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Now that summertime is approaching, many of us are getting serious about making healthy lifestyle changes. May is fitness month, which is a great reason to invest some time in yourself so you can look and feel your best for summer. If you're looking for great information about health, diet and exercise, check out the Badgerlink databases for articles, and free streaming videos on various health topics. This is the perfect place to find reliable and accurate health information that's available to all Wisconsin residents for free. Don't forget to check out some books and videos from the Milwaukee Public Library too. Whether it's Zumba or boxing you're interested in, we've got something for you.

Stay informed on current domestic and international topics with NewsBank Special Reports. NewsBank has recently added "Conflict and Terrorism Around the World" to their collection. This Special Report provides in-depth newspaper coverage of international areas of conflict. Sections of the report include Osama bin Laden, Conflict in the Korean Peninsula, Current Coverage on War in Afghanistan, Investigations, and many others. "Conflict and Terrorism Around the World" also includes links to background information, images, and related maps.

Click here to access NewsBank's Special Reports. You'll be prompted to enter your library card number before proceeding to NewsBank. Click on "Other NewsBanks Products" link on the upper right of the screen and select "Special Reports"; "Conflict and Terrorism Around the World" is the first report listed.

NewsBank is a subscription database available to city of Milwaukee residents with a valid Milwaukee Public Library card. NewsBank include content from sources throughout the world to provide a global perspective and current and background information. New information is added daily to featured and current reports.

The American Library Association and the Public Library Association have teamed up with American Public Media on a journalism project called LibrariUS. The goal of this project is "to explore the information and civic needs of communities and do a better job of meeting them."

You can participate by going to the LibrariUS website and telling them how you're using your library today. You are required to include your name, city, state and either an email address or a phone number. Your information is collected in case American Public Media wants to follow up with you. It's shared with a small group of their reporters, but other than that your personal information is confidential.

Even if you don't want to participate by sharing information you can go to the LibrariUS website and see how other people in the U.S. are using libraries. The site maps library patrons' stories in real time.

On May 4, 1961, the civil rights group CORE (Congress of Racial Equality) organized the freedom rides, integrated bus rides meant to draw attention to failures to adhere to a Supreme Court decision prohibiting discrimination in interstate travel. Volunteers, black and white, sat together in buses travelling across the South and ignored signs at bus terminals designating "white only" areas. On May 14, members of the Ku Klux Klan attacked Freedom Riders in Birmingham, Alabama. On May 20, U.S. Attorney General Robert F. Kennedy sent federal marshals to keep the peace and protect the riders, and by 1962, segregation had ended in almost all buses and bus terminals in the United States.

Join Paul Geenen and special guest Rueben Harpole on May 16 at the Martin Luther King Library as they explore the rich history of Milwaukee's Bronzeville, a neighborhood situated in what is now the Harambee and North Division neighborhoods. Step back in time to the jazz era and enjoy a Bronzeville photo presentation while enjoying refreshments and reminiscing with other guests. Signed copies of Geenen's book, Milwaukee's Bronzeville, 1900-1950, will be available for purchase.

Is Cinco de Mayo Mexico's Independence Day? No! Cinco de Mayo is the anniversary of the Battle of Puebla. During this battle the Mexican army defeated French forces even though they were greatly outnumbered. To find out more take a look at the U.S. Census Bureau's Facts for Features and celebrate in these cinco ways:

1. Diana Kennedy is a well-known authority on Mexican cooking. Why not try a recipe from one of her cookbooks?

2. Celebrate by watching performances of the Ballet Folklorico Nacional of Milwaukee at the UWM Union Ballroom tonight from 7:30 p.m. - 9:00 p.m.

3. Visit MPL and check out materials about Cinco de Mayo.

4. If you're a City of Milwaukee library cardholder watch videos on Mexican cooking using MPL's Access Video database. Try a search for "Mexican cuisine" or "salsa." Or try the same search on YouTube.

5. If you can't celebrate Cinco de Mayo on May 5th, plan to attend the Cinco de Mayo-themed Springfest at UMOS on May 29th.

The prints of Shi Zhu Zhai Studio that were created in the Ming Dynasty beginning in 1619 in China are still influential to this day. Learn more about this art with Professor Ying Wang. Part of the Richard E. and Lucile Krug Rare Books Room Education Series. Seating is limited; please call 286-3071 to register.

Date: May 16, 2011
Location: Krug Rare Books Room on the Second Floor of Central Library
Start Time: 6:30 PM
End Time: 7:30 PM

Check out Milwaukee Public Library's new Flickr account and view historic photos of MPL libraries. The collection includes photos documenting past Milwaukee Public Library neighborhood libraries, a look at MPL's Bookmobile, and a wonderful photo of Milwaukee's First Library.

Browse through the photo collection below. Click the "Notes" link on the bottom right to view a description of the photo. Clicking "Link" will open the photo in a new window and you'll be taken to the Milwaukee Public Library Photos account on Flickr. You can also click here and be taken right to the Flickr account. Happy viewing!

Would you like to own a doodle drawn by Martin Sheen? How about Florence Henderson? Or Neil Gaiman?

These celebrities and more have donated their doodles to raise money for Neurofibromatosis, Inc., an organization dedicated to providing support to individuals and families affected by neurofibromatosis. The doodles will be auctioned off on eBay starting today.

You can also view the doodles from past years by famous people like Amy Poehler, President Obama and Jodi Picoult.

On May 11, 1997, a computer program called Deep Blue made history by beating the human world chess champion Garry Kasparov.

If you haven't registered for any of Milwaukee Public Library's free continuing education classes for childcare providers, there is still time! Center Street Library will host Letter Knowledge College on Wednesday, May 18 at 6:00 p.m. and Saturday, May 21 at 10:30 a.m.

Central Library will host the next set of classes, Rhymers will be Readers, on Tuesday, May 31 at 6:00 p.m. and Saturday, June 4 at 10:30 a.m.

East Library will hold Let's Give Them Something to Talk About on Tuesday, June 14 at 6:00 p.m. and Saturday, June 18 at 10:30 a.m.

All attendees earn 1.5 hours of continuing education credit for attending any of these classes. If you have any questions, or would like to register, call (414)286-3011.

Have fun learning to write this traditional Japenese poetic form, popular in our language and culture. Attend this informative program by Charlotte Digregorio, Midwest Regional Coordinator of the Haiku Society of America.

Location: Krug Rare Books Room
located on the second floor of Central Library

Date: 5/21/2011

Start Time: 2:00 PM

End Time: 3:00 PM

eXtension is an online learning environment providing reliable information from experts at land-grant universities from across the United States. Experts in the fields of agriculture, disaster, energy, child care, gardening, community planning, fitness, and more share the latest research with the general public, students, and professors with a focus on solving real-life problems in real time.

Search eXtension's site by Resource Area (also known as Community of Practice) or select a topic in the "News", "Articles" or "Answers" portion of the website. In addition to the wealth of information provided on the website in print and video format, there is an Ask An Expert link that allows you to electronically submit your question to experts in your area.

eXtension is constantly updated with timely and informative resources for everyone. One of the more recent articles available involves the financial crisis. Check out "When Prices Rise: Living on Your Income" for useful tips on managing finances. An RSS Feed is also available to track all new content for a specific Resource Area such as the Financial Crisis.

On the morning of May 18, 1980, an earthquake shook the volcanic Mount St. Helens in southwestern Washington, triggering a gigantic landslide of ice and rock followed by a violent explosion of steam and gases. The eruption killed 57 people, thousands of animals and millions of fish. Over 200 square miles of wilderness were devastated. In 1982 President Ronald Reagan established the area around the peak as the Mount St. Helens National Volcanic Monument.

With the end of the school year, why not make your friends something special as a keepsake? Come to Bayview Library on June 11 at 10:00 a.m. to join a knitting workshop and learn a pattern for making stylish yet fairly easy bracelets. This workshop will also teach skills on chart reading, simple twists and yarnovers to expand your crafting capabilities. Come with your friends or come to make new friends.

Registration is required. You can register by either stopping by the Bayview Library or calling (414)286-3000.

Come get your books and movies before the long holiday weekend! All Milwaukee Public Libraries will be closed Friday, May 27th, a designated furlough day for all City of Milwaukee employees. In addition, all Milwaukee Public Libraries will be closed Saturday, May 28th through Monday, May 30th for the observance of Memorial Day.

Don't let your 6th - 8th graders miss Money Camp for Kids! The camp is free, and will take place June 20-24, at the Washington Park Library. Kids will be introduced to the concept of responsible money management over the course of five days of fun presentations and field trips.

Due to the library's closing for the Memorial Day weekend, the last day to sign up will be Thursday, May 26.

This program is being brought to you by Upsilon Mu Omega.

May is Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage month. Initially a week-long celebration of Asian American culture introduced as a congressional bill in 1977, it was expanded to a month-long celebration by President H.W. Bush. May was selected for Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage month to commemorate the immigration of the first Japanese to the United States on May 7, 1843, and to mark the anniversary of the completion of the transcontinental railroad on May 10, 1869 (the majority of the workers who laid the tracks were Chinese immigrants.)

Asianpacificheritage.gov is a web portal bringing together online exhibits and collections, audio and video resources, and educator resources on Asian American and Pacific Islander heritage.

The Milwaukee Public Library has many wonderful resources celebrating Asian American and Pacific Islander culture and history. Browse through our catalog for a list of books on Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders.

Think you know everything there is to know about the Milwaukee Public Library? Make sure you're taking advantage of these five MPL offerings.

1. Regardless of your residency or card-holding status you can call MPL's Ready Reference service at 414-286-3011. This service is offered Monday-Tuesday from 10:00 a.m.-8:00 p.m. and Wednesday-Saturday 9:00 a.m.-5:30 p.m. Librarians will answer non-research, factual questions that don't take more than 3-5 minutes to answer.

2. During the hours above you can also ask questions through instant message or text and an MPL librarian will answer them.

3. MPL has a number of digital collections and we're working on more. Collections include Milwaukee Historic Photos, Milwaukee Leaders, Remember When and more.

4. MPL is a Patent and Trademark Depository Library. This means we maintain a large collection of patent and trademark materials, including copies of patents granted all the way back to the 1800s. We also offer patent classes.

5. Using our CountyCat catalog you can access links and RSS feeds to new materials divided by subject, genre and format. You can always find the link to new materials on the CountyCat home page under the More Information heading. Click here to check it out.

photo © 2008 Kevin Yang | more info

Join members of the String Academy at Zablocki Library as they read The Story of Ferdinand with violin accompaniment by faculty from the academy. Participants will learn about the instruments used for the story time and have the opportunity to hold and play a few of few instruments as well! No registration required. Hope to see you there!

See event details on the Milwaukee Public Library's events calendar.