According to msnbc.com, the Doomsday Seed Vault located in Norway is scheduled to receive nearly 25,000 samples of seeds this week from around the world. The vault acts as a backup for living crop collections around the world to ensure crop diversity and future food supplies. The vault opened on February 2008 and is dug into the Platåberget mountain ("Plateau mountain") located near the village of Longyearbyen, Svalbard, a group of islands north of mainland Norway. Look to CPL for more resources on seeds or search our Science in Context database for information on the Doomsday Seed Vault or Svalbard Global Seed Vault. [Photo courtesy of AP Images]

Closet monsters: stitch creatures you'll love from clothing you don't by written & illustrated by John Murphy

We all know that closets are havens for scary monsters that come out after dark, but did you know that your closet can also be the source for making your own terrifying creatures? These critters are all made from clothing, so you can re-use your old stuff, or maybe drop by our local Goodwill to find some monster fodder. This book gives step by step instructions for 13 unique creatures, and from there you can customize them to make them as scary or cute as you'd like.

Good bug, bad bug: who's who, what they do, and how to manage them organically (all you need to know about the insects in your garden) by Jessica Walliser

They may be creepy crawly, but bugs can be your best friends when it comes to gardening. This book offers details on both pests and beneficial insects, many of which can be used to control the pests. With color photos, this book provides a clear illustration of both the insect itself and, for pests, the type of damage it does to plants.

Five books to help make life a little easier as you age:

I feel great about my hands: and other unexpected joys of aging by edited by Shari Graydon

AARP guide to revitalizing your home: beautiful living for the second half of life: reimagine, redesign, remodel by Rosemary Bakker

The social animal: the hidden sources of love, character, and achievement by David Brooks

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!

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.

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.

Furoshiki: the art of wrapping with fabric by Kumiko Nakayama-Geraerts — A furoshiki is a piece of cloth about one meter square. It is used to carry objects, and the art of wrapping furoshiki was established sometime in the 12th-14th century. The art of furoshiki is also heavily associated with gift giving, and the wrapping itself becomes part of the gift. This book contains specific instructions for wrapping objects of varying shapes, and the different knots that are required to secure the fabric. There are even techniques especially for carrying one or two books! Also included are patterns for embroidering your furoshiki.

According to trendwatching.com in 12 Consumer Trends for 2012, one trend to watch out for in 2012 is what they have dubbed "eco-cycology" or "the phenomenon of brands helping consumers recycle by taking back all old items from customers, and then doing something constructive with them." While this is sometimes prompted by legislation and sometimes by companies themselves, ultimately it is prompted by you the consumer. Check out CPL resources to learn more about how businesses are greening their practices.

Backyard birding : using natural gardening to attract birds by Julie Zickefoose ; and the editors of Bird watcher's digest — Watching birds in your yard can be a great way to relax and learn more about native creatures. Having birds in your garden can also benefit you in other ways: many feed on insects, which can help your garden flourish and make your yard a more pleasant place for people, too. Many of the plants that attract birds also attract butterflies - a double bonus!

The complete guide to saving seeds : 322 vegetables, herbs, flowers, fruits, trees, and shrubs by Robert Gough and Cheryl Moore-Gough — Purchasing plants every year can be expensive! Even buying seeds can add up after awhile, so why not save your own seeds? This book includes all the information you'll need to save seeds from herbs, vegetables, fruits, trees, and even shrubs. It also shows how to go a step further and customize your plants through cross-pollination.

High-impact, low-carbon gardening : 1001 ways to garden sustainably by Alice Bowe — Most of the time when I choose plants for my garden, I go by what their blooms look like, what fruit (or veg) they will bear, and how they will complement the other plants in my garden. This book looks at it from another angle: will the plant improve my garden's ecological credentials? will it help manage water? Also included here are tips for choosing sustainable materials, eliminating perennial weeds, substituting more eco-friendly alternatives for classic favorite plants, and more.

National Public Radio (NPR) posted an interactive map, searchable by zip code and/or city, that allows you to find out who has been emitting hazardous chemicals into the air. The map lists more than 17,000 facilities nationwide. The color-coded dots and scores of one to five smoke stacks are based on an EPA method of assessing potential health risks. You can zoom into your neighborhood by clicking on the map or use the search box in the upper right hand corner to find your area of interest. You can even look at the full EPA reports on selected facilities.
[Photo courtesy of AP Images]

Final day to vote for the New Seven Wonders of the World is Friday, November 11. The choice has been narrowed to 28 places around the world. Three of the nominations are in North America. The Grand Canyon-USA, The Bay of Fundy-Canada, and El Yunque-Puerto Rico. Vote now!

The vegetable gardener's container bible : how to grow a bounty of food in pots, tubs, and other containers by Edward C. Smith — Do you like to grow in containers but haven't done much with vegetables before? Don't have a lot of space but still want a veggie garden? This book has lots of information about how to grow various vegetables in containers, including how to choose which plant to put in which pot, how to amend the soil for optimal veg growth and development, how to care for container gardens, managing pests and disease, what to do with your container veg gardens at the end of the season, and more.

Susan Carmody of Perfectly Placed LLC and Mary Vangieson, the Wayne County Resource Recovery Coordinator, offer an introductory presentation to help participants learn the basics of organizing and recycling in their kitchens… just in time for holiday entertaining. This is the second presentation by Susan and Mary in their series about organizing and recycling. Bring your plastic shopping bags and receive a free, reusable shopping tote on November 2 at 7:00 PM in the Community Room.

Is your medicine cabinet filled with expired or unused drugs and are wondering what to do with them? Safely dispose of them on Saturday October 29th from 10:00 AM-2:00 PM at the Canton Township Police Department. Help keep the water supply clean and at the same time stop dangerous medications from being accidentally consumed or stolen. The free event  is part of the Drug Enforcement Administration's National Prescription Drug Take Back Day and this week's Red Ribbon activities.

Photo courtesy of AP Images

A chicken in every yard : the Urban Farm Store's guide to chicken keeping by Robert and Hannah Litt — The title of this book refers to the idea not that every yard must have chickens, but that every yard could. You can raise chickens virtually anywhere, and this book shows just how to do it. The authors have included a wealth of information gleaned from their own experience, including choosing the right breed, building a coop, feeding, preventing and treating diseases, recipes to use your chickens' eggs and more. They also include an all-important section on working with neighbors, family, and authorities to make your chicken-raising experience successful and positive for everyone.

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.