News and Information
Tracking the United States Congress
Ever wonder how our elected officials vote on the issues? GovTrack makes it easy to follow bills and resolutions, check the voting records of our representatives including missed votes, view report cards for each member of Congress, and watch Congressional committee activity. According to their website, GovTrack “helps ordinary citizens find and track bills in the U.S. Congress and understand their representatives’ legislative record.” The project was begun more than eleven years ago as a hobby by Joshua Tauberer,...
OverDrive Summer Reading
Take advantage of the lazy summer days with free downloads from OverDrive and the Woodlands Downloadable Library. Kids and Teens The OverDrive Summer Read program offers an easy way to keep students reading during break. Free eBooks will be available all summer long, including two featured titles: The Fat Boy Chronicles by Diane Lang & Michael Buchanan and Red Berries, White Clouds, Blue Sky by Sandra Dallas. The featured books will be prominently displayed and always available with no waiting at the Woodlands Downloadable...
Coming Soon – Downloadable Movies and Music
Download free music, movies and more from the Monroe County Library System The Monroe County Library System is pleased to add Hoopla to its growing list of digital services, bringing you instant movies, full music albums, audiobooks and more at the click of a button. Providing a variety of Hollywood hits and best selling artists and authors (including niche and hard-to-find titles), Hoopla gives you the freedom to experience, explore and enjoy what you want, when you want, and where you...
Blues, Jazz & Boogie-Woogie Concert
Featruing Mark "Mr. B" Braun, Bob Seeley & Silvan Zingg About the Performers Born in Flint and now a Michigan institution, pianist / composer Mark "Mr. B" Braun returns to Ellis for a second annual spring blues, jazz and boogie-woogie concert. Mr. B will be joined in the beautiful riverside expansion by one of his piano mentors (and Black History Month Blues Series favorite) Bob Seeley and the Swiss master of the boogie-woogie, Silvan Zingg. Each artist will take a turn at the Ellis piano, and, if we're...
Monroe County Library System Gears Up for Tax Season
Important tax news: Due to changes made to the Tax Forms Outlet Program, which offers tax products to the American public through distribution in post offices and libraries, the IRS has reduced the amount of tax forms, schedules and documents provided in print format. The only federal tax forms that will be printed by the IRS for distribution include Form 1040, Form 1040A and Form 1040EZ. The IRS is not printing booklets for libraries to distribute to the public. Taxpayers can call 800-829-3676 or visit...
Banned Books Week 2014
Banned Books Week is the national book community's annual celebration of the freedom to read. The 2014 celebration will be held September 21-27, 2014 and the Monroe County Library System challenges you to Get Caught in the Act (of reading a banned book)! Take the Challenge Anytime September 21 - 27, post a picture yourself reading a banned book to the Monroe County Library System's Facebook page with the caption “I Read Banned Books.” Participants will receive a free Caught in the Act poster...
Got the Write Stuff? MCLS Calls for Writers
The Monroe County Library System calls for Authors and Illustrators for the 16th Annual Writers on the River Event! Authors and illustrators of all genres are invited to declare interest in participating in the Monroe County Library System’s 16th Annual Writers on the River book and author fair. The free event, which will take place on Sunday, November 9, 2014, at the Ellis Library & Reference Center in Monroe, provides readers with a golden opportunity to meet approximately fifty local and regional authors, discuss...
Text Message Nofications
The Monroe County Library System will soon offer a text message (SMS) alert system for all interested library patrons. The SMS Alerts service will give patrons the option to receive text messages from the Monroe County Library System on their mobile device. After patrons opt into SMS Alerts, the Monroe County Library System will send text messages to bring an event to their attention, such as an overdue item or a hold ready for pickup. The service is optional and you can choose to opt out of SMS Alerts at any time. The new...
Mini-Libraries in Monroe County Neighborhoods
The Monroe County Library System teams up with the Education Foundation, Monroe Public Schools and area townships to bring mini libraries to a neighborhood near you. The Free Neighborhood Mini Exchange Library project started in late 2013 in an effort to foster a love of reading within the Monroe Public Schools District. The Education Foundation of Monroe Public Schools envisioned a system of mini library units installed in neighborhoods throughout Monroe County and available to readers of all ages. The project was established...
Flight of the Butterflies
Butterflies at the Branches The River Raisin Institute shares its Flight of the Butterflies project with branches of the Monroe County Library System. The sculptures were created by local schools out of recycled and repurposed materials in an effort to promote awareness about climate change. You can catch sight of the butterflies at the following branches, now through July 20, 2014: Bedford Branch Library - Displaying Toledo Chase Elementary School’s butterfly Carleton Branch Library - Displaying...
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