Here's a great website for parents looking for books for their children, info on why reading is so important, the best books to read aloud, and more. It's authored by Jim Trelease, an expert on literacy for children.

Here's the link: http://www.trelease-on-reading.com/. Also, you may want to check out his book, The Read Aloud Handbook. Enjoy!

The Friends of the East Lansing Public Library are in need of volunteers to help at the FriendShop, the library's used book sale area. Volunteers are needed to help process book donations and restock the shelves of the FriendShop. If this is something you'd like to help with, please contact Marsha Bristor at 351-3608.

All proceeds from the Friendshop help support library programs and services.

Make a Splash - Read! Starts June 14.

It may be cold or hot, rainy or sunny, muggy or not - summer reading @ ELPL is here! So plan to get started today, tomorrow, this week or next - you can do it on your own schedule, read your own books or library books, pick up your activity sheet at the library or download it from our website. We try to make it as easy as possible to keep reading all summer long!

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.

Beginning on June 15, from 10:30 am - 12 noon, ELPL will be offering FREE tutoring every Tuesday for grades K-6. Children can drop in anytime between 10:30-12, or stay for the entire time. Tutoring will be provided by local high school and college volunteers. A great way to keep skills sharp over the summer.

Questions? Call the library at 351-2420 and ask for Phyllis Thode. Or email pthode@cityofeastlansing.com.

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!

AP tests are coming up and the library has a FREE way for you to take AP practice exams online.  Here is how you do it:
Go to our web site at elpl.org  Click on "Research" in the green band under our library name.  Then click on "Alphabetical List of All Databases"   Scroll down to "Learn a Test"  Choose East Lansing Public Library in the drop-down menu.  Then enter your name and library barcode number.  You will have to register as a new user, and the you will have your own free, private account.
On the left hand side of the page, under Learning Centers, click on "College Preparation". Then you will see a selection of tests - the Advanced Placement Tests are the second one listed.
Questions?  Call the Reference Desk  at 351-2420  ext. 3
Good luck on your tests!

The East Lansing Public Library recently received a matching grant of $750 from The Gerber Foundation. This was made possible in conjunction with a gift from a private donor and ELPL patron.

Did you know there are many organizations and corporations who will match your donation? Check with your employer or local civic organization to see if this is a way  you can help ELPL! For more information, contact Julie Pierce at jpierce@cityofeastlansing.com or call 351-2420, ext. 100.

Did you know that the Friends of the East Lansing Public Library have used books for sale every day? It's the best deal in town! Stop in the library and check out the Friendshop, where you'll find tons of used books at great prices. There's something for everyone - adult fiction, mysteries, history, gardening, music CDs, magazines, children's books, and much more. You'll pay a fraction of the price of brand new, and when you're done, you can donate them back to the library! And remember, all proceeds benefit the library.

Check out the Friends' web site for more information.

Tax Forms & Information - Tax Year 2009

2010 is almost upon us, and you know what that means? Time to be counted! The U.S. Census is taken every 10 years and helps determine the following:

• Locations for schools, roads, hospitals, child-care and senior citizen centers, and more.
• Locations for supermarkets, shopping centers, new housing and other facilities.
• How many seats each state will have in the U.S. House of Representatives as well as the boundaries of legislative districts.

Remote access to the Morningstar.com database has been restored.  Remote patrons are those connecting from outside the Library or from the Library's wireless service.  The database had been unavailable remotely for the past 2-3 days.  Patrons who were unable to access Morningstar.com should be able to connect now.  If  you are still experiencing connection problems please contact the Library.

Thank you for your patience.