Here are a few highlights from May 2026 at RDPL!
Teen Café in May
Teen Café participants celebrated “Revenge of the Fifth” on May 5 with a Star Wars-themed droid craft activity led by Simon and Saraf. The program drew 21 teens, who enjoyed designing and creating their own unique droids.
On May 19, Simon and Claire welcomed 17 teens for a creative flower pot decorating activity. Participants personalized their pots with colourful designs and artistic flair, resulting in a variety of unique creations. A few of their designs are featured below.
Escape Gastown
Teams of children, youth, and adults tried to escape this locked room themed on Jessica Renwick’s Ghosts of Gastown. The room had clues and props based on the characters and plot of the book. Teams had to sort through and find the items that would free them. Not to worry – everyone escaped!
Bright Minds: Gavin Bradley
University of Alberta lecturer, Gavin Bradley, shared his expertise in paleontology with us. He brought fossils to show us and we showed him the Pantodont fossils on loan to the library from the Royal Tyrrell Museum until September.
Bright Minds: Jessica Renwick
Local author Jessica Renwick shared what it's like to be a published children's author. Jessica's recent book, Ghosts of Gastown, was nominated for a 2026 Silver Birch Award for Children's Fiction.
Adult Literacy Program Updates
The Adult Literacy Program welcomed 4 new tutors and 14 new learners in May. Sixteen pairs were matched with 150 learners still on the waitlist. In order to provide some learning opportunities to individuals on the waitlist, the Adult Literacy Program offered 3 language learning classes that focused on different levels of English language learning. Fifty-four (54) learners accessed these classes and worked toward improving their language skills.
The Adult Literacy Program completed the Digital Skills Class: Advanced level. Six (6) participants were able to attend the class and to learn more about word processing and spreadsheets. The skills taught in this class will significantly enhance participants' success in their personal lives as well as the employment world.
Grow Kids at the Dawe Branch
May brought another exciting Grow Kids event to the Dawe Branch of Red Deer Public Library, where the library hosted two popular sessions: Human Library and LEGO® at the Library. Over 300 Grade 5 students participated throughout the day, exploring creativity, conversation, and community connection through hands-on activities and meaningful discussions with our “living books.” It was a fantastic opportunity to showcase the library as a welcoming and engaging space for young learners.
RDPL on Wheels!
Our RDPL on Wheels, opens a new window Literacy Van made its first public program appearance at the Pedals and Pages event at Safety City on May 23, along with the RDPL Book Bike. This fun family event was a new partnership between the Red Deer Safety City Society & Red Deer Public Library, inviting participants to drop in to explore the CityScape streets and enjoy engaging safety stories and literary adventures from library staff.
Team Katja
Team Katja was also busy on the road in May with three outreach visits to Father Henry and G.H. Dawe schools. More than 450 students had the opportunity to meet and interact with Katja, learning about her role as a facility dog and enjoying moments of calm, connection, and reading encouragement.
Katja’s spring Sit, Stay, Read with Katja session will wrap up next week before she takes a short break from regular programming and heads out for additional outreach visits in June. These visits continue to be a meaningful way to bring literacy support, emotional wellness, and plenty of smiles into local schools and community spaces.
G.W. Smith Outreach
A big thank you to G. W. Smith Elementary School for inviting library staff to talk to their Grade 1 through 5 classes about RDPL! The students had great questions and impressed library staff with their knowledge of the library. We were thrilled to drop off brand new library cards for 71 students! Way to go!
Free Try-It Wellness Series: Bike Repair & Tune-Up Café
The final event in the Active Library: Free Try-It Wellness Series rolled into the Dawe Branch on May 30 with the Bike Repair & Tune-Up Café, presented in partnership with the Red Deer Association for Bicycle Commuting and ReThink Red Deer. Families and cycling enthusiasts gathered for a practical and welcoming afternoon focused on active transportation and summer cycling readiness. Participants received free bike tune-ups, tire checks, chain cleaning, and safety advice, while local cycling experts shared tips on bike adjustments and maintenance. The event also featured bike rodeo activities, a short community ride around the Dawe Centre trails, information about the ParticipACTION, opens a new window Community Challenge, and promotion of the library’s upcoming Fancy Women Bike Rides. The day successfully encouraged riders of all ages and experience levels to feel confident getting back on two wheels.
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