Feb 13

Written by: Joe Longo
Friday, February 13, 2009 

Our library celebrates our heritage in many ways. The library’s popular website www.nflibrary.ca is an excellent starting point and rich in local history information .

When you click on “Search Catalogue” look for three special links.
The first is “Special Collections ” where you will find the following resources: local history collection, birth records, marriage records, death and cemetery records, the Niagara River Repository and the Casino Niagara Cares Regional Heritage Collection.

The second link is “Frequently Requested Topics” where you will find “War of 1812" which highlights fiction and non-fiction materials which can be borrowed as well as a growing number of full-text books and other materials about the War of 1812 which are online to our users 24/7.

The third link is “Award Winners and Other Lists”. Click on “Canadian Materials” and then the selection of new Canadian books by Canadians or about Canada. Another section lists our books on Canadian historical fiction.

On our homepage, click on “Internet Links”, then “Niagara Falls”, then “Heritage” to find links to twenty-six web sites with Niagara information including the CBC Archives, a City heritage walking tour, our local museums and the Niagara Falls Poetry Project.

Click on “Library Information”, then “Policies” to see our library’s Local History Collection Development Policy.

The Historic Niagara Digital Collection on our homepage is one of Ontario’s largest online heritage databases and is used more than seven thousand times per day. It includes databases of Images, Reference Materials and Art with a local newspaper index and special features such as a Power at Niagara summary. It also links to our Niagara Falls Heritage Portal.

The Niagara Falls Heritage Portal at www.niagarafallsheritage.ca lists local heritage organizations, attractions and highlights, events, databases and resources and frequently asked questions. There is also an excellent thematic history about our community taken from the Niagara Falls Heritage Master Plan.

The Sir Harry Oakes Room at the Victoria Avenue features special displays in the glass cases about local history.

Local authors often come to here to meet the public and sell autographed copies of their books. The LaMarsh Room hosts meetings of the Lundy’s Lane Historical Society and other heritage groups.

The Library’s heritage display at Niagara Square with other organizations continues until Feb. 14.

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The Library will be closed on Monday Feb. 16 for Ontario’s Family Day holiday. Use the book return slots and visit anytime the library website www.nflibrary.ca to search the catalogue and databases, place reserves, renew your materials, pay fines, register for programs and much more.