Image courtesy of http://www.worldislandinfo.com It's Earth Month 2016 and the time has come to take seriously our impact on the planet. Toronto Public Library is happy to present the best of our collections on environmental education, geared to children, teens and adults. Watch for environmental displays in branches across the city and pick up some […]
Image courtesy of Wikipedia Health literacy is "the ability to access, comprehend, evaluate and communicate information as a way to promote, maintain and improve health…" (Public Health Agency of Canada). People with low health literacy levels are less able to manage their health conditions, more likely to rate their health as poor and they have higher […]
I remember the first time I was ever in a health foods store and looked at bottles of compounds such as Coenzyme Q10 and St. John's Wort Oil, and thought that any claims for these remedies for colds or allergies must be due to the placebo effect. I was similarly skeptical when I saw ads in […]
image courtesy of Wikipedia.com The microbiome is "the complete genetic content of all the microorganisms that typically inhabit a particular environment, especially a site on or in the body, such as the skin or the gastrointestinal tract" (American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 2011). I first heard the term microbiome a few years ago with respect to the […]
When one is searching for health information, the usual suspects come to mind–books, encyclopedias and magazines. The latest research is available in journal articles which can be found in the library's databases, Health Reference Center Academic and Health and Wellness Resource Center. Health information can also be found in eBooks and eAudiobooks in Overdrive or […]
Miners used to bring caged canaries with them into the coal mines. If there were any dangerous gases, the canaries would die before the miners and thus the miners would be warned that they should vacate the mines. Now the term canary in a coal mine refers to "something whose sensitivity to adverse conditions makes it a useful early […]
With flu season just around the corner, it's time to get prepared. Torontonians have many options to avail themselves of the flu shot. Besides doctors' offices, you can get the flu shot at your neighbourhood pharmacy. If that is not convenient, the City of Toronto has many flu clinics scheduled all over the […]
No need to wait for the new year to make a healthy living resolution… November is Living Well Month at the Toronto Public Library, so why not start now? To help you get started, the Toronto Public Library is offering a series of programs and Living Well displays at your local branch. Librarians have also compiled […]
Recently, while I was looking through the books in the health selection, I saw a wonderful array of books in the general call number area of 610 (Medical Sciences). Read one or more to get into a trick or treating mood… And for something completely different, I highly recommend Ray Bradbury's short story, The October […]
In honour of Mental Illness Awareness Week, October 4-10, 2015, North York Central Library will be screening the award-winning documentary, Out of Mind, Out of Sight on Thursday October 8, 6:45 pm. Please register with the Society & Recreation Department, 416-395-5660. If you aren't able to come for this screening but are interested in learning […]