re excited to lean into.”

Calgarians are invited to visit library locations across the city on Nov. 7 for family activities and an opportunity to learn more about the strategic plan.

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