This is a wonderful time of year to be reminded of what a great state Michigan is. The Fall landscape will soon be painted with shades of red, gold and orange. Check out some of the tours that are offered to view the gorgeous landscape. Or read some of the books we have on travel in Michigan. There are plenty of cider mills around for families to visit also. Enjoy this great time of year and our beautiful state!

Last night's premiere of the new ABC drama Detroit 1-8-7 was just the latest sign of the success of the burgeoning film industry in the state of Michigan. Although parts of the pilot episode were filmed in Atlanta, future episodes will be shot entirely on location in the Detroit area. The gritty police drama — which stars Michael Imperioli and James McDaniel — joins the HBO comedy-drama Hung — which although not filmed entirely in the area, is set here — in using the Detroit metropolitan area as a backdrop for interesting storytelling. These two programs join a growing list of films that were shot in Michigan over the last couple of years — several of which have already been released.

This weekend's Thunder Over Michigan Air Show at Willow Run in Ypsilanti will feature displays of historical and significant aircraft of the U.S. Military. Re-enactments of WWII battles, an F-16C Fighting Falcon Demonstration and a Gathering of Fortressess Legends are also scheduled. For a full schedule and list of performers see the Yankee Air Museum website.

Photo courtesy of AP Images

Each year, the U.S. Small Business Administration recognizes the contributions of small businesses to the success of the economy. This week, National Small Business Week is May 23-29.

Michigan Week is celebrated this year from the 16th through the 22nd of this month. This annual tribute began in 1954 as a way to promote state pride among citizens, and to celebrate the state's rich heritage. The Library can help you learn more about Michigan's history, its tremendous natural resources, and its beautiful sights to visit and enjoy.

Michigan eLibrary (MeL) has a new addition to the growing collections on the Michigana database. Michigana: Sources in U.S. History Online features primary documents regarding many topics including Native Americans, railroads, and frontier life. It's another great source for Michigan and U.S. history!

In the past couple weeks, dozens (if not hundreds) of patrons have called or visited the library asking about the 2009 Michigan tax forms: Well, your wait is over!! Find supplies of all of the most common Michigan 2009 tax forms and instruction booklets (including MI-1040 and MI-1040CR-7, better known as the Home Heating Credit Claim) on the large work table inside our Copy Center. These are in addition to the 2009 Federal tax forms and instructions, which have been in stock for the past few weeks. For the less common tax forms, you'll find binders containing all reproducible 2009 Michigan and Federal tax forms (photocopy charges apply to these reproducibles) in the Copy Center, which also has a computer work station featuring direct links to Federal, Michigan, Other States' and City of Detroit tax form websites.

Looking for something new to read? Check out these recently released Mysteries:

The Crossing Places: A Ruth Galloway Mystery by Elly Griffiths

Smasher by Keith Raffel

Devil's Trill by Gerald Elias

In the Blood by Fay Sampson

Bad Things Happen by Harry Dolan

Following her successful memoir-in-essays, Stealing Buddha's Dinner, Bich Minh Nguyen's first novel, Short Girls, explores the relationship of two Vietnamese American sisters, Van and Linny. Straight-laced Van, an Immigrant lawyer, lives with her husband in Ann Arbor and college dropout Linny is a free-spirited cook in Chicago. The two estranged and strikingly different sisters return home when their inventor father announces his intentions to become an American citizen and forge a new relationship. Place a hold on it today.

The Seeking Michigan website is a wealth of information for genealogists and Michigan history buffs! There are over 1,000,000 death records from 1897-1920, WPA property inventories, governor histories and much, much more. Plus, it's easy and fun to use. If you are seeking a wonderful Michigan website, be sure to check out this one!

From October 26-30, you are invited to participate in a unique, virtual dialogue on "Stealing Buddha's Dinner" with individuals from other Michigan communities, high schools, colleges, and others. Questions emanating from Bich's tour visit Oct 13-17, as well as from her memoir, will be posed to stimulate dialogue on immigration stories, cultural understanding, and contemporary history.

Discussion will occur on the Great Michigan Read Facebook Discussion Board, beginning October 26. We look forward to the conversation and your participation!

Author Bich Minh Nguyen, who wrote Stealing Buddha's Dinner will speak at 1 p.m. on Saturday, October 17th at the Penn Theatre in Plymouth.

Nguyen and her family left Vietnam in 1975, and relocated to Michigan. Stealing Buddha's Dinner is a memoir of the author's childhood and experiences of assimilation into American culture. This is Nguyen's only appearance in the Detroit area; and her presentation is not to be missed.

According to an article in the Detroit Free Press, Hollywood is coming to the aid of the McGregor Library in Highland Park, Michigan. The library was forced to close in 2002 because the city couldn't afford to keep it open. Actor Danny Glover will reportedly star in a film - titled Highland Park - which will tell the story of the struggle to reopen the library. Significant restoration will be done on the building as part of the film project, and it is hoped that this will eventually lead to the library reopening.

The Michigan Attorney General's office has established an online resource center for Michigan's seniors at Senior Brigade. This website is a clearinghouse for helpful information on consumer protection, financial matters, health care issues and veterans' services. It provides links to a wide variety of state and federal programs to help make informed decisions that can benefit you and your family. A calendar of senior events around the state is also available. The website is maintained by Attorney General Mike Cox's office.

The Automotive Hall of Fame building, in Dearborn, Michigan, was opened on August 15, 1997. Over 200 individuals have been inducted into the Automotive Hall of Fame, the highest place of honor in the international motor vehicle history.

That's right, Tiger Woods will be among the field of players in the 45th Buick Open at Warwick Hills Golf and Country Club in Grand Blanc this week.  Don't miss your chance to see what could be the final Buick Open, the only PGA tour stop, here in Michigan.   

Photo courtesy of AP Images

This Special Collection was created as Detroit prepared to celebrate its 300th birthday, a year-long event that was marked by a host of festivities and events. The history of the city is broad enough and rich enough, though, to warrant a continual presence and periodic updating as one of the library's special online resource collections. As we celebrate the city's 312th birthday, check the books, websites and other materials listed here to discover more about the Motor City and its colorful past.

History of Detroit

Celebrating 300 Years of Detroit Cooking, 1701 to 2001 edited by Marguerite J. Humes: A "historical cookbook" presenting information about Detroit's social setting and cooking history from 1701 to 2001.

Whether it's a long cross-state hike or a shorter day hike, Michigan abounds with breathtaking trials.  To locate and plan a hike near or far visit Michigan.org.  Make sure to prepare for a enjoyable experience with Buck Tilton's new Knack

Looking for some fun ways to spend a day? Well, why not spend it exploring our own great state of Michigan? Fun With The Family In Michigan: Hundreds of Ideas For Day Trips With The Kids offers up wonderful suggestions for day trips all over the state. Pick up a copy and see all that Michigan has to offer!

If you like the humor found in Janet Evanovich's Stephanie Plum series, may we suggest:

• Murder Grins and Bears It: A Yooper Mystery by Deb Baker
• Size 12 is Not Fat by Meg Cabot
• Bubbles Unbound by Sarah Strohmeyer
• Tourist Season by Carl Hiaasen
• The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency by Alexander McCall Smith