The Pop Up Learnings Labs, a program now just over two years old, are an awesome addition to the innovation services running throughout the vast Toronto Public Library network. They help provide access to new and innovative technologies in areas that may be a far from one of the permanent Digital Innovation Hubs by bringing […]
In short, yes. If someone asked you what code is would you know how to answer them? Is coding some foreign concept to you? What if I told you that you are surrounded by code every day of your life; every red light you pull up to, every text message you send, every alarm you […]
Did you know you can use the 3D printer at any of our six Digital Innovation Hubs across the city? After attending a free one-hour 3D Printer Certification class, you can book one of the multiple 3D printers available at the Digital Innovation Hubs for a small fee. Often we get asked, “What should I […]
An openness to learning is the most important skill a computer programmer must have. Whether it's a kid on a summer day learning Scratch, or an adult experimenting with an Arduino after work, success as a programmer is really just finding a new thing, big or small, and devoting a few moments a week to […]
At the Fort York Digital Innovation Hub, resident technicians James Topping and Alex Lai offer a variety of courses that meet the needs of the maker community. A popular course at the library, and especially at the Fort York branch, is the Intro to Arduino. Arduino is a microcontroller that can be easily coded with […]
For more than a century, the only way to make professional quality films was to use either 16mm or 35mm film cameras. They were big, they were heavy, and not to mention expensive. But things have changed. Over the last ten years, digital technology has started to catch up. DSLR’s are now the go-to cameras […]
We're still reeling from the really surreal experience from the Maker Extravaganza that happened at the Toronto Reference Library on July 8 and 9. It was unreal! Well, sort of. The library was not only honoured to be the host venue of this event, but its Digital Innovation Hub staged a Mixed Reality demo. Mixed […]
A Danish fabrication laboratory – a similar space with an arts focus theme is coming to North York Central Library (image by: Kristian Bang via Wikimedia Commons). Share your ideas for an exciting new fabrication space coming to the library in 2018! As part of North York Central Library's renovations, the second floor will be dedicated to […]
Photo credit: Ashley Lo Russo As we move into October, I wanted to reflect back on the past month in my role as the Innovator in Residence for virtual reality (VR) at Scarborough Civic Centre branch. Up until now, I have spent all my time at the Scarborough branch and I have been taken aback […]
On Saturday, September 17 and Sunday, September 18 developers, data scientists, mappers and idea people were invited to learn about the City of Toronto Poverty Reduction Strategy at Toronto Public Library’s second annual Hackathon. The library in partnership with the Toronto Open Data Institute, City of Toronto and Social Planning Toronto hosted the event at the Toronto […]