It's here!!! An opportunity to show your art and be part of Royal Oak history.

What: The Art Contest is an adjunct to the Royal Oak Time Capsule Project which celebrates the lives and times of Royal Oak in 2011. The time capsule will let people in 35 years know what we were all about. Photographs of winning art entries will be placed in the time capsule. All art contest participants will have their names included in the time capsule.

Who: Any person who is a resident of Royal Oak; works, goes to school, or community college in Royal Oak; is a member of a church, service organization, or club that meets in the City of Royal Oak is eligible to enter this contest.

One of the great pleasures of summer is reading. Whether it's out on your backyard deck, up north at the lake, or even in a pup tent, it's the perfect time to indulge in a great read. Our staff has come up with an eclectic range of suggestions because it's not only the perfect time to throw a romance or a mystery in the beach bag, it's also a great time to tackle some challenging titles. Of course, let us know about the great titles that you have discovered. And don't miss the timely reads list that will be updated regularly as an eNewsletter.

Known across the world for his advocacy of physician-assisted suicide, Royal Oak patrons and staff knew Jack Kevorkian as a kind, elderly man. He’d often stop in the library to do research and use our computers. His patience with people who recognized him knew no bounds. In honor of his death, and as our way of remembering Dr. Kevorkian, the library has put up a small display of books and media about him. Among the titles is the recent HBO film entitled You Don’t Know Jack. And don't forget to visit our Local History Room for newspaper clippings/articles about Dr. Kevorkian.

If you are looking for a great book about Michigan's Treasures, the Great Lakes, then you must read Jerry Dennis' The Living Great Lakes. The book reads like a narrative and is extremely well researched. Dennis intertwines the natural history of the Great Lakes, their maritime history, with the likes and differences of the oceans and the Great Lakes. He covers the problems the Great Lakes faces, such as pollution, zebra mussles, and in addition, he discusses his personal experiences with the lakes. Dennis grew up in Michigan, always near the lakes, but eventually decided he wanted to know more about them. With hopes of learning more, he took a six-week voyage as a crew member on a tallmasted schooner from Grand Traverse Bay to Maine. He weaves his experiences on the ship, dealing with the captain and crew, and living through a terrifying storm while on board throughout The Living Great Lakes.