Most Michiganders know Cancun and Cozumel well. Both are among the closest and nicest spots in Mexico for travelers from the eastern half of the United States. But when it comes to the Pacific side of Mexico, we're more hazy. Which town is which? What are the major attractions? And how do you get there from Detroit? Here's a brief Mexican Pacific primer on three great destinations: Cabo San Lucas, Acapulco and Puerto Vallarta.

If you are a Canton resident, 65 years or older or have a disability which makes it difficult for you to come to the library you may be eligible for our Books by Mail program. Register for the program by picking up a Books by Mail brochure at the library or completing the application on the Canton Public Library's website.

If you enjoy mysteries set in another time and place and featuring a strong woman character, try Shirley Tallman's Sarah Wolcott series.  Sarah is a 27 years old, single, lawyer living in Victorian San Francisco in the late 1890s. Against her family’s wishes, she has opened her own San Francisco law firm, only to find that clients---paying clients, that is---are wary of allowing a woman to manage their legal affairs. With the assistance of her friend Robert Campbell, an attorney she met while briefly employed at a prestigious law firm and her brother, Samuel Wolcott, Sarah always solves the case.

Our first new International Language books for 2009 are in Kannada. Just on the shelf today are cookbooks such as 150 vividha sihi tindigalu, poetry such as Akkana vachanagalu, and much more. This is only the first part of the books in Kannada we've purchased, so there are more on the way!

 

Filing for unemployment benefits just got a little easier with the release of Filing your claim for unemployment benefits & finding a job - a joint effort of the Unemployment Insurance Agency (UIA) and the Michigan Works! Agencies. This 17 minute DVD provides information on the claims-filing process for unemployment compensation and answers many of the typical questions asked by unemployed workers. Multiple copies are available at the Library.

Did you know that Canton celebrates its 175th Birthday this year? Find out more about local history by investigating the Township Website or searching for library materials. Take advantage of the spring weather and visit the Canton Historical Museum, which is once again open to visitors (check their website for hours)

Have a special Canton memory to share? Respond to this post!

Come join us on Wednesday, April 15th at 2pm as we view the movie and discuss the book "Into the Wild", a true story about a college graduate who hitchhiked the U.S., culminating in his Alaskan experience. Copies of the book are available for signout on the "From Page to Stage" bookshelf. Ask a librarian for a copy and register online to come!

Did you unsuccessfully try to log onto the new Seeking Michigan web site yesterday?  If yes, you're not alone.

March 21, 9:30-11:30 a.m.
Enhance a document by learning to add tables, headers and footers as well as symbols in MS 2007 version. Prerequisite: MS Word I or equivalent.

March 19, 9:30-11:30 a.m.
Learn to create multimedia presentations in MS 2007 version. Prerequisite: Mouse and Word skills.

March 25, 6:30-8:30PM

Want to enhance your Excel productivity? Learn the latest tips and tricks in Microsoft Excel 2007. Prerequisite: Excel I or equivalent.

If you were to ask me how many words there are in Toni Jordan's satisfying debut novel Addition, I'd check the number of pages, count the number of lines on enough pages and the number of words on enough lines to get reasonably accurate averages, and then multip

March 18, 6:30-8:30PM

Learn to use data, graphics and charts, and how to customize toolbars in MS 2007 version. Prerequisite: Excel I or equivalent.

Did you know you can check the status of your federal income tax refund online?  Simpy visit Where's My Refund and you can track your refund through this secure Web site.  Be sure to have a copy of tax returns handy so that you can enter all the relevant information!

The Associated Press reported in "Dollars from Dirt: Economy Spurs Home Garden Boom" that people are gardening to save money. I love the thought that backyard gardening can not only make people and the environment healthier, but can perhaps help solve the economic crisis. CPL's "Yard Scraps to Garden Treasures" program on April 22 from 7:00-8:30pm can get you off to a great start by showing you how to compost and enrich your soil.

You may have, since the movie just came to theaters March 6. But did you also read the Watchmen? Arguably one of the best graphic novels ever written, it gives you a new view on superheroes : the deconstruction of the superhero. If you don't normally read graphic novels, don't let that keep you away from this one! The story is rich, entertaining, and thought-provoking. It almost makes you want to throw on a costume and go off to fight crime yourself!

One of my favorite poets is Langston Hughes. I love the way his words weave pictures of Jazz, big cities, and the roaring 20s.

Have a product you're trying to market? Looking for advice on how to run your business or even just your life? Seth Godin breaks down complex principles in a very readable way. Here are some of his recent hits:

Tribes: We Need You To Lead Us -- how to leverage informal communities, even on the web

Meatball sundae : is your marketing out of sync?

Jane Goodall is acclaimed for her work with chimpanzees, but her new video, When Animals Talk, looks at cross-species communication with a range of animals, including dogs, cats, birds, elephants and even rats.  The program explores some fascinating research on telepathy, and the mutual benefits that accrue when humans bond and partner 

Today President Obama created a new council whose mission will be "to provide a coordinated federal response to the challenges confronted by women and girls and to ensure that all Cabinet and Cabinet-level agencies consider how their policies and programs impact women and families." Its goals include improving women's economic security and healthcare, and preventing violence against women - both home and abroad. The full text of the executive order can be found here.