Time for Rhymes Wednesdays

Rhymes, reading and fun for preschoolers and a parent. Every Wednesday morning at 9:30 a.m. (excluding June, July, and August).
A Rainbow Literacy Society / Milo Playschool / Milo Library project.

Chinook Arch Regional Library System serves 33 libraries in 41 member municipalities across Southern Alberta, on traditional Blackfoot territory. 

If you are a resident of a Chinook Arch member municipality and are 18 years of age or older, you can sign up for an eCard. 

If you already have a Library card, you do not need an eCard. Your current library card can be used to access online resources and place holds. If your existing card needs to be renewed, please choose one of the following options:

1. Renew your library card
2. Visit any Chinook Arch member library
3. Email ecard@chinookarch.ca

If you live outside of the Chinook Arch region, review these options to see how you can use the library.

Have questions about signing up? Visit our eCard FAQs page.

Ready to sign up? Complete our eCard Registration Form.

Chinook Arch member libraries have varying membership fees, and set their own loan periods, renewal limits, and overdue fines for library materials. Your home library is assigned based on your home address. Find your library from this list and visit their website for more information.Chinook Arch Regional Library System serves 33 public libraries in 41 member municipalities across Southern Alberta. You must be a resident of a Chinook Arch member municipality and 18 years of age or older to apply for an eCard.Fill out the eCard Registration form.You will have instant access to all library resources including ebooks, audiobooks, magazines, online courses and research databases. You can also place holds online.Yes. To start borrowing physical items, visit your nearest Chinook Arch member library and present your eCard number and ID to a staff member. You can get a physical library card by visiting your nearest Chinook Arch member library and presenting your eCard number and ID to a staff member. Your original eCard number that was assigned to you online will change to a physical card number.  If you change your eCard to a physical library card at a Chinook Arch member library, your accounts will need to be merged to retain access to your holds, borrowed items, and online services. To merge your accounts, contact membersupport@chinookarch.caSome of the possible reasons for an error are an already existing account, misspelt street names, etc. Please visit your nearest Chinook Arch member library and talk to staff, or email ecard@chinookarch.ca for help registering online.Some addresses cannot be verified. If this is the case, visit your nearest Chinook Arch member library and talk to staff, or email ecard@chinookarch.ca for help registering online.Your security settings may be blocking the email. Please check your spam/junk mail folder.No. Please contact your library immediately to report your lost or stolen card. You will need to replace it in person at your Chinook Arch member library.Yes, you can! Please visit our Renew Your Library Card page.

Interlibrary Loan

Can’t find what you want in our catalogue? Search the collections of public libraries across Alberta using the Alberta Public Libraries Resource Sharing System.

Find and request items from other libraries, and they will be delivered to your library for checkout.

Getting Started with the Resource Sharing System

Still can’t find what you’re looking for? Contact Public Library Services Branch

If the item you’re looking for is newly published, suggest that your library buy it by using Suggest for Purchase.

ME Libraries

The ME Libraries service allows you to borrow materials in person at any public library in Alberta using your local library card. Sign up at melibraries.ca.

ME Account Terms and Conditions

Patrons using ME Libraries accounts to borrow items* from Chinook Arch member libraries agree to the following terms:

• Loan periods, renewals, and borrowing limits vary depending on the individual Chinook Arch library’s local policies. 
• In general, books have a loan period of 3 weeks, A/V materials have a loan period of 1 week. Some materials have extended loan periods including Book Club Kits which have a 6 week loan period.
• Most Chinook Arch libraries do not limit the number of items that can be checked out at a time. Some exceptions do exist for special collections and at some Chinook Arch libraries. 
• Holds placed by ME Libraries card users must be picked up by the user at a Chinook Arch library.
• CNIB materials may only be checked out by borrowers with print disabilities.

*ebooks and other electronic content are not available to ME Libraries card users due to licensing restrictions.

The Alberta Library Card – access to academic and special libraries

Request a TAL card at your home library to borrow materials in person from any participating TAL library, including academic and government libraries. You can return borrowed materials at any participating TAL library.

Note that certain special collections may not be available through the TAL program. Loan periods and overdue fines may vary by library – ask the borrowing library for more information about their policies.

There are currently two micro-libraries in the Chinook Arch region. These micro-libraries are an automated lending library, also known as a book locker. 

Piikani Micro-Library

Located at 1605 Hwy 786 in Brocket. In the same building as the Canada Post office.

Waterton Micro-Library

Located at 209 Fountain Avenue in Waterton (south vestibule)

Can you use the Micro-Libraries? 

Anyone with a Chinook Arch library card can use the micro-libraries!

If you live in Waterton or Piikani for even part of the year, you qualify for Chinook Arch library membership.

• Sign up for a new card online here – eCard registration
• To renew an existing membership, go here – eRenew

Need Help? 

If you have trouble using the book locker, please contact Chinook Arch.

• 1-888-458-1500 toll free
• booklocker@chinookarch.ca

Staff is available to help Monday to Friday, 8:30-4:30, except on holidays. 

About the Micro-Libraries

• The content of the micro-libraries is refreshed on Mondays (except holiday Mondays)
• There is a small collection kept in the micro-library for you to browse and borrow
• Browse our collection online 
• If you place holds on titles in our online catalogue, select Waterton or Piikani as your pick-up location
• Interlibrary loans (items requested from outside the Chinook Arch region) can’t be delivered to the micro-library.  Those will have to be picked up at a Chinook Arch library location