It’s always exciting to discover a new plant, flower or fungus. And the desire to bring it home and add it to your garden is understandable. However, there's one thing we've learned reading science fiction: it's a bad idea. Always take caution when transplanting a newly discovered species, especially one from another planet. Better yet, […]
The autistic community is a beautifully diverse community made up of people from all walks of life, including people of all ages. Despite this, conversations about autism often focus exclusively on children. Autistic adults frequently face barriers to accessing vital support because they are only for minors. It also means they are rarely consulted about […]
This post highlights books by some amazing women with disabilities who have made unique and ground-breaking contributions to Canadian arts and culture. Maud Lewis Maud Lewis (1938-1970) is one of Canada's most celebrated folk artists. As a child, she developed rheumatoid arthritis, which limited mobility in her hands. She lived most of her life in […]
A clever cat helps a commoner become a noble and marry a princess in Puss in Boots. This classic fairy tale has been in circulation for over 450 years. Italian Giovanni Francesco Straparola first wrote down Puss in Boots, but today French fairy tale collector Charles Perrault's version is best known. Our Osborne Collection of […]
Posted on behalf of Services to Vulnerable Persons (SVP). As we celebrate Social Work Month in March, let us revisit the important role the library plays as a social support site. Social workers, much like library professionals, break down barriers to access. Public libraries are hiring social workers in Canada and the United States to […]
In 2022, The United Nations General Assembly designated March 15th as the International Day to Combat Islamophobia. This designation was adopted in response to an alarming rise in anti-Muslim discrimination and bigotry. The purpose of this day is to remember victims of Islamophobic acts of violence and encourage the promotion of “interreligious and intercultural dialogue […]
There are a lot of misconceptions about Down syndrome. About what it is, how it affects a person and what that person is capable of. Down syndrome is an intellectual disability, but it is not a birth defect. The Canadian Down Syndrome Society defines it as "a naturally occurring chromosomal arrangement that has always existed […]
The 95th Academy Awards takes place on Sunday, March 12 with Jimmy Kimmel hosting. It will be hard to top the drama of last year's ceremony with The Slap, but as long as live television is live, it will continue to deliver. Canada's most prominent nominee, Women Talking based on Miriam Toews' novel, is also […]
Speculative fiction (science fiction, fantasy and horror) is usually seen as a boy's club. But women have been contributing to these genres for just as long. Women have taken part in every level of the creation of speculative fiction, from writing to editing to illustrating. The Merril Collection of Science Fiction, Speculation & Fantasy is […]
On February 11, 2023, the United Nations and scientists around the world celebrate the International Day of Women and Girls in Science. Although the inclusion of women in science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) fields has improved significantly in recent years, there is still a long way to go. According to the UN, women in […]