National Geographic Magazine brings back many fond memories. While I was growing up, it was always around the house. My father would sit in the living room after dinner and read the latest issue from cover to cover. When he was finished, it was shelved on a special book shelf that he built himself. We had many shelves filled with that magazine with the classic yellow spine.

As a child, I loved to look at the beautiful photographs of far away people and places. Travelling the world travel was not as common then and National Geographic was a way to visit exotic places. The photographs were also essential for iillustrating our social studies or geography school projects. Now, my own children use Google images to find photos for school assignments and it takes only seconds on their computers. I, on the other hand, would spend hours combing through a stack of National Geographic looking for that perfect picture for my project.

The golden rule at our house was no clipping out photos until at least the next issue had arrived. Of course, it was usually the current issue that had just what you needed but, we never broke that rule.

Today National Geographic's gorgeous photography continues to be outstanding and I still enjoy the informative and topical articles. And, using your Calgary Public Library card for access to the electronic version, you never need worry about the photos being cut out!

National Geographic in our E-Library is a powerful tool providing the ability to search through 100+ years of beautiful photographs and articles. Browse by issue or do an image search to find that perfect picture quickly. The magazines are indexed from Oct 1888 to the present. Just looking at the covers transports you to dramatic moments in time when scientific discoveries or historical events occurred.

For most people, February is that time of the year when we all must prepare ourselves for the dreaded tax season ahead, but for all you fashionistas and Project Runway fans out there, it is also a month when the new fashion trends for the Fall/Winter 2013 season are put out on display during New York Fashion Week and London Fashion Week.

For the month of February in London and New York, big name designers from Valentino to Ralph Lauren, as well as the more avant-garde, showcase their designs to the world, while fashion magazines and blogs comment on what they see as the emerging or repeating trends of the upcoming season. From what I’ve read in the blogosphere, leather, animal print, and androgynous looks paired with more feminine elements are big trends for 2013.

While I can’t experience the glamour of New York or London Fashion Week in person, I can live fashion vicariously through the Internet, and so can you! Now available on the Calgary Public Library website in the E-Library, is the Vogue Archive which contains all issues of the magazine (US edition) from its beginnings in 1892 to the current month. Access to the Vogue Archive is available with your Calgary Public Library card and can be found in the Arts & Music section and Newspapers & Magazines section of the E-Library.

This virtual archive includes every page, cover, and advertisement that has been published by Vogue, all of which are searchable by photographer/illustrator, fashion item, company/brand, and much, much more. The archive also allows readers to browse by issue as well as by subject area.

What I find most impressive with the Vogue Archive is the quality of the images. As I was browsing through the January 2013 issue on my computer, I was blown away by the high-resolution and bright colours of each image. The only drawback that some readers may come across is that the Flash Image Viewer format will not be compatible on certain devices such as an iPad. The Flash Image Viewer allows viewers to manipulate a page such as zooming in and rotating the picture. Fortunately, for iPad users the regular Full Text format with images is also available, although the reading experience is not as interactive as it would be with Flash.

Not only is it an enjoyable experience to have over 100 year’s worth of the Vogue collection at my fingertips, but the Vogue Archive is also a valuable resource for those studying fashion or who are interested in fashion history, the arts, design and fashion journalism.

Wow – is it nearly July already?! Happy Canada Day, to one and all!

Have you ever taken the time to browse through the Canadian section of our e-library? Check it out and get access to an encyclopedia about Canadian history, a news archive containing decades’ worth of articles from hundreds of Canadian publications, historical news from the Globe & Mail and Toronto Star, listings of associations and governmental offices, and much more.

Did you know that the Calgary Public Library offers programs (and online resources!) for newcomers and those preparing to write Canadian citizenship exams? We also maintain reference collections of Canadian laws and government documents.

Find out more about your great nation by visiting your local library branch. But not on July 1^st or 2^nd, when all branches will be closed. See you on July 3^rd!

No, not that Big O. I mean Oprah. As in Oprah Winfrey, media mogul and self-made gazillionaire.

I recently borrowed the book CD Oprah: A Biography, by Kitty Kelley, and listened to it with surprise and intrigue. Apparently, there’s a whole lot more to Oprah than the glossy guru might let on. The impoverished background to which Oprah alludes may not be entirely accurate, and what about those rumours regarding Gayle King? What’s Stedman’s role in Oprah’s life, and why is Oprah so secretive about certain aspects of her past? Before her television network, philanthropic ventures, and mega-stardom, Oprah led a very different (lonely and drug feuled?!) life. Read more about it in Kelley’s (full disclosure: unauthorized) biography.

If you’re not prepared to have your mental image of Oprah besmirched, then skip the biography and stick with materials that maintain her near-saintly image. Check out some of our resources:

Love your Life! O's Handbook for your Best Today - and Tomorrow, by Oprah Winfrey

Dream Big! O's Guide to Discovering your Best Life, by Oprah Winfrey

To Oprah with Love: A Tribute, by Paul Natkin

February is Black History Month. Find out more by visiting your local library branch!

Kobos and Kindles and Nooks – what’s the best e-reader for you?

Thinking of giving an e-reader for Christmas? Well get on it, man! It’s already December 22^nd!

Thinking of buying one on Boxing Day or over the Boxing Week, as it’s now become? OK, you’ve got some time. If you’ve got a library card, you can access Consumer Reports magazine from home, through our e-library.

Start at our homepage, select e-library, and then choose Research Databases from EBSCO (lower left hand side). Once you log in with your card number, you’ll be at a search screen. Choose the Publications tab (top of the screen) and then MasterFILE Premiere. Search for the Publication title “Consumer Reports” and then you’re off to the races. Read issue by issue, or search for a term like “e-readers”. If you’re not quite sure how to do this, then just call us or strike up a chat, through our homepage.

The e-library is a wealth of resources! Ask us how you can read Consumer Reports, The Economist, Maclean's and other popular magazines online.

Good luck in choosing an e-reader, and check out our program guide for upcoming demonstrations on e-books and e-readers.

I lead Career Tours at the Central Library for a variety of groups. Most of the participants are newcomers and immigrants who are highly educated, multilingual and eager to secure meaningful employment in their new land. I show them how to access the newspaper, job ads, print resources and programs. And I also show them how to find information about companies for which they may wish to work.

Here are some of the tools that I always ensure I mention:

Reference USA. This database will allow you to generate lists of companies, using SIC or NAICS codes, or keywords. Find who you’re looking for, even when you’re not sure who you’re looking for. Download financial and contact information into a spreadsheet that you can keep for your reference.

Business Source Complete. Find articles about companies’ histories, SWOT analyses and stock market reports - current and comprehensive information is not typically provided on companies’ own websites. You’ll be amazed at what a single keyword can generate. This is not your grandmother’s Google!

Canadian Newsstand. This archive allows you to search for news and magazine articles about your company. Has it ever been sued? Has it won awards? Has it been listed in any Top-10 type rankings? What are some of its most recently announced projects (or disasters)?

If you need help accessing information about a particular company, then drop by the information desk, give us a call, or strike up a chat through our homepage. We’re happy to help guide you through the electronic jungle, and hopefully, towards bigger and better employment opportunities. Good luck!