Teen Tech Week is an annual event to encourage teens to explore and discover different technologies available at their local libraries. Check out some of the things you can do at the library during Teen Tech Week, March 5–11, 2023, or any time of the year! 3D Printed tree ornaments...
Improving your presentation skills can help you feel more comfortable in front of a group, whether it's at school, at work or in your community. Presentations can be challenging. For some people the hardest part is speaking in front of a group, while others have a hard time figuring out...
The library can help you prepare for the OSSLT, or Ontario Secondary School Literacy Test Are you about to take your OSSLT? If you have already gone through the online practice tests from EQAO but are still feeling worried about it, you are not alone. The good news is that...
Teens new to Canada or learning English as a secon...
Students will need to adapt to online learning this fall. The school year for high school students is going to look different this year. Online learning is going to be a big part of it, so we’ve pulled together the best tips out there on how to succeed in online...
Online research takes skill. In high school, you need to transition from searching for information to researching a topic. When you have to do research, a simple Google search is no longer enough. This is when Google Scholar and library databases can help. We know this transition is challenging and...
Brainfuse is great for connecting live with Ontario-based tutors and for accessing the Writing Lab for support with your essays. Basically, if you need any type of homework help imaginable, they have you covered. If you're new to using Brainfuse, check out our blog post about how to reach live...
Ever been told by a teacher that for your next assignment you need to use books as sources? A REAL BOOK! Not websites, or articles from webpages or even a research database, but an actual book. While I’m hopeful you’ve searched our website for books or resources in the past,...
When you read a work of literature in an English class, you’re being asked not just to read but to perform literary analysis. This means thinking critically, examining and evaluating different parts of the text including – but not limited to – character traits, plot, and use of literary devices...
The library is a great place to study for exams. Pictured: Toronto Reference Library. Teen volunteer Ryan G. from the Leaside Branch Youth Advisory Group pulled together these top 10 tips to help you prepare for exams. Make an exam review and test yourself on the materials. By testing yourself...
Most students begin their research on Google. We all love to Google. Using Google or a similar search engine can provide quick and easy access to information. However, Google alone is not enough when it comes to research. Much of the information retrieved with a Google search has not been...
Research and building research skills is one of the biggest new areas when you enter high school. Last month this blog touched on issues related to plagiarism and in this post we'll expand on that into exactly how to avoid plagiarizing from the sources you use in your research. While...
As a librarian who spends most of her days in Toronto high schools, I have sat in on a lot of staff room lunches and overheard a lot of talk that probably sounds familiar to you. “…and I was able to google parts of his assignment and found the exact...
1. Find not-fake information Don't waste your time trying to tell if the stuff you Googled is real or not. The library has online articles that have been published in journals, magazines and newspapers. 2. Learn the stuff you want Heard of Lynda.com yet? Awesome online courses on computer programming,...
Arts and crafts, DJing and a Photoshop creation at a Youth Hub, but that's not all! Teens visiting the Toronto Public Library Youth Hubs have so many good things to say about their experiences, it's hard to know who to quote first! Jasmine really got to the heart of it...
Missed my first post on grammar and punctuation? Check it out here. Next up…two more grammar and punctuation mistakes I see in submissions: We just can't agree. Subjects/verbs and nouns/pronouns should agree in number. Pronouns should agree with each other. Incorrect: My stories reveals character growth. Incorrect: A writer is...
Self editing is tough. How can a writer tear apart the paragraphs and scenes they slaved over? How can they know what to cut and what to keep? Here are ten tips to help you polish your project. 1. Tuck your baby in for a nap. Let your manuscript/story rest....
Grammar is something writers mess up. There's no shame in it. Even the most experienced writers can throw in a mistake or two when the story takes over and their typing fingers can't keep up with their thoughts. So here are the top five mistakes I see in submissions. Spot...