This month was established to draw public attention to historic preservation, including neighborhoods, districts, landmark buildings, open space and maritime heritage.  You can find out more information by visiting the National Trust for Historic Preservation.  Don't forget the Library has a tremendous Local History Collection!  In this collection you can find historical records for Bloomfield Township, and the greater Detroit area.  The Bloomfield Historical Society and the Oakland County Pioneer & Historical Society offer a wealth of information concerning Bloomfield Township and Oakland County!

The famous creator of the James Bond series, Ian Fleming, was born May 28, 1908!  Mr. Fleming was educated at Eton College and then abroad in Germany and Austria.  During World War II he worked as an assistant to the Director of Naval Intelligence in the Admiralty in London, with access to proprietary secrets.  It was this experience that led him to create many of the incidents and characters that he later wrote about in the Bond books!  So if you love Sean Connery, Roger Moore or Pierce Brosnan, you can thank Ian Fleming for making them household stars!

You might not know it, but the month of May has been selected by four different groups as their national food specialty month.  Here is the list:  National Barbecue Month, National Hamburger Month, National Salad Month, and National Salsa Month!  Since barbecuing is the ultimate summer holiday tradition, you will want to stop by the Library to pick up some great cookbooks for your Memorial Day cookout!  

Our new collection of VITALITY Kits has been very popular!  If you haven't stopped by to check one out yet, please do!  Learn about meditation, become a safer driver and check out low vision magnifiers!  Patrons are reporting that they are interested in purchasing the same or similar items for daily use.  We have listed our vendors online, and we hope you check out your first Kit soon!

Take action during Defeat Diabetes Month!  The Library has a great collection of items for you to start your diabetes research.  If you or someone you love has been diagnosed with diabetes, stop by the Adult Services Desk and ask about our NEW Vitality Kit : All About Diabetes.  These vital resources can help make a difference in your life!

Isle Royale is the largest of a group of more than 200 islands that make up this national park preserve in Michigan's upper peninsula.  To preserve upper Michigan's flora and fauna, Congress authorized a national park in 1931 and it was established on April 3, 1940.  Stop by the library and check out some interesting items about Isle Royale from our collection!

Having problems navigating the internet like a pro?  Do you want to sharpen your surfing skills to keep up with your grandchildren?  If so, then check our our new and improved Computer Tutorial page.  These outstanding links will have you in tip top shape for that next visit with the grandkids!  Start surfing like a pro today!

With the arrival of spring, many birds begin arriving back in Michigan.  No doubt you remember where you saw your first robin this year!  April 28 is National Go Birding Day and May 11 is the International Migratory Bird Celebration.  The Michigan Audubon Society can help you get started!  Of course you will want to stop by the Library and check out our books on birds!  Happy Spring!

My name is Liz Conger and I am one of the Youth Services Librarians.  Before I was a Librarian here at Bloomfield Township Public Library, I was one of the Interns at the Media Desk.  I moved to the Youth Room in summer 2010 and love working more directly with kids.  In fact, story times are my favorite part of the job!  I like to listen to audiobooks and music during my commute to work and when I’m home I like to play with my kitty, Lola.  I read a wide variety of books, but am especially fond of picture books with animals.  When I’m not at work, I might be traveling and am currently planning a 12-day honeymoon to Ireland in August.

Have your photo taken with your favorite book in celebration of National Library Week! These photos are featured on our popular "Be a Star Reader" posters. Come to the Youth Services Department any time from April 15 through April 20 and have your picture taken. Please bring a copy of your book with you. All participants will have their names entered into a special drawing. 20 lucky Star Readers will have their photos featured on READ posters that will be displayed monthly at the library. Children are welcome to keep their posters at the end of the month. Winners will be announced during the first week of May.

Did you know the Library's Youth Room has posters available to check out? Covering a variety of nonfiction topics, these are great for use in the classroom or at home. Stop by today and pick one up on endangered animals, the Presidents of the United States, science, and much, much more!

When Marian Sang by Pam Munoz Ryan (J BIOGRAPHY ANDERSON): Luminously illustrated by Brian Selznick, this is a moving picture biography of Marian Anderson, singer extraordinaire, who broke through barriers of racial segregation during turbulent times.

How They Croaked: The Awful Ends of the Awfully Famous by Georgia Bragg (J920 BRA): From King Tut to Albert Einstein, read about the gory ends of nineteen famous people. If you don’t have the guts for gore….Do not read this book!

Frindleby Andrew Clements, cleverly illustrated by Brian Selznick (J FICTION CLE): This imaginative story about a creative 5^th grader, the power of words and the influence of a remarkable teacher, will stay with you long after the book ends. This book is also available as an audio book and in downloadable format.

The Hero and the Crown by Robin McKinley (CHILD AUDIO BOOK/CD Y FICTION MCK): Never accepted as full royalty, no one, not even Aerin herself, can predict her destiny – for she is to be the true hero who will wield the power of the blue Sword…This winner of the Newbery Medal for extraordinary literary merit, is a splendid story to enjoy on a family car trip.

Celebrate your crafty side and create some really unique items for your friends and family!  The Library has a vast collection of craft books and magazines, including Cricut, Crafts n' Things, Vogue Knitting and McCall's Quilting available. Learn to crochet, knit or needlepoint!    We even have our Knit n' Stitch program at 10 a.m. the first Tuesday of every month.  Let your imagination carry you away!

March 31 will mark the 124th birthday of the Eiffel Tower.  Built for the Paris Exhibition of 1889, the famous tower was named for its architect, Alexandre Gustave Eiffel, and is one of the world's best known landmarks.  Check out our collection of books celebrating this iconic structure!  We also have a large collection of books just about Paris!

No doubt you will be watching The NCAA March Madness college basketball playoffs all month!  We are all hoping our favorite Michigan teams, University of Michigan and Michigan State, will make the Sweet Sixteen!  While you are waiting for all the news to break, stop by the library and check out some really great books about these unparalleled basketball programs! 

Did you know that the library has a large collection of musicals on DVD?  Musicals are always a fun way to spend time with your family.  Enjoy one from our collection today!

Susan B. Anthony – an informative poster about the most famous Suffragette. Don’t forget to look at the posters of other famous women throughout history too, including Madeleine Albright, Helen Keller and more!

Born February 12, 1809, Lincoln was the 16th President of the United States.  His presidency encompassed the tragic Civil War.  He is especially remembered for his Emancipation Proclamation (Jan. 1, 1863), his Gettysburg Address (Nov. 19, 1863) and his proclamation establishing the last Thursday of November as Thanksgiving Day.  The book , Team of Rivals by Doris Kerns Goodwin, is in the Library's collection and is the basis of the movie, Lincoln, directed by Stephen Spielberg and nominated for several Academy Awards.  

Celebrate Random Acts of Kindness Week, February 11-17, 2013.  This week, annually celebrated in the second full week of February, raises awareness about kindness and invites people to give and receive kindness daily.  Celebrate kindness by performing anonymous kind acts all week long.  Give your neighbor or coworker a helping hand!  You may also want to check out a book by Debbie Macomber entitled: One Simple Act: discovering the power of generosity.

Check out these great books you may have overlooked in Adult Services! 

Abraham Lincoln: vampire hunter by Seth Grahame-Smith - Let your imagination run wild with this highly entertaining work of fiction.  Abraham is out to save the masses from vampires, after a vampire takes his mother's life. 

Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn - When a woman goes missing on her fifth anniversary, her diary reveals hidden turmoil in the marriage, while her husband, desperate to clear his name, realizes that something more disturbing than murder may have taken place.

State of Wonder by Ann Patchett - When a pharmaceutical worker fails to report from her post in the Amazon, a co-worker heads on down to find out the details of the research.  While she is there she deals with ghosts from her past. 

Mountains - Packed with hundreds of glorious photographs by the world's foremost nature photographers, Mountains SuperCube invites us into a world of intense beauty.

If you love cookies, take a look at our fantastic cookie books here in the Library!  Check them out today for fantastic treats tomorrow!