How much is your Calgary Public Library card actually worth? The Calgary Public Library Foundation has launched a Book Borrowing Calculator to help you find out — and the answer might surprise you. In 2025, the average Library member checked out 21 items, saving nearly $400 compared to buying those books outright. Try it at libraryfoundation.ca/calculator.

The Foundation is hoping those savings inspire a little paying-it-forward. The Fifth Book Campaign, now in its second year, was created to address a real challenge: rising book prices mean the Library can now only afford four books for every five it could once purchase. The campaign's ongoing goal is to raise $1 million annually to keep up with demand.

It's already making a dent. The campaign has raised $650,000 to date, adding more than 21,500 new physical and digital titles to shelves across the city — which matters a lot when you consider that 2025 was a record-breaking year for the Library, with more than 17.5 million checkouts across its system.

Calgary Public Library has more than 815,000 members, with thousands more signing up every month. If you want to help keep those shelves stocked, head to libraryfoundation.ca/calculator to see your savings and make a donation.