Here are a few highlights from February 2026 at RDPL!
Red Deer Reads with Conor Kerr
Our Red Deer Reads program wrapped up on February 7 with a visit from our winning author, Conor Kerr. Technically speaking, this was the finale for our 2025 Red Deer Reads program, but due to unforeseen circumstances, our main event was postponed from October 2025 to February 2026. But it was totally worth the wait! Conor was a phenomenal, down-to-earth, engaging speaker and we can't wait to read what he writes next.
Thanks to everyone who came out to join us and to those who engaged with the Red Deer Reads program in other ways: by reading and voting on the shortlisted titles, joining us for book club discussions, encouraging your friends and family to take part in the program, and more. We appreciate your support of programs like this, and for being a part of our library community!
World Bookmark Day
The library celebrated World Bookmark Day on February 25 by announcing our bookmark design contest winners! This was our second year running the contest, and we had an incredibly enthusiastic response from the community, receiving over 400 creative submissions.Picking the winners was tough – in the best way – with so many amazing entries to choose from! Ultimately, 16 talented individuals of all ages, from young children to adults, were chosen as winners, reflecting the broad community engagement the event inspired. Each winner received a library swag bag along with 25 printed copies of their bookmark to share with family and friends. In addition, copies of the winning designs have been made available to the public at the library, free of charge while supplies last, allowing the wider community to enjoy and celebrate the creativity of local participants. You can check out all of the winning designs at rdpl.org/bookmark-day, opens a new window. We can't wait to do this again next year!
Here are a few of our winning artists:
Freedom to Read Week: February 22-28, 2026
In February, the library marked Freedom to Read Week with a series of engaging and impactful initiatives that highlighted the importance of intellectual freedom. At the Downtown Branch, staff unveiled a new art installation featuring titles that have been banned or challenged, serving as a powerful visual tribute to the freedom to read and the enduring value of diverse stories. The library also launched a dedicated Intellectual Freedom webpage, providing clear information about the principles of intellectual freedom, as well as guidance on parents’ rights to make reading choices for their families. The webpage can be found at rdpl.org/intellectual-freedom, opens a new window.
To further promote awareness and spark conversation, the library introduced “I’m with the banned” book bags, which have proven highly popular and are selling quickly. Throughout the week, a series of social media posts helped amplify these efforts, generating strong engagement and positive feedback from the community. Together, these activities reinforced the library’s commitment to access, choice, and the free exchange of ideas.
Adult Literacy Program Highlights
The Adult Literacy Program welcomed 4 new tutors and 13 new learners in February. Fifteen pairs were matched with 155 learners still on the waitlist. In order to provide some learning opportunities to individuals on the waitlist, the Adult Literacy Program offered 4 language learning classes that focused on different levels of English language learning. Seventy-four (74) learners accessed these classes and worked toward improving their language skills.
The Adult Literacy Program also started the Digital Skills Class: High-Beginner level. Ten (10) participants have been able to attend the class and to learn more about file management, creating and saving documents, formatting text, creating and using tables, finding and inserting images into documents, using Google Docs, Google Sheets, etc.
BARK: Read, Play, and Craft with Katja!
In February, we hosted BARK, a one-off storytime program with Katja as our special guest! We read stories, played some dog-themed games, took pictures with Katja, and decorated doghouses for our stuffed animal friends to take home. It was a wonderful time filled with many barks and silly memories.
Blind Date with a Book
Blind Date with a Book at the Downtown Branch (for adults) and Dawe Branch (for teens) was very popular, with over 200 mystery “dates” being checked out. Staff creativity, teamwork, and quick work helped to make this year’s project a huge success!
Red Hot Science
Kids had fun learning about what makes birds fly and making their own gliders thanks to a recent Red Hot Science Feathered Flight program presented by Red Deer Polytechnic staff at the Timberlands branch.
At the Dawe branch kids were building tensegrity tables in another Red Hot Science program aimed at older kids.
Team Katja on the Road
February was another busy month for Katja, who continued her regular Sit, Stay, Read with Katja sessions while also visiting four local schools: St. Teresa of Avila School, West Park Middle School, Father Henri Voisin School, and St. Lorenzo Ruiz Middle School. During these visits, Katja met with students from Kindergarten to Grade 8, sharing fun stories, helping provide exam stress relief, celebrating Read-a-thon winners, and offering calm support to special education classes. Alongside these outreach visits, Katja also joined library programs and continued her quiet but important role supporting staff and visitors at Red Deer Public Library. Wherever she goes, Katja brings encouragement, connection, and plenty of wagging-tail joy.
Cozy Evenings: Heart Pillows for Healing
February’s Cozy Evenings program combined creativity with community care as participants came together at Red Deer Public Library to sew heart-shaped pillows for patients recovering from surgery. Over the course of the evening, the group created 10 pillows that will be donated to Foothills Medical Centre, where they will support patients recovering from open-heart and pulmonary thoracic surgery. These specially designed pillows help provide comfort during recovery, and the project offered a meaningful way for participants to use their skills to give back and support others.
Black History Month Storytime (in partnership with Ubuntu)
On February 7 we celebrated Black History Month in partnership with Ubuntu. Special guest readers from the Black community in Red Deer shared stories, songs and crafts with participants. We also set up book displays for all ages at all of our library branches to encourage patrons to read and learn more about Black History, culture and stories.
Family STEAM Nights in February: Ice and Snow Experiments!
We had a great turnout for our drop in Family STEAM Night in February, as families took part in ice and snow experiments and activities. We went “Ice Fishing,” melted Ice Dinosaurs, tested toy car traction on ice, and even made our own batches of Ice Cream!
Adult Storytime and “What’s Love Got To Do With It”!
February’s Adult Storytime included stories on relationships, love and more than a few “bad dates.” We hosted two evenings at Red Hart Brewing, both with close to full houses.
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