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.

Girldrive: Criss-Crossing America, Redefining Feminism by Nona Willis Aronowitz and Emma Bee Bernstein

This unassuming book is a fascinating peek into a roadtrip of two young women who travel across the United States with no other goal than to connect with other women. They met and spent time with women of varying ages and experiences and this book contains their thoughts, commentary and photographs. Local note: Aronowitz and Bernstein spent time in several Michigan cities: Detroit, Flint, and Ypsilanti.

On Sunday, February 21 at 2:00PM in the University of Michigan's Hatcher Graduate Library (Room 100/Gallery) Curator Kathryn Beam will share her personal memories of how the exhibit History of the Bible from Ancient Papyri to King James came to be and what the process has meant to her in Sharing a Personal View of the Bible Exhibit.

Sponsored by the University of Michigan Special Collections Library.

The Administration on Aging (AoA), U.S. Department of Health and Human Services recently published A Profile of Older Americans: 2009. The annual Profile of Older Americans was originally developed and researched by Donald G. Fowles, AoA. Saadia Greenberg, AoA, developed the 2009 edition Just a few highlights from this report:

• The older population (65+) numbered 38.9 million in 2008, an increase of 4.5 million or 13.0% since 1998
• The number of Americans aged 45-64 – who will reach 65 over the next two decades – increased by 31% during this decade
• Over one in every eight, or 12.8%, of the population is an older American
• Persons reaching age 65 have an average life expectancy of an additional 18.6 years (19.8 years for females and 17.1 years for males)

If you haven't already, you may want to check out what Time Inc. is calling Assignment Detroit, a year-long project with the intention of chronicling the life of the city of Detroit. It began in the Fall of 2009 and will continue until Fall 2010. The magazine has actually bought a house in Detroit and moved reporters and editors there from various magazines. Although the response has been mixed, you can follow the project via their blog, Detroit Blog, and view some videos about Detroit's economic plight including "How to Survive in Detroit?"
[Photo courtesy of eLibrary]

A new database is searchable via Gale Virtual Reference Library called Countries of the World and Their Leaders. A compilation of the U.S. Department of State, it reports on contemporary political and economic conditions, government personnel and policies, political parties, religions, history, education, press, radio and TV, climate, health conditions, and travel and passport restrictions in every country. Search all of Gale Virtual Reference Library or expand the heading under "Nation and World" to click directly and open up Countries of the World and Their Leaders.

It is the season to get a deal on your Illinois winter getaway with exceptional rates and packages. From decorated mansions and festive zoos to miniature trains and giant snow sculptures, Illinois offers a variety of events to experience the magic of the season. To enjoy mile after magnificant mile of family fun click on the link below.  For further information on the state of Illinois and the great city of Chicago also browse in our travel section.

Human Rights Day

When : Always December 10

Human Rights Day, created by the United Nations, promotes awareness of the importance of Human Rights issues around the world. On this day in 1948, the UN General Assembly adopted the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.

Participate in this day by learning more about human rights issues around the globe. This is a day to think about what we can do to make a difference.  In our own best interest: how defending human rights benefits us all in just one of the books on this subject to be found at the library.

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A recent study jointly published by Microsoft and AARP, Baby Boomers Are Shaping the Future of Technology, AARP and Microsoft Research Shows discusses the expectations of Baby Boomers and the use of technology.  Research shows Baby Boomers enjoy new technology and are eager to use text-messaging, social-networking, etc.  "Baby boomers want technology that reflects their values and helps them express those values with greater purpose, meaning and impact", Adam Sohn, Director of Integrated Communications for AARP said. “While boomers are heavy users of technology today — for everything from entertainment and news to online banking and social networking — what’s most exciting is the technology-assisted world they are helping to create.”

Because I Love Her: 34 Writers Reflect on the Mother-Daughter Bond edited by Andrea N. Richesin

The Big Burn: Teddy Roosevelt and the Fire That Saved America by Tim Egan

Homer's Odyssey: A Fearless Feline Tale, Or How Learned about Love and Life with a Blind Wonder Cat by Gwen Cooper

Idiot America: How Stupidity Became a Virtue in the Land of the Free by Charles P. Fierce

Start the New Year off without excess mental baggage...consider forgiveness! Scientists have proven bitterness and guilt wreaks havoc on our bodies and minds. Dr. Fred Luskin has written Forgive for good the results of the Forgiveness Project, one of the largest and most important studies on forgiveness ever conducted. It shows that learning how to forgive improves our emotional and physical well-being.

The new book "World Heritage Sites", is a treasure trove of information. Readers will be impressed with this all encompassing testament to world culture. It describes 878 sites from 141 countries which the United Nations has designated as culturally or enviromentally important to the world. "World Heritage List", has proved to be a valuable tool in the battle to preserve much of the world's cultural and natural heritage. Its strict criteria results in only the world's most spectacular and extraordinary sites making it onto the list. The list has been publicly available online at http://whc.unesco.org but never in a book format like this.

The Natural Laws of Good Luck: a memoir of an Unlikely Marriage is a beautiful memoir about a cross-cultural marriage (he is Chinese and she is American). The author, Ellen Graf, is honest and non-judgmental in sharing her and her husband's joys and challenges with language, culture, and marriage. I recommend this to anyone who has ever been in a relationship they found challenging or who enjoys reading about culture and relationships.

It is the height of summer and everyone is in the middle of travelling. Since the recent outbreak of swine flu, travelers are becoming increasingly worried about their safety abroad. Before you travel it is essential to know any possible health risks you may or may not be exposed to at your destination. "The Center for disease Control and Prevention" is a site managed by the U.S. Department of Health Centers for Disease Control and Prevention that offers advice and tips for travelers. They have a database of countries that will tell you valuable health information. Before you see your doctor, first go to the CDC Travel website and read their updated page on the country you plan to visit. This is the same website the doctors use, to see which vaccines are needed, as well as Malaria and other issues.

Travel writer and Michigan native Josh Bishop provides an insider’s view of the Upper Peninsula, from Mackinac Island’s horse-drawn carriages and historic Grand Hotel to the dense yet easily accessible Hiawatha National Forest. Moon Michigan's Upper Peninsula gives you all the points of interest and the finest attractions and the finest attractions and maps to help one plan a perfect trip to the Upper Peninsula.

Vice President Joe Biden, along with Governor Granholm and other local officials, will be in Detroit on Wednesday to make remarks on the economy. Some public tickets to this event will be available on a first-come, first-served basis, on request Tuesday at the event venue, the NextEnergy building.
For more information about the event, see the White House Press Release.

Blink: The Power of Thinking Without Thinking by Malcolm Gladwell. In this best-seller, Malcolm Gladwell, a staff writer for The New Yorker, weighs the factors that determine good decision-making. Drawing on recent cognitive research, Gladwell concludes that those who quickly filter out extraneous information generally make better decisions than those who discount their first impressions.

Do you crave every detail of a celebrity's life? Or obsess over a Hollywood A-Lister and whom he or she is dating or divorcing? If so, The Cult of Celebrity might pique your interest as well. Written by an entertainment expert, Cooper Lawrence, explains the phenom known as fame; why we as a society put stars on pedestals and become fascinated when they fall.

Do you often find yourself with more month left than money? Does your budget look good on paper but frequently doesn't work in reality? In these uncertain economic times it is more important than ever to know how to budget your money and to keep track of expenses. Money tracking software programs have been available for many years but now there are websites that perform the same functions at no cost. Sites such as www.feedthepig.com and www.networthiq.com can help you keep track of your expenses and stay on budget.

Have you ever wondered what your grandmother or great-grandmother would have worn when she was young? Well, wonder no more. Visit the Canton Historical Museum from June 20th through August 31st to see special occasion dresses from the late 1800s to the 1950s. The Canton Historical Museum is located on the corner of Canton Center Road and Heritage Park Drive. For more information visit their website.