Heart disease is the leading killer in the United States, which is why February is American Heart Month. Since 1963 Congress has required the president to proclaim it as such. The object is to increase public knowledge of various cardiovascular diseases, including stroke, and the prevention of heart disease by encouraging heart-healthy habits. This Friday, February 3rd, is the American Heart Association movement National Wear Red Day, which is dedicated to building an awareness of risk and raising funds for research and education specifically for women.

Don't have a pint — donate it to the American Red Cross blood drive instead, when they set up shop at the library on Friday, February 17. Reservations are being accepted now: in person at the Reception Desk, by phone at 734-397-0999 ext. 1071, or by email to gladdenk@cantonpl.org. Or just walk in any time between 10:00 AM-3:45 PM. There's a critical need for blood right now, so please drop by to donate. And be sure to bring a friend. (You must be 17 years of age and able to donate a full pint of blood to be eligible.)

The University of Michigan's Museum of Natural History presents a series of three fun family workshops about science. This year, to tie in with their temporary exhibition at the Museum called Evolution and Health (February 2012-January 2013), they are focusing on showing families what doctors mean when they talk about health, and how factors in our daily lives may affect our health.

On Thursday, February 9, from 7:00-7:45 PM, love is in the air! Along with great love stories there will be crafts, a delicious snack and a free book to add to your collection at home. This Valentine's Day themed programming is supported by Target and the Friends of the Canton Public Library.

Connie Willis, the prolific science fiction author, has won the prestigious Damon Knight Memorial Grand Master Award for 2011. The award is given by the Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America (SFWA) and celebrates lifetime achievement in science fiction or fantasy. The library owns many of her titles, including Blackout/All Clear, which won the Hugo Award for 2011.

Creator and host of the historic "Soul Train" TV show died February 3rd in Los Angeles. His groundbreaking show brought African-American music, fashion and dance to mainstream America for 35 years. Legendary artists such as Barry White, Marvin Gaye, Aretha Franklin and so many more were featured. "Soul Train" was to soul music what "American Bandstand" was to rock'n'roll. Don, "we wish you love, peace and soul."
[Image courtesy of AP Images]

We invite you to visit the Children's Library to tour Turner Town, a Turner Syndrome and Nonverbal Learning Disabilities Awareness Campaign, during the month of February (Turner Syndrome Awareness Month). This collection of doll houses is an interactive self-teaching traveling exhibit that depicts the everyday challenges of a girl with Turner Syndrome and Nonverbal Learning Disabilities from birth and through her later teenage years. It has already been displayed in Livonia libraries, the Plymouth District Library and the Detroit Children's Museum. We are excited to have it visit us as well! Turner Town will be on display for the month of February.

New authors you might want to try:

Washed up by Susan Koefod

1222: a Hanne Wilhelmsen novel by Anne Holt; translated by Marlaine Delargy

Cold cruel winter: a Richard Nottingham mystery by Chris Nickson

All cry chaos: an Henri Poincaré mystery by Leonard Rosen

The bust DIY guide to life: making your way through every day by Laurie Henzel & Debbie Stoller — This book covers the gamut: all the things you love about BUST magazine and more. Crafting, cooking, and beauty tips are just the start. There is also info on being a landlady, polishing your resume, traveling, and much more. This is way more than a contemporary home economics book!

The American Girl series is moving from the series collection in aisle 19 to the J Fiction Collection in aisle 16. Because more than one author writes books for this series, it will be shelved by the series name, American Girl. Once again, we appreciate your patience and understanding while these items are temporarily unavailable in order to change the spine labels.

In commemoration of Black History Month we are celebrating some of Black America’s firsts in aviation and aerospace. Through the month of February, stop by and view our display case near the Receptionist Desk highlighting some of these pioneering aviators. From the first known Black pilot to the youngest African American (12 yrs) flyer. Their lives and stories are a celebration of the human spirit and an inspiration to all that against all odds and great adversity you can achieve your dream… you can touch the sky! To learn more about blacks in aviation visit some of these exciting resources:

It’s tax time again, so here’s some information regarding Federal and State tax forms at the Canton Public Library:

Federal

1. Form #1040 has arrived and is now available on the spinner rack at the Main Help Desk
2. All federal tax forms are currently available online. Delivery of the Instructions 1040-ALL will begin in late January and continue through mid-February. When they arrive they will be available on the spinner rack at the Main Help Desk
3. Publication 17 and binders containing all the Federal tax forms will be available at the check out desk, the copy machines and the Main Help Desk. Patrons may use these to make copies of forms but they should not be removed from the building

State

Michigan state tax forms are now available at the library! They are located on a spinner rack at the Main Help Desk. They are also available online.

Sylvan Saturdays are back Saturday, February 11th, from 1:00-5:30 PM. Teens can attend this workshop, an introductory ACT Prep course that will give students some tips and strategies for scoring higher on the ACT. It will also include a full length practice test with scoring. You must attend the entire session. Registration required.

Arc of justice: a saga of race, civil rights, and murder in the Jazz Age by Kevin Boyle — is the 2012 Great Michigan Read, but sometimes a picture is worth a thousand words:

DVDs

Eyes on the prize. Vol. 1, [videodisc]: America's civil rights movement by Blackside

African Americans are at the heart of the greatest achievements of our history, from music to law, from politics to sports, from literature to religion.

We owe the celebration of Black History Month to Dr. Carter G. Woodson, the son of slaves who went on to earn a Ph.D. from Harvard. He launched Negro History Week in 1926 in order to bring national attention to the contributions of blacks throughout American history. Woodson chose the second week of February for this recognition because it marks the birthdays of two men whose lives greatly influenced the black American population — Abraham Lincoln and Frederick Douglass. The celebration evolved into Black History Month in 1976.

Meryl Davis and Charlie White, two figure skaters trained here in our very own Canton Michigan, just won their fourth consecutive U.S. Figure Skating Championship title. Not only that, but they're the longest running Ice Dance team in the U.S.! We make some mighty fine ice skaters here in Canton. Congrats to the medal winners.
[Photo by Marcio Jose Sanchez/AP]

According to an article from the Michigan Water Stewardship Program, as of Friday, June 27, wolves have officially been removed from the Federal Endangered Species List in the western Great Lakes region including Michigan, Wisconsin and Minnesota. The management authority over wolves in Michigan has been returned to the Department of Natural Resources.