This post reproduces text from Vice & Virtue exhibit, which was on display in TD Gallery at Toronto Reference Library from February 11 to April 30, 2017. The exhibit explores moral reform in Toronto as it faced rapid growth and industrialization at the turn-of-the-century. Each one of the exhibit's main panels is found below, word for word. Find […]
This post reproduces text from the Pop Sherlock exhibit, which was on display in TD Gallery at Toronto Reference Library from August 19 to October 22, 2017. The exhibit explores Sherlock Holmes as the ultimate pop culture icon. Each one of the exhibit's main panels is found below, word for word. Find more items from the Arthur Conan […]
This post reproduces text from the Destination Canada exhibit, which was on display in TD Gallery at the Toronto Reference Library from May 20 to July 30, 2017. The exhibit explores our diverse experiences of migration, arrival and finding a place of belonging from early settlement to present day. Each one of the exhibit's main panels is found […]
Have you ever wanted to learn to draw? Before you answer with "I can't even draw a straight line," let me assure you that drawing is a skill that anyone can learn. Portion of a frontispiece from A Catechism of Drawing (1818). The two things needed to learn to draw are time and instruction. You […]
Have you been curious about web design, and would you like to know if it's something you'd be good at or enjoy doing? A recent blog showcased our eLearning resources on programming. Besides those, there are many free and open-source tools in the web that will enhance your path forward. Web development divides into two domains: […]
Fairy tales have a special ability to spark the imagination and transport readers to other worlds. These stories have been told and retold, with different tellers adding their unique perspective. This post features five fascinating fairy tales from our Osborne Collection of Early Children's Books, a research collection of rare and notable children’s books. Hundreds […]
Illustrations from The Cook Not Mad (1972 edition). Now that we're staying home due to COVID-19, I've seen many people baking bread and experimenting with their pantries. This modern pandemic seems to have brought us back to earlier times. In this spirit, I thought it'd be interesting to test a recipe from an early cookbook. […]
While we're practicing physical distancing, it's a great time to take a look at our digital collections for ways to stay engaged with learning about the things that interest us. If you don't have a library card, you can also get a temporary digital card to borrow these books from Overdrive. Below is a list […]
By a casual count, there are at least 19 items in the TPL catalogue with the title “Catherine the Great.” Why revisit this subject so often? She’s fascinating, is why. Catherine and her reign sit at the nexus of East and West, of profoundly religious and Enlightenment thinking, of rule by both the power accorded […]
Free movies, free programs, free classes. All at the Toronto Reference Library. Click on each image to enlarge or Download The March 2020 Toronto Reference Library Calendar (PDF). For a full listing to browse or search, visit our Programs, Classes and Exhibits.