Feeling SAD? Attend a Living Well Program!

Now that we're heading into colder weather, most of us are starting to feel the winter blues kick in. The shortened days and decrease in daylight actually trigger the onset of a disorder called SAD, Seasonal Affective Disorder. Feeling unmotivated or moody? The library can help you take steps to keep your mood steady!

The Barbara Frum Library is hosting programs as a part of the Living Well series, geared around fitness, health & wellness, clinical counselling, and much more:

Memory & Aging
November 10^th, 2015
2:00 pm – 3:30 pm

   Nutrition Workshop:
Better Bones, Better You
November 12^th, 2015
10:00 am – 11:00 am

Boost Your Willpower, Change your life
December 2^nd, 2015
7:00 pm – 8:00 pm

Stress Management through Restorative Meditation
December 10^th, 2015
7:00 pm – 8:00 pm

Have a Good Night's Sleep
January 12^th, 2016
2:00 pm – 3:30 pm

How to Live Happily to the Very End
February 9^th, 2016
2:00 pm – 3:30 pm

Spoken Word Workshops for Teens
Every Tuesday
4:30 pm – 6:30 pm

For more information on programs, please visit the library or call 416-395-5440.

Also, don't forget to check out the Living Well displays on both the first and second floors of Barbara Frum Library, featuring library picks on healthy living.

Living Well Book Display at Barbara Frum Library

 

 

Embrace Your Inner Entrepreneur

Up until recently, I've been toying with the idea of starting my own business. Living in an era where startups are the thing, it seems like every other person owns or is involved in a small business. In fact, self-employment now represents 15.6% of all working Canadians, as of January 2015, according to this Globe & Mail article. 

But it's way harder than it looks. First, what product or service can you provide that isn't already out there? Let's say you already have a business idea in mind. Good. But are you passionate enough about it to invest all your blood, sweat, and tears into it?

Don't know the answers to these questions? Fortunately for you, if you're stuck in this rut, there are a ton of resources out there that can help!

The Barbara Frum Branch is one of the three locations in Toronto that is hosting the Business Inc. program.

"Take part in an 8-week business program offered in partnership with the City of Toronto and the Toronto Business Devleopment Centre. Learn from professionals and get on your way to making your business dreams a reality!"

Not only will you get one-on-one access to a business advisor, you'll get the help you need in preparing your business plan. To apply, go to www.tpl.ca/businessinc. 

To find out more about Business Inc., the Barbara Frum Branch is hosting an orientation session on Thursday, September 17, 6:30-8 pm. Sessions are also available at Fairview Branch and Bloor/Gladstone Branch.

 

Business Inc.

 

Need more inspiration? 

Forbes' 30 Under 30 is a list of today's young game changers, movers, and makers, including entrepreneurs from a variety of industries. Also, don't forget to attend the annual Small Business Forum to network with other entrepreneurs and learn how to grow your business.

Check out Toronto Public Library's very own Business & Personal Finance blog to be kept in the loop with upcoming business programs and for further resources at the library.

 

Fall 2015 Children's Programs at Barbara Frum

Summer is nearly over and it's already time to start planning ahead for Fall. We have some great programs coming up for children of all ages and we would love to see you there! Please register in person or by calling 416-395-5440.

Preschool Programs:

Baby Time: Bouncing and tickling rhymes, songs and stories for babies from birth to 18 months with parents or caregivers. Tuesdays, September 29 - November 3 2015, 10-10:30 am, 3rd floor, Room B. Register in person or by calling 416-395-5440. Registration begins Tuesday, September 1, 2015.

Toddler Time: Bouncing and tickling rhymes, songs and stories for children 19-35 months with parents or caregivers. Tuesdays, November 10 - December 15, 2015, 10-10:30 am, 3rd Floor, Room B. Register in person or by calling 416-395-5440. Registration begins Tuesday, September 1, 2015.

Pyjama Time: Stories, songs, rhymes & activities for children ages 5 & under with parents and caregivers. Don't forget to wear pyjamas and bring a cuddly friend. Tuesdays September 8-29. Please register in person or by calling 416-395-5440.

Back to School Family Story Time: Join library staff for stories, poems and crafts with a school theme. Saturday September 12, 10-11 AM. Please register in person or by calling 416-395-5440. 

PJ Plus - Parent and Me Jewish Fun: A 10 week parent/tot program of hands on Jewish fun! PJ Library stories, music 'n movin', arts and crafts, puppets for you and your child to have an educationally fun experience while embracing Jewish values. For ages 18 months - 2.5 years beginning Oct. 15th from 10 - 11:15am. Fee - $135.00 For registration and more information contact Adina Lipson at 905-303-1821 x 3258, or register online at www.srcentre.ca

School Age Programs:

After School Club: Looking for something to do after school? Join the after school club! We meet every Tuesday to make stuff, play games, do crafts, talk about books, and more! Take a look here to see what it's all about. Tuesdays September 15 - December 15. For kids ages 8-12. Please call 416-395-5440 for more information and to register.

BF Kids' Book Club: Learn about new books, talk about your favourites, and participate in fun activities. Ages 8-12. Mondays September 28, October 26, December 7, 2015. Please register in person or by calling 416-395-5440.

Halloween Puppet Show: Tailypo: A puppet show performance of the book, "Tailypo" by library staff.    This story is about an old man who eats the tail of a strange creature called the tailypo. Tailypo then returns to seek revenge. Schools please call ahead to book your group.

Swallowing Clouds: A dance and literary workshop: Working with professional dancers, musicians and authors, workshop participants will be guided through an inspiring creative journey leading up to an exciting performance. Presented in partnership with Princess Productions. Ages 9-12. Mondays & Thursdays November 2-19, 4-6 PM. Snacks will be provided. Please register in person or by calling 416-395-5440.

MAP Family Saturdays - Black Creek Pioneer Village Visits Barbara Frum: Learn how wool from a sheep's back turns into a shawl or sweater. Tease, card, spin wool and take home your own woolen bracelet. Suitable for kids ages 5-12. Space is limited. Please register in person or by calling 416-395-5440. Registration starts Tuesday, October 6, 2015.

Extra, Extra: News for Muggles and the Wizarding World

This post is brought to you by Barbara Frum Library's children's librarian Amena, a huge Harry Potter fan!

It has been eight years since the last Harry Potter book was published and four years since the last film, but “the Boy Who Lived” continues to make headlines.

Here’s the latest in Harry Potter (HP) news:

An HP spin-off film, possibly the first of a trilogy, is scheduled for release in the fall of 2016. Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them is an adaptation of a Hogwarts textbook penned by the fictional magizoologist Newt Scamander. The film, set in New York, follows Newt on his adventures as he attempts to document magical creatures. Eddie Redmayne has signed on for the leading role and Colin Farrell is the latest addition to the cast.

In other film news, a fan-made short film titled Severus Snape and the Marauders will be released on YouTube this December. It’s hard to imagine anyone other than Alan Rickman playing Snape but since the movie is set in 1978 (and is an independent, non-profit venture) I’m willing to refresh my mental image of Severus.  Set in a bar, we meet James Potter, Sirius Black, Remus Lupin and Peter Pettigrew (the Marauders) as they celebrate their graduation from Hogwarts – until Snape shows up.  Dun-dun-duuun!

And the latest theory that is currently blowing the minds of Muggles everywhere involves our beloved Dumbledore. To understand this we need to revisit the The Tale of the Three Brothers. Fans have posited that the three brothers are Voldemort (Elder Wand), Snape (Resurrection Stone), and Harry (Invisibility Cloak). But who represents Death in this tale?  Well, according to a Tumblr post that has resurfaced Dumbledore is Death. 

If you’re new to the Wizarding World or just want to revisit Hogwarts visit your local library to check out the ever popular series.

PS. If you happen to be a Harry Potter AND Taylor Swift fan you may find this trending video entertaining!

Buying Property in Ontario

Find out about buying property in Ontario and the First Time Homebuyer Program. Sofia Uzlaner, Sales Representative of Right at Home Realty Inc., will provide all the information you need to know about making your first real estate purchase. Please register for this program by calling or e-mailing one of Barbara Frum Library's summer settlement workers:

Ariel Lopez (416) 294-2332 ([email protected]) or Valentina Camilleri (647) 296-0963 ([email protected]).

When: Wednesday, July 29, 2015, 6-8 pm

Where: Barbara Frum Library, 3rd floor, Room C

(image courtesy of https://pixabay.com/p-155524/?no_redirect)

For more information on purchasing real estate, check out these additional resources:

Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation CMHC offers objective housing research and advice to Canadian consumers.

 

Canadian Real Estate Wealth is Canada's only monthly publication dedicated to Canadian real estate investors.

 

 

 

The Royal LePage Survey of Canadian Home Prices quarterly report on home prices in communities throughout the Canadian real estate market. Issues are posted online approximately one month after the close of each quarter.

More programs for new homebuyers.

Capoeira at Barbara Frum Branch

Are you between 12-18 years old? Are you interested in music, dance, or martial arts? Join us at Barbara Frum on Monday July 13^th, 2015 at 2:00 PM for an amazing introductory workshop to Capoeira run by Axe Capoeira Toronto. Capoeira is a Brazilian martial art that combines music, dance and martial arts. Complex and beautiful, Capoeira is fun and a great workout!

Come out and try this rhythmic, intense and powerful art! Register in person or by calling 416-395-5440.

Also check out some of these great resources on Capoeira:

     

          

 

Celebrating the End of a Great School Year with the After School Club at Barbara Frum

Barbara Frum had a great time this year in our after school club - the kids made some awesome things like puppets, altered books, LED bracelets, Banana pianos, and stop motion movies. Check out some of the kids' amazing work below!

Summer Reading Club Mural:
Everyone worked really hard designing and colouring this beautiful mural for this year's summer reading club.

Puppets: 
Everyone got creative making and decorating sock puppets and gloves!


    

       

Altered Books:
The kids turned unwanted and damaged books into new works of art and functional items like treasure chests. This was such a popular program we are offering this again this summer on Thursday July 23rd at 2 PM. Please register in preson or by calling 416-395-5440.

 

LED Bracelets & Pocket Lights:
Using foam, coin cell batteries and mini LED lights we made bracelets and pocket lights.

     

Makey Makey Banana Piano: 
We learned about circuits and had an amazing time making a piano out of bananas.

Lego!:  

     
   
  


Stop Motion Animation:
The kids used plasticine, lego, and the Stop Motion App on iPads to create their movies.
 

   

  
After school club will take a break for the summer, but will return in September and run all year long on Tuesdays from 4-5 PM with more great free activities for children ages 8-12. Please call 416-395-5440 for more information. We hope to see you there! 

Are you Keeping up with the Kardashians?

Even if you're not, I’m sure you’ve heard about Bruce Jenner and the transformation into Caitlyn Jenner. After years of battling a gender identity crisis, Jenner finally got the courage and announced the decision to undergo gender transformation surgeries. You can see the beginning of her cosmetic transformation on the cover of July's Vanity Fair. Can't wait that long? Check out other magazines like People, Us Weekly, Cosmopolitan, and GQ. We have copies in branch or use Zinio and browse hundreds of magazines from the comfort of your home, free with your library card. Interested in other transgender celebrities? Check out our LGBTQ collection. The Toronto Public Library values diversity and equity and is proud to once again be participating in this year's Pride Parade taking place on Sunday, June 28th, 2015.  For more info click here.

 

Bright sparks in the book world

                        

Enjoy the delights that only a truly well-written book can offer - all of these titles have either been recently nominated for major international awards or have actually won them. Book Club reading, anybody?

A Girl is a Half Formed Thing by McBride, Eimear

Americanah by Adichie, Chimamanda Ngozi

Burial Rites by Kent Hannah

The Lowland by Lahiri, Jhumpa

The Undertaking by Magee, Audrey     

The Death of Bees by O’Donnell, Lisa

How to be Both by Smith, Ali,                               

The Lives of Others by Mukherjee, Neel

Nora Webster : A Novel by Tóibín, Colm,               

The Sound of Things Falling by Vásquez, Juan G.abriel

Absolution by Flanery, Patrick

The Detour by Bakker, Gerbrand

The Light of Amsterdam by Park, David

The Spinning Heart by Ryan, Donal

Traveler of the Century by Neuman, Andrés

The Narrow Road to the Deep North by Flanagan, Richard

To Rise Again at a Decent Hour by Ferris, Joshua

We are all Completely Besides Ourselves by Fowler, Karen

The Woman Who Lost her Soul by Shacochis, Bob

The Back of the Turtle by King, Thomas (Canadian)

My October by Rothman, Claire (Canadian)

The Opening Sky by Thomas, Joan (Canadian)

Sweetland by Crummey, Michael (Canadian)

All my Puny Sorrows by Toews, Miriam (Canadian)

The Betrayers by Bezmozgis, David (Jewish Book Council Award) 

          

 The Ever After of Ashwin Rao by Viswanathan, Padma (Canadian)

Tell by Itani, Frances (Canadian)

Kicking the Sky by De Sa, Anthony (Canadian)

The Hungry Ghosts by Selvadurai, Shyam (Canadian)

The Wondrus Woo by Leung, Carrianne (Canadian)

This is War by Moscovitch, Hannah (Canadian)

Cataract City by Davidson, Craig (Canadian)

The Mathematician’s Shiva by Rojstaczer, Stuart  (Jewish Book Council Award)

Computer Basics at Barbara Frum Library

Ever wanted to learn how to search the Internet to find accurate and reliable information? Need help with computers but were too afraid to ask? We've got you covered! Barbara Frum Library now offers free computer classes in its brand new Le@rning Centre.

Barbara Frum Library's Le@rning Centre

We offer a variety of hands-on computer classes to help newcomers, seniors, adults, teens & children (grades 2-6) learn more about the Internet, online resources, and research databases:

• Computer Basics for Seniors
• Web Basics
• E-mail Made Easy
• Microsoft Word Basics
• Microsoft Excel Basics
• Microsoft PowerPoint Basics
• Social Networking
• eBooks & OverDrive
• Homework & Research Help

For the monthly class schedule, please visit or call the branch at (416) 395-5441. Tickets are distributed on a first-come first-served basis, 30 minutes before each class at the second floor reference desk. Space is limited. See you there!