Calgarians donate a book they’ve read and loved, and then another, and then another. Within 10 days at the Calgary Curling Club, where book donations are dropped off by readers and our Stuff-a-Truck event drivers, we receive thousands and thousands of gently used books across genres. In spring 2025, Calgary readers donated 200,000+ books and, during our 10-day sale in May, $544,000 was raised to help kids read.

Rotary Club of Calgary Downtown stewards the sale, and the club’s Early Childhood Literacy Committee (ECLC), along with community partner Kids Literacy Collective, determined how the sale’s proceeds will be distributed as part of the sale’s mission to fund advocacy, book access and reading role model initiatives that ensure children can read at grade-level by Grade 3.

In addition to contributing to the growing operational costs of running the book sale, we’re excited to share the following Calgary Reads Big Book Sale proceed recipients:

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Kids Literacy Collective

$250,000

The Kids Literacy Collective (KLC) is a network of changemakers intentionally collaborating to ensure children can read by Grade 3 – and love it! KLC’s focus is prevention and early intervention: systems change and building the conditions where families, schools and communities are supported to raise readers from birth to age 8.

Starting early is key

Reading by Grade 3 is a pivotal milestone for children because this is when they shift from ‘learning to read’ to ‘reading to learn.’ There are many organizations in all sectors working to close the literacy gap in adults. We believe there’s greater opportunity to work upstream.

2025 Highlights

Research and Insights: Tutoring focus groups & parent survey

Learning and Engagement: Two NetWORDing events with 300+ participants

Communication and Advocacy: New website, newsletter & social media engagement

Kids Literacy Collective exists to strengthen the early literacy ecosystem in Calgary. Together we are writing new chapter and turning the page on early literacy thanks to the ongoing support of the Rotary Club of Calgary and the Big Book Sale!

Learn More

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Book Bank

$100,000

Book Bank books are distributed to agencies serving families, including CUPS Calgary.

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When children have books of their own to keep and re-read, they see themselves as readers, are exposed to more words and promotes healthy developmental milestones. In short, when children have books at home, they can get ready to learn and read when they start school.

And yet, 25 per cent of families say they don’t spend time reading and 6 per cent say they don’t own books[1].

That’s why Book Bank, stewarded by the Owerko Centre at the University of Calgary, collects and distributes gently used children’s books.

The Book Bank, stewarded by the Owerko Centre at the University of Calgary, collects and distributes gently used children’s books. Via a network of agencies, Little Red Reading House and Little Red Reading Van, and Little Free Libraries (LFL), Book Bank then gets books to families that need the most. Since it was started in 2015, Book Bank has distributed 166,547 books to children, engaged 125 agencies and stocked 80 Little Free Libraries across our city.

2025 Highlights

• 36,075 pre-loved books to children
• 500 books/month for Food Bank's Birthday Room for families
• 29 welcome baskets containing 615 books for Habitat for Humanity families
• 2,415 books for Books on Buses program with Calgary Board of Education

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Now located at ShedPoint, Book Bank hosts monthly donation days to receive gently used children’s books, and volunteers have the rewarding job of sorting book donations to prepare holiday hamper contributions, agency drop-offs and LFL steward pickups headed to neighbourhoods throughout Calgary.

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Calgary Public Library Foundation

$30,000

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As part of a new partnership with the Calgary Public Library Foundation, in 2026, one of our popular Stuff-a-Truck events will be hosted at the Fish Creek Library parking lot on Saturday, April 25, inviting community members to drop off gently used books that will go to Calgary Reads Big Book Sale.

Early literacy is a longstanding priority for Calgary Public Library. Support from the Calgary Reads Big Book Sale helped to sustain the Library’s comprehensive slate of programs and resources for young learners, including:

• $10,000 My First Bookshelf, covered the cost of 2,600 book deliveries
• $5,000 for The Story Truck. The Library added 275 new books for outreach programming at day homes in financially barriered neighbourhoods
• $15,000 for The Kindergarten Book Bag Program, allowed the Library to make 1,428 bags containing storybooks, supplies and school readiness information

Learn More

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Children's Picture Book

$25,000

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For many children, picture books are a way to make sense of some of life’s toughest experiences—and to recognize their own resilience within.Our latest picture book, Tears are Good, shows Little Brown Bird discovering tears are not something to fear, but something to listen to.

This book is dedicated in memory of Donna Brown, a Calgary teacher and Little Red Reading House volunteer who inspired thousands of children to fall in love with reading.

Written by Donna’s daughter, Jaclyn, and illustrated by Jennifer Stables, here is another book uplifting local artists and young readers.

528 books will be given to children who have few books at home.

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Evidence-based early childhood literacy initiatives via other Calgary Rotary Clubs

$40,000

At the 2025 Calgary Reads Big Book Sale, Rotary clubs from across the city volunteered to help sort and sell books, and had the opportunity to receive funds they could contribute to local evidence-based early literacy initiatives of their choice.

In total, In total $40,000 supported projects at Can Learn, Connaught School, Families Matter and other evidence-based initiatives that bring children books and reading help.

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Big Book Club

$10,000

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In 2025, we set out to carry on the rich, 30-year tradition of Literary Kaleidoscope, a book club for curious Calgarians featuring speakers and annual scholarships for young writers.

With a brand refresh, rent for the hall and a webpage, through Big Book Club, we’re inspiring reading role models and we’re engaging stakeholders—book-lovers and book sale volunteers—year round.

We’re fuelling an important part of our reading ecosystem, and we’re reading deeper and thinking bigger about the issues that matter most to all of us. Books paired with intentional conversations change minds.

Learn more

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Thank you to all of YOU for being a part of raising readers in our community! Your reading and love of books is making this all possible!

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1.Source: Logan et al. (2019). Journal of Developmental and Behavioral Pediatrics. Clarket al. (2021). National Literacy Trust (United Kingdom)].

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