- Art (2)
- History (10)
- Languages (7)
- Math (2)
- Social Sciences (13)
- Technology (10)
Need help with your homework? Not sure where to start looking for information on a subject? Try VPL's subject guides, created by librarians to help you find resources on popular homework topics.
APA / MLA Bibliographies
This resource has basic style examples for writing your bibliography in the most commonly used styles: MLA (Modern Language Association) or APA (American Psychological Association) style. To learn how to quote references in the text of your paper, or for more detailed information, see the Key Materials section below.
Arab-Israeli Relations
This guide has been developed as a pathfinder to resources providing background information and continuing coverage on Arab-Israeli relations and current events in the Middle East. Fine Arts and History (Level 6) also has many resources dealing with other aspects of history and culture in the Middle East.
Black History Month
An introductory research guide to Black History Month.
Career Search
This guide will help you find job market information, including current labour market conditions, economic forecasts for occupational groups, descriptions of industries and occupations, and earnings.
Climate Change
A guide to climate change materials in the Library
Environmental Issues
This guide will help you find information on environmental issues, both in the Vancouver Public Library and online. Library information will be found mostly in the Science & Business Division (Level 4). The Internet also contains large amounts of environmental information, and this guide will show you some of the major entry points for online environmental information.
ESL Resources
Information about VPL's ESL collection, Learning Centres, ESL tours at the library, and ESL schools in Vancouver.
Fashion and Costume History
The Fine Arts & Music Division has a wide range of resources for the study of fashion. This search guide shows techniques for finding information in books, magazines and on the Internet.
Finding Biographical Information on an Author
This study guide will help you find biographical information on an author using resources from the Vancouver Public Library. Most of the materials recommended can be found in Literature and Social Sciences on Level 3 of the Central Branch, but also includes materials found in other subject divisions.
Finding Criticism on a Novel
This study guide will help you find criticism on a novel using the resources from the Vancouver Public Library. The materials recommended in this guide can be found in the Literature Collection on Level 3 of the Central Branch in the Literature & Social Sciences Department.
Finding Newspaper Articles in the Vancouver Sun and Province
Online Information & News on Level 5 of Central Branch carries Vancouver’s major newspapers from their very inception;
Vancouver Sun: February 12, 1912 (first published) to present.
Province: March 3, 1894 (first published) to present.
Current issues (approximately the past two months) are in the Newspaper Reading Gallery. Previous issues are kept onmicrofilm.
First Nations History in British Columbia : A Library Guide
The Special Collections Department, Level 7 of the Central Branch of the Vancouver Public Library, has many resources for researching First Nations history in British Columbia.
French Resources for Teens
This guide is designed to help you begin your research on French Language Resources for Teens in the Library. Please ask a Librarian if you need help.
Globalization
This guide is designed to help you begin your research on globalization, and use library resources effectively. Please ask a librarian if you need help.
Holocaust
This guide is designed to help you begin your research on the Holocaust and use library resources effectively. Note that the Holocaust is a cross-disciplinary topic, so information may be found in more than one Vancouver Public Library Division. Most will be located in either Fine Arts and History (Level 6) or Literature and Social Science (Level 3).
Homelessness
This guide will assist you to find resources on homelessness, including services for the homeless. At the Central Branch, the resources on these topics are found in the Social Sciences Division on Level 3.
Human Rights
This study guide is designed to serve as a research tool for those wishing to find information on human rights. Included are strategies on how to begin researching human rights issues, information on the tools available, and a select list of library materials. There is also a section on websites, with links to international, Canadian and B.C. human rights organizations, plus other human rights resources. It should be noted that there is a vast amount of published materials on human rights, so this guide is necessarily selective.
Industrial Revolution
This study guide will help you find information in the Vancouver Public Library on the Industrial Revolution in Great Britain. Note that the Industrial Revolution is a cross-disciplinary topic, so information may be found in several Vancouver Public Library Divisions: Fine Arts and History (Level 6), Literature and Social Science (Level 3), Science and Business (Level 4)
Job Search for Students
This guide will help you with every step of the job search process including how to find your first job, writing your first resume, where you can look for work, and how to obtain references.
Library Research Made Easy for Teens
During the school year most students are faced with a number of reports and projects on a myriad of subjects. The Vancouver Public Library is always happy to help young patrons find what they need to complete their assignments. The following are some suggestions to help children and teenagers in the search for information.
Mathematics Textbooks for B.C. Secondary Schools
The purpose of this guide is to highlight VPL's collection of high school mathematics materials. This includes listing the print textbooks for the Mathematics 8 and 9 courses, as well as the Principles of Mathematics 10, 11, and 12 courses as approved by the British Columbia Ministry of Education. The guide also lists older approved textbooks, as well as more general resources for supplementing the mathematics curriculum.
Resist Racism
This guide highlights selected resources concerning intercultural communication & understanding, and the prevention of race discrimination. The majority of items are held in the Social Sciences division on Level 3 at Central Branch, although some items are in the following divisions: History (Level 6), Business (Level 4), Youth (Level 2) and the Children's Library (Lower Level).
Science Fair Projects
This guide will help you find the Vancouver Public Library's information resources for science fair projects. Information about science fair projects for grades 8-12 will be found mostly in the Science and Business Division (Level 4). Information for grades 1-7 will be found mostly in the Children's Library (Lower Level). This guide is intended mostly for students in grades 8-12. For information for grades 1-7, please ask for assistance in the Children's Library.
Science Textbooks for B.C. Secondary Schools
This guide will help you find science textbooks in the Vancouver Public Library that are used in the B.C. high school system.
Sustainable Living
Living sustainably is a topic which draws from many subjects and disciplines. This guide presents a variety of library materials from different subject areas that address strategies for individuals who want to live more sustainably and for those who want to create change in their communities.
Teen Guide to the Central Library
Almost every division has both reference books and books to take out, as well as cassettes, videos, current magazines, and CD-ROMs related to the subject area. There are also Internet and CD-Rom stations on every floor which provide access to great web links and electronic resources
Vancouver 2010 Winter Games
Athens August 13-29, 2004
Vancouver February 12-26, 2010
Social Science Division on Level 3 of the Central Branch
Vancouver February 12-26, 2010
Social Science Division on Level 3 of the Central Branch
Vancouver ESL Schools
This is an listing of ESL schools in Vancouver. The Vancouver Public Library has not evaluated the quality of these programs or instruction, and including them in this list does not denote recommending them. It is the students' responsibility to compare prices, courses and instructors, and to make their own decisions on an appropriate school.
