Cool Tools: Commoncraft's Paperworks Videos

Have you heard about wikis, photosharing, and other Internet applications, but need some clarification about what they actually do? A great way to start learning about these tools is by viewing some of the "Paperworks" videos created the Commoncraft company. These free instructional videos feature short, easy-to-understand demonstrations to explain "in plain English" the purpose and use of a variety of Internet applications.

Topics include Twitter, podcasting, RSS feeds, online photo-sharing, blogging, social bookmarking, social networking, and wikis, and the creators are continually creating more videos. View the video above on RSS feeds so you can learn how to subscribe to the WPLInfo blog!

Be Prepared! Emergency Preparedness Week

May 4-10 is Emergency Preparedness Week in Canada. Considering the major power blackout that Ontario experienced back in 2003, it is important to ensure that you and your family are ready for any wide-spread crisis. The Canadian government recommends that you have provisions to prepare for the first 72 hours of an emergency situation. Here are some handy resources to get you started:

WebLinks
Getprepared.ca, created by Public Safety Canada, offers advice on how to identify the hazards in your region, make an emergency plan and create an emergency kit.

Public Health Canada has a website with information on what to do during a health-related emergency.

The Waterloo Region Emergency Management website outlines our Region's plans in the event of a local disaster.

If you are fascinated by the history of disasters in Canada, take a look at the Library and Archives of Canada's website SOS! Canadian Disasters.

Resources @ WPL
There are many items in the WPL collection related to emergency management and survival skills.

Be prepared so you can rest easy!

April Showers Bring May Flowers

Gardening season is upon us, and some of us need all of the help we can get! Here are some useful resources to help cultivate your green thumb:

WebLinks
The Ontario Horticultural Association website offers information on local events, contact information for your local horticultural society, and a variety of other resources to assist gardeners in Ontario.

Master Gardeners of Ontario, a non-profit organization dedicated to providing horticultural information to the public, offers gardening classes, newsletters, as well as telephone "Hotline" you can call to get assistance with your gardening problems.

Evergreen's Native Plant Database allows you to search for plants that are indigenous to your region, as well as advice on how to start your own native plant garden.

The Lee Valley website includes many useful articles on growing plants and flowers, fruit and vegetables, lawn care, and other gardening topics.

Agriweb, an information directory created by Agriculture and Agri-food Canada, allows you to search by keyword for information on anything from cooking fruits and vegetables, to controlling plant pests.

The gardening section of the Better Homes and Gardens Magazine website features numerous articles, guides, and tools, including garden layout plans, discussion forums, a gardening "blog-of-the-day," and photo slide shows.

Cyndi's Catalogue of Garden Catalogues contains a listing of over 2000 mail-order gardening catalogues from Canada and the United States.

And if you're looking for some horticultural inspiration, take a gardening day trip somewhere in Southern Ontario.

Resources @ WPL
The WPL has a variety of gardening books, on topics such as landscaping, weeds, colour in gardening, and more!

Our InfoTrac Garden Landscape and Horticulture eCollection allows you to search for full text journals and e-books about gardening, landscaping & horticulture. Like our other electronic databases, you can even access this resource from your home computer - just enter your library card number when prompted. If you are new to electronic databases, visit the staff at the Information Services desk on the 2nd floor of the Main Library, or at McCormick Branch, and we would be glad to show you how to use them!

Earth Day 2008

Eco-friendliness, environmental awareness, green living – these are just some of the phrases used to describe strategies that many people, communities, companies, and governments are adopting to decrease pollution and other habits that adversely affect the earth. April 22 is Earth Day, a day to bring the public’s attention to environment-related issues. Here are just a few resources to make yourself more ecologically aware, and to help you decrease your negative impact on the planet:

Events

• Go to Earth Day Canada’s website to learn about local Earth Day events that you can participate in.
• GreenPages Ontario's environmental information portal for events, news, and websites related to the Ontario region. There are GreenPages portals for other regions of Canada as well.

Services

• Freecycle Network: This nonprofit network of message boards allow people to post notices to give away and obtain items for free to other people in their own towns. Waterloo, Kitchener ; and Cambridge all have their own groups in the Freecycle network.
• Earth 911, Ontario: Information on facilities in your community for recycling, composting, disposal of hazardous waste and motor oil, as well as local eco-related events.
• The Working Centre: This non-profit Kitchener-based organization offer a variety of services that are planet-friendly and encourage community sustainability. Services include computer recycling, bicycle recycling and repair, urban agriculture projects, and other useful ways to barter or donate your unwanted household items.
• Eco Tour Directory: if want to take a vacation that does not negatively affect the environment, this is a good place to start planning.

Information

• ecoACTION: The Government of Canada’s information portal on the current state of the environment, and what Canadians to do to improve upon it.
• TreeHugger: Weekly and daily newsletters, blogs, videos, and podcasts inform you about the latest green news, solutions, and product information.
• Ecoholic : This weekly column written by Adria Vasil for NOW Magazine examines current issues in environmental awareness from a Canadian perspective.
• Ontario Ministry of the Environment – My Environment: Tips on environmentally safe practices in your home, yard, during vacations, or out in your community.
• The Green Guide: Created by National Geographic, this website features tips and quizzes to help you live "green," as well as buying guides for environmentally-friendly products.

Eco-related Items @ WPL
The WPL has many materials on going green, including titles on global warming, environmentalism, and green products.

Small changes can have a big impact. In our comments section, share one change you’ve made in your life to help improve the environment.

April Fools'!

To commemorate April Fools' Day, here are some websites detailing the history of this day of pranks, as well as stories about tricks played on April of this year:

Visit Wikipedia to learn about the history of April Fools' Day, and how it is celebrated in other cultures.

Review some of the Top 100 April Fools' Day Hoaxes of all Time.

Even Internet companies are getting in on the joke. Last year, Google used April Fools' day as an opportunity to launch of it’s new TiSP wireless router that offered the user Internet access via their home plumbing.

This year, Google’s homepage is announcing the launch of “Virgle” a colony on Mars jointly organized by the Google and Virgin companies. People interested in becoming “Virgle Pioneers” can take a questionnaire to see if they would make suitable colonists. YouTube messages from the co-founders of Google and Virgin president Richard Branson describe the (fake) project.

For an outline of other pranks played this year, visit USA Today.