On April 20th an oil rig in the Gulf of Mexico exploded and then sank to the Gulf's floor. The oil slick is slowly making its way toward the Louisiana wetlands and the shore. The library has put together a collection of links, as well as a book display, about oil drilling, spills and water.

Longtime voice of the Detroit Tigers, Ernie Harwell, died May 4th. He was 92 and had been battling cancer for over a year. 

April 5th was the first day of the Major League Baseball season. The season runs through October, so don't forget to follow the Deroit Tigers. If you love baseball, there's not just the Majors to watch. The college season has already begun, the Frontier League beings in May and there's always the minor leagues.

April 22 is the 40^th anniversary of Earth Day. April is often referred to as Earth Month. This is a time to celebrate our wonderful planet, to promote global awareness, and to find ways to prevent global warming. Check www.earthday.org for more information and events. Be sure to attend our Think Green programs. Here are just a few “green” books available at ROPL to get you started.

Celebrate National Poetry Month in April by enjoying the following fine titles from the Library's collection, and by visiting the American Academy of Poets online to enjoy a Poem-A-Day. The Academy wants readers to discover the joy of poetry and appreciate the role it plays in our culture.

March is National Women's History Month. Sample the wide selection of titles the Library owns on women's history, famous women's lives, feminism, equality and commentary about how women try to live balanced lives today.

From pro-Census 2010 television commercials to a rap song telling us (see below), “we can’t move forward until you mail it back,” the federal government is urging citizens to fill out the 10-question form arriving in homes in March and return it in the postage-paid envelope.

Celebrate Black History Month with novels and intriguing non-fiction titles.

Click here to see the titles.

Love the Olympics? The wait's over! The 2010 Winter Olympics, taking place in Vancouver, Canada, begin Friday February 12th and run through Sunday the 28th. Thousands of athletes and fans will converge on Vancouver for two weeks of sport.

NBC will be hosting TV and online coverage in the United States, while TSN will cover the Olympics in Canada.

As the relief effort continues in earthquake-ravaged Haiti, stay on top of developments there with the following websites: 

• The U.S. Agency for International Development, an independent federal government agency created in 1961, has a Help Haiti site. There you can read news updates about the Jan. 12 earthquake, find out how to make a donation, and check on the status of friends and family in Haiti.
• The U.S. Department of State has a clearinghouse of information about the disaster, as does the White House.
• Health issues posed by the quake are explored at the website of the United States National Library of Medicine. Among the links there are the many federal and non-governmental agencies offering help.
• To learn more about the earthquake itself, visit the U.S. Geological Survey’s website.
• If you want to check on a worthwhile source for your donations, the Council of Michigan Foundations' website has a list of organizations accepting donations for Haiti relief, and you can also visit Charity Navigator's website.
• For further updates, you can visit the Clinton Bush Haiti Fund to learn more about the two former presidents' efforts to help the victims and spearhead the rebuilding process.