Banned Books Week is celebrated annually to highlight our First Amendment and the freedom to read. In honor of Banned Books Week, check out this list of frequently challenged classics. There is also a list of Banned Books Weeks activities listed here. How will you celebrate your freedom?

At its September Budget Hearing, the Library Board of Trustees approved the library's 2011 budget (attached, with a comparison to our 2008 budget, which was our last budget before the recession hit), levying a millage rate of 1.5437 mills to generate total revenue of $4.9 million. This is a reduction of about $300,000 compared to our 2010 budget, and a reduction of about $1.6 million compared to our 2008 budget.

$4.9 million is the size our budget was in 2004, when we served 15,000 fewer people, checked out 600,000 fewer items, and had 40% more staff. It is ironic that these library cuts come at a time when our community needs us now more than ever to help you cope with the down economy. In 2011, further cuts have been made to nearly all line items, notably staffing, materials, supplies, and programming.

In honor of the 15 years of success, Playstation has put together a great webpage highlighting their vast heritage and innovations. Check out the page to learn more about their history and what is yet to come.

Join us on Saturday, September 11 at 2:00PM as we celebrate all things Janet. Play a little trivia, have a little snack (donuts, of course) and talk about Janet Evanovich and her books with like-minded fans. Come dressed as your favorite Evanovich character and maybe win a prize. This should be fun!

Let's Get Plum Crazy!

Enjoy the waters of Lake Michigan, have a picnic and take a stroll out to the lighthouse. Midwest Living rated this area as one of the best small towns to visit in its 2008 Best of the Midwest magazine. Catch up on your stone skipping, build a sandcastle, tackle a dune, sail on a tall ship or chart a fishing expedition, then watch the most spectacular sunset from the sandy front porch. So dig into the sands of Michigan's Beachtowns.
[Photo courtesy of mdprovost via flickr]

The Newseum "educates the public about the value of a free press in a free society." Located in Washington, D.C., the Newseum is open to the public and offers a unique interactive map that shows you the front pages of 800 daily newspapers from around the world, with direct links to the online versions of those newspapers. Keep up with events across the globe, use it for your personal interests, or for research.

Today is the first day of the first day of Elvis Week in Memphis, Tennessee and the beginning of a week long remembrance of the 33rd anniversary of Elvis' death. Some of the planned events include a tour of the Graceland Mansion, Shake, Rattle & Roll at the Shell (a benefit concert for the Alzheimer's Association), the Elvis Presley 5K Run, Walk, Rock & Roll to benefit cerebral palsy, and a tour of the Elvis Presley Automobile Museum.

Canton community leaders, including local business professionals, health care professionals, school representatives, judges and attorneys, have united to form Team Canton with the purpose of bringing local resources together in order to help those in need. Team Canton's Community Assistance Resource Guide contains local information on "food pantries, clothing banks, financial assistance, job placement assistance, and education and training programs" and more. You may also want to check out this relevant blog posting on recession resources.

Kids, do want to stay informed and up-to-date on the latest news that matters to you? Do you wish there was a great website full of articles written with you in mind? Look no further. Head on over to DOGO News and take a look around. DOGO is filled with news stories covering current events, sports, science, and more — and it's all geared toward kids. The coolest part is that many of DOGO's articles are actually written by kids just like you! Check it out!

The budget outlook for the library remains bleak in 2011. As I wrote last year, the deepening recession and declining property values mean less money coming in to the library — 95% of our 2010 revenues come from taxes Canton property owners pay to support library programs, collections, and services — which means more cuts for the next several years.

In 2011, our budget will drop another $300,000, to $4.9 million, bringing our cumulative total cuts since 2008 to $1.6 million. $4.9 million is the size our budget was in 2004, when we served 15,000 fewer people, checked out 600,000 fewer items, and had 40% more staff.

Veteran journalist Daniel Schorr passed away today at the age of 93. Born in the Bronx in 1916, Schorr began a 20-year career as a foreign correspondent in Western Europe in 1946, and later joined CBS News in 1953 as one of Murrow's Boys — the legendary news team put together by Edward R. Murrow.

We have been notified by Canton Township that the Detroit Water and Sewer Department (DWSD) will be performing emergency repairs to the DWSD meter pit at Warren and Napier roads on Friday, July 23, which will require the shutdown of a main water feed into Canton between 10:00am and 3:30pm. We have been advised that Northwest Canton will experience low water pressure during that time; water pressure within the library may be affected. Full water pressure will be restored once the repair has been completed.

The Post-It Note will celebrate its 30th anniversary this year. This was an accidental invention and is now a popular office supply item. We have a few materials that feature the post-it:

Why didn't I think of that? : 101 inventions that changed the world by hardly trying by Anthony Rubino, Jr

Accidental inventions [videodisc] : 10 inventions, 10 extraordinary stories

Who Knew?
Michigan has an officially recognized state book titled "The Legend of Sleeping Bear" by Kathy-Jo Wargin and Gijsbert van Krankenhuyzen. Read the book and earn a drawing slip for Summer Reading which qualifies for a non-fiction read about Michigan. Good Luck!

Everyone has their own idea of the perfect getaway, whether it´s a romantic retreat, fun with the family, or a weekend away with friends. Now planning one to the magnificent state of Illinois is easy thanks to the following getaways that immerse you into a specific region of Illinois. Just pick the getaway that´s right for you and start packing.

The program "Exploritas" that had been scheduled from 7:00-8:00PM on May 27th 2010 had to be postponed at this time due to the ill health of the presenter.

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.

The catastrophic oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico caused by the April explosion of a BP offshore oil rig has put local economies, wildlife and the Gulf's ecosystem at risk. It has been described as the "worst environmental disaster in our nation's history." The affected area is home to more than 400 species of wildlife including whales, egrets, herons, otters, dolphins and millions of migratory birds. Check the NWF's website to see how you can help the wildlife recover. For more information on how our dependence on fossil fuels affect the environment check out Crude: The Real Price of Oil or Crude Impact.

Dateline April 28, 1930: Nancy Drew, Girl Detective debuts. 80 years later Nancy is still fighting crime, still bringing in the bad guys. More importantly serving as a strong, feminine role-model for thousands of girls. Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton, Supreme Court Justices Ruth Bader Ginsburg and Sonia Sotomayor, and Oprah Winfrey are fans of Carolyn Keene's creation. Nancy Drew novels have been published in 25 languages and over 200 million copies worldwide have been sold.