Spring has arrived and so have the butterflies! Visit the Butterflies Are Blooming exhibit at the Tropical Conservatory at Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park in Grand Rapids through April 30th. You can also check out the butterflies in our collection at the library.

The Author’s Forum Presents
A World Without Ice: A Conversation with Henry Pollack & Richard Rood

Wednesday, April 14, 2010, 5:30PM
Gallery/Room 100, Harlan Hatcher Graduate Library
913 S. University, Ann Arbor

A World Without Ice is a book about ice and people — the role ice has played in the development of Earth’s landscape, climate, and human civilization, and the reciprocal impact of people on the planet’s ice. Today, U-M’s Henry Pollack and Richard Rood discuss why ice matters, the delicate geological balance between ice and climate, and the pending crisis of a world without ice.

In a recent article by Donna Gordon Blankenship of the Associated Press, a third of Americans 14 and older — about 77 million people — use public library computers to look for jobs, connect with friends, do their homework and improve their lives, according to a new study released Thursday, March 25. The study was paid for by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and conducted by the University of Washington Information School. Study researchers were intrigued to find that people across all age and ethnic groups used library computers, said Michael Crandall, one of the principal authors of the study, from the University of Washington Information School.

Photojojo! : insanely great photo projects and DIY Ideas by Amit Gupta with Kelly Jensen ; photography by Kelly Jensen

Besides featuring the cutest dog ever on the cover, this book is packed with ways to improve your photography skills, projects to make the most of your photos, and techniques for making the most of your camera. The projects and ideas range from beginner to more experienced photographer/crafter, so everyone should find something that appeals.

Local television reporter Alysia Sofios was assigned to investigate the worst mass murder in the history of Fresno. The breaking news soon became something much more — a hope-filled relationship that changed the lives of the young reporter and the survivors of this unimaginable crime.
The Friends of the Canton, Plymouth, Northville and Novi libraries host their annual author luncheon at Fox Hills Country Club on Friday, May 7. Alysia Sofios, Canton born and bred, will share her amazing story and book, Where Hope Begins, as we enjoy a delicious lunch. Tickets now on sale at the library reception desk.

Vogue Knitting Shawls and Wraps

Vogue Knitting can always be counted on for stylish patterns. The shawls and wraps contained here run the gamut from those appropriate for a casual day at the beach to cuddling up with a book by the fireplace to a snazzy dress-up night out. The patterns are clear and concise and the fibers recommended range from those available at a local big box craft store to fancier yarns sold only at local shops or online.

Hey Kids!
Hooray for Spring Break! I bet you all are excited to have a whole week off of school. I'm excited to see a lot of you here at the library! The librarians have planned lots of fun things for you!

When you're here, make sure you check out our book display kiosk by the Children's CDs. Each month a different librarian has been putting their favorite books on display. Now, I'm not a librarian, but this month they're letting me put out MY favorite books! Oh Boy! It's a little hard to pick favorites. I love books about bears, because I like books with protagonists that I can relate to. But I also LOVE the books you hear in storytime and read for book discussions (did you know I read all those books with you? I just can't participate in the book discussion because I don't talk!). Come and check out what books I chose! Literally! Take them home with you! Because then I get to choose more books. And tell me, what's your favorite book? Can't wait to hear from you!

Bear Hugs!
Thorndyke

Within the next two weeks, the Michigan Humanities Council will announce the guest authors at the 2010 Michigan Author Homecoming. The event will be held on May 18 in East Lansing and on May 20 in Marquette. It marks the end of the 2009-2010 Great Michigan Read, a book club for the entire state. With a statewide focus on a single book – Stealing Buddha’s Dinner by Bich Minh Nguyen (pronounced bit-min-win) – it encouraged Michiganians to learn more about their state, their history, and the multiplicity of their society.

Online registration for both venues will be required; seating will be limited. Registration will be accessible via the Michigan Humanities Council website.

Watch the Michigan Humanities Council website for more information.

Homegrown Vegetables, Fruits, and Herbs: A Bountiful, Healthful Garden for Lean Times by Jim Wilson

One of the most rewarding things I've done in the past few years was to start growing my own veggies. It not only encourages me to eat better, it also gives me a fun way to exercise, saves tons of money on my grocery bill, and provides me with a bounty that I can share with friends and neighbors. This book is a terrific guide for how to integrate veggies into your garden or start a vegetable plot from scratch. It contains a wealth of tips and tricks in addition to the basic how-to info. I got inspired to start growing my own food by reading Animal, Vegetable, Miracle by Barbara Kingsolver.

Bulb by Anna Pavord

This comprehensive guide to flowering bulbs is filled with useful information and gorgeous photographs. Description, historical context, and growing condition information is provided for each variety. Many bulbs are included and the book concludes with a section on growing bulbs. This book is not only useful, it is beautiful to look at. The earliest bulbs are now blooming in my garden. Are they blooming in yours?

Crazy Lace: An Artistic Approach to Creative Lace Knitting by Myra Wood

Ever get the urge to pick up some needles and yarn and just go wild? This book encourages just that and offers some helpful hints for ending up with a product you enjoy as much as the process. From totally random to knitted objects with a little more structure and/or design, this is a great guide to free-form lace knitting. If you're looking for folks to knit with, drop in to the next Knit Night on April 12.

What's Wrong With My Plant? (And How Do I Fix It?) A Visual Guide to Easy Diagnosis and Organic Remedies by David Deardorff and Kathryn Wadsworth

This book is just what you'd expect from the title, and it's filled with brief, detailed explanations of plant problems accompanied by color illustrations of each. There is also a full-color photo gallery of problems that I found extremely helpful for seeing the difference between similar-looking problems. There are also a bunch of organic remedies, safe for use on edibles and in areas where children or pets are active. This is a book I can see myself coming back to on a regular basis.

The New Low Maintenance Garden: How to Have a Beautiful, Productive Garden and the Time to Enjoy It by Valerie Easton

This book profiles a series of gardens, each of which demonstrate particular techniques, design elements, and themes. These gardens are stylish but completely achievable and many of them are of reasonable size - no sprawling estates beyond the reach of a suburban gardener like me.

Looking for a safe, inexpensive, and invigorating way to help maintain your health and independence as you get older? Try adding exercise to your daily routine. When done on a regular basis, exercise and physical activity offer many health benefits and can be a pleasure, especially if you choose activities you enjoy. To find out how to become more physically active, restart a lapsed exercise regimen, or get more benefit from your current exercise program, check out the updated Exercise and Physical Activity for Older Adults topic on NIHSeniorHealth.gov, the health and wellness website for older adults.

The winners of the Left Coast Crime Convention held in Los Angeles this year were announced on March 16. The LCC is an annual event sponsored by fans of Mystery Literature, for fans of Mystery Literature. The intent is to provide an event where fans of the Mystery genre can gather in convivial surroundings to pursue their interest in the genre.

A Trace of Smoke by Rebecca Cantrell is the 2010 Winner of The Bruce Alexander Memorial Historical Mystery Award.

Coraline: A Visual Companion by Stephen Jones

Coraline is a movie based on an excellent book by Neil Gaiman, and this visual companion offers a wealth of behind-the-scenes images and information about the making of the movie. The stop-motion technique used to create the movie's sets and characters is a painstaking, detail-oriented process which in this case took years before the movie was complete. This guide has interviews with creators, cast and crew, as well as many concept drawings and a jackpot of other neat information.

Good Eats: The Early Years by Alton Brown

This hefty guide to the first six seasons of Alton Brown's TV show, Good Eats, includes an episode-by-episode rundown of every single show including the recipes featured and behind-the-scenes info on how each show was made. Brown's wry sense of humor and no-nonsense approach to cooking come through, making this book a treat as well as a useful resource.

Fiber Gathering: Knit, Crochet, Spin, and Dye More Than 25 Projects Inspired by America's Festivals by Joanne Seiff

This book visits fiber festivals across the United States, including the Michigan Fiber Festival which is held annually at the Allegan County Fairgrounds. Included are patterns, recipes, techniques and information about all things fiber-related. Filled with vivid color photographs in addition to a wealth of information, this book is one to come back to. If you're looking for local yarn shops, check out the Craft Stores page on Cantonwiki.

Planthropology: The Myths, Mysteries, and Miracles of My Garden Favorites by Ken Druse

Druse is an author, podcaster, and lecturer on gardening, and this book features the plants he has found and loved in his many years of working with them. He writes here about many of the issues gardeners struggle with including zone denial, garden design, and native/nonnative species. Beautifully designed, this book is gorgeous to look at as well as quite informative.