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

The Canton Seniors Book Group meets on the fourth Thursday of the month from 2:00-3:00 PM in Group Study Room A. We meet every month except December. Adult Services librarians, Elaine Skrzynski and Joyce Simowski, alternate leading the discussion. Copies of the discussion book are distributed at the monthly meeting or ask for a copy at the Adult Services Help Desk.

The recent film Argo  starring Ben Affleck tells the true but improbable story of a covert operation to save six Americans hiding in the Canadian Embassy during the 1979 Iran Hostage Crisis. The history of espionage is filled with many such hard to believe tales and the Library's collection has many great titles to pick from.

Double cross: the true story of the D-day spies by Ben Macintyre — What did a Polish patriot, a Peruvian party girl, a Serbian playboy, an eccentric Spanish chicken farmer, and a volatile dog-loving Frenchwoman have in common?

Good mental health is important for everyone and totally necessary to maintain a happy outlook and balanced perspective in these stressful times. Here are some library sources and community resources that can help:

Understanding Mental Health

How to find mental health care for your child by Ellen B. Braaten

How to use herbs, nutrients, & yoga in mental health by Richard P. Brown, Patricia L. Gerbarg, Philip R. Muskin

Hearts are heavy with the tragedy that took place in Newtown, CT. Parents may wonder how to share such information with children, if at all. For resources on this subject visit Helping your Children Manage Distress in the Aftermath of a Shooting. Common Sense Media offers a website to help explain the newsmedia to kids. The late Fred Rogers also had great advice for parents in the midst of life's tragedies.

Armchair historians can't go wrong with this diverse list of recently published biographies and histories:

Thomas Jefferson: the art of power by Jon Meacham

The man who saved the union: Ulysses Grant in war and peace by H.W. Brands

The passage of power by Robert A. Caro

Just in time for Christmas! Check out one of these new biographies of your favorite rock stars:

Bruce by Peter Ames Carlin

My cross to bear by Gregg Allman with Alan Light

A natural woman: a memoir by Carole King

Waging heavy peace: a hippie dream by Neil Young

When we think of services dogs, the images that come to mind are dogs that help people with physical disabilities. But what may surprise you is that special service dogs can alert families when a loved one has diabetes. Diabetic-alert dogs are trained to detect dangerous drops in blood sugar. To learn more, read this Wall Street Journal article, read a book about service dogs, or read a book about diabetes.

Who has the record for the most home runs in a season? Who holds the record for the most 3-pointers in their basketball career? All this cool sports trivia can be found in the pages of our Sports Illustrated Records Books in the Children's Reference section, and the children's circulating collection. These are really fun books to browse through at the library. Football and Hockey Records are available as well.

The ultimate collection of pro hockey records by Shane Frederick ; [Anthony Wacholtz, editor]

The ultimate collection of pro basketball records by Tyler Omoth

Michigan's own Elmore Leonard was awarded The National Book Foundation's Medal for Distinguished Contribution to American Letters at the ceremony announcing the 2012 winners of the National Book Award.

The round house by Louise Erdrich

The beginner's goodbye [large print] by Anne Tyler

Breakdown [large print] by Sara Paretsky

Joanne Fluke's Lake Eden cookbook: [large print] Hannah Swensen's recipes from the cookie jar by Joanne Fluke

At Bertram's hotel [large print]: a Miss Marple mystery by Agatha Christie

Thanksgiving Day kicks off a month of celebrations. May we suggest a movie, tips from Martha Stewart on Thanksgiving prepartions, a history, music to sooth, and a story about family.

Planes, trains and automobiles [videodisc] by Paramount Pictures

Martha's classic Thanksgiving [videodisc] by [presented by] Marth Stewart Living Omnimedia

Mayflower: a story of courage, community, and war by Nathaniel Philbrick

Steven Spielberg's highly anticipated new film Lincoln opens on November 9. Starring Daniel Day-Lewis as our 16th president, and Sally Field as Mary Todd Lincoln, it is inspired by Doris Kearns Goodwin's 2005 book Team of Rivals: the political genius of Abraham Lincoln. The film focuses on Lincoln's final few months in office, specifically his tireless efforts to get the 13th Amendment to the Constitution (abolishing slavery) passed.

For many, part of the fun of visiting new places is exploring the restaurants, markets and foods unique to that area. We have books to help you find these culinary delights.

Food lovers' guide to Boston: the best restaurants, markets & local culinary offerings by Patricia Harris & David Lyon

Food lovers' guide to Brooklyn: the best restaurants, markets & local culinary offerings by Sherri Eisenberg

Promoters,musicians,songwriters,recording studios...all these people behind the scenes.

Hüsker Dü: the story of the noise-pop pioneers who launched modern rock by Andrew Earles

Here, there and everywhere: my life recording the music of the Beatles by Geoff Emerick and Howard Massey

Lonely avenue: the unlikely life and times of Doc Pomus by Alex Halberstadt

A new law will go into effect requiring the state to provide educational training materials for athletes, coaches and parents on concussions. Coaches will be require to remove players from the game if they are suspected of having suffered a concussion and return to the field once a doctor gives a written approval. To learn more, check out one of the health collection's newest book, Ahead of the Game. 

This year marks the 50th anniversary of one of the most pivotal moments of the Cold War. For 13 days in October 1962, the United States and the former Soviet Union engaged in a political and military standoff over the installation of nuclear-armed Soviet missiles in Cuba — just 90 miles off the U.S. coast. President John F. Kennedy notified the country about the presence of the missiles in an historic television address on October 22, 1962. It was during this speech that he explained his decision to enact a naval blockade around Cuba. Because of this many, people believed the world was on the brink of nuclear war.

Does the thought of eating meat make you feel just awful? Join me in celebrating National Vegetarian Month, going on now in the month of October. We have a wonderful collection of Vegetarian cookbooks that are sure to get your mouth watering. Even if cooked cow does pass your lips sometimes, don't be afraid to try some new, great meatless recipes out. You may be pleasantly surprised.

125 gluten-free vegetarian recipes: quick and delicious mouthwatering dishes for the healthy cook by Carol Fenster