The Atrium

Do you know a child who is struggling with reading? Are you looking for a quality summer literacy program in the Grand Rapids area that would strengthen literacy skills and foster a love of reading? *R*eaders *I*n *D*etermined *E*ducation
-- R.I.D.E. -- will help your child increase their reading scores and improve their attitude towards reading.

Check out the R.I.D.E. program brochure here to find the what, when, where, why and who!

Grand Rapids Public Library can also help keep your child reading over the summer months through, Catch The Reading Bug!, our summer reading program. Join the fun and register here.

Posted by Martin at 10:00 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Spring has finally sprung in Grand Rapids! According to our local meteorologists it is probably safe to plant almost anything now. The last frost date in Grand Rapids is usually somewhere between May 10th and May 17th, and if we were to have a frost warning, a light covering of straw or a cloche would save a tender plant. Our latest frost date on record was June 4th, back in 1945, but I still feel confident enough to have put in some pansies, petunias, herbs, and geraniums.

After the initial fun of picking out plants at the gardening centers, I find I get tired of all the actual work, and I really don't like wasting a lot of water spending time with the garden hose. The solution: very tough perennials, good organic soil, and lots of mulch. After that, it's pretty much the survival of the fittest. Old time daylilies, peonies, daffodils, coneflowers, Siberian iris, poppies --- There's a lot of beautiful flowers that are almost indestructible. Just try to dig up an old peony or Siberian iris clump and see who gives up first! Gardeners love to trade or give away their perennials when they need to divide them, so by trading with friends or joining a gardening club, it could also be a very thrifty hobby.

Of course, many people PRIDE themselves on being able to coax and nourish the fussiest, hardest to grow plants. Growing interesting, exotic, or heirloom types gives one a more challenging task, with perhaps a sense of greater accomplishment.

The Grand Rapids Public Library has an extensive gardening collection! We have titles on vegetable, flower, bird, butterfly, container, herb, water, wildlife, native plant, organic, shade and patio gardening, among others. Check the online catalog or browse the shelves and if you don’t see what you need, just ask - we may be able to order it for you. Gardening and landscaping titles are generally in the 635s or the 712s.

For even more inspiration, visit GRPLpedia, our wiki. It's loaded with gardening links.

Posted by Lisa at 09:00 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Among the plethora of new materials located in our newly christened Small Business Resource Center, you can find several specific how-to books that apply to your envisioned business.

The Startup Series from Entrepreneur Press offers advice for any self starter, ranging from Pet Sitting and Vending Businesses to Executive Recruiting and Import/Export Services. Sure it's easy to dream of being your own boss but with a little research and elbow grease, you can use the library's resources to make the dream become a reality.

Posted by Matt at 11:00 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Last week beloved book character Corduroy and the Grandville Avenue Academy for the Arts helped us celebrate Children's Book Week!. After hearing the story, Ms. Kim from the academy came in to demonstrate how author/illustrator Don Freeman created one of the most recognized books, Corduroy.

Using a type of film-like scratchboard, kids were able to scratch out their own look alike Corduroy and make him into a puppet to take home. At the end of each program, Corduroy himself came to greet, hug, and high-five any kids who were anxious to meet him. Some kids even came to more than one program just to see the lovable bear!

Corduroy with Lisette

Corduroy with Samuel

Posted by Mary at 10:00 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

I think the sunny weather might finally be here to stay, so with that in mind I trolled the Internet in search of outdoor festivals of the musical variety. (You gotta plan ahead if you want to get those front row lawn seats.) I found a lot of really great venues, relativity close or within a reasonable driving distance, so I thought I'd share what I found.

Rothbury, held at the Double JJ Ranch resort in Rothbury, Michigan, is a venue with a "sustainability mission." It runs July 3 - 7 and will feature artists like Dave Matthews Band, John Mayer, Widespread Panic, Black Keys, Snoop Dogg, and more than 20 other musical groups.

Pitchfork Music Festival, a Chicago venue, takes place July 18 - 20 at Union Park. The headline includes Animal Collective, The Hold Steady, The Apples in Stereo, and Vampire Weekend.

Lollapalooza , another Chicago happening takes place August 1 - 3 at Grant Park. Headline artists include Radiohead, Rage Against the Machine, Kanye West, and Nine Inch Nails.

Chicago is also the place to go if you enjoy other kinds of live music like jazz, gospel, or blues. Check here for the lineup.

The Wheatland Music Festival features traditional roots music (Bluegrass, Cajun, Blues, Celtic, etc.) and a juried arts and craft show. It takes place September 5 - 7 in Remus, Michigan. Click here for a complete artist line-up.

Although it's more than a few hours away, the Austin City Limits Music Festival in Austin, Texas features an awesome lineup of 130 bands on eight stages. Artists include Robert Plant and Alison Krauss, Patty Griffin, Erykah Badu, Duffy, and MGMT. ROAD TRIP!

Posted by Angela at 09:48 AM | Permalink | Comments (1)

Are you wondering what the latest news is about Great Lake levels this year? Whether the dredging of the St. Clair River really did cause a huge drainage hole emptying them out, or what type of invasive aquatic species are the newest threat to our fishing industry?

Answers to these questions and more can be found at the Great Lakes Information Network (GLIN), maintained by the Great Lakes Commission. There's all kinds of information on these sites. For example, if you want to know ...

Which beaches are safe for swimming go to Beachcast.com.

What's going on with lake levels, read this article in the Muskegon Chronicle.

And what's up with our own Lake Michigan, check GLIN.

There is so much fascinating, current, and historical information at these sites on Michigan's most unique resource, that you'll want to bookmark it for weekly reference.

Posted by Lisa at 10:00 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

If you've noticed some changes lately in your driving skills, or those of your parents or grandparents, consider attending an Older, Wiser Driver Program. We have partnered with AAA (American Automobile Association) of Michigan to offer this free, one and a half hour program at two GRPL locations:

Main Library
Wednesday, May 28 at 7:00 p.m.
616-988-5400 (for more information)

OR

Yankee Clipper Branch
Thursday, May 29 at 10:30 a.m.
616-988-5415 (for more information)

Fred Doelker from AAA will provide information on changing driving habits to reflect changing abilities. He will focus on the effects of physical fitness on driving, how age affects vision, and tips on keeping your mind sharp and alert while driving.

Check out the following web sites for information on safe driving as we age, as well as how to approach those difficult family conversations when you're concerned about the safety of older drivers.

AAA provides Senior Mobility, which includes access to more information and online brochures. AARP offers a helpful list of Resources on Safe Driving.

So please, if you have concerns about your driving or the driving skills and abilities of family and friends, set aside time to attend this program. It's free and will only take a few hours of your time!

Posted by Jane at 09:00 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Older Americans Month is observed in May. The theme this year is Working Together for Strong, Healthy and Supportive Communities.

The Grand Rapids area is very fortunate to have several local supportive organizations, such as the Area Agency on Aging, Gerontology Network, and Senior Neighbors, to help us and our families navigate the aging process.

Lifelong learning also contributes to strong, healthy and supportive communities. One group you may not know about is the Grand Rapids Community College's Older Learning Center which has been “nationally recognized by AARP
for the breadth of their services to adults over age 50.”

Other colleges offering a venue for continuing education opportunities include the Aquinas College's Emeritus Program and the Calvin College Academy for Lifelong Learning, both targeting the 50 and older age group.

Check out these organizations and remember, your local library can provide a variety of resources to help you in your quest for lifelong learning!

Posted by Jane at 03:30 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Critical: What We Can Do About the Health-Care Crisis
by Tom Daschle

Barack Obama says, “The American health-care system is in crisis, and workable solutions have been blocked for years by deeply entrenched ideological divisions. Sen. Daschle brings fresh thinking to this problem, and his Federal Reserve for Health concept holds great promise for bridging this intellectual chasm and, at long last, giving this nation the health care it deserves.”

Available now: NEW 362.10973 D26c

I Am Not My Breast Cancer: Women Talk Openly about Love & Sex, Hair Loss & Weight Gain, Mothers & Daughters, and Being a Woman with Breast Cancer
by Ruth Peltason

Ruth ties together the community of women dealing with this disease, offering companionship, hope, and practical ways of meeting the demands of this challenging illness.

Available now: NEW 362.19699449 P368i

Having a Baby...When the Old-Fashioned Way Isn't Working: Hope and Help for Everyone Facing Infertility
by Cindy Margolis (Celebrity spokesperson for RESOLVE: The National Infertility Association)

Fertility issues are on the increase, with an estimated 9 million couples per year seeking medical help for conception, and Cindy helps readers navigate the world of infertility treatments and procedures with warmth and optimism. A good introductory book with many sources of information.

Available now: NEW 362.198178 M336h

The Purplebook Green: An Eco-friendly Online Shopping Guide
by Hillary Mendelsohn

The latest Purplebook online shopping book is a guide to the best eco-friendly stores on the web. Just browsing through this book opens up a lot of green possibilities in areas I hadn't even thought of. This is a fun and useful book for anyone who wants to change some online buying habits painlessly.

Available now: NEW 381.142 M522p

You Can Hear Me Now: How Microloans and Cell Phones are Connecting the World's Poor to the Global Economy
By Nicholas P. Sullivan

When Muhammad Yunus created Grameen Bank to generate microloans for the poor in Bangladesh, he started a revolutionary new way to empower the economically powerless. Nicholas Sullivan continues the story with GrameenPhone, a partnership between Norway's Telenor, and Grameen Bank.

Available now: NEW 384.535

The African Baobab
By Rupert Watson

I had not thought of Baobabs much since The Little Prince was read to me as a child, which contained a story of another planet that held a lazy man who neglected his Baobab, and the moral lesson to be learned thereof. This amazing book lets us in on the many secrets of the Baobab, its uses and its relatives. They are even more grand than I had imagined as a youngster.

Available now: NEW 583.68 W337a

The Táin : a new translation of the Táin bó Cúailnge
Translated and with an introduction by Ciaran Carson

A new translation of the oldest Irish epic, dating from the 8th century. It tells the tale of the legendary warrior Cú Chulainn in exploits and plot twists filled with heroism, magic, mayhem, and betrayal. The story is similar to The Aeneid and Beowulf.

Available now:NEW 398.2209415

Posted by Martin at 09:33 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Ever notice a call number that begins with "ABE..."? Well, here at the Main Branch we have a great resource known as the Adult Basic Education collection, aka ABE. Our ABE collection is geared towards helping adult learners brush up on basic subjects such as reading, writing, math and science. We also have plenty of GED materials available in both the ABE and general collections. To help you search our collection and also find other resources in the community, we've added a new wiki guide to GRPLpedia. Check it out.

Posted by Ben at 11:54 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)