By Jessie Bach 

Roses are red, 

Violets are great, 

I think you should go 

On a library date! 

The season of love is upon us, and coming up with the perfect Valentine’s Day date can feel like a lot of pressure. Dinner reservations fill up fast, flowers are expensive, and it’s hard to connect in a crowded movie theatre. Luckily, your local library offers creative, fun, and budget-friendly ways to celebrate. 

Whether you’re planning a date with a partner, your best friends, or yourself, your local library has what you need to create a magical experience created by and for local authors and artists. Below are seven ways you can use your local library to plan the perfect date! 

Make Something Beautiful 

Bond with your sweetheart by creating something beautiful together at an arts, crafts, or DIY program at your local library! Craft programs at the library aren’t just for kids — dozens of Alberta public libraries offer events just for grown-ups, often hosted by local artists and makers. Check out the High River Library’s Craft and Create program, where you can create a paint chip mosaic, or drop in to the Stony Plain Public Library’s Craft Circle on a Wednesday afternoon. Making something beautiful together will take your date night beyond “dinner and a movie.” 

Read Aloud from a Romance Novel 

Sharing a story with someone you love makes for the perfect date! Grab your partner and head down to the local library, where you will find romance novels of every genre — everything from classic love stories to romantasy, sports, western, vampire, and even Amish romance. There’s truly a love story for every mood. Prefer to stay in? The library still has you covered. Check out the Read Alberta eBooks Collection, and filter by the “romance” genre to choose a romantic title from an Alberta author or publisher. Once you’ve chosen your steamy book, it’s time to head home, pour a glass of wine, and cozy up by the fire to take turns reading aloud. 

Take a Cooking Class 

The season of love isn’t just for couples. Gather up a group of girlfriends and take your “galentine’s” party to the library for a cooking class. Edmonton Public Library’s The Kitchen, located in Stanley A. Milner location, boasts a 2,100 square foot, fully equipped kitchen facility where can sign up to attend regular in-person and virtual cooking classes taught by trained chefs. The February class line-up is stacked with fun recipes for a girl’s night out, including tarte tatin, macarons, and chocolate souffle. 

 Attend a Local Author Event 

Waited too long to snag a reservation for Valentine’s Day? Never fear, the library is here. Trade the over-priced appies, crowded dining rooms, and frazzled waitstaff for a cozy, feel-good date at the library. When you attend a reading or event featuring a local author, you will get the chance to share a story with your loved one, cheer on a writer from your community, and enjoy a slower, more relaxed kind of date. Feel free to linger in the library’s comfortable chairs afterward to discuss your favourite moments from the reading and snag a signed copy of the book as a souvenir from your date. This February, there are no shortage of local author events to choose from! 

Borrow a Romantic Movie 

I’m a dedicated homebody and cozying up on the couch with my love to watch a romantic movie sounds like the perfect way to spend a February evening. For a nostalgic experience (remember date nights in the Blockbuster era?!), we will start with a stroll to the local library to browse the stacks together for a DVD or Blu-ray, eventually settling on a familiar old favourite because, of course, all the latest blockbusters are already checked out. 

If “Netflix and chill” is a little more your speed, the library has you covered there too. Most Alberta libraries offer a streaming video service like Kanopy or hoopla, that you can use for free, and without leaving the cozy comfort of your couch. 

Put on Some Mood Music 

The right playlist is crucial to setting the mood for a romantic evening, and your local library has you covered. Through music streaming services like Freegal, you can access over 15 million songs and stream up to five hours of music per day — for free! 

Go on a Blind Date with a Book 

If you’re looking for literary love this February, take your quest to your local library. This winter, several libraries across Alberta are offering “blind date with a book” programs. The concept is simple — library staff curate a special collection of titles, wrap them up to hide the cover, and provide a few content notes to help you choose a book that sounds intriguing. It’s a great way to discover a new-to-you author, genre, or style of writing. Who knows, you may just find yourself swept off your feet by a book! 

You can find “blind date with a book” programs at the Wetaskiwin Public Library, Manning Municipal Library, Morrin Municipal Library, and more! 

Every Alberta library’s offerings are different, so be sure to check in with your local library to see what materials, programs, and services are on offer this February. And you know what’s best of all about Library Date Nights? You don’t have to pack everything in in February! After all, date nights are a year-round activity.