Did you have fun creating a beautiful work of art for our mural? If so, be sure to come and show us where your picture is on the mural and we can make sure you get a limited edition poster of your very own! Just stop in at the Children's Reference Desk to pick up your poster. See you soon!

President Lincoln issued the Emancipation Proclamation on January 1, 1863. It declared "that all persons held as slaves" within the rebellious states "are, and henceforward shall be free." Every advance of Union troops into the Confederacy expanded former slaves' freedom. Additionally, the Proclamation allowed black men into the military, and by the end of the Civil War almost 200,000 black soldiers and sailors had joined and fought for the Union cause.

Lincoln's Emancipation Proclamation: the end of slavery in America by Allen C. Guelzo

On Wednesday, January 9 from 7:00-7:45 PM, Thirupu Siva will teach young people from 6-16 years of age the basic asanas, building up to various intermediate poses. Please wear loose fitting clothing and bring a towel or yoga mat to work on. Registration for this program begins on December 26.
[Halasana - Postura del Arado/Amineko Yoga by ((carola)) is licensed under CC BY-SA 2.0]

Do you need a place to study for finals? Come to the library to study or work with a group. We will have tables set up in a quiet room for all your studying needs.

• January 21 — 12:00-8:45 PM in the Purple Room
• January 22 — 12:00- 8:45 PM in the Purple Room (NHS tutors available 6:00-8:00 PM) 
• January 23 — 12:00- 8:45 PM in the Community Room

[Studying by scui3asteveo is used under a CC BY-ND 2.0 license]

Grab a friend and sign up for the "Exam Jam" Saturday, January 19 from 1:00-3:00 PM. Sylvan teachers will be on hand to offer tips and ideas for improving study strategies and habits. Attendess will develop a study plan to prepare for school tests and learn specific techniques that will be based on the student's personal learning style. Exams are coming soon. Attend this program and be ready to rock.

Wednesday, January 9, 6:30-8:45 PM join us for our monthly meeting of the Animanga Club! We've got all sorts of zaniness in store from a raffle to trivia to our always popular "mystery anime." What is it this month? Sorry, no hints. Drop by and let your inner otaku run free.

Into board games like Settlers, Carcassonne, or Puerto Rico? Drop by Saturday, January 5 between Noon and 5:45 PM for our monthly Board Gaming League of Canton meeting. Play some of the hottest games and meet some new folks!

NHS students are here to provide 3rd-12th graders free homework help. If you're interested in getting tutored:

• You must be in 3rd through 12th grade
• If you're under 12, your parent must remain in the library
• You must bring the assignment and any other needed materials

Days and Times

• Monday from 6:00-8:00 PM by the Teen Desk
• Tuesday from 6:00-8:00 PM by the Teen Desk
• Tuesday from 6:00-8:00 PM at Plymouth District Library
• Wednesday from 6:00-8:00 PM at Plymouth District Library
• Thursday from 6:00-8:00 PM by the Teen Desk

Just in time for the holiday break, the Detroit Science Center reopens Wednesday, December 26th, as the Michigan Science Center .  Families with older children may find the grand opening special exhibit, Human Bodies: Anatomy in Motion, interesting. For the younger crowd, try Kids Town, the Chrysler IMAX dome, or take in a show at the Dassault Systèmes Planetarium. 

My life undecided by Jessica Brody

Audrey, wait! by Robin Benway

The sisterhood of the traveling pants by Ann Brashares

Every soul a star: a novel by Wendy Mass

The National Film Registry of The Library of Congress has just announced its list of inductees for 2012. Established in 1989, the films are selected for their enduring importance to United States culture. For a history of the Film Registry you can watch the fascinating documentary These amazing shadows: the movies that made America. Titles available in the Libary's collections can be found below. The entire list — complete with film history — can be found here.

3:10 to Yuma [videodisc] — Starring Glenn Ford and Van Heflin (1957)

Nominees for the 2013 Grammy Awards were announced recently. The winners will be revealed February 10, 2013 at the 55th Grammy Award Show. In the meantime you can find the nominees for the major categories in the Library's collection:

Channel orange [sound recording] by Frank Ocean — Album of the Year

El Camino [sound recording] by the Black Keys — Album of the Year

Babel [sound recording] by Mumford & Sons — Album of the Year

Blunderbuss [sound recording] by Jack White — Album of the Year

Yeah kids, we know you are out of school and we know you are getting bored! Bring your friends to the library and game, game, game. On Friday, January 4 from 2:00-4:00 PM, we will have the Community Room hooked up to Wii, PS3, Xbox 360 with Just Dance 4 on the big screen! Bring games from home or play those we have here. See you then!

Kundalini Yoga strives to develop strength, awareness, character and consciousness to the purpose of cultivating values, truth and compassion. Join certified teacher Rajwant Kaur Khalsa as we learn this physical and mental discipline on Thursday, January 31 at 5:00 PM. Registration is required. Adults and teens (age 14 and up) welcome. Come with an empty stomach, a full water bottle and a yoga mat or beach towel for your comfort. Rajwant also suggests bringing a throw or sweater to toss over your shoulders as you cool down.

Snail Mail for Seniors is a non-profit group set up to send greeting cards and children's drawings to senior citizens free of charge. They aim particularly for the senior that does not usually receive many visitors or mail. Come to the Purple Room anytime between 2:00-4:00 PM on January 3 and create a card to send to these oft-overlooked members of our community. We will be focus on creating Valentine's Day cards. All ages are welcome to participate. Supplies provided.

We are proud to announce our partnership with the Plymouth Canton Citizens for Diversity and Inclusion, a diverse group of community members. Its goal is to further diversity and inclusion throughout the Plymouth/Canton Community. Their vision is to guide our community to recognize the importance of building a culturally diverse place with the spirit of inclusion which will create a welcoming environment. The first movie in our Diversity and Inclusion Movie Series is:

The great debaters — starring Denzel Washington. This deeply-inspiring film based on a true story. Washington stars as a brilliant, politically radical debate team coach who transforms a group of underdog African American college students.

This event has been postponed. Check here in the future for the new date and time.

We are proud to announce our partnership with the Plymouth Canton Citizens for Diversity and Inclusion, a diverse group of community members. Its goal is to further diversity and inclusion throughout the Plymouth/Canton Community. Their vision is to guide our community to recognize the importance of building a culturally diverse place with the spirit of inclusion which will create a welcoming environment.

To that end, we are hosting a movie series of important films that emphasize that theme. One film we will watch and discuss is Ocean of Pearls at a time/date to be announced. Dr. Amrit Singh, a Sikh, is of two worlds, but at odds with both. He is offered a prestigious hospital position, but struggles to be the man he is and the person he wants to become.

This story is one of the winners of the Harry Potter Fan Fiction Contest. Congratulations!

The snow fell in a storm of white all around the festive old town. In the backyard of a house far into the country the snow changed colors as it fell. Children ran through the snow playing with their toy broomsticks hovering slightly above the snow. Adults watched the kids through the windows laughing at their merriment. A few older kids and teens whizz around through the snow on actual brooms. A young boy around the age of eleven touched back to the ground and ran for the door to the house.