The first leg of the Triple Crown begins Saturday, May 5th with the annual "Run for the Roses" at Churchill Downs in Louisville, KY. Grammy Award winning singer Mary J. Blige will sing the National Anthem prior to running of the 138th Kentucky Derby.

Kentucky Derby Dreams: The Making of Thoroughbred Champions by Nusser, Susan — Nusser takes readers inside the excitement and suspense behind the scenes at one of Kentucky's biggest breeding farms; revealing the money, dedication, and expertise that go into producing Derby hopefuls and the world's fastest racehorses.

Tune in Thursday April 5th for the Detroit Tigers Opening Day as they take on the Boston Red Sox. The line-up is set and the 2011 America League Central Champions begin their season at Comerica Park, first pitch 1:05 PM. Go Tigers!!

The NCAA Men's Championship Basketball Tournament has evolved into one of the most prominent annual sporting events in the United States. Millions of fans predict the ultimate winner by filling out brackets in this single elimination tournament that begins in March and ends in April.

The big dance: the story of the NCAA basketball tournament by Barry Wilner & Ken Rappoport — Ken Rappaport tells the story of the tournament from it's beginning seventy-three years ago as just an eight-bracket to today's sixty-eight team format.

The complete history of American film criticism by Jerry Roberts

A natural history of the piano: the instrument, the music, the musicians—from Mozart to modern jazz, and everything in between by Stuart Isacoff

The rise and fall of the Bible: the unexpected history of an accidental book by Timothy Beal

Hey Hockeytown! Tuesday night, February 14, 2012, our Detroit Red Wings will be playing for not just another win against the Dallas Stars. They will be playing for a record breaking win. Currently, our Wings have tied the record at 20 home games won in a row, tomorrow they are hoping to break that record with their 21st home game win. I have tickets, do you? If not, be sure to watch the game on TV or check our awesome selection of items on the Red Wings. My fingers are already crossed, are yours?

It's official: The Red Wings and Maple Leafs will face-off in Ann Arbor at the Big House in the 2013 Bridgestone Winter Classic on New Year’s Day. Stay connected to receive future updates. Meanwhile, continue cheering the Wings on as they move forward in their quest to beat the NHL record of 20 straight home game victories. Don't forget that the library has loads of books and dvds on the Red Wings, and even a couple on the Leafs.

Forever Hockeytown!: how the 2008 Red Wings reclaimed the Stanley Cup by editor, Mark Francescutti

Tim Heller, avid chess player, hosts informal open play on the second and fourth Sundays of most months while providing instruction and pointers on improving your game. Beginners welcome.

The fourth Sunday of the month also includes a tournament by "Library Chess Clubs." For tournament information and registration, please email clubchess@wowway.com.

Meryl Davis and Charlie White, two figure skaters trained here in our very own Canton Michigan, just won their fourth consecutive U.S. Figure Skating Championship title. Not only that, but they're the longest running Ice Dance team in the U.S.! We make some mighty fine ice skaters here in Canton. Congrats to the medal winners.
[Photo by Marcio Jose Sanchez/AP]

Joe Paterno, the legendary Penn State coach, died January 20 in State College, Pennsylvania of lung cancer. The winningest coach in major college football, "JoePa" roamed the Penn State sidelines for 46 seasons, his thick-rimmed glasses, windbreaker and jet-black sneakers as familiar as the Nittany Lions’ blue and white helmets.
[Image courtesy of AP Images]

Tim Heller, avid chess player, hosts informal open play on the second and fourth Sundays of each month in the Community Room while providing instruction and pointers on improving your game. Beginners welcome.

The fourth Sunday of each month also includes a tournament by "Library Chess Clubs." For tournament information and registration, please email clubchess@wowway.com.

Pavel Datsyuk and Jimmy Howard will play for Team Chara in the NHL All-Star Game hosted by the Ottawa Senators on Sunday, January 29th. The Red Wings head into the All-Star break with NHL's longest home game winning streak in 36 years with 17! Read more about current and past hockey greats in several books found in the Canton Public Library's collection.

The American Library Association has joined the National Institutes of Health promoting Go4Life. Go4Life, an exercise and physical activity campaign from the National Institute on Aging at NIH, is designed to help individuals fit exercise and physical activity into their daily life.

Older & wiser workout [videodisc]: for active older adults by with Sue Grant; produced by FitFlix Productions

Lilias! yoga: your guide to enhancing body, mind, and spirit in midlife and beyond by Lilias Folas

The language of flowers: a novel by Vanessa Diffenbaugh

Winterdance: the fine madness of running the Iditarod by Gary Paulsen

My name is Mary Sutter by Robin Oliveira

1984: a novel by George Orwell ; with an afterword by Erich Fromm

Skiing in Michigan offers excitement at any level of skill. With more than 40 Michigan downhill skiing resorts, the Silvery Slopes of Michigan offer the best Alpine skiing in the Midwest. So let's head up the lift and get a little closer to the bright blue sky where the beauty of downhill skiing is Pure Michigan. Michigan ski resorts and lodging and travel include Cadillac, Gaylord, Traverse City, Boyne, and Petoskey.

College Bowl Madness begins Saturday, December 17th with the New Mexico Bowl continuing into 2012 culimnating with the BCS Championship Bowl on January 9th. Western Michigan, Michigan State and Michigan will see action in the Little Caesars Bowl, Outback Bowl and Sugar Bowl, respectively. In addition, the Wayne State Warriors will play for the NCAA Division II Championship on Saturday December 17th.

Seniors have fun on a Wii Bowling League on the first and third Tuesdays of each month. It's great fun and competition, with no special skills required. Join us on January 3 and January 12 at 11:00 AM.

Are you keeping up with the Detroit Lions? They are having a really great year (finally). Their next game is Sunday, December 4th, against the New Orleans Saints. Since it's an away game, and unless you are among the very lucky folks attending, be sure to read up on your favorite team on their website or in our nonfiction collection. Go Lions!

Cy Young Award winner Justin Verlander has also been named the American League's Most Valuable Player for 2011. He is the first starting pitcher to win MVP since 1986 when Roger Clemens took the honor. Only six other pitchers in MLB history have won both the Cy Young Award and the MVP honors in the same year: the Dodger's Sandy Koufax in 1963, St. Louis' Bob Gibson and Detroit's Denny McLain in 1968, Oakland's Vida Blue in 1971, Milwaukee's Rollie Fingers in 1981 and Detroit's Willie Hernandez in 1984.

Justin Verlander of the Detroit Tigers has been named the 2011 American League Cy Young Award winner by the Baseball Writers Association of America. The 28 year old right handed pitcher who finished the 2011 season with a 25-4 record and 250 strike outs won the award by unanimous vote. In addition, Tiger's manager Jim Leyland was the runner up for American League Manager of the Year. Other recipients of 2011 MLB awards include former Detroit Tiger Kirk Gibson who was named the 2011 National League Manager of the year and former Tiger centerfielder Curtis Granderson who was named Outstanding Player in the American League. MVP awards for the American League will be announced on November 21st with both Justin Verlander and Tiger's first baseman Miguel Cabrera in the running. Looking to satisfy your baseball fix till Spring Training 2012? Be sure to check out the many Detroit Tiger books and videos we have to offer!

Open Chess in November and December will only meet once in each month due to the holiday calendar. Tim Heller will host the informal open play for everyone from beginners to experts. Join us on November 13 and December 11 at 1:00 PM in the Community Room. Oh, and have a lovely holiday season!