Take a walk back in history to the New York City of the 1870s, '80s and '90s where you will encounter the Astors and Vanderbilts, Diamond Jim Brady, Boss Tweed, Stanford White, and Teddy Roosevelt:

American passage: the history of Ellis Island by Vincent J. Cannato

The architect of desire: beauty and danger in the Stanford White family by Suzannah Lessard

The blizzard of '88 by Mary Cable

What if the Allied invasion of Europe on D-Day had failed? The Mayflower had not sailed? The Mongols had succeeded in conquering Europe? JFK hadn't been assassinated? Napoleon had invaded North America? The South had won the Civil War? Go back in time and reimagine history as it might have been with the following fascinating titles:

Almost America: from the colonists to Clinton: a 'what if' history of the U.S. by Steve Tally

Almost history: close calls, plan B's, and twists of fate in American history by Roger Bruns

Jump into the Wayback Machine and be there when history was being made!

Days of destiny: crossroads in American history: America's greatest historians examine thirty-one uncelebrated days that changed the course of history by general editors, James M. McPherson, Alan Brinkley; editor, David Rubel

Eyewitness to America: 500 years of America in the words of those who saw it happen by edited by David Colbert

Back to the future [videodisc]: the complete trilogy by Universal and Amblin Entertainment — StarringMichael J. Fox, Christopher Lloyd. Marty McFly is transported back to 1955 where he must bring his parents together so that he will exist when he gets back to his own time.

Travel back through America's history and learn more about America's 44 presidents and their families:

America's first families: an inside view of 200 years of private life in the White House by Carl Sferrazza Anthony

Dear First Lady: letters to the White House by [compiled and edited] by Dwight Young and Margaret Johnson; foreword by Helen Thomas

First fathers: the men who inspired our Presidents by Harold I. Gullan

Travel back in time and learn about some of the most memorable days in world history:

America's jubilee by Andrew Burstein — July 4, 1826

D-Day, June 6, 1944: the climactic battle of World War II by Stephen E. Ambrose — June 6, 1944

The day Kennedy was shot by Jim Bishop — November 22, 1963

America's great debate: Henry Clay, Stephen A. Douglas, and the compromise that preserved the Union by Fergus M. Bordewich

Bound for Canaan: the underground railroad and the war for the soul of America by Fergus M. Bordewich

Days of defiance: Sumter, secession, and the coming of the Civil War by Maury Klein

This year marks the 200th anniversary of the beginning of the War of 1812. It was on June 18, 1812 that the United States declared war on Great Britain, and although it is arguably one of America's least remembered wars, it was during this time that many legendary battles were fought, heroes made, and memorable events occurred. It was during this war that the British burned the White House and First Lady Dolley Madison helped to save several valuable items — such as George Washington's portrait and original drafts of the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution. It was during this war that Francis Scott Key wrote the Star Spangled Banner at Fort McHenry.

Remember: your body is a temple. Take control of your health by setting (and meeting) goals to improve your health. Begin a new fitness routine. Make a plan to improve your eating habits. Take up an active hobby, such as bicycling or playing a sport. Make goals you can acheive this summer, for example:

• Walk for 30 minutes, 5x a week
• Quit drinking soda for (at least) one month
• Find and join a local martial arts group and attend at least 3 meetings

Once you've met your first goal, log in and claim your badges! Need help getting started?

All the daring of the soldier: women of the Civil War armies by Elizabeth D. Leonard

Civil War wives: the lives and times of Angelina Grimke Weld, Varina Howell Davis, and Julia Dent Grant by Carol Berkin

Daughters of the Union: northern women fight the Civil War by Nina Silber

Don't just read a book this summer, conquer it by checking out one of our Children's or Adult Book Discussion Kits and holding your own Book Club.

August 11 from 11:00 AM-1:00 PM. To thank you for taking part in the Connect Your Summer reading program, we are throwing a huge bash! Be present for prize announcements, eat a snow cone, make some art and much more, such as:

• Photo booth by inaBooth Photography
• Live Animals from Carousel Acres
• Music by Earth Angels
• Clowns making balloon animals
• Face painting with D&M Art studio
• Henna
• Art Making with the DIA
• Snow Cones!

The last enemy by Grace Brophy

Join us on Monday, July 23 for an evening of mystery and suspense. We will 'visit' Italy, Sweden, Ireland, France, Japan and more with Adult Librarian Joyce Simowski as she talks about some of her favorite non-American mystery authors.   Book talk begins at 7:00 PM in the Purple Room.

Join us on Monday, July 16, for an all day, baseball family movie extravaganza starting at 10:00 AM with a film for our youngest patrons and gradually getting more sophisticated, until the 6:30 PM showing of Moneyball.