Today, Calgary’s new Central Library opens its doors in the East Village, neighbouring Bow Valley College. 

In 2007, Tamara McCormick, business leader, School of Global Access at Bow Valley College, requested a meeting with Calgary Public Library. That request grew into a partnership between Calgary Public Library and Career Connection at Bow Valley College. Career Connection — which provides career services for Albertans — has been hosting workshops at library locations throughout the city. Today, that partnership welcomes a new chapter. On the third floor of the new Central Library is the Job Desk, a career planning service for visitors to the library. 

“The Job Desk is a vehicle to extend our reach into the Calgary community — another way to give Calgarians meaningful career assistance so they can engage in the labour market with an improved tool set,” says Tamara. 

Calgary Public Library and Career Connection have officially been partners since 2008. Jackie Flowers, director, service design at Calgary Public Library, says that for the new Central Library, they wanted a nearby service provider that could offer general, on-the-spot services. “We didn’t have to look far,” says Jackie of Career Connection. 

Career coaches will be available at the Job Desk on a drop-in basis on weekday evenings, with the exception of Fridays, and weekends. “Flexibility is key when job seeking,” says Tamara, adding that many job seekers need help beyond business hours, when Career Connection at Bow Valley College is open. 

The theme of collaboration is also reflected in the new Central Library’s innovative design by international architecture office Snøhetta and local design firm Dialog. Rob Adamson, partner and principal at Dialog, comments that it’s also a bridge between the fastest growing and most vibrant residential district, the East Village, and the downtown cultural business core. “It was purposely designed to be that link, and I think it's going to be very successful at that,” he says.

Michelle Delk, partner with Snøhetta and director of the landscape architecture group adds that they were able to build that opportunity to improve connectivity between people and differents parts of the city, which is something she is most proud of in the project. 

The Job Desk is open from Monday to Thursday from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m., Saturday from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. and 1 p.m. to 5 p.m., and Sunday from noon to 5 p.m. at the new Central Library. Visit our Career Connection page for more information on the service at Bow Valley College.  

Posted on November 1, 2018

Story by Julie-Anne Cleyn, photos by Chris Bolin