Cedarbrae Blog

Growing Up Desi

In case you missed it, on Saturday May 11, we celebrated the rich cultures of South Asia with dance, music, stories and art. South Asian culture is a big part of the Cedarbrae Branch community and our surrounding branches, and it continues to influence our programs and book displays throughout the month.

Like many branches, we have ongoing Asian authors on display this May -- these displays have authors from all over Asia including China, India, Afghanistan and many more. Many of the books deal with the struggle of moving to a new country and navigating between cultures in addition to other universal topics of family, love and redemption.

Many of these themes are linked to youth and growing up, so we've put together a short list of books about growing up South Asian, or desi. Desi is a general term often used to refer to people, culture and experiences related to the Indian subcontinent, or South Asia. It originates from the Sanskrit word 'desha' which means literally 'land' or 'country'. In languages like Hindi and Bengali, it evolved to 'desh' which means the same thing. Desi is a common term in North America, although it seems to be used more frequently in parts of the US, and usually among South Asians themselves.

Check out some of these titles and let us know if you have any recommendations of your own!

 

The Konkans
By Tony D’Souza
Francisco D'Sai is a firstborn son of a firstborn son—all the way back to the beginning of a long line of proud Konkans. Known as the "Jews of India," the Konkans kneeled before the Portuguese explorer Vasco da Gama's sword and before Saint Francis Xavier’s cross, abandoned their Hindu traditions, and became Catholics. Francisco's mother, Denise, and uncle, Sam, are passionate raconteurs who do their best to preserve the family's Konkan heritage, while his father drinks a lot but speaks little. Friends, allies, and eventually lovers, Sam and Denise feed Francisco’s imagination with proud visions of India and Konkan history.

The Girl in the Garden
By Kamala Nair
When Rakhee Singh is ten years old, her mother takes her from their Minnesota home to visit relatives in India. There she discovers a family secret that will haunt her. Only as a woman on the verge of marriage does Rakhee find the strength to confront the events of that summer and face the price of secrets.

Quarantine
By Rahul Mehta
With buoyant humor and incisive, cunning prose, Rahul Mehta sets off into uncharted literary territory. The characters in "Quarantine"--openly gay Indian-American men--are Westernized in some ways, with cosmopolitan views on friendship and sex, while struggling to maintain relationships with their families and cultural traditions.

 

The Harem
By Safia Fazlul (Toronto author!)
Peckville may be a fictional town, but it feels like any other slightly dreary urban centre. Farina is sick of Peckville and the nosy neighbours, the constant expectations of her strict Muslim, Bangladeshi parents, and most of all, her lack of freedom. When Farina and her best friends venture into a world of money, lust and power, the burden of freedom may be too heavy to bear.

Shopping for Sabzi
By Nitin Deckha
Poingnant and humourous, these stories describe the anxieties of ambitious young South Asians as they hustle for status, love, careers and personal fulfillment in a new world.

The Abundance
By Amit Majmudar
Mala and Ronak are surprisingly less comfortable with their dual Indian and American roots than their parents. Told that their mother is about to die, they return home to the Midwest, where Mala persuades Ronak that they should immerse themselves in Indian culture by learning to cook their mother's favorite recipes.

Check out even more great reads to celebrate Asian Heritage Month and other recommended booklists!

 

South Asian Festival Today!

Looking for something fun to do this afternoon?

Why not join us for some dazzling Indian dancing, a discussion with a contemporary Sri Lankan author, and some beautiful henna designs?

At 1 PM, we'll be having Ekakshara Dance Creations take the stage, in a mix of classic and modern Indian dance.

Here they are performing a traditional lamp dance at a previous event:
 
Looks amazing! Come and check them out in person today!

Right after, at 2 PM, we've got author Koom Kankesan, along with musicians Dylan and Anupa, to talk about his new book, and share cultural Tamil tales.

His first book, The Panic Button, is available on hold, and you can place a pre-order hold on his latest book, the Rajapaksa Stories.

To end off the festival, around 3 PM, kids and ladies can get a simple henna design on their hands from one of our talented henna artists. Got young boys who aren't interested in getting their hands decorated? Not a problem! Kids aged 13 and under can work on their own unique designs with crayons and markers. Three top artists will be selected to win prizes!

Bring your family and friends and enjoy some great South Asian culture and talent today!

Immigrant Diversity Week: Our Strength, Our Celebration!

Immigrant Diversity Week (IDW) begins this Monday, April 29th with events across the east end right up to May 3.

These events, organized by the Toronto East Quadrant Local Immigration Partnership, include a number of different speakers, activities and sponsor organizations from around the city. The aim of this week is to highlight the many ways Toronto (and particularly the east end) is strengthened by our diverse immigrant communities: in cultural events, politics, business and more.

Begin the week with the kick-off ceremony right here at the Cedarbrae Branch on April 29 at 10 AM. Join speaker Nicholas Keung, Immigrant and Diversity news reporter for the Toronto Star, as we look at the importance of IDW and how we can all be participants. Children's activities will also be available, so be sure to drop by!

The following day, on Tuesday April 30 at 3 PM, we will have guest speakers from Centennial College's Centre for Entrepreneurship in the branch to discuss the benefits of self-employment. This program is designed for all those interested in starting a business and is a great venue to ask questions and find support. Please call Cedarbrae's settlement counsellor, Houri Sahba, to register and find out more: 647-338-6300.

To round off the week, we'll be having a brown-bag luncheon at 12:30 PM on Thursday, May 2 to bring together community service providers, newcomers and other interested participants.Bring a lunch, settle in and get more information about what is available to you in your community!

There are a number of other events going on at Scarborough library branches all week, so be sure to check out the calendar of events.

While you're between events, why not pick up a book to read? There are so many rich aspects of the immigrant experience. Many of these, including the struggle with new languages, understanding a new culture, and finding the balance between one's native customs and adopted ones, are often beautifully illustrated in fiction. Check out some great reads I read and loved!

 

Girl in Translation by Jean Kwok
Kimberley Chang, a young Chinese girl, and her mother face the struggles of sweat-shop squalor in Brooklyn as they build a life they can both be proud of. I read this book in a day -- it's a quick, emotional read that will leave you really feeling for Kim and the double-life she is forced to live.

Across a Hundred Mountains by Reyna Grande
Juana Garcia leaves her small Mexican town to track down her father, who left years before to find a better life in America. Her journey will lead her to Adelina Vasquez, who left California to find her lover in Mexico. These two women will find themselves connected in the most trying times of their lives.

Little Bee by Chris Cleave
When Little Bee, a teenage Nigerian girl, crosses paths with Sarah Summers, a British magazine editor on vacation, neither one expects to see the other again following their brief time together. But years later, their paths will meet again - and Sarah may find that in helping Little Bee, she is helping herself too.

The Namesake by Jhumpa Lahiri
Gogol has more than just a strange name - he has a life built on balancing his family's traditions and finding his own identity. Through heartbreak, some comic relief, and unearthing a tragedy that has defined his parents' lives, he will come to define his own. This book also became a movie (it's worth a watch too!)

If you've read all these, maybe you can try some others:

Ten Thousand Lovers by Edeet Ravel

 

The History of Love by Nicole Krauss

A Map of Home by Randa Jarrar

The Pleasure Seekers by Tishani Doshi

 Have a title about the immigrant experience that you loved? Please share it in the comments! Have questions about Immigrant Diversity Week events? Call the branch or come see us!

 

Feeling Wired?

Chances are, if you're a teen reading this, you're probably already pretty comfortable with the online world: you tweet, you facebook, you Instagram...

But maybe you're getting bored. Maybe you're logging into your Facebook account and staring at the screen thinking: this used to be more fun. You're not alone.

In the spirit of this month's Keep Toronto Reading campaign, we're asking you:

 

 

How are you taking control of your media?

 

 Sure, we can post cute selfies and keep tabs on how many retweets we just got maybe there's more out there.

On Saturday, April 13th, at 2 PM, we are going to have NewYouth.ca coordinator, Jai Sahak, come in and help us explore different things we can do with our media.

Maybe you've got a passion for green living, or are finding yourself more aware of social justice issues. Maybe you're just wondering what else we've got to talk about. Wherever you stand, there's probably something you might want to think about -- and you've probably got something to share with others too.

Give us a call at 416-396-8850 or walk in and see us about registering for this session. If you've got a smartphone or tablet on you, even better; bring it with you when you join us!

For full program details, check out our listing here.

Hope to see you all there!

 

V is for...

Welcome to April, month of the eighth annual Keep Toronto Reading Festival 

This year's One Book for KTR is the classic dystopic science fiction novel Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury.

On Friday April 12 at 5:30pm come explore another classic dystopian novel with us: bring your popcorn for a screening of V for Vendetta, staring Hugo Weaving and Natalie Portman. Arguably one of the best dystopian movies ever made, it is based on the equally awesome graphic novel of the same name by the brilliant Alan Moore (other credits include Watchmen and The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen, to name a few).

In an alternate future in which Britain is a fascist state, a shadowy masked vigilante named "V" tries to free England of its ideological chains, using terrorist tactics to fight against his totalitarian society. Upon rescuing a girl from the secret police, he also finds his best chance at having an ally.

One of the most memorable lines in the movie is the rhyme,

"Remember, remember the fifth of November, the gunpowder treason and plot. I know of no reason why the gunpowder treason should ever be forgot."

Did you know that this wasn't made up by Moore or the movie's scriptwriters? It's an actual English folk rhyme referring to the Gunpowder Plot to blow up parliament in 1605. "V" uses a likeness of Guy Fawkes, one of the plot's members, as his mask.

Interested in learning more? Here is some great books to check out on the Gunpowder Plot and Guy Fawkes.

From Four-Eyes to Fashion Forward

It started innocently enough: a fuzzy blackboard or two, a road sign that went unread, a friend I didn't recognize until I crossed the street. Later, I got headaches from squinting too hard and I found myself frustrated with trying to read that blurry print at the front of the classroom.

My first pair of eyeglasses were thrust upon me in the fifth grade, much to my dismay.
I mean, yes, they were pink, and had glitter at the corners,
but I had the Harry Potter look down before Harry Potter even existed.

Years later, I've come to terms with my limited vision. I've flirted briefly with contact lenses and anxiously researched laser eye surgery, but I always came back around to the humble and dependable specs.

So, imagine my surprise when I realized (a little late, I guess) that glasses are cool now. And they have been for a while. I think this only really dawned on me when I noticed someone wearing glasses without any actual lenses - as in, oversized plastic frames that I could poke my finger right through, into her eyeballs. I was flabbergasted: could it be true? Was this a 'thing' now? And more importantly: could I be quick enough to actually poke her in the eye as she walked by?

I thought back to my childhood when I was only one of the few kids in my class with glasses. It wasn't exactly a traumatic experience, but wearing glasses made you different, and it could easily serve as fuel for teasing.

I know Arthur feels me on this, while Heidi Heckelbeck figures glasses could and should totally be a fashion statement.

Turns out, being forced to wear glasses might not be the worst thing in the world. The British Pyschological Society has an article on kids' assumptions of people who wear glasses. Not surprisingly, most kids associate glasses with 'smart people', like scientists and doctors, although this is also paired with glasses-wearers as being less attractive. A 2008 Ohio State University study seems to mostly echo these thoughts, although they also add 'looks more honest' to kids' perceptions of their bespectacled peers. A lot of these assumptions follow us into adulthood. Even popular news outlets have reported that wearing a pair of glasses to a job interview could raise your chances of landing the position!

Smarts aside, I found this little blurb on an accessories shop's website, describing a pair of 'fashion frames' for the tween crowd: "You bring the attitude to this old school design. These retro glasses are super comfortable to wear and give you geek-chic style." I guess I shouldn't be too surprised: glasses have a pretty long history in the world of fashion.

 

Funky frames and eccentric eyewear have been popping up on runways for Spring 2013, ranging from the mostly wearable to the outright outrageous. Below are some frames from Miu Miu and Prada's Spring print campaign:

 

Now, with so many different shapes, styles and colours to choose from, picking the perfect pair can be a tricky feat, especially if you're getting glasses for the first time. There are lots of ways to play around with choosing the best frames for your face. You won't really know until you go in and actually try on a few pairs (or twenty...) but keeping a few guidelines in mind could help make sure you choose something functional, fitting, and even a little fabulous. For fun, you could even create a little cartoon version of yourself, complete with a selection of frames, using the I Made Face app on your Android or iOs device, like the one I made to the left.
 
Helping a little one with their first pair? Try some of these kids' books about the eyeglass experience:

       

Whether you actually need them, or simply want to play up your style, glasses can be a fun part of your look -- whatever that look is!

Top Tips for Top Veggies!

Are you an avid vegetable gardener - or just starting out?

If you're interested in the best ways to make your veggie garden grow this spring, be sure to visit the Cedarbrae Branch on
Thursday, April 25 from 2-4 PM.

We'll be hosting presenters from Toronto Master Gardeners as they share strategies for pest control,  how to maintain healthy soil and more.

This is a free event and registration is not required. Bring a friend and drop by, or give us a call beforehand to get more information: 416-396-8850.

Spring is just around the corner; be sure you and your garden are making the most of it!

Taking the Throne

With a little less than two weeks until the season three premier of the hugely popular HBO Game of Thrones series, you probably won't be able to breathe without someone mentioning it.

 

If you're a fan of the show, but haven't quite gotten around to reading all of the books in the series, there are still some fun titles to look into to get you hyped up for the next season!

 

People throw Super Bowl parties and Oscars parties -- why not a party to celebrate the season premiere of this epic show? You might even want to feed your guests foods inspired from the series, like hearty baked apples from The North, elegant lemon cakes from King's Landing, and more. (I've actually had the lemon cakes; a colleague of mine made them after reading this book and, yes, they were awesome.)

Don't forget: many of these titles are also available in eBook format!

Still not quite sure this is for you? Catch up on the story as a graphic novel if you prefer, and read another blogger's take on the series and other works by the same author. If you think you'd like to take on the series, you can always step into your local branch and take a look around the paperback section for copies of A Game of Thrones (be sure to check in the Science Fiction/Fantasy area, if there is one).

Pretty soon, you'll be wishing for a direwolf of your own, pledging allegiance to a mighty house, and wondering what truly lies beyond the wall...

A New Look for eBooks!

If you're already familiar with the eBook collection at the Toronto Public Library, you may have noticed that we are expecting a new look soon.

This new design is expected to make your experience with eBooks easier to navigate and get you reading in just a few clicks.

One of the new features, OverDrive Read, gives you the option to read your checked out eBook directly in your browser.

Take a minute to review the new design and check to see if your device is compatible with OverDrive Read.

We're excited about this new look and hope it makes your eBook experience even bigger and better!

If you'd like to learn more about using eBooks at the library, be sure to drop in for an introduction class available at various branches throughout the city, including one here at Cedarbrae on Wednesday April 17 at 1:30 PM. Give us a call at 416-396-8850 to register your spot.

Cedarbrae has a microfilm reader!

and it's oh-so fancy:

Finally you can view our local history materials on microfilm IN the branch. No more travelling downtown just to use a reader at the Reference Library!

This also means that Scarborough customers ordering microfilms and fiches via interlibrary loan can now order them into Cedarbrae and view them near home instead of having to have them sent downtown (with the exception of microfilms from the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints Family History Centre, which must be viewed at the Reference Library only).

This news in itself is pretty awesome, but there's more...

This is not just a regular microfilm reader. This type of reader is connected to a dedicated PC and has the ability to scan, print, and even edit any images or articles you want to keep with the quick click of a couple of buttons.

 

Here is a quick guide to how the ScanPro Reader works:

(though of course staff are also always available to help you too)

After logging into the attached PC, simply click on the ScanPro Icon on the desktop:

Immediately you will hear the ScanPro reader start to warm up and the program will open a window that looks like this:

Our version of the program only has the expert option, so click on that to start things going.

Now, open the ScanPro Reader in order to put the reel you want to read on it. To do this, gently pull on the Fiche Carrier Handle:

Once you do this, you will see a diagram pop up on screen that tells you how to load a reel onto the ScanPro reader.

Once you have loaded the reel and pushed the Fiche Carrier Handle closed again, the ScanPro program will start to operate; meaning you will see a Film Control box appear, as well as a toolbar.

Use your mouse to push and hold the Fast Fwrd and Fast Rev bottons to get to the spot on the film you want to look at.

You might notice that your reel is not displaying anything legible. This is because the ScanPro resets to default settings for each new reel because every reel is slightly different. You must adust the settings using the toolbar so that the documents on the reel become visible.

As you can see, the toolbar has a lot of options available:

Luckily, we've simplified it a bit for you. Using these three tools below first will get you viewing the reel documents in no time. Then you can play around with the other tools at your leisure!

Step 1) Click and hold the zoom In (downwards arrow) button on the Zoom tool.

 

 

 

 

Step 2) Click on Auto-Adjust and then watch the machine work to make the image clearer all on its own.

 

 

 

 

Step 3) Click on one of the Rotate direction options to flip the image the right way up. It may take more than one click to flip it all the way.

 

 

 

 

Step 4) Adjust and centre the image's orientation on the screen by pulling and pushing gently on the Fiche Carrier Handle as needed.