Written by Latifat Adeshina

Category: Blog

Published: 03 February 2020

Written by Rachel Hopwood

Happy Black History Month!

Black history month was officially recognized in Canada on December 1995. This month is dedicated to the achievements of everyone who has contributed to all of the key moments in black history. To celebrate, I will be sharing books in the categories of black history, contemporary, self-love and acceptance, fantasy and science fiction. If you’re looking for books to read during this month, or if you’re looking to read books about black history or the black experience, you’ve come to the right place.  

In this post, I will be sharing books to read in celebration of Black History Month. They cover topics like slavery, the Underground Railroad, civil rights and more. You’ll find out about Canada’s role and history in the slave trade as well as read fiction and non-fiction books about important black figures that have made an impact throughout our history. I will be dividing the books into kid-friendly titles as well as fiction and non-fiction for a general audience As you’re reading this list of recommendations, you can also note the books you are interested in and put them on hold online, for pick up at any of our eight library branches in Brampton!

1. Mae Among the Stars by Roda Ahmed: This is a story about the first African-American woman in space, Mae Jemison. It is meant to inspire young children, especially girls, to go for their dreams. Young Mae dreams of being an astronaut despite different opinions from her teacher and classmates. She continues to pursue her dreams and becomes the first African American woman in history to go to space. Recommended for ages 4 and over. 
2. Black Women Who Dared by Naomi N. Moyer: A picture book that features the lives of black women from the past who paved the way for black women in Canada and America today. This book will take you on a colourful journey through these women’s struggles, accomplishments, and how they’ve made history. Recommended for ages 9-13.
3.  Viola Desmond won’t be Budged by Jody Nyasha Warner: An inspiring storybook for kids based on how Viola Desmond changed Canadian history and fought for the rights of black people by standing up for herself. Recommended read for ages 6-9.
4.  Malaika’s Winter Carnival by Irene Luxbacher and Nadia L. Hohn: A picture book about a girl, Malaika, who is not impressed when her mother gets married and has to move to Canada with her from the Caribbean. Recommended for ages 3-9.

Fiction

1. Washington Black by Esi Edugyan: Written by two-time Scotiabank Giller Prize winning author Esi Edugyan, Washington Black is an adventurous work of historical fiction that follows Washington, a slave who has been sold to an unconventional slave master called Tish. Washington’s responsibilities are to help with Tish’s science experiments. Unfortunately, things change when Tish runs away with Washington in an effort to save him from a false murder conviction. This story explores the relationship between slave and master and the journey towards freedom and love.
2. Brother by David Chariandy: A story of two brothers set in Scarborough, Ontario in the summer of 1991, one of the city’s most violent summers ever. The themes of identity, struggle, grief and relationships can all be found in this book. It starts from the boys watching their immigrant mother work triple shifts at her cleaning job, explores the violence in their impoverished immigrant community as well as police violence and brutality. 
3. An Extraordinary Union by Alyssa Cole: A suspense-filled historical romance about a free woman named Elle who becomes an undercover spy on a plantation during the U.S. Civil War. Elle falls in love with a white man, an illegal act, and attempts to avoid getting caught while successfully completing her mission.
4. If Beale Street Could Talk by James Baldwin: A love story that endures the test of family drama, false imprisonment and loss.

Non-fiction

1. Black Writers Matter: Prose Written From a Point of View by Whitney French: A collection of stories from black writers of diverse backgrounds such as cab drivers, immigrants and activists. These stories are poetic, express strong emotions that are felt by readers and the end of each story provides a smooth resolution. The intersectionality of the writers makes this anthology a relatable read.
2.  Policing Black Lives: State Violence in Canada from Slavery to the Present by Robyn Maynard: A book that challenges the notion of Canada as a “cultural safe haven,” when compared to the United States. It highlights the racism in Canadian history and how this racism affects minorities such as black and indigenous people, members of the LGBTQ and immigrants today. This book is for you if you want to learn about systemic anti-black discrimination and the racism that minorities, immigrants and indigenous people faced in the past and how it has come to affect them now.
3.  The Skin We’re In by Desmond Cole: An outline of true stories that highlight black people’s experiences with police forces in Canada. This book challenges us to disrupt our ignorance toward systemic racism in Canada.
4.  They Call Me George: The Untold Story of Black Train porters and the Birth of Modern Canada by Cecil Foster: The story of black train porters in Canada and their contribution to Canadian advancement, diversity and inclusivity.
5.  Barracoon: The Story of the Last “Black Cargo” by Zora Neale Hurston: Cudjo Lewis, who was on one of the last ships to America during the slave trade, tells the story of his challenges coming to America as a slave and how he became a free man.

Written by Latifat Adeshina

Category: Blog

Published: 09 January 2020

I have been a member of the Brampton Library since I was in High School. During this time, I relied on eBooks to read some of my favourite fiction novels. I especially enjoyed eBooks on vacations and summer holidays. Also throughout university, I have used eLearning websites such as Lynda.com and eBooks to further understand my area of study. You could only imagine my excitement when I found out that the Brampton Library offered many more free digital resources for its members.

To become a member all you need is a library card and when you come into to any branch, the library staff can help you register for one.The membership includes access to a range of digital borrowing from eBooks, eLearning, eMusic, Television, Audiobooks and eMagazines. The Brampton Library’s focus is on providing customers with access to helpful and knowledge based resources. I need to share these resources with you because of how they have helped me. In a series of blog posts, I will explore and introduce all the digital resources that the Brampton Library offers.

I like to say that knowledge is at your fingertips with eLearning resources because you get access to Lynda.com, Gale Courses and other resources where you can learn new languages, prepare for tests, and study for the Canadian Citizenship Test. You can access eLearning resources through this link here.

The Brampton Library also offers resources for on-the-go reading through an online library of eBooks and audiobooks. This is a great option if you:

• Have a busy schedule and do not have time to come to the library
• If you like to listen to books while you work or exercise
• If the book you want in the library is on hold and the eBook or audiobook is available
• Or, you prefer eBooks or audiobooks over physical books

There are many options and genres to choose from including fiction, non-fiction and children's books and stories. These can be accessed through the link here.

A wide selection of Newspapers and eMagazines can also be accessed through digital resources. You can borrow travel magazines, fashion magazines, food magazines, lifestyle magazines or whatever suits your taste. If you would like to stay up to date on news stories in your neighbourhood and internationally, you can use the online Newspapers as a resource through an application on your mobile phone or on your desktop computer. These resources can be accessed here.

Meanwhile eMusic, eMovies and TV can be indulged in during your free time or whenever you want to listen to music, watch movies and TV shows. For example, Kanopy’s platform allows for an allotted number of movies and free access to all children's films. You can access them here.

As this series continues, I will be giving a detailed insight on all of these resources, how to use them and how to register for them using your library card.

Thank you for reading!

- Latifat

Written by Latifat Adeshina

Category: Blog

Published: 31 January 2020

Brampton Library offers plenty of resources for free online learning. This is best if you are focused on building your skills, learning a new skill, testing your knowledge, or if you need assistance. eLearning has proven to be helpful for career development, re-certification, discovering a new hobby and extending your learning while in school. The library’s resources cover:

• language learning
• learning a new skill
• taking courses
• driving test practice
• preparing for educational tests and the citizenship test

In this post, we will be exploring some of the different eLearning platforms Brampton Library gives us access to, what they are useful for and how to gain access to them. I will also be highlighting my experience with eLearning platforms: Lynda.com, Gale Courses and Mango Languages.

Lynda.com is an online eLearning platform that is great for developing a new skill, building your knowledge in specific areas and exploring different topics of interests. I am currently using Lynda.com to expand my knowledge on JavaScript. My favourite part about Lynda.com is that I get access to an unlimited number of free instructional videos and courses led by experts on a variety of topics. So I know that I am only a step away from learning something new.

So far, I have been using Gale Courses to expand my understanding of accounting, especially when it comes to analyzing financial statements. This platform is specifically designed for professional and personal development through 6 week long courses led by college instructors.  

I also enjoy using Mango Languages because it allows me to easily learn other languages through gamification. Mango Languages is meant to prepare you for realistic conversation by strengthening your communication skills in over 70 languages.  

There are also many other eLearning resources that Brampton Library offers its members. These include:

• My Canada: a platform that equips you with an interactive learning tool to help users learn more about Canada and to prepare for the Canadian Citizenship Test.
• Road to IELTS (International English Language Testing System): an eLearning platform that offers general training in English vocabulary, reading, writing, listening and speaking tasks.
• STEM Village: another useful program based on the Ontario Curriculum that guides students through a development path in the areas of science, technology, engineering and math using hands-on programming.

You can also click here to learn more about what these platforms have to offer, how to access them and register for them.

Written by Megh Rathod, BL Customer Contributor

Category: Blog

Published: 20 November 2019

Brampton Library has been a HUGE part of my academics. Since I was a child, doing the summer reading challenges, desperately trying to get all the sticker rewards, and now, as I am working to apply for my postgraduate studies. Brampton Library, notably the Chinguacousy branch, gave me the opportunity to explore my interests and my curiosity. I was that one kid carrying a stack of books so high that you could barely see his face. I could explore whatever I was interested in, and I think this was invaluable to me in terms of breaking down boundaries. Money to buy books was no longer a restraint and this was something I valued from a young age. I can confidently say I have spent at least a 1000 hours in that library. Flash forward a bit and the Brampton Library is where I worked on my high school science projects, prepared for my IB exams, studied for the SATs, applied for university, printed out job resumes, tutored younger students, and recently studied for the MCAT.

I know that the Chinguacousy Branch means so much to people living in my neighbourhood of Knightsbridge. Growing up how I grew up but having a library so easily accessible (8 minute walk) really saved me. I made better choices in life, and I wasn't defined or limited to the realities that I knew. I'm glad my dad introduced me to the library at such a young age. As an immigrant, this luxury of the Brampton Library was so valuable to him and knowing that having access to this was a privilege that many don't have worldwide resonated with me. 

I strongly believe that there is so much to learn in this world, and the library is a sacred place to do so. A temple of knowledge if you will. It's amazing to see how the library has become more than an antique library that only caters to books, and now has embraced the rapid development of tech. I'm proud to say I've actually visited every Brampton Library, and like how they have their own unique vibe. The library represents the diversity and the potential of a community.

I am a big believer in space. The physical space you go to get whatever that might be. When I spend all day at the library, I'm motivated to work, because I recognize that this space was created for self-betterment. Every day I hope to leave know that I learnt more than the previous day. The library became where I went to grow intellectually. I would be at the library forever if they would let me (sorry for being that one person the library staff is always waiting for to leave). I actually like to take a break by playing a game where I would walk the stacks of books and pick up a random book that caught my attention and flip to any page and read for 5 minutes, and then put the book back and quickly move on to another. This may go on for 30 minutes, but by the end I have glimpsed into 5 or 6 different things and I'll get hooked on something I read earlier, I'll try to back track and feed my interest. It sounds kind of ridiculous, but it's fun just going through books at random and I can get carried away, and I think it speaks to the breadth of the collection in the Brampton Library.

If I were to offer any room for improvement, it would definitely be in the initiatives and efforts for young adults who are really trying to pursue further education. No doubt is the library amazing and revolutionary in what they do for kids, youth, immigrants, and the elderly, but I wish there were more for people like me pursuing further studies. The after hours study hall is amazing, but if it could run in the summer it would mean so much more. For a lot of situations, the weekend evenings can be a valuable study time. A lot of people who come back home from university need a space, because the summer is where you start to work on these high level exams that require utmost concentration, diligence, and require a huge time requirement. 

While studying for the medical school admissions exam, I have seen the other "regulars" studying for everything from law school, pharmacy, nursing, TOEFL, accounting, the GRE and the list goes on. These exams are HARD, and having a serious work space would be more ideal. A lot of times, studying for these is in addition to working a job, so library accessibility hours can be slim.  I believe the library is for bettering yourself, and these people are trying to do so badly, so let's help them.

Obviously with the programming flexibility some spaces are more open, but a serious silent study is very important. The old silent study in the Chinguacousy branch was my absolute favourite. It was like a pin drop silence, with actual cubicles, and there were zero distractions. The current upstairs one isn't cutting it in my opinion. You can literally hear everything from people who sit outside it, kids running around. I just want a serious study space, and I know many people feel the same.

Overall, thanks to the Brampton Library, and if my input was deemed helpful, I would be interested in further engaging with the Brampton Library in my community.

Who is Megh? Megh Rathod is a long time Brampton resident and graduate from Turner Fenton Secondary School. Now studying Honours Integrated Science at McMaster University, he credits the Brampton Library for being a big part of his success.