Memorial Park Library in Calgary opened on January 2, 1912, as Central Park Library, with 5,000 books on its shelves. That’s one Carnegie library, one very determined petition and more than a century of borrowing.
The petition belonged to Annie Davidson. Starting in 1906 she organized a push to show City Hall that Calgarians wanted a library, and Calgary Public Library’s history of the branch credits her with leading the effort. Alexander Calhoun, a classics scholar from Ontario, became the first Chief Librarian.
The money came with conditions. Andrew Carnegie offered $80,000 if the city provided the site, books, equipment and maintenance. The city contributed $20,000, and the Province of Alberta added $10,000 for books. Calgary Public Library says the Carnegie money would be worth over $2 million in 2022.
Look up when you reach the main doors. A carved open book made by local stonemasons is still there, and it’s the best free photo stop on the block.
Heritage status followed. The library was named a provincial historic site in 1976, and in 2018 the library and the surrounding park were designated a National Historic Site. A 2020 renovation restored the interior décor to resemble its 1912 appearance, so you can walk into something close to what the first readers saw.
It’s a lovely counterpoint to the Central Library’s cedar arch over the train line, which shows how Calgary builds libraries a century apart. For more places that hold the city’s story, where to dig into Calgary’s past and Calgary buildings never forget their old names are good next reads, and Calgary Told Through the Things It Kept covers the objects.
The branch is at 1221 2 Street S.W. Go early, find the carved book, and then see what they have on the shelves.
Quick answers
Memorial Park Library opened on January 2, 1912, as Central Park Library. On opening day it held 5,000 books. It was built with Carnegie funding of $80,000, plus $20,000 from the City of Calgary and $10,000 from Alberta for books.
Yes. The library and surrounding park were designated a National Historic Site in 2018. The library had earlier been named a provincial historic site in 1976, and a 2020 renovation restored the interior décor to resemble its 1912 appearance.
Annie Davidson led the effort to build the library starting in 1906, organizing a petition to show City Hall there was public interest. Alexander Calhoun, a classics scholar from Ontario, became its first Chief Librarian.
Sources: Calgary Public Library, Memorial Park Library, Calgary Public Library photo via Wikimedia Commons
