Toronto Reference Library Blog

Celebrated and Notorious Women of the Victorian Era

If you are interested in Women's history and / or the Victorian era, don't miss the upcoming Thought Exchange program "Celebrated and Notorious Women of the Victorian Era."

The 19th century was populated by a bevy of beautiful, dangerous and courageous women. From the exploits of Lily Langtry and the treachery of Lizzie Borden to the nearly forgotten heroism of Nellie Bly, it was a time of change and opportunity.

Barbara Rusch, founder and President of the Ephemera Society of Canada, will explore the lives of some of the celebrated and notorious women whose achievements and infamy have made their mark on the fabric of this fascinating age.

The program will take place in the Toronto Reference Library's Beeton Auditorium on Tuesday, November 29, 2011. 1:00-2:00 p.m.

 

Click here for more Thought Exchange lectures.

Biodiversity Series : Mammals of Toronto

When most Torontonians think of animals here in the City, we think RACCOONS! 

And most of us have a few choice words to say about those mammals.

The Red Fox shown here is an integral part of Toronto’s wildlife community, occupying diverse habitats from the lakeshore to ravines and woodlots and even people’s backyards on occasion. It is well adapted to live in the city.

 

I've seen fox and coyote in my midtown area near the Cedarvale Ravine. How about you? 

Karen McDonald fell in love with wildlife and nature growing up on a farm in eastern Ontario.  Now, as a Project Manager with the Toronto Region and Conservation Authority, she works with a dynamic team on habitat restoration projects that enhance habitat for Toronto’s wildlife.  

Karen’s work with mammals includes coyote tracking in urban centers; characterizing white-tailed deer habitat and populations; resolving human conflicts with beavers; and handling public inquires about mammals.  She is proud to be a contributing author of Mammals of Toronto,  one of the Biodiversity in the City series of booklets put out by the City of Toronto. 

Come hear Karen McDonald of the Toronto and Region Conservation Authority, contributor to Mammals of Toronto : a Guide to Their Remarkable World, next in our Thought Exchange series on Biodiversity in the City.

See you on Tuesday, November 22, 2011, 

at 1pm at the in the Beeton Auditorium,

Toronto Reference Library,

789 Yonge St.

 

Bird Illustration in the 19th Century

The Toronto Reference Library houses the famous double-elephant folio edition of John James Audubon’s Birds of America, and a collection of water colours by William Pope.  In the Special Collections Centre (4th floor), you will find other 19^th century ornithology books with many beautiful coloured illustrations like the ones featured on this page.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 Sources: 

1.  Illustrations of the birds of California, Texas, Oregon, British and Russian America / by John Cassin, 1856

 2. A monograph of the weaverbirds, ploceidae, and arboreal and terrestrial finches, fringillidae / by Edward Bartlett, 1889

 3. Familiar wild birds / by W. Swaysland, 1883-1888

 4. Coloured illustrations of British birds and their eggs / by H. L. Meyer, 1842-1847

 5. Coloured figures of the birds of the British Islands / by Lord Thomas Lilford,  1891-1897

 

                

 

Generic vs. Brand Name Drugs

 

 

As part of our on-going celebration of the International Year of Chemistry 2011, join us for our third lecture in the Chemistry Speaker Series by Dr. Edward Lee-Ruff.

Generic vs. Brand Name Drugs: Ongoing Patent Issues

 Wednesday, November 9, 6:30-8:00 pm

Toronto Reference Library, 789 Yonge St.

Beeton Auditorium, 1^st floor

FREE!  ALL ARE WELCOME! Questions? Call Answerline 416-393-7131

Dr. Edward Lee-Ruff, Faculty of Science and Engineering, York University will discuss issues related to  brand name drugs and their generic equivalents such as government regulatory specifications, production costs, and patent issues (term of patent, re-patenting of "new forms" alias "re-inventing the wheel"). Some examples of specific drugs will be discussed.

Interested in doing some research before the talk? Read the Health Council of Canada's commissioned report Generic Drug Pricing and Access in Canada : What are the Implications? for an overview of why Canadians pay high prices for generics and recent changes that might make them more affordable. Some books at the Toronto Reference Library that discuss patent issues include Drug Patents under the Spotlight: Sharing Practical Knowledge about Pharmaceutical Patents published by Médecins sans Frontières and Regulating Bioprospecting : Institutions for Drug Research, Access, and Benefit-sharing.