Here in Periodicals, we get newspapers and magazines from all over the world.  We get newspapers in Chinese, German, Spanish, and even Norwegian!  However, we also get quite a few interesting periodicals that are a little less exotic.  Canada, our friendly neighbor to the north, puts out some truly outstanding magazines.  Let me show you a few of them!

Maclean's is a weekly news magazine along the lines of Newsweek or Time.  While of course the United States looms large in Canadian news, the articles feature a strong Canadian viewpoint.  The magazine is very smart and well-written, and I recommend it to anybody who wants to know more about Canada's government, politics, and economy. 

The current issue features "The Year in Pictures", a retrospective of some of Maclean's best photographs of 2009.  Some of them are similar to photo retrospectives in major American magazines (the Obama inauguration, Miley Cyrus) while others are unique in our collection to a magazine like Maclean's (Prime Minister Stephen Harper in Times Square, Canadian soldiers in Afghanistan). 

Canadian Home Workshop is most similar to Family Handyman.  It offers advice for home repairs and building projects.  Of course, the prices are in Canadian dollars, but most products seem to be available on both sides of the border.  Each issue has projects for several skill levels, and the product reviews are lengthy and complete. 

The current issue includes instructions on building a staircase railing, a mirror frame, a tool cabinet, and a false beam ceiling.  Additionally, there's a great article on the differences between cheap and expensive drills. 

Chatelaine is a women's magazine similar to Redbook.  The audience is a little older than the Glamour crowd, I'd say.  This is one magazine where product availability may vary - some of the cosmetics look unfamiliar to me, and of course the pricing is Canadian.  However, all the recipes have measurements in metric and imperial units, so you'll be able to make all the food.  In my opinion, Chatelaine is the best women's magazine we get.  It's much less cheesy than a lot of the American women's titles.  The articles are substantial and interesting, it isn't as product-focused, and the beauty articles don't take over the magazine.  

This month there's an interview with Dolly Parton (my hero!), a gorgeous chocolate cake on the cover, and a big guide full of concrete tips for saving money.  (Did you know that October is the best time to buy a bicycle?  And I've really got to get around to taking all the junk out of my car - evidently it's wasting gas money!)  Do you enjoy reading magazines like Marie Claire but every so often find yourself reading the same one twice?  And you don't realize it until you see a familiar ad?  Try Chatelaine instead!