The Library’s High School Outreach Program (HSO for short) takes librarians right into Toronto's high schools. Usually, the media centre or the school library provide the place for HSO librarians to demonstrate how library programs work, how students can register for library cards. Additionally, students find out how they can earn community service hours by […]
Of all the social networks, Facebook is the most popular. The library offers classes for you to learn about Facebook, as well as the basics for you to set up your own Facebook page. Classes are free. It's easy to find out what branches offer Facebook classes: From your screen go to the library's home […]
Starting in September and until December, the Toronto Reference Library will once again offer a large array of classes on the effective use of the world wide web, including: Web Basics, Web Basics for Seniors and Web 2.0. TRL will also be offering Research Skills, a two-part course that focuses on strategies for optimal use of the library's […]
It is interesting to observe how Google keeps coming up with new ways of organizing information. (In an earlier post I wrote about Google's Wonder Wheel.) Go to http://www.google.com. At top left click on "more." From the pull-down menu select "even more." Scroll down the list and open Web Search Features Note how Google has […]
There was a time, before the advent of computerized publications, when much work was required from the researcher: manual searching through indexes; verification in the library catalogue to find the sourced journal; copying by hand or photocopying of the article. The whole process could easily take one hour per article! Now searching for periodical information […]
The many branches that offer computer and library learning classes usually require that you register before attending. For example, the Toronto Reference Library offers classes that range from basic web searching strategies, to launching your business online. In between, you will find classes that teach you how to use the City of Toronto web site, […]
So many classes to choose from! The Toronto Public Library offers classes that will help you use the World Wide Web, find library materials, including articles in electronic publications, use the social networking sites for your small business, and much more. Courses offered include: Web Basics (levels I, II and III), Web Basics for Seniors […]
The word "database" has many meanings and applications. These are almost always specific to the person who uses the word. People in libraries use "database" to denote publications that are digital, or electronic in form. In other words, publications that are not printed on paper. Almost always, librarians use the word "database" to mean periodical […]
A little over a year ago, Google (www.google.com) introduced a new way of viewing web results. The "Wonder Wheel" expands on the notion of subject directories, and is a fantastic development in the way Google classifies information. Instead of simply listing web sites by categories, and subsets of categories, this system visually displays categories as […]
When you use the web site (www.torontopubliclibrary.ca), or the online catalogue to search for books, magazines and journals, and all other print and non-print materials at the TORONTO REFERENCE LIBRARY, you will often find that the location reads TRL STACKS. This is because two-thirds of all the library's collections are not in the open shelves […]