February 2026 Newsletter
We love our readers, our neighbors, and our town. Library Loves Local—today and always! 
30 Years of Black History Month: Honouring Black Brilliance Across Generations — From Nation Builders to Tomorrow’s Visionaries.
Each February, people across Canada participate in Black History Month events and celebrations that honour the legacy and contributions of Black people in Canada and their communities.
 
The 2026 theme for Black History Month is: “30 Years of Black History Month: Honouring Black Brilliance Across Generations — From Nation Builders to Tomorrow’s Visionaries.” This theme celebrates three decades of Black History Month in Canada by highlighting the enduring contributions of Black Canadians across time. It acknowledges the foundational role of nation builders—those who fought for civil rights, advanced social justice, and shaped Canada’s cultural and political landscape. At the same time, it looks forward to tomorrow’s visionaries, the emerging leaders, innovators, and changemakers who are redefining excellence in every field.
 
Freedom to Read Week
Freedom to Read Week takes place from February 22 until February 28. This annual Canadian event encourages everyone to reflect on and reaffirm their commitment to intellectual freedom. It also highlights the ongoing reality that schools and libraries are regularly asked to remove books and magazines from their shelves, often quietly and without broad public awareness. 
As a public library, we remain firmly committed to the fundamental freedom to seek, receive, and share information. We believe that access to diverse ideas and voices is essential to a healthy and informed community.
 
Monday, February 23 is the national Digital Day of Action for Freedom to Read Week. On this day, champions for intellectual freedom across Canada will share a united message through their social media channels at noon Eastern Time to show their support. Participants are encouraged to include the hashtags #FTRW26 and #FreedomToRead along with a link to freedomtoread.ca.
 
This year, we invite you to take part. Visit our challenged book display, borrow a challenged title, or share your support online during the week. Your actions help affirm the importance of open access to information and the essential role libraries play in protecting the right to read freely.
Program Break (February 15-28)
February 15-28 marks our winter program break, but there's still lots to do!
 
Get ready to move, play, and explore! We’re excited to bring the Obie Mobile Pro interactive projector to the library from Tuesday, February 17 to Friday, February 20. Patrons can enjoy hands-on, interactive games in the mornings designed for younger children, with afternoons featuring games for older kids. This exciting new technology was made possible thanks to the generous support of Home Treasures.
 
Visit our website at cochranepubliclibrary.ca/Events to see all of our upcoming events and programs for all ages!
 
February Programs & Events
Voices in Vision: A Black History Month Celebration of Style, Stories and Success.
Friday, February 20 - 7:00pm to 9:00pm
Join us for an inspiring Black History Month event that honors creativity, entrepreneurship, and heritage. Enjoy a vibrant BIPOC fashion show and hear stories from Black business leaders who are shaping culture and driving change.
This is a celebration of style, success, and community—where fashion meets empowerment.
Frustrated Teen Dungeons and Dragons Dice Board Games Cards
Stories of the Sky
Saturday, Feb 14 at 2.30pm
Mini Tipi Building Workshop
Wednesday, Feb 11 at 1:30pm
Library After Hours:
Play & Connect with YAP Social!
Friday, Feb 6  at 6:00pm
Through engaging storytelling, participants will hear teachings connected to the North Star, the Morning Star, and the Thunderbirds. These stories share important values such as respect, giving thanks, and understanding our relationship with the natural world.
 
 
 Participants will learn about the cultural importance of tipis and gain insight into how they are traditionally constructed and set up in real life. Through this hands-on experience, you’ll create your own mini tipi while deepening your understanding of its role in Indigenous culture and community life. 
This monthly event is designed for ages 16+ to relax, connect, and have fun in a welcoming space. Whether you’re a casual gamer or a tabletop enthusiast, there’s something for everyone.
 
 
Check out our calendar for a full listing of programs and events!
Spring Programming Call for Community Presenters
As we prepare for our spring programming season, we are inviting community members who have skills, interests, or talents they would like to share to get in touch with us. If you enjoy presenting a topic, teaching a skill, leading an activity, or hosting a book club, we would love to hear from you. The library values partnerships that bring creativity, learning, and connection to the community, and we welcome proposals for sessions and programs of all kinds.
 
If you are interested in collaborating with the library for our upcoming season, please fill out our community presenter sign up form at  www.cochranepubliclibrary.ca/presenters
A Big Thank You to Our Patrons
Thank you, Cochrane. We are deeply grateful for the generosity of our community during our December Christmas Fundraiser. Together, you helped us raise more than $10,000 in support of our Book Clubs in a Bag collection. Our original goal was $3,000 dollars, and the level of support we received was truly overwhelming. Because of this incredible response, we will be able to expand this collection with more inclusive kits that offer multiple formats of each title, including regular print, large print, and audiobooks when they are available. These improvements will help ensure that more readers in our community can enjoy participating in book clubs.
 
As we continue to grow this collection, we invite you to join us for a Book Club Host Information Session on Tuesday, February 10 from 6:30pm to 7:30pm. This session will offer guidance on hosting a book club and will introduce you to the ways our kits can support your group. 
 
 

Cochrane Public Library
405 Railway Street West
Cochrane, Alberta T4C 2E2
403-932-4353
www.cochranepubliclibrary.ca/