Brenda

IELTS versus TOEFL

November 30, 2012 | Brenda | Comments (1)

If recent questions at the reference desk are any indication, it would seem that IELTS (International English Language Testing System) is becoming more popular than the American TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language).  Both are used by employers and universities around the world to assess English language fluency, however it seems that the […]

The Whole She-Bang

November 29, 2012 | Brenda | Comments (0)

Join us at the Downsview Library on Thursday, December 6th, 1pm and meet authors Rosemary McCraken and Steve Shrott – two contributors to The Whole She-Bang: 20 stories by Sisters in Crime Canada. Rosemary McCracken is a Toronto-based fiction writer and journalist.  Her first mystery novel, Safe Harbor, was shortlisted for Britain’s Debut Dagger award […]

June Celebrations

June 23, 2012 | Brenda | Comments (0)

June is National Aboriginal Month and Downsview Branch is celebrating with dancing!  Join us for an amazing dance presentation by the Native Canadian Centre of Toronto.  All ages welcome. June 26, at 1pm in the auditorium June is also Italian Heritage Month.  Michael Tibollo, President of the National Congress of Italian-Canadians will be speaking on […]

Mobile Apps

January 7, 2012 | Brenda | Comments (0)

Reading Beverly’s post about downloading onto her itouch got me interested in trying Overdrive one more time.  Given that I don’t have a e-reader (I haven’t given in yet) my experience with Overdrive has been limited to trying to download audio books and then upload them onto an ipod – an exceedingly frustrating exercise that […]

New Year Resolutions

January 6, 2012 | Brenda | Comments (0)

Start the year off right by getting your finances into shape. Join us at Downsview Branch on Thursday, January 12th, 1:00pm for a Financial Resolutions Workshop. Learn ten simple ways to re-energize your financial dreams and goals while staying on track to meet them. Presented by the Investors Group. Or perhaps 2012 is the year […]

Looking for a reading challenge?

July 20, 2011 | Brenda | Comments (1)

Take part in the Evergreen Reading program for adults. Read the nominated titles for the 2011 Evergreen award and discover some great Canadian authors. Your challenge? Read the books and vote on a winner!    For a list and summary of the books http://accessola.com/forest2011evergreen/ The Evergreen Award is organized by the Ontario Library Association.Librarians across […]

Learn English using TPL databases

June 23, 2011 | Brenda | Comments (1)

Do you find that you only have the older editions of TOEFL books on your shelves?  No IELTS study guides in stock? Try referring customers to TPL's databases. Three excellent picks: 1. Mango Language Learning (good for beginners) – offers English programs with instructions in the learners' native language.  Provides English instruction for  speakers of: […]

New TPL iKits

March 31, 2011 | Brenda | Comments (0)

As Diana mentioned in her recent blog post, e-readers are certainly of interest to our customers who in turn expect us, their local information specialists, to be knowledgeable about mobile devices and the e-products that TPL offers.  Without hands-on experience it can be difficult to answer such questions.   A friend call me a few months […]