MDL Blog

Curious about computer programming? Interested in learning how to code in Python? Or just looking to make programming less mysterious and more practical? 
Come join our online workshops offered by the Map & Data Library:

An Introduction… Read more ...

Ryan Siu (he/him) is a Graduate Student Library Assistant (GSLA) at the Map & Data Library. He works with the other GSLAs and staff to support patron requests, particularly with GIS analysis and data requests. He completed his undergraduate… Read more ...

“He unrolled his map at a board meeting and it was a revelation to see so much fabulous work. It was a great manuscript. The Surveyor-General saw it and said: ‘My God, we’ve got to publish it.‘”- Michael Smart, formerly of the Ontario Geographical… Read more ...

Registration and scholarship applications for the Inter-university Consortium for Political and Social Research (ICPSR) 2026 Summer Program in Quantitative Methods are now open!
With 90+ in-person or online classes in statistics, quantitative… Read more ...

We have received the latest datasets from Gallup.
Newest datasets

World Poll, to January 2026
COVID-19 and Wellbeing, to Q4 2025
Gallup Poll Social Series:

August: Work and Education (2001-2025)
September: Governance (2001-2025)
October: Crime (… Read more ...

We have a new scanner (a ROWE Scan 850i), ready for you to come use! We've stress-tested it and are happy with the results.
Key features:

Scans items up to 60" wide and up to approximately 3 cm tall
Scans up to 1200 DPI - or even higher with… Read more ...

The Patricia and Peter Shannon Wilson Undergraduate Research Prize is awarded to current undergraduate students enrolled at the University of Toronto during each academic year. The purpose of the prize is to recognize students who use information… Read more ...

AI is affecting many aspects of research and education, and qualitative research is no exception. There is a growing interest in the appropriateness and effectiveness of using AI tools in various aspects of qualitative research from transcription to… Read more ...

We are very pleased to welcome Neil Aitken to the MDL Team as of February 1, 2026. Neil is a Data Librarian who will work with the MDL team to support a range of services, with a focus on support for programmatic data analysis methods including TDM… Read more ...

Every February, International Love Data Week invites researchers, librarians, students, and data professionals to reflect on the role data plays in our work and our world. The 2026 theme, “Where’s the Data?”, is deceptively simple. At first glance,… Read more ...

One of the services that the Map & Data Library provides is statistical analysis support. We are pleased to announce that Nadia Muhe, Statistical Support Specialist, has returned from leave and is once again available for consultations. Nadia… Read more ...

We are delighted to share a guest blog post by Jeff Allen, Senior Research Associate; Lead, Maps & Data Visualization, School of Cities, University of Toronto.
By looking at places from above, we can uncover the layered history of our… Read more ...

Who owns your data? What does it tell them about you? How do you identify online disinformation? Most importantly, how do you take back control?
In celebration of Data Privacy Week (January 26-30), librarians and staff from the Gerstein Science… Read more ...

As many of you know, the Map & Data Library has been under renovation since May 1, 2024. Nearly two years later, we are finally preparing to move into our new space on the 5th floor of Robarts Library later this semester! There will be a soft… Read more ...

Leanne Trimble is Head of the Map & Data Library. She has a BA in urban geography & architectural history (U of T), a Master of Information Studies (U of T), and a certificate in Applied Digital Geography and GIS (TMU). She has worked at U… Read more ...

Ready to learn some new data skills for 2026! Now's the time to sign up for a Map & Data Library Workshop!
We are offering a variety of online and in-person workshops (in Robarts Library 4th floor computer lab).
Topics include:

Geographic… Read more ...

Imagine you’re a Mediterranean sailor in the late thirteenth century. You’re setting out from Genoa with little more than experience, the wind, and a hefty dose of bravery. But in your cabin lies a new kind of map, not a mystical mappa mundi dotted… Read more ...

Looking for a one-stop guide for getting started with particular data-related tools that includes tutorials, workshop recordings, article and book recommendations, and more? Check out our Getting Started Guides.
For qualitative data analysis (QDA)… Read more ...

Update December 10, 2025: many thanks to an attentive reader who noted we initially used the wrong image at the bottom of the blog post. It has now been corrected.
As we bundle ourselves up here in Toronto, let's take a moment to appreciate the… Read more ...

Did you know that in addition to the Map & Data Library's live workshops and past workshop recordings, we also offer a number of self-paced online courses, that you can self-enroll and take at any time using your UTORID? They are built in… Read more ...

Nick Field is our Data Support Specialist at the Map & Data Library. They have a PhD in the Study of Religion, and they are currently completing a Master of Information, both from the University of Toronto.  
Learn more about Nick:
Q:… Read more ...

The Map & Data Library follows the University of Toronto closure dates, so we will be closed Dec. 24, 2025 to Jan. 2, 2026 inclusive.
While our staff won't be around, there are still many ways to get help during the break:

Take on online self-… Read more ...

The Inter-university Consortium for Political and Social Research (ICPSR)
Hosted at the University of Michigan, the Inter-university Consortium for Political and Social Research (ICPSR) is a consortia of over 800 academic and research groups with a… Read more ...

The Map & Data Library's collection of fire insurance plans and atlases provides a wealth of information about the history of Toronto's built environment. These maps go back as far as 1880 and show details such as streets & railroads,… Read more ...

Celebrating GIS Day: Mapping for Everyone
Every November, we celebrate GIS Day - a global event that highlights the power of spatial thinking. Since 1999, it's been a day to share maps, tell stories, and invite others to explore the layers of… Read more ...