North York Central Library Blog

LGBTQ culture and Pride month 2013

The month of June is the month for Pride as it is the month that the Stonewall riots took place in 1969 and demonstrated a change in the social winds for LGBTQ people to become less marginalized and more accepted. For those of you who are not familiar with the riots, they happened on June 29th in New York as the police were invading the Stonewall Inn, the drag queens were chuffed at this transgression and began to fight back. This story if very well told in the book "Stonewall" by Martin Duberman as well as the film of the same name based on the book.                                                                                                                                                                                         

       

and the trailer for the movie . . .

                                  For the month of June we celebrate difference, respect and the individual. This book and film are just an example of the berth of materials that the library has, not only on LGBTQ culture but on many others as well.                                                                                                                                                                         

 

 

Boomers & Beyond Series - Estate Planning: Maximize Your Estate

Join us next Thursday, June 20, from 2:00 - 4:00pm as the Business Department hosts our final Boomers and Beyond Series program this year Estate Planning: Maximize Your Estate.

Garry R. Duncan, FCPA, FCA, CFP and author of "When I Die: Financial Planning
for Life and Death," will explore issues that should be considered when dealing
with an estate plan and suggest methods to maximize the beneficiaries' share of
the estate.

Call 416-395-5613 to register.

Below are some Canadian books which can help you with estate planning, if you're at North York Central Library you'll find these books up on the fourth floor in the Business Department.

 

                                                          

 

                                                         

When I die: financial planning for life and death. By: Garry R. Duncan. Call #: 346.71052 DUN

The 50 Biggest estate planning mistakes...and how to avoid them. By: Jean Blacklock & Sarah Kruger. Call #: 346.71052 BLA. (also available as an e-book)

The Canadian guide to will and estate planning: everything you need to know today to protect your wealth and your family tomorrow. By: Douglas A. Gray. Call #: 346.71052 GRA

Wills & Estate Planning for Canadians for Dummies. By: Margaret Hellen Kerr and JoAnn Kurtz. Call#: 346.71052 KER. (Also available as an e-book)

 

 

 

From Street Food to Food Trucks

Street food has been around a long time. It is very popular in some places, like the dai pai dong’s in Hong Kong and street food stands in Vietnam and India.

Another form of street food is food trucks. In the past few years food trucks in North America has become extremely popular with ones popping up everywhere and television shows on the Food Network dedicated to finding the best ones.

I have to admit that my food truck experiences are very limited. They only include hot dogs and ice cream. Not at all fascinating or qualify for the food truck craze. The real food trucks consist of unique and gourmet options. Like, chicken gyros, lobster rolls and Baja fish tacos. Not your regular hot dog and fries.

One reason for my lack of experience is because of the strict regulations surrounding food trucks in Toronto making it less accessible compared to major U.S. cities like New York and Los Angeles. And the people of Toronto are fighting back. Last month, a group set up a guerrilla food cart at city hall to raise awareness of the current restrictive street food bylaws.

Despite the strict regulations, people are still hungry for food trucks. Both Chatelaine and Toronto Life lists the best food trucks to experience in Toronto and Ontario. There are also apps that track food trucks by listing their hours and locations from Toronto Food Trucks and Street Food App.

Hungry for more? The library also has books about street food and food trucks:

You can access these e-books online with your library card:

If you want to start your own food truck business, there are books for that too:

For now, the easiest place to find food trucks are at festivals in the city. Starting today, the Luminato Festival features a number of food trucks for people to enjoy until June 23rd at the Luminato Lounge Featuring Food Truck Eats.

Have you eaten at a street food stand or food truck? What were your experiences?

 

The Science of Yoga

Although I've been a student of yoga for many years, I'm certainly no expert. So when I came across a recently published book by Wiiliam J. Broad, Pulitzer Prize-winning senior science writer at the New York Times, I welcomed the opportunity to learn more about the science behind my weekly workout.

 The book is The Science of Yoga: the risks and the rewards and it has stirred up a lot of controversy in the yoga world. The dust-up started when an exerpt was published in the New York Times Magazine, and grew from there. In an afterword to the recently published paperback edition, Broad addressed his critics. A Huffington Post article chronicling the controversy and attracted its own strongly worded comments. However, much of the response to the book in the broader community has been positive. Kirkus Reviews called it a "fair, well-reasoned assessment" and Choice Reviews  described it as "...a thorough and well-written overview of yoga's development, history, health benefits, and adoption by popular culture".

 

Broad has practiced yoga for over 40 years and appreciates its benefits from his own experience. Yet when he looked for studies to confirm them, he didn't find many. So he decided to review the research into both the benefits and the risks of yoga.

To learn more about the book from the author, read William Broad's NPR interview or watch this NY1 television interview:

 

My verdict: this is a must-read for students and teachers of yoga. The sensational parts that have received the most attention, both positive (yoga and sex) and negative (the remote but real risk of serious injury) are just a small part of this book. You may not agree with Broad's arguments, but you shouldn't make up your mind before reading them.

 

For more information on yoga and health, sign in with your library card to read a report from the Natural Standard, which provides " high-quality, evidence-based information about complementary and alternative medicine ". 

Further reading suggestions on this topic:

Of course there are elements in yoga that can't be measured or explained by science. After reading The Science of Yoga I made some changes to my own practice. But to my mind the risk of injury is very small, it is manageable and it is far outweighed by yoga's many benefits, both those that can be measured and those that are less tangible.

If you've read the book - or followed the controversy - I'd love to hear your opinion.

 

 

Aboriginal History Month at North York Central Library

As part of North York Central Library’s Aboriginal History Month programming this June, we will be hosting award-winning documentary filmmaker and activist Alanis Obomsawin and showcasing her new film The People of Kattawapiskak River.   This is an incredible opportunity to meet one of the most vocal and engaging activists for Canada’s native community, as well as one of Canada’s most distinguished filmmakers.  This screening, taking place on Monday June 17^th starting at 6:15 pm in the Auditorium, will feature Ms. Obomsawin providing context for her film as well as answering questions from the audience. 

Attawapiskat made headlines and drew national attention in 2011 when Chief Theresa Spence declared a state of emergency over housing and living conditions. A lot has been said about Attawapiskat since then and the third-world conditions of the reserve have caused a lot of people to enter the dialogue.  Alanis Obomsawin's film provides much needed perspectives on the situation among Canada's First Nations communities.  Ms. Obomsawin brings us the voices of the people of Kattawapiskak River themselves and raises the curtain on the everyday drama of life in the north.

For further information about the reception of The People of Kattawapiskak River, Lisa Charleyboy has written an article about its showcase at the 2012 ImagineNATIVE Film + Media Arts Festival held in Toronto.  CBC news also has a very moving image gallery taken during the 2011 crisis in Attawapiskat that will give you a sense of the living conditions and prepare you for Ms. Obomsawin’s film.

A number of Ms. Obomsawin's documentaries are available to borrow through Toronto Public Library.  A good place to start for an introduction to her work is Alanis Obomsawin: The Collection which includes 4 of her more famous documentaries including Kanehsatake: 270 years of resistance.  This film documents the famous Oka standoff beginning in July 1990.  Ms. Obomsawin “spent 78 nerve-wracking days and nights filming the armed stand-off between the Mohawks, the Quebec police and the Canadian army. This powerful documentary takes you right into the action of an age-old Aboriginal struggle. The result is a portrait of the people behind the barricades.” (National Film Board of Canada, http://www.nfb.ca/film/kanehsatake_270_years_of_resistance/). 

If you are interested in getting a better sense of Ms. Obomsawin’s immense talent as a filmmaker check out Randolph Lewis’ book  Alanis Obomsawin: the vision of a native filmmaker where he celebrates her as a ‘the central figure in the development of indigenous media in North America.’ To view some of her films online, free of charge, visit the National Film Board of Canada’s website.

The Native People Collection, located in the Society and Recreation department (3^rd floor) of the North York Central Library has periodicals, fiction, CDs and an extensive non-fiction collection of works relating to Native Studies.  Stop by and browse the collection or ask at the information desk on the 3^rd floor for more information.   Below are some suggested, recent works from that collection.

Oka: A Political Crisis and its Legacy Harry Swain	Peace, Power and Righteousness: an Indigenous Manifesto, 2nd Ed Gerald R. Alfred	Vistas Aboriginal Expressions: 13 Short Films on the theme of 'nationhood'
Aboriginal History: a Reader Kristin Burnett and Geoff Read	First Nations, First Thoughts: The Impact of Indigenous Thought in Canada Annis May Timpson	Conflict in Caledonia: Aboriginal land rights and the rule of law Laura DeVries

There are many other Aboriginal Celebrations taking place this June throughout Toronto Public Library that you may be interested in attending.  Be sure to visit the webpage linked above for more information.

We look forward to seeing you at the screening!

Cookbook Awards Wrap-Up

Cookbook awards season just ended. Just like there is the Oscars' for film and the Grammy’s for music, cookbooks also have their own prestige award ceremonies. Although the tuxes and gowns may not be as grand and extravagant, cookbook authors were recognized and enjoyed the fruit of their labour for one night.

On February 22nd, the Gourmand Cookbook Awards was held in Paris with books from 171 countries competing in the award this year. Created in 1995 by Édouard Cointreau, the award recognizes those who “cook with words”. The following are some of the winners honoured that night:

Visit the Gourmand Cookbook Awards website for a full list of winners.

Subsequently, on April 9th, the International Association of Culinary Professionals (IACP) held their awards ceremony. IACP’s Cookbook Award strives to promote quality and creativity in writing and publishing and to expand the awareness of culinary literature. The following are some of the winners:

Visit IACP’s website for a full list of winners.

Lastly, on May 3rd, the James Beard Foundation held their awards ceremony honouring cookbooks published in English in 2012. The following are some of the winners recognized that night:

Visit the James Beard Foundation's website for a full list of winners. You can also watch a re-broadcast of the awards here:

I hope you'll enjoy these award winning cookbooks!

The day we saved the world

There’s a song on Sarah Slean’s newest CD, Land and Sea, that’s been getting heavy rotation on the radio in my head. It begins, “This place was in horrible shape, and no one wanted to see…” When I first heard this line, I thought the song was about a home that was badly in need of repair. The next line is, "that's when hope rose up again, to shake us all from our sleep." By the time Slean urgently sings, “get up, get up, there's time, there's time,” as though she’s grabbing the listener by the and arm and pulling them to their feet, it's clear she’s not singing about a broken down house. She's singing about the earth, which is in horrible shape, according to many scientists. Global warming, species extinction, deforestation, pollution, shrinking biodiversity -- the list of threats to our home, the earth, goes on and depressingly on. I love the beautiful, seemingly impossible idea expressed in the title of Slean’s song, “The day we saved the world.” It makes me imagine a day when a critical mass of people suddenly care deeply enough about the earth to turn things around. If I were an artist I might do my part by writing a beautiful song. But, alas, I am a librarian, so I shall try to save the world through bibliography. Many people are planning home repairs and renovations this spring, so I’ve put together a list of titles about ecological homes. By the way, I realize Earth Day was last month, but if we’re going to save the world, every day should be Earth Day, don’t you think?

Ecoholic home: the greenest, cleanest and most energy-efficient information under one (Canadian) roof, Adria Vasil. "We spend so much time at home - why not make it a sustainable haven instead of a polluting, off-gassing cesspool? Our resident Ecoholic comes to the rescue again, offering reminders and tips on how to keep your castle (however humble) clean, energy-efficient and healthy".

150 best eco house ideas, Marta Serrats. "The perfect resource for designers, interior decorators, and architects, as well an inspirational sourcebook for all homeowners interested in creating warm and inviting homes that cause only a fraction of the environmental impact of those created using conventional building methods". available as an ebook

The complete guide to a green home : the good citizen's guide to Earth-friendly remodeling and home maintenance, Philip Schmidt. "Popular home remodeling projects and maintenance information from an approach that's 100% green."

Eco: an essential sourcebook for environmentally friendly design and decoration, Elizabeth Wilhide. "Eco proves that environmentally friendly architecture is no longer a minority interest but a practical way to lower fuel bills, reduce allergy-related illnesses, create less waste, and ensure a healthy world for our children to inherit."

Eco house book, Terence Conran. "Conran shows us that it is possible to convert our existing homes into greener, healthier places without starting from scratch.

Eco house : practical ideas for a greener, healthier dwelling, Sergi Costa Duran. "While not a definitive tome on all things green, this is a great starting point to the natural life."

The ecological house: sustainable architecture around the world, Marco Moro. "A virtual atlas of “architectural biodiversity,” this beautifully designed and gorgeously illustrated anthology of architecture's greenest gems documents the innovative creations of pioneers across the globe who build in harmony with the earth."

Energy free : homes for a small planet, Ann V. Edminster. "2011 International Book Awards Award-Winning Finalist in the "Environment: Green/Alternative Energy/Conservation."

Frank Lloyd Wright natural design : organic architecture --lessons for building green from an American orginal, Allan Hess. "This book explores Wright's lessons on how climate, sustainability, sunlight, modern technology, and passive environmental controls can become the inspiration for excellent design. It highlights a selection of Wright's buildings to show how he dealt with these issues beginning more than a century ago."

Green home improvement: 65 projects that will cut utility bills, protect your health, help the environment, Daniel Chiras. "The book's projects range from quick, easy, low- or no-cost tasks like insulating a water heater, sealing foundation cracks, or painting with insulating paint to bigger-ticket items such as installing a new energy-efficient heating system, windows, or green flooring."

Green remodeling : your start toward an eco-friendly home, John D. Wagner. "Learn about the tatest trends in eco-friendly building practices and products, or improve the quality of your life with a green remodeling project."

Off the grid homes : case studies for sustainable living, Lori Ryker. "Off the Grid Homes looks at six contemporary architectural projects that integrate alternative technologies for generating and conserving energy."

Links of interest:

If this topic interests you, you may also be interested in an excellent, related post called, Distract Me

An article about a Toronto inventor, Ralph Paloheimo, and his environmentally friendly house: Toronto man builds environmental dreamhouse. Toronto Star, May 10, 2013.

Here's a short movie of Ralph Paloheimo describing how his environmentally friendly house works:

Watch this incredible house being built -- it will appeal to anyone who has yearned for their own little hobbit house!

Discover resources to take your business to Asia

The Asia Pacific area has increasingly become the largest area of the world that Canada does business with.  The Asia Pacific Foundation of Canada, based on Statistics Canada data, reports that China continues to be one of Canada's biggest export and import partners.  China (including Hong Kong), Japan and South Korea -- accounted for 76% of Canada's total trade with Asia.

Many small business people visit us in the Business Department at North York Central Library looking for resources to help them expand their businesses into these markets. The library offers a number of business databases that can assist you in doing your research, as well as links to government websites, such as Industry Canada's portal for doing business abroad or the city of Toronto's business portal for exporting.  Most of the electronic resources can be accessed through the TPL website with a TPL library card.  Staff at the information desk can assist in learning how to access this information.

While at the library, why not check out a few recent books on the topic?

     

     

 

National Day of Mourning - Remembering lives lost or injured in the workplace

In 1991, the federal government officially started recognizing April 28 as the National Day of Mourning after passing a Mourning Day Act  on February 1, 1991. This important day commemorates workers who have been killed or injured in the workplace as well as reminding us all to be committed to preventing further deaths and injuries by improving health and safety in the workplace. 

According to the Canadian Centre for Occupational Health and Safety (CCOHS) In 2011, 919 workplace deaths were recorded in Canada and between 1993 to  2011 17, 061 people lost their lives due to work-related causes. According to the International Labour Organization (ILO) 2.02 million people die each year world wide from work related diseases 321,000 from workplace accidents, which means that:

• Every 15 seconds someone dies from a work related accident or disease

The National day of Mourning also known as Workers' Memorial Day is now recognized by approximately 80 countries around the world including: Argentina, Belgium, Bermuda, Dominican Republic, Gibralter Panama, Peru, United States and many other countries. Workers' Memorial day was actually created by Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE) in 1984. The CUPE website has honoured a few of the CUPE workers who have lost their lives since the last National Day of Mourning in 2012:

• Sylvain Ferland, 49, was killed in an accident while driving a bus in Montreal, Quebec.
• Normand Gauthier, 53, a longshoreman was killed during loading operations on a Europe bound ship in Port of Matane, Quebec. He leaves behind a wife and 3 children .
• Claude Picard, 48, a linesman who worked for Hydro Quebecwas killed after falling 13 meters while working on a hydro pole Saint-Félix-de-Valois, Quebec. He leaves behind a wife and a daughter.
• Hubert Fortin, 67, was killed when he was struck by a roller coaster at La Ronde, a Montreal amusement park where he was working. 
• Tara Lynn Veri, was killed when her car was hit by a cement truck. She was from Simcoe, Ontario. 

In international news, there are far more fatalities, our standards and regulations for health and safety are quite high in North America.  Just this past week there was a factory that collapsed killing over 200 people, I was watching CBC news yesterday and they said they are still pulling out bodies from the rubble, for more information you can read this article. Below is a video from CBC about improving unsafe work conditions overseas.  

 

 

Tomorrow, April 28 businesses are being encouraged to recognize this day and to remember to make worker health and safety a priority. There will be special ceremonies all over the country and in Parliament Hill the Canadian flag will be held at half mast. At the Toronto Public Library 2 minutes of silence will be observed to remember worker's lives which have been lost. In the business department on the 4th floor at North York Central Library, one of the librarians has made a beautiful display to honor the National day of Mourning. You should go up and take a look - here's a sneak peek:

National Day of Mourning Display - Business Department

At North York Central Library the Law books are held in the Business Department, we also have a lot of legal directories and leaflets. If you are looking for books on occupational health and safety, worker rights, joint health and safety committees etc. you can find them up on the fourth floor.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

North York Central Libary Book Club to discuss Fahrenheit 451

Ray Bradbury's Fahrenheit 451 will be discussed on Tuesday, April 30 from 7 - 8:30 p.m. in Room 2 as part of Toronto Public Library's Keep Toronto Reading Festival.

The discussion will be led by a librarian from the Merril Collection, whose expertise is in science fiction and fantasy.

I listened to the audiobook read by Bradbury himself.  In an interview at the end of his reading, you'll discover that Bradbury wrote the novel in the early 1950's on a rental typewriter in the basement of UCLA's Lawrence Clark Powell library.  During his career he produced over 500 published works that included novels, short stories and screen plays.  Fahrenheit 451 became one of his best known novels. He died at the age of 91 on June 5, 2012.

Come and join the discussion of this very powerful novel.  There is still time to read the book, listen to the audio, or watch the DVD.