It's often said that people fear public speaking more than death. While that's not exactly true, talking is front of people is a major fear — one you can conquer!

Places to Speak

• Canton Communicators Toastmasters club — Toastmasters is a great way to hone your speaking
• Speech classes at Wayne County Community College
• Spotlight Players — acting at the Village Theater

Other places often welcome speakers, such as conferences, meetup groups, places of worship, and even the library!

Books on Speaking

Speaking your way to success by Sheryl Lindsell-Roberts

Public speaking success in 20 minutes a day

Time machines provide a fun learning experience, a unique business opportunity, and a contrived way to manipulate your plot arc. Watch out, though — depending on the make and model you choose for your temporal vehicle, they can often be expensive to build and difficult to maintain. See below for several types of time machine, along with assembly instructions when available.

Hot Tub

The mechanism for how a hot tub can become a time machine isn't well-explained. However, if you acquire a hot tub and the chronological mechanism never works, at least you have a hot tub, right? For further instructions view:

Origami for everyone: beginner, intermediate, advanced by Didier Boursin

Origami zoo: 25 fun paper animal creations by Paul Jackson and Miri Golan; illustrations by Paul Jackson; photographs by Avi Valdman

The new encyclopedia of origami and papercraft techniques by Ayako Brodek; edited by Claire Waite Brown

Connect Your Summer is back and better than ever, and with it are 12 new badges. Click on the badges below to see the reading, program, and activity recommendations from our staff experts for how to earn each badge. Once you've completed an experience, claim the badge online for a chance at some great prizes:

Being Erica. Season one. Disc 1 [videodisc] — Erica Strange is sent back in time by her therapist, Dr. Tom, to deal with the regrets of her life.

Doctor Who. The complete first series, Discs 1 & 2 [videodisc] by 2 Entertain ; BBC — The Doctor and his companion Rose travel around the universe  - and through time - to battle Daleks and other evil aliens.

Sugarlicious: 50 cute and clever treats for every occasion by Meaghan Mountford

The complete photo guide to cake decorating by [Autumn Carpenter]

Special cupcakes by Wendy Sweetser

What's new, cupcake? by Karen Tack and Alan Richardson ; text and photographs by Alan Richardson ; recipes and

Batter Up! We've got a whole roster full of great reads for kids about America's Favorite Pastime. Check one out today before they're loooong gone.

The boys by Jeff Newman; illustrated by Jeff Newman

Baseball hour by Carol Nevius; illustrated by Bill Thomson

Watch me throw the ball! by Mo Willems

Are you in a reading rut? Summer is a great time to try something new.

Use the drop-down menus on the Kids Book Lists page and May We Suggest blog to generate suggestions for a brand new read. Try a graphic novel, audiobook or ebook for a fresh reading experience. If you're feeling brave, combine a new format with a genre you've never read before to truly conquer this badge.

Can't find anything inspiring? Fill out the May We Suggest form to receive personal recommendations.

Did you know that many of the great family movies out there were kids books first? You can earn your "curtains up" badge by reading some of these great titles:

Ella enchanted by Gail Carson Levine

Inkheart by Cornelia Funke; translated from the German by Anthea Bell

Cheaper by the dozen by Frank B. Gilbreth, Jr., Ernestine Gilbreth Carey; (with a new afterword by Ernestine Gilbreth Carey)

Enjoy a good mystery? Like strong female characters? Take a look:

Snatched by Pete Hautman and Mary Logue

Dawn undercover by Anna Dale

Fake ID by Walter Sorrells

And then everything unraveled by Jennifer Sturman

August 11 from 11:00 AM-1:00 PM. To thank you for taking part in the Connect Your Summer reading program, we are throwing a huge bash! Be present for prize announcements, eat a snow cone, make some art and much more, such as:

• Photo booth by inaBooth Photography
• Live Animals from Carousel Acres
• Music by Earth Angels
• Clowns making balloon animals
• Face painting with D&M Art studio
• Henna
• Art Making with the DIA
• Snow Cones!

The knight at dawn by Mary Pope Osborne ; illustrated by Sal Murdocca

Knights of the kitchen table by Jon Scieszka ; illustrated by Lane Smith

A wrinkle in time by Madeleine L'Engle

Honus & me by Dan Gutman

OnTuesday, July 17 at 10:00 AM, join acclaimed photographer, Rick Lieder, as he treks around the library grounds in search of creatures to "capture" on film.  The library will provide disposable cameras or you may bring your own.  Take advantage of this opportunity to learn to "capture" images of your own.  This program is geared to patrons aged 9 and up.  Space is limited, so register today. 

Tanglewreck by Jeanette Winterson

Justin Thyme by Panama Oxridge

The new policeman by Kate Thompson

Ruby red by Kerstin Gier ; translated from the German by Anthea Bell

Join us on Monday, July 16, for an all day, baseball family movie extravaganza starting at 10:00 AM with a film for our youngest patrons and gradually getting more sophisticated, until the 6:30 PM showing of Moneyball.

Fill out one of our LOVE IT hearts with your favorite book, movie, music, or program.  You can pick up a heart at the the Children's Help Desk and the Adult Help Desk.  After you fill out your heart, don't forget to claim your LOVE IT badge online.