To foster a sense of community and provide an opportunity for calm conversation, the Canton Public Library will host a book discussion for two book titles whose inclusion in the Plymouth-Canton Community Schools AP English curriculum was recently challenged.

Beloved, by Toni Morrison, will be the featured title of a February 27, 7:00 PM discussion and Waterland, by Graham Swift, will be discussed on March 27 at 7:00 PM.

"By hosting a discussion of these books, we can give our community a shared experience and promote a dialogue around the perspectives each individual brings from reading the book," says Rebecca Havenstein-Coughlin, department head of adult services. "The public library is an excellent forum for connecting our community in this manner."

The discussion will be led by library staff and is open to anyone in the Plymouth-Canton community ages 16 and older. Those interested in participating may register and pick up a copy of the book at the Canton Public Library beginning January 30.

Beloved: a novel by Toni Morrison — for which Morrison won the 1987 Pulitzer Prize, is described by its publisher, Random House, Inc., as "Staring unflinchingly into the abyss of slavery, this spellbinding novel transforms history into a story as powerful as Exodus and as intimate as a lullaby. Sethe, its protagonist, was born a slave and escaped to Ohio, but eighteen years later she is still not free. She has too many memories of Sweet Home, the beautiful farm where so many hideous things happened. And Sethe's new home is haunted by the ghost of her baby, who died nameless and whose tombstone is engraved with a single word: Beloved. Filled with bitter poetry and suspense as taut as a rope, Beloved is a towering achievement."

Waterland by Graham Swift

The benefit concert is sold out.

The December printable calendar is available online now in pdf format.

Here's a message from Marybeth Levine, executive director of the Detroit Area Diaper Bank, who is braving the wind and snow to collect diapers during our drive.

CANTON, MI—Imagine swaddling your toddler in a paper towel or plastic bag because you are out of diapers and don’t have the resources to buy more. That’s the challenge facing thousands in Metro Detroit and the reason the Canton Public Library has partnered with the Detroit Area Diaper Bank for the third annual Stuff the Truck Diaper Drive, November 16 and 17.

The library will collect diapers of any size or brand, newborn through adult, including pull-ups, swim diapers and open packages, from 9:00 AM to 9:00 PM on November 16 and 17. The diapers will go to the Detroit Area Diaper Bank, a nonprofit charitable organization, who dispenses them to SE Michigan partner agencies serving people in crisis. Last year’s drive netted over 26,000 diapers.

“The diaper drive helps us fulfill our mission of connecting our community,” states library director Eva Davis:

Canton, MI—The celebration of Diwali, also known as the festival of lights, will be the feature of a multicultural program on Wednesday, November 9, 7:00-8:30 PM at the Canton Public Library.

This all-ages program features Nadanta, a classical dance troupe directed by Chaula Thacker, musical performances by Shilpa Modhak and samples of traditional festive food. There will also be henna demonstrations, a fashion show of colorful costumes from different parts of India and Rangoli floor designs.

Diwali, a Hindu festival, honors the renewal of life and the triumphs of light over darkness. This program is part of a series of multicultural programs, sponsored by the Friends of the Canton Public Library, to promote cultural experiences and understanding. The Canton Public Library is located at 1200 S. Canton Center Road in Canton, MI. For more information, visit www.cantonpl.org.