I’m a huge fan of CBC’s Massey lectures and the new one is on our shelf today. It’s called Winter: Five Windows on the Season, by Adam Gopnik. Place a hold today, and make a note in your calendars: the lectures will be broadcast on CBC’s Ideas, November 7 – 11 at 9 PM.

The CBC has commissioned the annual Massey Lectures since 1961, so this is the 50^th year! If you’ve never delved into one, I highly encourage you to explore. Here are some Massey lectures that I’ve read and loved:

The Educated Imagination, by Northrop Frye

Myth and Meaning, by Claude Levi-Strauss

The Malaise of Modernity, by Charles Taylor

On the Eve of the Millennium, by Connor Cruise O’Brien

Becoming Human, by Jean Vanier

Beyond Fate, by Margaret Visser

The Ethical Imagination, by Margaret Somerville

The City of Words, by Alberto Manguel

Payback, by Margaret Atwood

This year, I’ll be absent from Calgary’s Gay Pride festivities, and though I’m sad to miss them, I’ll still be surrounded by gays, lesbians, transfolk and allies of all kinds – because I’ll be in Montreal!

If you’re here in Calgary during the first week of September, then check out some of the events. There’ll be a parade, a dance, a dyke march, and more. Show your support for gender equality and gender-bending; send a message to your leaders that inclusive and vibrant cities need gay people and gay culture!

And don’t forget about all of the items in your library, too! We’ve got books for, by and about gays. Looking for manuals on gay or lesbian sex? We’ve got those, too! Learn to talk to your children (or parents!) about gay issues, or check out some of our gay interest magazines. You may even encounter gay library staff!

The Calgary Public Library is committed to diversity and inclusion, and we wish you a very happy Pride!

The Lesbian Kama Sutra, by Kat Harding

Bash'd: A Gay Opera, by Chris Craddock

Calgary’s Folk Fest is in full swing, and I can’t wait until tomorrow night, when I’ll finally get to see KD Lang live! What a treat!

If you’re a music lover, then be sure to browse our extensive music collection. We’ve got thousands of CDs! Every genre is represented – from classical to country, and international, too. We’ve also got live concert DVDs. Be sure to check out our New and Notable section for new releases and artists you may not yet have encountered. Did you know that the Calgary Public Library has a collection of sheet music, too? Check it out, if you play the piano or guitar. Also, scan our program guide for free concerts, drumming programs, and more!

I have to say it: the death of a horse on the first day of this year’s Calgary Stampede has me feeling pretty upset. Why, in this century, must we use animals for entertainment?

And yet even though this vegetarian animal lover typically recoils from the rodeo and all that it entails, I’m wise enough to know that I can’t just stand at the gates of the Stampede grounds and shout something like: Horses are people, too!

In order to sustain discussions about morality and ethics, we need to reason carefully, and with attention to nuance. Exactly what is it that’s wrong with the rodeo?

How are rodeos and circuses different from zoos? Is it acceptable for us to eat animals, or to be entertained by them? What about to hurt them? Where do the differences lie, and what makes those differences important? Do animals have rights? If so, how can we formulate and better understand them? These questions live within the realm of ethics, and if they interest you, you might want to browse our philosophy collection.

In particular, I recommend Peter Singer, a philosopher who’s written countless books about ethical thinking.

This year is a very special year for the Calgary Stampede. Unless you’ve been living in another galaxy, you already know that the Royal Newlyweds, Will and Kate, are coming to Calgary. Yee Haw!

If you’re downtown for the parade, then check out the Central Library afterwards (we open at 1 PM on parade day). Make a stop at our Local History department and check out resources about the Stampedes of days gone by. Pick up some DVDs to watch later on, or some new music for your summer road trip. Grab a novel to read on the beach, or a cowboy themed story for your little ones.

There is a world of information here at Central, so come on down and check it out!

I wonder if there’s a chance I’ll catch his Highness in the stacks…

I love Canada! People who are born here, I believe, have won some kind of cosmic lottery. We are extremely fortunate to live in a country that is (by and large) a free, safe and beautiful place.

Find out more about your home and native land!

Visit our e-library and choose “Canadian”. Then, check out the Dictionary of Canadian Biography, or the Canadian Encyclopedia. Use Canadian Newsstand to access hundreds of Canadian newspapers and magazines.

For those who aren’t Canadian just yet, we offer a citizenship preparations class. Check the program guide for more information!

If you’re in your local branch, then ask your librarian for assistance. We can recommend wonderful Canadian authors, and lead you to hundreds of resources by and about Canadians.

All Calgary Public Library branches will be closed on Friday July 1^st, so go out and celebrate this great land!