From the Reference Desk
Equifax Data Breach
On September 7, 2017, Equifax Inc., one of the three largest credit reporting agencies, announced that a cybersecurity breach had been made that could impact customers that applied for credit anytime between mid-May through July 2017. After investigation, it was found that 145.5 million records were potentially impacted. Equifax has posted on their website a form that can be filled out to determine if individual’s records were impacted. The form can be found at https://www.equifaxsecurity2017.com/am-i-impacted/ Once on the site,...
FAMILY SEARCH MICROFILM LENDING PROGRAM TO END SEPTEMBER 8, 2017
The Family History Library in Salt Lake City, which has provided Local History Centers and Affiliate Libraries with thousands of reels of microfilmed records for genealogist’s access, is about to discontinue its lending program. The last day to order LDS microfilm has been extended to September 7, 2017. On September 8, 2017, microfilm lending will cease. Family history centers and affiliate libraries, including the Ellis Library & Reference Center of the Monroe County Library System, will be allowed to keep all microfilm already...
TOTAL SOLAR ECLIPSE – MONDAY, AUGUST 21, 2017
A Total Eclipse of the Sun will occur on Monday, August 21, 2017 in a portion of the continental United States. The eclipse will run across the entire U.S., an event that last occurred in 1918. Eclipses are total only in a narrow strip that is approximately 72 miles wide. This means that the 2017 eclipse will only be total across narrow portions of the following states: Oregon, Idaho, Montana, Wyoming, Nebraska, Kansas, Iowa, Missouri, Illinois, Kentucky, Tennessee, Georgia, North and South Carolina. The total eclipse can be viewed...
StoryCorps – Detroit, Michigan – June 29-July 28, 2017
Do you have a story to tell that would be beneficial to future generations? StoryCorps will be in the Detroit, Michigan area for a month, in partnership with WDET*, to record interviews with people about their lives, leaving a great legacy to the next generation. How can you do this? StoryCorps gives people of all backgrounds, typically two at a time, the opportunity to record meaningful conversations and then archives the recordings at the Library of Congress. Recording a StoryCorps interview couldn’t be easier: You invite a loved...
Relay For Life – Monroe, MI – June 3 & 4
Did you know that Relay For Life began in May 1985? Dr. Gordon "Gordy" Klatt walked and ran for 24 hours around a track in Tacoma, Washington, raising money to help the American Cancer Society with the nation's biggest health concern: cancer. Gordy spent a grueling 24 hours circling the track at the University of Puget Sound. Friends, family, and patients watched and supported him as he walked and ran more than 83.6 miles and raised $27,000 through pledges to help save lives from cancer. As he circled the track, he thought of how he...
SEED LIBRARIES
A SEED LIBRARY is a place where seeds are made available and shared among a community. It works by donation – seeds are donated to the library where they are made available for people to “check out” for the season. People take the seeds home, plant them in their garden, and enjoy the produce. At the end of the growing season, seeds are harvested from mature plants and are donated back to the Seed Library. Bedford Township has a Seed Library that is located at the Bedford Branch of the Monroe County Library System....
Income Tax Forms and Resources at the Monroe County Library System
Tax Season Opens Monday, January 23, 2017 The filing deadline is Tuesday, April 18, 2017. Taxpayers requesting an extension will have until Monday, October 16, 2017 According to the IRS website, the 2016 tax season filing deadline is pushed forward this year because: April 15, 2017 falls on a Saturday, which would normally push the date to file to the Monday following the 15th. Monday, April 17, 2017 falls on Emancipation Day, which is a D.C. holiday. By law, D.C. holidays impact tax deadlines for everyone the same way as a federal...
Hop Online, Not In Line, at the Secretary of State
Kangaroo-themed campaign urges Secretary of State customers to 'Hop Online' at ExpressSOS.com Secretary of State Ruth Johnson is reminding customers—with the help of a kangaroo—to hop online, not in line with ExpressSOS.com. The new electronic ad campaign is premiering at the North American International Auto Show in Detroit this January. The fun video, which was produced in-house by SOS staff, includes Secretary of State Ruth Johnson “rapping” to the music alongside a “rapping”...
TED Talk
TED Talks have been taking the world by storm. Some are funny and entertaining, some serious, some educational; but what they all have in common is the theme of spreading ideas as short, powerful talks lasting 18 minutes or less. According to their website, TED is owned by a nonprofit, nonpartisan foundation. “Our agenda is to make great ideas accessible and spark conversation.” It was begun in 1984 with a focus on Technology, Entertainment and Design (TED). In 1990 the TED Conference gained steam and became an annual...
Live-Cut Christmas Trees
Thinking of enjoying a Live-Cut Christmas tree during the holiday season this year? Wondering about cutting one from a nearby National Forest? Be sure to check with the local U.S. Forest Service to see about purchasing a Christmas Tree Permit. According to their website: Tags are $5.00 apiece Each tag is good for one tree Each household is allowed up to 3 tags Christmas tree tags are intended for personal use Permits must be purchased in person from Forest Services offices in Cadillac, Mio, Oscoda and Baldwin. The...
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