"Take a Child Outside" is a whole week (September 24-30) devoted to enjoying all things outdoors with children.  So show nature to your children and get them moving, whether by taking a hike, just visiting a local park to look for all the kinds of trees we live among, or collecting pictures of the bugs that live in your own back yard.  When you visit the library, check out our display for more inspirational ideas.

Apocalypse Now.  Most all of us have had someone blithely say "Well, it's not the end of the world" when we've shared a personal woe.  But, what if it were the end of the world?  What if something so drastic occured that the world as we know it no longer existed?  What would life be like then?  This display of dystopian novels is sure to catch your attention and get you wondering.

Hurricane Katrina was the cataclysmic force that did destroy the world of New Orleans and its citizens in 2005.  Out of the maelstrom, Dave Eggers penned Zeitoun, the heartrending book at the center of this year's One Book One Community programs and activities in East Lansing and at MSU.  After reading this powerful telling of how one family endured the consequences of Katrina, learn even more about Katrina by visiting this display of other available materials.

Make sure you're prepared when you go to the polls on Tuesday, August 3. 

These web sites will help you review who's running, what they stand for, and view a sample ballot.

Michigan Votes

Publius Voter Guide

Michigan Dept. of State - Voter Information Center

Lansing State Journal - Election 2010

Project Vote Smart

Beginning Monday, June 14, the East Lansing Public Library will be participating in Park & Read, a FREE program where you can check out a FREE pass into any one of Michigan's 98 state parks and recreation areas. Passes usually cost $6 per day. Use your pass to explore a park for the day - or just enjoy a great book in the great outdoors. Plus many parks will have a hammock available for you to borrow for the day.

Ask for your pass at the Circulation Desk. Limited quantities will be available each week throughout the summer, or while supplies last. Passes are valid for seven days from checkout and are good for day use only.

For a map of Michigan's state parks, check out www.michigan.gov/stateparks.

Park & Read is sponsored by the Michigan Department of Natural Resources and Environment, in partnership with the LIbrary of Michigan.

Grab a bite to eat and drink at Dublin Square Restaurant and Pub this Sunday, June 13, from 4-9 pm, and 10% of what you spend will be donated to the East Lansing Public Library.

Use of public libraries nationwide is up, and funding is down - so use this opportunity to help out your local library, and enjoy food and drink at the same time.

Here's a link to the menu, so you can check it out ahead of time.

See you there!

Sure feels like summer, doesn't it? And summer reading at ELPL for children of all ages (and adults, too) will begin on Monday, June 14. We'll have lots of fun, free programs to keep everyone busy, plus a reading incentive program to keep kids reading all summer long.

Follow the Library on Twitter and/or Facebook.  Keep up on events, booklists, book news ... and much, much more!

Yes, the East Lansing Public Library has books to read in languages other than English!

Our Community Languages Collection has books for children and adults in 13 other languages . . . everything from folk tales to the Twilight series, everything from popular mysteries to awarding winning fiction.  Come in and take a look!

Arabic
Chinese
French
German
Hindi
Italian
Japanese
Korean
Persian (Farsi)
Russian
Spanish
Vietnamese

To offset reductions to the library's budget, fees for nonresident library cards have increased, as of July 1, 2010. This first increase in seven years was approved by the East Lansing Library Board of Directors on April 21, 2010.

New annual rates are:

• Individual card: $30 (from $20)
• Family card: $40 (from $30)
• 6-month individual card: $18 (from $12)

May is Asian/Pacific American Heritage Month. 

Clilck through to the catalog to try these notable authors:  Ai, Anita Desai, Jessica Tarahata Hagedorn, Gish Jen, Ha Jin, Maxine Hong Kingston, Jhumpa Lahiri, Chang-Rae Lee, Bharati Mukherjee, Lisa See, Amy Tan, Lois Ann Yamanaka, and Laurence Yep.

Spring is here.  Time to get outside and loosen up.  This month, when you come to the library, browse through our displays for inspiration.

Gardeners and nature lovers are eager to get their hands dirty.  We've got an impressive range of materials on display to get your floral imagination going and to sharpen your cultivating skills.

After freshening your yard and garden, sit back and enjoy a funny book from the "Humor Me" display.  It features books of wit and laughter that are sure to tickle you.

Finally, young and old alike can enjoy the sleuthing skills of Nancy Drew.  We celebrate the 80th anniversary of the consummate girl detective with a display of all things Nancy.

East Lansing residents and library patrons came together in a big way to benefit Haven House.  Four 96 gallon bins of food were dropped off at Haven House throughout this past month as part of the National Library Week campaign, Communities Thrive @ Your Library.  Library patrons who donated were given the opportunity to participate in prize drawings for every donation they provided.

We would like to thank the following businesses for generously donating prizes to support our food drive:  Marriott Hotel, Wild Goose Inn, Beggar's Banquet, El Azteco, Harrison Roadhouse, Cosi, Biggby, Hawk Hollow Golf Course, NCG Cinemas, East Lansing Aquatic Center, and Jumpin' Jax.

Thanks to everyone who supported Haven House by bringing in donations.  We are proud to live and work and play in such a great community! 
 

We're counting down! 

May 7 is the last day to donate food at the library and enter your name into a drawing for wonderful "thank you" gifts.

Bring in nonperishable food items, drop them in the bin in our lobby, fill out a drawing entry form (available at any service desk) ... then cross your fingers that you will be a winner when the prize drawing is held on May 10.

Donated items will benefit East Lansing’s Haven House.  Haven House is a local agency that provides emergency housing and support services for one-parent and two-parent families with children.

We all win when all are cared for.

This morning, Google announced ...