One of my goals is to manage my money more effectively. So I typically browse through basic books or blogs on budgeting (spot the alliteration, kids!). In the reams of top 20 lists and collections of tidbits and tips, one piece of advice resounds again and again: use your library. Libraries allow you to borrow books for free, but it’s much more than that. Here are some more ways that your library allows you to stay frugal:

Libraries might encourage you to cancel your magazine or newspaper subscriptions, because many of these can be read online, with your library card. You might decide to borrow a movie rather than renting one, or perhaps you’ll attend a free screening in the library’s theatre. You might learn a new skill by attending a free program – perhaps one about budgeting – or renting an instructional DVD. You could use library books or databases to learn about fixing a car, bike or appliance, and spare yourself the cost of buying a new one. Explore our collections about cooking and learn to prepare healthy, frugal meals. Home cooking is a huge opportunity to exercise frugality! Attend some of the library’s special programs and speak with a lawyer, doctor, or career coach, for free! Check out the program guide for free concerts, and free access to our Writer in Residence.

Not all of our entertainment and enjoyment need be expensive. In fact, the library is a great place in which to instill a sense of frugality in your children. And children who have a sense of how money can be saved in simple ways will be well on their way to managing money when they’re adults.

Whenever I participate in community outreach on behalf of the Calgary Public Library, the one comment I am bound to hear more often than any other is: “I didn’t know you guys had that!”

I wish that more Calgarians knew about the tremendous resources at their fingertips. So, I’m encouraging you to take a tour of our newly designed website. Check out some of these resources:

• daily newspapers from Calgary and around the world
• hundreds of digitized magazines and magazine articles
• business directories
• encyclopedias
• language learning software
• free e-books
• academic and peer reviewed articles
• reliable information about health and wellness

What I’ve listed here is just a small sample of all that’s available to you! If you’re not sure how to get started, then strike up a conversation with us, using our online chat feature. Happy browsing!

Okay, I can’t believe I’m actually typing this in November, but...

The Christmas season can cause an inordinate amount of stress. We’ve got to manage family visits, cooking and baking, decorating and gift giving – and all while trying to survive in less than ideal weather conditions, and while wearing ever tightening pants.

Get a jump on your to-do list and you’ll have more time to relax, as the day approaches.

The Calgary Public Library is a great place to begin! We’ve got tons of books and magazines about decorating, a huge repository of Martha Stewart’s tips and tricks, and an enormous collection dedicated to cooking. We make our Christmas books and music available well before the holiday, too!

So, put to together a master playlist of Christmas music, decide on a menu, and get this season under your firm control!

Ask our information desk staff where to find music, cookbooks, decorating magazines, and information about the history and traditions associated with Christmas.

Don’t celebrate Christmas? We’ve got lots of information and resources about other major holidays and festivals, too.

And be sure to browse through our programs! We've got holiday themed programs for children and adults, and festive live music throughout the month of December.

I don’t typically read The Economist cover to cover, but then I don’t usually find myself in an airport with two hours to kill. The August 14 - 20 issue contains an article about social entrepreneurship that I found really interesting.

Social entrepreneurship is the application of business principles to social problems. But instead of creating financial profit, we create social capital. We create intelligent citizens, peaceful and healthy communities, spaces for people to play and grow and learn.

If you’re interested in these ideas, then join us at the Central Library on Friday November 12^th where Dr. Mark Durieux and Dr. Robert Stebbins, authors of Social Entrepreneurship for Dummies will discuss the past, present, and future of this exciting trend in Alberta.

Register for programs online, in the branch of your choice, or by calling 260-2600.

Many folks use their branch library, and don’t know what the Central Library has to offer. Here’s a quick tour, for those who are unfamiliar:

On the 5^th floor, you’ll find resources for those with special needs: talking books, an ALEX computer, Braille books, books in large print, and so forth. You’ll also find books in a wide variety of world languages, and materials to support your acquisition of a second or third language.

The 4^th floor is a combination of fiction and non-fiction. You’ll find classic, popular, western, sci-fi and other novels (both in print and on CD and MP3). You’ll also find books on history, genealogy, travel, poetry and writing. The Local History Room is a unique wealth of information about Calgary!

The 3^rd floor has a very diverse collection. Find resources about Business, Science and Social Sciences, and special collections such as government documents, directories, statistics and law. Calgary’s largest collection of career related materials is here, too. Research Plus, the fee-for-service division of the Calgary Public Library, is located on the 3^rd floor.

The 2^nd floor is filled with resources for children of all ages, all the way through the teen years. Baby books, graphic novels, and everything in between!

The 1^st floor houses materials about arts and recreation, including games and sports. Find our largest range of music, movies, and magazines here, too.

Make a trip to the Central Library and check out what’s beyond your branch! Staff at Central are well trained in their particular subject areas, and we love to answer your questions!

I wouldn’t wish Barack Obama’s fate on my worst enemy. The sheer enormity of pressure he must feel!

How does he choose what to tackle each day? What should be the priority among a failing domestic economy, ancient and modern feuds in the Middle East, environmental sustainability, and health care reforms?

Obama is a fascinating figure, and one about whom it seems there are endless articles being written. If you’re interested in newspaper and magazine coverage about Obama, read on:

To find Canadian articles about Obama, use the database Canadian Newsstand. Here you can find a variety of articles from newspapers and magazines, like the Calgary Herald, the Globe and Mail, Maclean’s and many more! Start from our e-library, and then click on Newspapers and Magazines. Select Canadian Newsstand, search “Obama”, and you’re off and running! If you wish to receive updates from a particular source, or updates about a particular subject, check out the RSS features within this database.

If you're near the Central library, why not browse the magazines on the 3rd floor? We have literally hundreds of magazines, and many of them - from Men's Health to Ms. have published articles about Obama.

Also, be sure to browse our catalogue for books by and about Obama.