Checking Out The Downtown Central Library! 29 Photos

The Downtown Central Library is Awesome!

Calgary’s Central Library is located just on the eastern edge of the downtown core and you’ll want to check it out, even if you don’t plan on borrowing anything. Designed by the Norwegian firm Snohetta, it has multiple beautiful levels architecture filled with books, music, electronics, desks, play areas, comfy furniture, rooms you can use – and it’s all free! Named one of Time’s Greatest places in 2019, the central library is really a wonderful addition to our city that everyone should absolutely take advantage of.

With your free Calgary Public Library membership also comes FREE access to Lynda.com!

Central Library Details

https://calgarylibrary.ca
Address: 800 3 St SE, Calgary, AB
Facebook: @calgarylibrary
Twitter: @calgarylibrary
Instagram: @calgarylibrary
Hours:
- Monday – Thursday 9 AM – 8 PM
- Friday 9 AM – 6 PM
- Saturday 9 AM – 5 PM
- Sunday 12 PM – 5 PM

The Old Downtown Central Library

Calgary has been long overdue for a new library. The old downtown central library across from Olympic Plaza/City Hall was built in the 60s, which explains why it looks and felt like a library from the 60’s, if you had ever visited it. They have since closed it permanently.

Shaped like a box, poorly lit, lots of empty space, just not ideal for modern library. I think box shaped buildings were the style at the time. Kind of depressing. Wellsir, Calgary finally decided they’ve had it with these mother father old libraries on this mother father plane and for the last few years a whole new library been constructed in the East Village. It’s a way newer and hotter than the old library. Old and busted, new hotness. However you wanna say it, the new central library is incredible and it’s going to make Calgary a better place to live.

OLD VS NEW. BATTLE OF THE AGES. LIBRARY VS LIBRARY

When the old central library was opened in in 1963 the population of Calgary was 276,975. In 2017 it was 1,246,337.
Collections – active holdings (I guess that’s a fancy way of saying ‘books’) old central library: 340,000. New central library: 450,000.
Public computers: old central library 120. New central library 220.
Public seating: old central library 524. New central library 1925.
Meeting rooms you can book and use for free: old central library 4. New central library 30+!
Building square footage: old central library 165,000. New central library 240,000.
Teen space square footage: old central library 1200. New central library 3300.

Downtown Central Library Pictures

You’re going to love this place. The biggest difference between the old central library and the downtown central library I noticed was the lighting. Everything is well lit throughout the entire place, from top to bottom is a ton of natural light, plus LED lighting everywhere else. Even on the bookshelves man! Protip: the handrails are heated.

New Central Library Calgary — from yycnewcentrallibrary.com

Let’s get to it shall we? Below are 29 pictures I randomly took on October 30th. They aren’t in any specific order, and I’ll toss comments in. Let’s get to it!

The view from out back, facing 9th avenue and CP rail. That’s the BMO/Stampede grounds on the left.

Teens will be able to book time on gaming consoles for free. They had a PS4 Pro and a Nintendo Switch.

They have an actual teepee set up on whatever floor this was.

Low level shelves make it way easier for kids to access.

There’s all kinds of electronics that people can use for free. Everything is labeled and easy to find.

Big open spaces and beautiful lighting!

This machine is used by the staff to sort returned books. Based on bar code it’ll automatically get skidded into the correct cart, which a staffer will take to the shelf.