Banned Books Week

The American Library Association's national banned books week started on Saturday September 24th and runs until October 1st.  The week is meant to celebrate the freedom to read and brings attention to the issue of intellectual freedom and book banning.During this week bookstores and libraries throughout the United States prominently display books which have made … Continue reading Banned Books Week

Historical Fiction Not Fact

The CBC recently began broadcasting a miniseries based on the novel The Pillars of the Earth by Ken Follet. The novel is one of my favourite historical fiction works and focuses on lives of peasants, monks, and British royalty during the 12th century.Despite my love for this book, I am slightly weary of how this … Continue reading Historical Fiction Not Fact

The Literary and Historical Society of Quebec

A recent Ideas episode on CBC radio examined the history of the Literary and Historical Society of Quebec. Established in 1824, by the Earl of Dalhousie, the society is the oldest historic society in Canada. In addition to the age of the society, the society is historically significant based on its original status as an … Continue reading The Literary and Historical Society of Quebec

OLA Conference: Extraordinary Canadians

As part of the Ontario Library Association's annual conference I attended the opening plenary on "Extraordinary Canadians." This panel featured John Ralston Saul, Adrienne Clarkson, Jane Urquhart, Nino Ricci, and Mark Kingwell. All five of these individuals have contributed to the Extraordinary Canadians biography series. This series examines the lives of people who have helped … Continue reading OLA Conference: Extraordinary Canadians