Have you heard? Calgary Reads Big Book Sale has shared a ‘save the date’ for 2026.
If you’re like so many others excited to get involved in this beloved community book sale, here’s what to know.
How to Get Involved in Calgary Reads Big Book Sale 2026
If you haven’t visited or volunteered at the Calgary Reads Big Book Sale before, this is truly an incredible community event bringing together 200,000+ books, 1,500 volunteers and nearly 15,000 shoppers.
Last year, $544,000 was raised to help ensure Calgary children can read by Grade 3—with access to books, strong reading role models and advocacy. Rotary Club of Calgary Downtown has been the steward of the sale since 2023, disbursing funds alongside its Early Childhood Literacy Committee to evidence-based early literacy initiatives, hosting a volunteer appreciation event barbecue the day before the sale opens, and leading four Stuff-a-Truck book donation events in late April.
We’re excited to announce that this year’s book sale runs May 8-17 at the Calgary Curling Club.
Those are the dates to shop the sale, but some of us know the work to prepare for this 10-day event is already underway. If you’ve been hearing about how much fun it is to volunteer or you want to get behind an event that helps children to become thriving readers, we have answers for your frequently asked questions!
1. How do I volunteer at Big Book Sale?
If you’re a returning book sale volunteer, on Feb. 17 you should have received an email about your timeline for booking shifts. We’re fortunate to have many experienced volunteers helping to lead our teams and keep the work of sorting and selling as safe and efficient as can be—so a portion of shifts are held for returning volunteers.
If you’re a new volunteer, here’s what to do:
*Visit www.bigbooksale.ca/volunteer
*Apply to become a volunteer
*Receive an email with instructions for signing up for shifts in March
It’s an incredible thing to be surrounded by so many book-lovers and books, and to know that book by book, sale proceeds help Calgary children learn to read by Grade 3.
If you’d like to volunteer as a group, there are a limited number of group spots this year, so be sure to reach out to volunteer coordinator Dawn right away at dawn@bigbooksale.ca
In the past, when other clubs volunteered in groups, they received funds to contribute to local early literacy projects. This year, we’re creating a new path for local program providers to receive small grants directly. Our new Seeding Reading Grants are $1,00-$5,000, can be applied for via the YYC Rotary Helps site and will be due in September. Stay tuned to learn more if your club has a project you’d like to support.
Whether it’s stuffing a truck with books at community events or helping to sort and sell at the Calgary Curling Club, we can’t wait to see you and say thanks for representing Rotary at this very special and impactful community event!
Be sure to follow Calgary Reads Big Book Sale on social media and join their newsletter via www.bigbooksale.ca for all the latest updates.