Fringe-ology: how I tried to explain away the unexplainable—and couldn't by Steve Volk

But will the planet notice?: how smart economics can save the world by Gernot Wagner

The unexpected patriot: how an ordinary American mother is bringing terrorists to justice by Shannen Rossmiller; with Sue Carswell

If you weren't able to attend the National Book Festival in Washington D.C. on September 24-25, videos of the event including authors' talks are now available. Historian and author David McCullough appeared at the 2011 National Book Festival, as did Sylvia Nasar, Cassandra Clare, Wally Amos, Sara Paretsky, and more.

As the Canton Public Library continues to deal with a declining budget, patrons are reminded the "magazine express" program has been discontinued.

September 22, 5:30-7:00 PM, A talk with author William M. Adler, Harlan Hatcher Graduate Library Gallery

The man who never died : the life, times, and legacy of Joe Hill, American labor icon by William M. Adler — Joe Hill was convicted of murder in Utah in 1914 and sentenced to death by firing squad. In the international controversy that ensued, many believed Hill was innocent but condemned for being a union man. Author William M. Adler spent four years investigating the case, and in a biography that reads like a murder mystery, argues convincingly for Hill’s innocence.

Theft is a problem endemic to human nature. But what if theft were a victimless crime? In the computer age, copying a file from a friend or from the web has become easy and widespread; and it is often criminal in nature. The following books give insight into whether this is a problem of enforcement, of intellectual property laws, or of both:

The pirate's dilemma : how youth culture is reinventing capitalism by Matt Mason

Downloading copyrighted stuff from the Internet : stealing or fair use? by Sherri Mabry Gordon

As part of the 2011 Shopper Reform and Modernization Act, the new Scanner Law goes into effect September 1st. The actual document for this act is very lengthy, but the most important fact is that consumers should know is the following: If the consumer is charged more than the displayed cost, they are entitled to request the difference between the displayed price and what they were charged, plus additional compensation ("bonus") of ten times the difference. The bonus must be at least $1.00, but may not be more than $5.00.
[Photo courtesy of eLibrary]

We're going Back to Business School with a series of presentations geared to our local business community and entrepreneurs during their lunch hours at Noon. This five series offering begins September 13 and includes the following:

• September 13 — SCORE will help you build a web page
• September 20 — The Canton Chamber of Commerce will share the benefits of being a Chamber member
• September 27 — The experts from WSU's Tech Town will show you how to "Thrive in your neighborhood."
• October 4 — Our own professional staff will share the advantages of social media
• October 11 — Local journalist and Canton Patch editor, Peg McNichol will share how best to get your information into local media

It's been reported that workplace incivility is on the rise, causing stress in many workers' lives. If you're trying to find positive solutions to this problem, these books may be for you.

The ape in the corner office: understanding the workplace beast in all of us by Richard Conniff

Best practices: difficult people: working effectively with prickly bosses, coworkers, and clients by John Hoover

The Accelate Michigan Innovation Competition is an international business plan competition designed to highlight Michigan as a robust and vibrant venue for innovation and business opportunity.

Any undergraduate or graduate student enrolled for at least 2 classes in a Michigan public or private university or college for the fall 2011 semester are eligible. The deadline date for students' entries is September 30, 2011.

(Photo Credit: Knight-Ridder/Tribune News Service. 08 Jul. 2004. eLibrary. Web. 10 Aug. 2011.)

If you're looking for that next great idea or just want to know how to think outside of the box, give these titles a try.

Breakthrough creativity: achieving top performance using the eight creative talents by Lynne C. Levesque

Discover your genius: ten secrets to breakthrough thinking from history's most revolutionary minds by Michael J. Gelb

Some recent viewpoints regarding society's business customer service ratings make for some interesting reading in the July 2011 issue of Consumer Reports. The article on the Consumer Reports website contains these comments. CR is part of the CPL adult magazine collection and is also available for patron in-library use located at Adult Reference.

Join TechTown on June 30 at NextEnergy for BOOM! The Entrepreneur, the latest in a series of programs for would-be entrepreneurs over the age of 50.

This two-hour workshop, sponsored by BOOM! The New Economy, motivates and inspires baby boomers to take the next steps in starting a business.

Randal Charlton, executive director of TechTown and a serial entrepreneur in his own right, will lead the group in a discovery of what it takes to be an entrepreneur. The program also includes one-on-one counseling sessions with TechTown business experts.
Date: Thursday, June 30, 8:30 to 11:00AM
Location: NextEnergy, 461 Burroughs Street, Detroit
This program is free, but you must register to attend.

Are you concerned about the potential ramifications of your employees and social media? Aaron Graves, a labor and employment attorney, will discuss the ins and outs of your rights and your employee's rights when it comes to social networking. This Strategies of Success (SOS) seminar takes place on Tuesday, May 17th from 7:30-9:30AM in the Summit on the Park Banquet Center. Space is limited so please reserve your spot by calling the Canton Chamber of Commerce at (734) 453-4040.

If "two heads are better than one," then a whole team working towards the same goal is an awesome concept. However, there can be more to team dynamics than meets the eye. If you are leading a team, a member of a team or just in need of more information, try these books:

The orange revolution: how one great team can transform an entire organization by Adrian Gostick and Chester Elton

Extraordinary groups: how ordinary teams achieve amazing results by Geoffrey M. Bellman, Kathleen D. Ryan

Effective April 1, 2011 the Social Security Administration has suspended annual statements to all workers. At present, this mailing cost the government $70 million dollars. SSA estimates they will save $30 million this year and $60 million dollars next year when they resume mailing, but only to those 60 years and older. An online Social Security benefits estimator is available as well other retirement planning information.

The Center for Michigan is providing opportunities for citizens to speak out.  "Talk Back to Lansing" forums are scheduled in Wixom (April 20), Grand Rapids (April 25) and Lansing (April 27).  Register today.

Let your voice help shape Michigan's 2012 Budget.

Parents, are you looking for a fun way to teach your kids and teens about saving money? Have them try out the new game from Mint.com called Quest for Money. Its goal is to teach money management in a fun and entertaining way. Learn more about the game or jump right in to playing it. Enjoy!

Apple Computer was founded on April 1, 1976. Can you believe it's been 35 years since Steve Wozniak and Steve Jobs founded Apple Computer?

Read about these genius geeks and visit the Apple museum. Check out Apple's history and find out more about these inventors.

Spring is a great time to clean out your file drawers for old documents and paperwork. However, many people worry about the safety of throwing away sensitive records and most home shredders are not powerful enough to handle large amounts of paper at one time.

If you are considering shredding for those piles of paper, Office Max offers a secure shred service for $.59 per pound. Those documents that are shredded are then recycled, making it an environmentally good choice as well.

Although it's not a new concept, management books regarding employee engagement are a popular trend. They are an interesting point of view for both managers as well as employees.

The 2020 workplace: how innovative companies attract, develop, and keep tomorrow's employees today by Jeanne C. Meister and Karie Willyerd

Employees first, customers second: turning conventional management upside down by Vineet Nayar

The talent masters: why smart leaders put people before numbers by Bill Conaty and Ram Charan