From the Reference Desk
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...
The 2016 Election – November 8 – Resources To Help Make Informed Choices
Are you registered to vote? Check out Michigan’s Secretary of State Elections webpage for a listing of the 2016 November General Candidates. The Secretary of State Elections webpage also includes the Michigan Voter Information Center (MVIC) to find a polling location, a map to your polling location, your sample ballot based on your address, and information about voting equipment. The Information for Voters webpage provides information about registering to vote, opening and closing times of the polls, registration deadlines,...
Michigan Libraries for Life – Organ Donation Drive @ Your Library
Give the Gift of Life – Become an Organ Donor Did you know that more than 3,500 Michigan residents are waiting for an organ? Did you know that one donor can save up to 8 lives? Did you know that there is no age limit to become a donor? The oldest donor to date was 93 Have you considered becoming a donor but are not sure how to register? Libraries across Michigan will be participating in Michigan Libraries for Life during the week of October 3-9, 2016. During this time, you will have the opportunity to register to give the Gift...
Service Animals
The Michigan Department of Civil Rights (MDCR) website refers to the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) when it defines a service animal “…as any guide dog, signal dog, or other animal individually trained to provide assistance to an individual with a disability.” This is in agreement with the Civil Rights Division of the U.S. Department of Justice, who revised the ADA requirements for Service Animals in 2010 to state that as of March 15, 2011, only dogs would be recognized as service animals under titles II...
2016 Summer Olympics – Rio de Janeiro
Rio is the location for the 2016 Summer Olympics, with the Opening Ceremony on Friday, August 5, 2016. The Games of the XXXI (thirty-first) Olympiad will close on August 21, 2016. The Official website for the 2016 Summer Olympics will post live results, a list of the included sports, competition schedules, medal counts, and athlete biographies. No time to check the website? Download the Rio 2016 mobile app for iPhone, Android, or Windows phone. NBC will be providing televised coverage for the Rio Summer Games. Their website also...
Free Burials In VA National Cemeteries
Attention military veterans! Did you know that you are eligible for burial benefits in any of 134 national VA cemeteries across 40 states? According to the National Cemetery Administration, a branch of the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, benefits include a gravesite for either casketed or cremated remains, opening and closing the grave, perpetual care, a headstone/marker or burial flag, and a Presidential Memorial Certificate. Benefits may also extend to the spouse or dependent of the vet. Michigan maintains two open National...
Michigan Legal Help Website & The Self-Help Center Of Monroe County
Filing for divorce without a lawyer? Resolving a landlord/tenant issue? Trying to set aside an adult conviction or juvenile adjudication? A website, funded by a grant from the Michigan State Bar Foundation and created by the Solutions on Self-Help Task Force, can help. Called Michigan Legal Help, it provides accurate, trustworthy information about legal issues to those who plan to represent themselves in court. The site is set up by category under the heading Self-Help Tools. Each section gives a brief explanation of the issue, in...
Going Green
Spring means Green! The grass is turning green, and the trees are filling with leaves. Now is the time to think about keeping the environment green. The information provided below will include lots of good ideas for ways to Go Green. LOCAL Healthy Monroe Solid Waste Program encourages recycling and proper disposal of household, yard, and electronic waste. The 2016 recycling and hazardous waste schedule has been posted. Check the website for dates and times of recycling opportunities. They also sponsor a site on My Ecoville....
Librarian of Congress
According to their website, the Library of Congress is the world’s largest library and “provides Congress, the federal government and the American people with a rich, diverse and enduring source of knowledge…” Even though the Library of Congress was established in 1800, only thirteen people over the course of 216 years have held the title “Librarian of Congress.” James H. Billington, the most recent Librarian, retired in September, 2015. On February 24, 2016, President Obama nominated Dr. Carla...
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