African Americans

Art and Art Museums
Art Cyclopedia
http://www.artcyclopedia.com/

The Michigan Notable Books for 2010 were recently announced by the Library of Michigan.

Up to twenty of the most notable books, either written by a Michigan resident or about Michigan or the Great Lakes, are selected each year. The selected books are honored in the year after their publication or copyright date.   Each 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.

Michigan is rich in good writers and the Library of Michigan is proud to honor and celebrate this wonderful literary heritage each year with a "Night for Notables" event and with the annual grant-funded authors' tour to libraries throughout the state (to be announced later).

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."

National Cyber Security Alliance
Federal Trade Commission
Homeland Security

Are you in a book group? Thinking about joining or starting one? October is National Reading Group Month, so if you're not in a book group already, now is a good time to join. Check out the following web sites for info on reading groups and lists of good books:

National Reading Group Month (with lists of featured books)
Reading Group Choices (sign up for their free newsletter)

What's your favorite book? Adventures of Huckleberry Finn....Harry Potter....The Twilight Series....Captain Underpants...

Chances are good someone has tried to ban it.

Here are some great web sites to help you find good books for your children.

Kidsreads.com
Part of The Book Report Network, a group of websites that share book reviews, compelling features, in-depth author profiles and interviews, excerpts of the hottest new releases, literary games and contests, and more with readers every week.

About.com: Children's Books
Lots of ads, but still good. You can sign up for Elizabeth Kennedy's (a journalist and educator) email newsletter.

Reading is Fundamental

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.

 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.