Did you know that President Barack Obama turned 48 today? Do you know how many children he has? Do you know if he got the dog he promised his kids? Do you know what kind of dog they were hoping to get? Do you know ANYTHING important about our new president? If not, check out some of our biographies on him. You can learn about him, as well as other presidents, by visiting this social studies website also. Live and learn and learn to live!

Have you heard of Kory Johnson? Kory was nine years old in 1988 when she started Children for a Safe Environment, an organization that helps to make sure water is safe for us to drink. Want to learn more about kids who made their mark on American history? Check out We Were There Too by Phillip Hoose. In this great history book you'll find true stories, photos and other primary documents to help you envision what it was like to be a young person and stand up for what you believe.

Think that bookmark with little Damien's picture on it was returned in a library book? Left your Spiderman umbrella behind on a rainy day last week? Call or stop in and ask us to check our Lost & Found box for personal items you may have left here at the library. We hold them for approximately nine business days

Now you can scan multiple pages to your e-mail from the copiers in the Copy Center, for free! (Color scans from the color copier will be $0.25 per page.) See the Copy Center staff for assistance.

Saturday, August 1, marks the 65th anniversary of Anne Frank's last diary entry. Written while her family was in hiding from the Nazis, the diary has gone on to become a beloved classic around the world. The library owns several copies of the book, including abridged versions for younger readers. There are also many other Holocaust survivor books available to further your knowledge of this tragic period in history.

August is National Immunization Month. Most people think that only children need vaccines, but did you know that adults need to be immunized too? Check the immunization schedules on the CDC website to see what vaccines are needed at all stages of life. For more information, read The Vaccine Guide: Risks and Benefits for Children and Adults by Randall Neustaedter.
[Photo courtesy of eLibrary.]

Traveling with your family can be awesome or terrible or a mixed bag. You might be stuck with your art-obsessed mom, a grumpy dad, and your obnoxious little brother for weeks, as Melanie is in The Diary of Melanie Martin, or, how I Survived Matt the Brat, Michelangelo, and the Leaning Tower of Pizza by Carol Weston. Or you might wish you had your family all together again as Marya does in The Impossible Journey by Gloria Whelan. On her journey she is glad to have her little brother Georgi with her as she sets out in search of her parents who have been exiled to Siberia.

Tomorrow is a big day for birthdays - both Harry Potter and J.K. Rowling get to celebrate! And you can celebrate with them. Check out a list of our available Harry Potter items, or if you like Harry Potter but want something new, take a look at these suggestions.

It's not to early to start thinking about going back to school in September. A new link on the PCCS page will connect parents and students to information about the upcoming school year. Find class list, bus routes, school supply suggestions, and open house schedules. So get your pencils out. Let the learning begin!

Hey Kids! It's hard to believe it's almost August already. This summer is really flying by! I'm having so much fun seeing all my friends at the library. I'll be really sad when you all go back to school. I wanted to tell you about my new friend. He's in the fish tank and really small. He's a baby snail! Right now he is mostly wiggly, squiggily and shell-less, but if you keep watching, he will grow his own new shell! He's pretty cool. Even though it doesn't look like they do much, snails are very interesting animals. If you're curious to find out more, there are lots of books about Snails here at the library! While you're at the fish tank, don't forget to wave to Nemo also. I don't want him to get jealous of Baby Snail's attention! Until next time,
Bear Hugs!
Thorndyke

Hey sports fans! It's time for you to stretch your craft muscles. You can make your own sports water bottle, jump rope and team pendant with the help of Nifty Thrifty Sports Crafts by Michele C. Hollow. Or, try your hand at making a space colony, a xylophone or a Stegosaurus-shaped shadow puppet with other books in the Nifty Thrity craft series for kids.

Want to teach your kids about living green? Not sure where to start? The Green Parent is a handy guide with helpful tips that show parents and kids how to live environmentally-friendly lives. With this book, you'll learn how to make a waste-free lunch, buy organic foods, give green gifts and much more. There are even hints for buying eco-friendly clothes and helping your pets be earth-friendly, too! Your family will be on the path to living a greener life in no time...you just might become the greenest family on the block!

You remembered to cancel the newspaper and mail delivery and to turn off the coffee pot and shut the garage door. What you forgot to do was...return your DVDs! Don't fret - you can renew library materials online at any time, from your hotel or vacation cottage. Or call (734-397-0999) during normal business hours to speak with someone at the Checkout Desk. (Our direct-dial automated renewal line is no longer available and the automated service will be discontinued September 1, 2009.)