If you're a Diary of a Wimpy Kid fan, you probably know the DVD was released August 3.  To place a hold on one of the library's copies, click here.  Just a reminder, our DVDs cost $1.50 for a one-week rental. The sequel, based on the second book, Rodrick Rules, is scheduled to be released March 25, 2011.

                                                               
Diary of a Wimpky Kid 5 is scheduled to hit the streets Novemeber 9 with a 5 million book first-print run.  It's the largest print run for the series to date!  The cover and title, The Ugly Truth, were revealed on July 29. Be one of the first kids to read it by placing a hold here.          
 

BOOKS FOR BOYS

                  

Every summer it seems we get many requests from parents asking us to help their school-age sons find something to read.  Many times these boys are reluctant readers. Connecting a child with a book he is eager to read is one of our greatest pleasures!

Did you know there are also great websites that have book suggestions for boys, tips for getting boys to read, and more?

Guys Read, a web-based literacy program for boys is a great place to start.  It was begun by author (and Flint, MI native) Jon Scieszka, named in 2008 as the first National Ambassador for Young People's Literature.

Boy Meets Book is also an excellent website for finding books boys will like and tips for parents of boys. This website was created by Michael Sullivan - teacher, librarian, chess instructor, author, storyteller, and expert on boys and reading.

One of my favorite websites for reading about children's books is KidsReads.com. Besides the Great Books for Boys list, other features include lists of new books, series books, and books into movies as well as trivia, author interviews, contests and more.

For other reading lists for boys, try BoysRead.org and Parents Choice Book List for Boys. 

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 votes are in! BookBrowse.com has announced the 2009 BookBrowse Favorite Awards.  Over 4,000 votes were submitted, and the winners are...

• Overall Winner: The Help by Kathryn Stockett

The U.S. Census Bureau is opening a new office in the area and will have JOBS available. These positions will begin operations for conducting the 2010 Census. This is an exciting opportunity to enhance your job skills, further your career and improve your community.

Call Toll-Free at: 1-866-861-2010 or go to: www.census.gov/detroit for more information on how to apply.

Are you still looking for a quality holiday gift for a special child in your life?  Check out the Parents' Choice 2009 Holiday Gift Guide .  To find a great gift, you are able to search for Featured Gift Ideas, Gifts by Age, and Gifts by Price.  If that isn't enough, the site also features a Gift Finder in which you can plug in the child's interests (such as animals, reading, arts & crafts, etc.), their age, and your budget.

While you're on the site, check out the Parents' Choice Fall 2009 Award Winners.  Since 1978, the Parents' Choice Awards program "honors the best material for children: books, toys, music and storytelling, magazines, software, videogames, television and websites.  Parents' Choice Foundation's panel of educators, scientists, performing artists, librarians, parents, and yes, kids themselves, identify the very best products for children of different ages and backgrounds, and of varied skill and interest levels."

Whether it's Simone Weil or Simone de Beauvoir...    Whether it's John Mayer or John Tyler...   Whether it's Marilyn Monroe or Marilyn Manson...

Biographical information is at your fingertips for over 380,000 people--from throughout history, around the world, and across all disciplines and subject areas--in the Biography Resource Center. 

Whatever the depth of knowledge you need, it's here.  Brief summary biographies give you "just the facts, ma'am."   In-depth biographies provide overviews of the person's life and
 

Did you know there's an auto mechanic 'on duty' 24/7 at the library?

Whether you're fixing up your first car, keeping the family chariot running smoothly, or renovating a classic, ELPL has the ChiltonLibrary.com auto repair database that can help get you rolling!

The Chilton Car Care manuals in print have a decades-long reputation for being the reliable and trusted resource for complete and detailed automotive information.  Now, the online Chilton database puts the same trustworthy information at your fingertips. 

To access ChiltonLibrary.com, click on the Research tab at the top of the page, then choose ChiltonLibrary.com from the alphabetical list of databases.  You will need to enter your library card number.

Summer's here and what better time to think about the health of you and your family?  The Health and Wellness Resource Center database is your one-stop source for quality information.

Find out how to deal with summer's sunburn, mosquito bites, and heat dehydration.  Look up a specific drug and the symptoms it treats.  Or search by symptom and find out what drugs treat those symptoms.  Find a medical term confusing?  Look it up in the dictionary section.  Then stay up to date on health and medical issues in "Topics in the News." 

The Health and Wellness Resource Center is available in the alphabetical list of databases under the Research tab at the top of the page.

For guidelines on evaluating any health information on the internet, check out MedlinePlus: Evaluating Health Information.

So many people want to take a romantic sightseeing in France. It's not about a romantic dinner at the Eiffel tower.  It's about appreciate Eiffel's design of an exponential curve.

Are you ready?  The library is here to help!

First, we've got all sorts of books (many with accompanying CDs and DVDs) to get you started.  Just go to the Catalog tab at the top of this page and search the key words ACT study guides in the catalog.

Next, head over to the Research tab, click through to the alphabetical list of databases and choose Learn A Test.  With your library card number you'll gain access to a real treasure trove.  After registering (for first time users), click on College Preparation on the left panel, then choose ACT Preparation -- there, you'll find ACT practice tests and free online preparation courses.  In addition, if you go back to the Learn A Test front page and click on ebooks (under What Do I Do Now?), you'll find a complete library of free ebooks such as ACT Exam Success, and many more on building reading, math, and writing skills.

Finally, these web sites should help you out:

ACT - the official site
ACT Exam Practice Tests
Test Prep Review for the ACT

With all this help, you can't help but ace the ACT!  Good luck!
 

 Seeking Michigan has won the 2009 Best Archives on the Web Award.    Seeking Michigan is about…Michigan of course!  The name derives from the state motto: "Si quaeris peninsulam amoenam circumspice," ”If you seek a pleasant peninsula, look about you.”   At Seeking Michigan, you can explore Michigan's past and present in three sections.  The "Seek" section lets you search the archives of the State of Michigan for photographs, maps, spoken histories, and documents such as death records.  The "Discover" section is a group of collections that feature unique aspects of Michigan’s history, such as the Civil War, music, oral history, lighthouses, and so much more.  The "Look" section features an eclectic collection of stories, photos and more to connect you to our great state and its wonderful history.  Seeking Michigan was created by the Library of Michigan and the State Archives of Michigan.

The following websites will keep you up-to-date with comprehensive information about the current public health concern surrounding influenza.

PandemicFlu.gov.  Provides one-stop access to all U.S. government swine, avian, and pandemic flu information.

Ingham County Health Department.

Michigan Department of Community Health - Influenza Page.  Includes reports on current influenza activity in the state.

Want to find out what food products have been recalled?  The FDA and CDC websites have this information.  They provide frequently updated lists of recalled items, advice to consumers, and the latest news on the ongoing investigation.

The Library of Michigan has announced the Michigan Notable Books for 2009.

Every year, the Library of Michigan selects up to twenty of the most notable books, either written by a Michigan resident or about Michigan or the Great Lakes.  Each selected title speaks to our state's rich cultural, historical, and literary heritage and proves without a doubt that some of the greatest stories are found in the Great Lakes State.