Toronto Reference Library Blog

Memory and Aging

If your memory isn't what it used to be, this should be of interest. 

On Tuesday, Jan. 31 from 2 - 3 pm, graduate students from Ryerson University's Cognitive Aging Lab, will demonstrate techniques to improve memory and mental abilities, in a presentation called: Memory & Aging: Strategies to Improve Mental Abilities .  The session will be held in the Beeton Auditorium on the main floor of Toronto Reference Library.        

The Cognitive Aging Lab conducts research to better understand age-related changes in cognition (e.g. attention, memory, and learning) and the associated brain functions.  All are welcome to this free and interactive demonstration.

Watch as well for Nutrition and Brain Function.  This is another Thought Exchange lecture about the brain, but this one looks at the relationship between diet and cognitive change.  Find out how food choices can play a role in the way your brain ages. 

Dr. Carol Greenwood, Baycrest senior scientist and Department of Nutritional Sciences, University of Toronto, presents her research on the relationship between diet and brain function on Thursday, Feb. 23, 1 - 3 pm at the Beeton Auditorium, Toronto Reference Library.

Unbuilt Toronto 2 - More of the City That Might Have Been

Mark Osbaldeston's sequel, Unbuilt Toronto 2, provides an all-new, fascinating return to the "Toronto that might have been. What would Toronto look like today if...?" Enter through the Library's new Cube to find out what Moriyama's original plans were for the new Metropolitan Toronto Reference Library. Has a dream been fulfilled?

Discover some of Toronto's most fascinating planning, transit and architectural "what-ifs," as Mark presents an illustrated talk based on his new book.

Learn about Eaton's grand plans from 1912, a magnetically levitated light rail transit system that the provincial government actually started to build in the 1970s, and how Toronto would look today if it had hosted the Olympics in 1996.

His first book, Unbuilt Toronto: A History of the City That Might Have Been, was the basis for an exhibition at the Royal Ontario Museum, was a finalist for the Toronto Book Awards, and received a Heritage Toronto Award of Merit.

What the press has to say about Osbaldeston's new book:

Mark Osbaldeston Exorcizes Toronto’s Architectural Ghosts

Unbuilt Toronto gets a worthy sequel

What could the Toronto Reference Library have looked like?

 

Come down to the Beeton Auditorium, Toronto Reference Library

789 Yonge St.

Monday, January 30, 2012 from 7:00 p.m. - 8:30 p.m.

Books available for sale and signing by the author.

 

 

MIT Media Lab

If you are interested in the process of technological innovation you'll enjoy The Sorcerers and their Apprentices: How the Digital Magicians of the MIT Media Lab are Creating the Innovative Technologies that will Transform Our Lives, by Frank Moss, former Director of the MIT Media Lab. 

Part of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, School of Architecture + Planning, the Media Lab is a unique research space where faculty, staff and students from different disciplines collaborate to design and build problem-solving technologies. 

 

More than 70 corporations, including Google, Sony, GM and LEGO, sponsor the research and agree to an unusual "open IP policy" whereby they do not have exclusive rights to the inventions. Employees from these companies are welcome to collaborate in the research process. 

Some projects include:

CityCar:  a foldable, stackable electric car developed by the Smart Cities Research Group. It made its debut this week in Brussels and will be rolled out to other cities by 2013.

PowerFoot : a prosthetic ankle that enables amputees to walk naturally. The Biomechatronics Group at the Media Lab specializes in bio-hybrids, the merging of humans and machines, to create sophisticated prostheses. PowerFoot is being worn by Iraqi and Afghanistan veterans.

Other amazing projects:  Scratch, the site where children are programmers and Nexi, the companionable robot.

Frank Moss attributes much of the success of the Media Lab to its distinctive "anti-disciplinary approach." CityCar, for example, was developed by people without a background in transportation or automotive design. Researchers at the Media Lab are truly passionate about merging different fields in order to bring their ideas to life.  

Come into the Business, Science and Technology Department on the third floor of the Toronto Reference Library and immerse yourself in the technology of the future!

Book Ends South - New, Improved, Bigger and Better @ Toronto Reference Libary

Have you seen the amazing new space for Book Ends South at the Toronto Reference Library yet?

The Friends of the Library - South Chapter have just expanded their second-hand bookstore into the much awaited new location within the Toronto Reference Library - which itself is having an ongoing renovation. This is during a period when many smaller bookstores in Toronto have closed or are under duress (The Book Mark, Glad Day, Britnell's, This Ain't the Rosedale Library, La Librairie Champlain, Pages and Dragon Lady Comics). 

 

According to Frank Velikonja, Chair of the Friends of Toronto Public Library - South Chapter, the new space has been open since January 3rd and "business has increased beyond our expectations".  "Buyers like the new space - there's more room to move, more titles available and several new categories have been implemented."  The majority of the books, CDs, videos and audiobooks cost $1.00 with some items specially priced.  While the emphasis is on non-fiction there is also lots of fiction in hardcover and paperback.

 

In 2011 the Friends of Toronto Public Library - South Chapter donated $63,000 from sales at the bookstore and from special sales (including Treasures and clearance sales) to the Toronto Public Library Foundation.  These much needed funds help support Literacy Programs for Children at Toronto Public Library including "English Can Be Fun" and also the very popular "Dial a Story".  They also supported enhanced programs at the Toronto Reference Library like the On Stage Performing Arts Theatre Series and the On Stage Shakespeare Series done with the Stratford Festival. 

 

Book Ends South sells a variety of donations from the public and also withdrawn items from the Library. If you have a very large donation of boxes of books you can call 416.393.7139 to see about pickup or drop off or email: friendssouthchapter@torontopubliclibrary.ca.  You can also drop off donations at the Toronto Reference Library in the donation book bin pictured above.  Your local library branch can also take donations of good quality books and other materials. 

There is also a Book Ends at the North York Central Library - Concourse level that is associated with the Friends of Toronto Public Library - North Chapter who also support children's literacy at the Library through the Leading to Reading Program. In 2011 the North Chapter raised and donated $51,000 to the Toronto Public Library Foundation.  To contact the Friends of Toronto Public Library-North Chapter please call: 416.395.5678 or email: friendsnorthchapter@torontopubliclibrary.ca .

 

 

 

Service Update - January 19, 2012

Welcome to the Toronto Reference Library new cube entrance and the renovated Browsery on the main floor! 

The revitalization program at the Toronto Reference Library will be entering an exciting new stage with the completion of these two key elements.  There is still work to be done in the new TD Gallery (opening date to be confirmed).   The next phase, the construction of the new Special Collections Centre on the 5^th floor has just begun.  When completed, this will include a spectacular two-storey Rotunda to bring increased accessibility to the library’s vast Special Collections.

As part of the construction, there may be some service disruptions:

For the week of January 16:

The Toronto Star Newspaper Room is temporarily closed until further notice. Current newspapers are available on the 4th floor and newspapers on microfilm can be retrieved from this location.

Periodicals on microfilm are not accessible temporarily because they are being moved.  Please check with staff to see if there are alternate ways of accessing periodicals.

Three ranges of books on the 2nd floor in the 900's travel and history area have been temporarily moved toward the elevator due to the construction.  Ranges are a little out of sequence, please ask staff for assistance.

As part of the move of periodicals into the subject departments, periodicals on the humanities and social science subjects have been moved to the 2nd floor from the 4th floor and periodicals in the business and science & technology area have been moved to the 3rd floor.  There are lists of these titles at the service desks.  Please ask staff for assistance. 

Some computers (28)  on the main floor remain out of service to accommodate wiring work due to construction. There are computers on the terrace and also on floors 3, 4 & 5 and the basement.

The Arthur Conan Doyle Room on the 5^th floor is temporarily closed. However, the collection is still accessible in the Baldwin Room in Special Collections on the 4^th floor.

The Music Practice Room has been moved to the 4^th floor, in Room 401 beside the washrooms.

The move of the Urban Affairs Collection from Metro Hall to the Toronto Reference Library is  complete and the books in the public and stack areas are now available.  Periodicals published prior to 2009 are not currently accessible.  Many of these periodicals may be accessible in electronic format.  Please ask staff for assistance.

In the Centre for People with Disabilities, screen reading (JAWS) and Kurzweil software and the Braille printer are out of service. For assistance, call 416-393-7099.