All posts by Sumayyah

About Sumayyah

Sumayyah is an Information Assistant at the Vaughan Public Libraries. She's also a bookworm and author, constantly dreaming up a multitude of different stories and wrestling with finishing them.  |  Meet the team

Forty Years With the Force

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Poster for Return of The Jedi by Matt Ferguson
image © Matt Ferguson

This year marks the 40th anniversary of Star Wars: Return of the Jedi, so this post will feature all things Star Wars for all ages, whether you’re new or seasoned fans! The franchise is galaxy-spanning, so I’m not going to be able to recommend everything, but if I miss a favourite of yours, chime in in the comments!

Also, expect to see minor spoilers, though I will try to avoid major ones.

We’ll start things off with the original trilogy featuring Luke Skywalker, Princess Leia, and Han Solo in A New Hope, The Empire Strikes Back, and Return of the Jedi, which you can borrow individually or as a trilogy set.

Follow it up with the prequel trilogy (or don’t, if you hate them, although I personally enjoy them) in The Phantom Menace, Attack of the Clones, and Revenge of the Sith for insight into Luke’s origins and why and how he came to be the Jedi’s new hope.

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Study Support: What Can VPL Do For You?

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In honour of the advent of Study Hall, which will run from April 11th to the 28th at our three resource branches (Civic Centre, Bathurst Clark, and Pierre Berton) and offer extended hours for studiers (until midnight from Monday to Thursday and until 9pm from Friday to Sunday), I thought I’d bring you some study support to make your preparation for exams, final assignments, or professional requirements a little easier.

Databases

Logo for Brainfuse HelpNow

My first database recommendation is Brainfuse HelpNow. This database—accessible for free with a library card—provides resources for students from kindergarten to grade 12, including access to live tutors, live French and Spanish language help, an online writing lab, LEAP learning platform and more.

An Adult Learning Centre is also available, for post-secondary and other needs. Brainfuse also offers help with High School Equivalency preparation, the Canadian Citizenship Exam, Microsoft Office, Career Resources, etc. Explore Brainfuse’s SkillSurfer and find a library of lessons, videos, tests, and other resources. You can even send questions to an expert and get an answer within 24-hours!

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Feel Good Spring Films

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“Is the spring coming?” he said. “What is it like?”…

“It is the sun shining on the rain and the rain falling on the sunshine…”

― Frances Hodgson Burnett, The Secret Garden

As I write this, winter seems to have a stranglehold on our weather, though I swear I see some trees stubbornly budding. I’ve decided it doesn’t matter what the actual temperature is⁠—or the fact that we’ve still got snow⁠—it’s March! It’s spring break! And spring is sometimes a feeling more than a state, especially in Canada.

But to truly give myself (and you, dear reader) that spring-is-coming feeling, I’ve decided to compile a list of my favourite films that make me feel all hopeful and peaceful and green and blossoming. (Those are all real emotions, I promise).

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