Research FAQs

  • Research Basics

    We are living in interesting but increasingly strange times. What was envisioned as the golden age of information is actually more like the age of misinformation where opinions are cheap, everyone is an expert, the level of discourse is low and we are confronted on a daily basis with “fake news” and “alternative facts.”

    Tips From TBPL Staff:
    Ask questions about where the information is coming from:

    • When was it published or posted?
    • Who put it out there?
    • Can the information be traced back to a credible source?
    • What sort of bias is coming through?
    • Is it based on fact, opinion, or propaganda?
    • Is there any copyright information available?
    • Consider the relevancy and intended audience: e.g., is the information framed in a way to elicit a specific reaction? Look for ways in which to validate the information and/or its source(s).
    • Consider other sides to the argument or additional facts and sources that can provide a fuller understanding of the topic. Review the evidence provided to support the information and apply the above tips to that as well.

    A primary source is a first-hand, original work. Examples include novels, poetry, drama, music, and art.

    Secondary sources interpret primary sources. They may be a critical analysis of a novel, poem, or play. Analyzing primary sources helps students develop critical thinking skills by examining meaning, context, bias, purpose, point of view, etc. Secondary sources are used in essays/independent studies to support the thesis statement. Examples include journal articles, biographies, or books that use information from many different sources.

  • Local History and Genealogy

    Our Brodie location houses our collection of the Henderson Directories that span between 1884-2004. The Henderson Directories are like phone books but include additional information about the residents of a house, like their occupation. This collection is only available for in-branch use at Brodie. 

    Our friendly Research Staff would be happy to help you discover your family tree! Visit the Local History Research Assistance page for more information. 

    An index is what we use to find articles in our collections. Indexes list key information about an article like the paper it appeared, the page number, the headline, and the date as well as subject listings. You can think of it as the basic information for search engines. Our staff currently index newspaper articles into our database, the Gateway to Northwestern Ontario History. 

    Indexing newspaper articles goes all the way back to the 1920s when staff at the Fort William Public Library (now the Brodie Library) started indexing local newspaper articles. 

    Microfilm are long strips of film that have either negatives or positives of documents, typically newspaper collections. The Thunder Bay Public Library, has microfilm copies of newspapers from Thunder Bay, Port Arthur, and Fort William from the late 1800s to the mid 2010s. All of our microfilms are available at our Brodie Location. Newer editions of newspapers are available at Brodie in PDF format. 

    To view microfilm, you have to use a machine called a microfilm reader. Brodie has two microfilm readers attached to computers that allows you to export pdf versions of articles or print them out. If you'd like a demonstration on how to use our microfilm readers, please contact our staff by emailing research@tbpl.ca. For more information on how are staff can help you with your research you can also visit our Local History Research Assistance page.