We wanted to show just how fast and easy it is to self-check your items:

Well, hockey fans, it is that time of year once again — the Stanley Cup Playoffs! Now, although our Wings had us in a state of nail-biting curiosity to see if they were even going to make the playoffs, we can breathe a sigh of relief, that they are here to play another day. While you are eagerly waiting for the next game in the series, check out one of our great hockey books or DVD's to keep you in the know until the buzzer sounds and the next game begins!

If you are new to the area, new to biking, or simply want to explore new routes, check out Washtenaw County Bike Rides: a Guide to Road Rides In and Around Ann Arbor by Joel D. Howell. All the routes are paved and start from Ann Arbor. The difficulty of the rides and areas that require caution are clearly noted. Route maps for Dixboro, Dexter-Chelsea, Gallup Park, Hell, Huron River Drive, Manchester, Waterloo and more are included. A perfect weekend outing for the motivated rider who loves a challenge!

Downtown Detroit is the place to be for the NCAA Men's Division I Hockey Frozen Four Championship and the Detroit Tigers' home opener! The action begins Thursday with the college hockey Semifinals and concludes with Saturday's Championship game at Ford Field. Tickets are still available at a reasonable price.
The Tigers are back at Comerica Park for a six game home-stretch beginning with Friday's home opener against the Cleveland Indians. Michigan native and comedian Tim Allen will throw one of the first ceremonial pitches along with servicemen representing each branch of the military. Game time 1:05pm. Go Get'Em Tigers!!

The Michigan State Spartans are one of the "Elite Eight" in the NCAA Men's College Basketball Championships. Watch the 2010 Midwest Regional Final between Michigan State and Tennessee on Sunday March 28th as the Spartans look to advance to their sixth Final Four in the last 12 years. Tip time set for 2:20 pm ET on CBS.

After seventeen days of incredible and exciting winter events the 2010 Winter Olympics will come to an official end in Vancouver's BC Place Stadium on Sunday, February 28th. As with the Opening Ceremony, everything is hush-hush about the Closing Ceremony and who will perform. One thing is for sure, Nordic combined gold medalist, Billy Demong, will carry the U.S. Flag. The ceremony will also capture the spirit and personality of Vancouver, British Columbia and Canada. Coverage starts on NBC @ 8:00pm EST, tune in!

Photo courtesy of AP Images

Wow, to just take a look outside is breathtaking. I love the snow and these past few days we certainly have gotten our fair share. Sometimes I stare at it and wonder, wouldn't snowboarding just be a blast on all this snow! I have never actually snowboarded, so I better check out some of these books on snowboarding! Be sure to check them out too. Happy swooshing!

Well sports fans, we are now half-way through the 2010 Winter Olympics in beautiful Vancouver, British Columbia. I don't know about you, but after watching all those skiing events in that gorgeous mountain country, it makes me want to visit the Vancouver area pronto. Luckily, they have got us covered! Check out the website www.hellobc.com for all the great information you will need to plan your next vacation to their amazing city. If you go soon, you can still check out some great Canucks action before hockey season ends! Happy trails!

Billions will watch tonight's top-secret Opening Ceremony for the 21st Winter Olympics in Vancouver British Columbia. This is the first Winter Olympics Opening Ceremony to take place indoors at Vancouver's BC Place. NBC begins coverage at 7:30PM. Who will light the cauldron officially marking the opening of the games? Athletes from across the globe will come to compete in 86 separate events running through February 28th. Want to know more?

This year, Super Bowl XLIV makes its way to Sun Life Stadium, "Official Home of the Miami Dolphins," in sunny South Florida. So grab your snacks, spirit wear, and pom poms and get ready for Super Bowl Sunday on February 7th! The New Orleans Saints make their first appearance against the Indianapolis Colts. Tune in 6:00PM on CBS to see whether Brees or Manning lead their team in hoisting the coveted Vince Lombardi Trophy.

Apparently there's a larger-than-normal sporting event going on this weekend. If you're not quite ready for the big game, here are some links that may interest you:

• Slate magazine shows what it would be like if famous filmmakers 'directed' the Super Bowl [via kottke]
• Freakonomics Blog at NYT ponders what it would be like to play football without a helmet, among other amusing things
• Mental Floss tests your knowledge of the Bud Bowl in their latest lunchtime quiz
• Lifehacker suggests using baking powder to make restaurant-quality wings at home
• The Onion covers the Super Bowl the way only they can
• Macworld gives some pointers for setting up your HDTV for the Super Bowl and Olympics
• Macworld also collected a list of great Super Bowl-related iPhone & iPod Touch apps
• Cooking Light presents a Super Bowl menu makeover that looks quite appetizing

Here are some books that may interest you this weekend, available here at CPL:

Football for dummies, 3rd edition by Howie Long, John Czarnecki

The ultimate Super Bowl book : a complete reference to the stats, stars, and stories behind football's biggest game-- and why the best team won by Bob McGinn ; foreword by Michael MacCambridge

A little something : more than 150 snacks, hors d'oeuvres,and appetizers for every craving and occasion by Susan Epstein

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Hey sports fans! Let's take a hockey break for a moment and revel in the world of football for a moment. Super Bowl XLIV is coming fast and furious to the South Florida area. If you get the chance to go, pack a swimsuit and some sunscreen as the weather there will be beachy keen. Get your tickets and root for either the Colts or the Saints. Sorry Lions, maybe next year! I am rooting for the Saints as this is their first Super Bowl appearance ever and also because they are a symbol of hope for the New Orleans area. Here's hoping they bring home the trophy.

Join Detroit New reporter, author, and 97.1 Sports Radio host Terry Foster for A Night of Detroit Sports Talk tonight, Thurday, January 28^th, from 7:00-8:30PM in our Community Room. Registration is not required, so come by if you're interested!

Also, check out Mr. Foster's Books if you can't see him in person.

Michigan is home to over 61,000 registered hockey players, coaches and officials so it's only fitting that we celebrate Hockey Weekend Across America January 29-31. USA Hockey, the governing body of hockey in the U.S., is promoting the weekend with free "try it" days at local rinks, including the Arctic Edge in Canton, a Hockey Rocks video contest and special themes all weekend. January 29 is "Wear Your Favorite Hockey Jersey Day", January 30 is "Bring a Friend to the Rink Day." On January 31, watch the hometown favorite Detroit Red Wings take on the hated Pittsburgh Penguins on NBC (WDIV locally) at 12:30PM

Canton ice dancers Meryl Davis and Charlie White are featured in Saturday's New York Times. Read about their international success and bid for Olympic gold in Vancouver!

The 2010 Winter Olympics starts February 12 in Vancouver, BC and it's not too early to get enthused! Here are a list of websites pertaining to scheduled events, current news, Winter Olympics history and more. For an overview of the Winter Olympics, see "The Winter Olympics: An Insiders Guide to the Legends, the Lore and the Game" in Canton Library's collection. For other books on the Olympics for all ages, see the subject "Olympics" in our catalog.

Grab your spirit wear and cheer for your favorite college football team during the 2009-10 College Bowl Games. Michigan State will make its second appearance in the Valero Alamo Bowl to give the school a third straight postseason game for just the third time in school history. The Spartans will go against Texas Tech on Saturday January 2, 2010. The No. 25 ranked Central Michigan Chippewas, earning a spot in the Associated Press Top 25 poll for the first time in school history, face Troy in the GMAC Bowl on Wednesday January 6, 2010. Fire up Spartys and Chips!! Complete Bowl Schedule

The Vancouver 2010 Olympic Torch Relay will be running through Windsor Wednesday December 23, 2009. Come share the excitement and fun with our Canadian neighbors for the Olympic Torch Community Celebration! The evening will be filled with musical entertainment, children's activites and will finish off with a fireworks display. The Windsor Star also reports that Red Wings and Canadian Team hockey coach Mike Babcock will be in attendance.  View map for Windsor Torch Relay details.
[Photo courtesy of AP Images]

The movie adaptation of Michael Lewis' 2006 best-seller Blind Side: Evolution of a Game is in theatres now. Sandra Bullock, Quinton Aaron and Tim McGraw star in the true story of a homeless teen offered a second chance in life when he is taken in by an affluent family.

Opening in the Detroit area tomorrow, the film Invictus tells the inspiring true story of how newly elected South African president Nelson Mandela joined forces with the captain of South Africa’s rugby team, to help unite their country. Knowing that his nation remained racially divided - as well as economically - in the wake of apartheid, Mandela and team captain Francois Pienaar used the universal language of sport to rally South Africa’s underdog rugby team to an unlikely run to the World Cup Championship