Business Update

 

By Reference Librarian Anne R. 

 

This year National Library Week falls on April 8-14. The reference staff thought it would be a good opportunity to look back at the history of libraries in Lansing. 

 

Ever since it was founded in the 1800s, Lansing has boasted some form of library. In the very early days people paid a subscription fee to borrow books, typically around ten cents a week. The first non-fee public library opened in 1882, when the Ladies Literary Society donated 3,000 books to the Central High School to be used for both students and the general public.

By Frank S. Washington

 

DETROIT, MI –  Man, I need to reacquaint myself with Hyundai. There are so many products and so little time that often brands can fall through the cracks. I recently test drove the 2012 Hyundai 

Genesis 3.8. And no more than 20 seconds into the drive, I found it an awfully comfortable midsize sedan.

By Frank S. Washington

 

DETROIT, MI –  Kia continues to become a benchmark for the American auto industry. The Korean automaker has added a hybrid to the lineup of its already popular Kia Optima sedan.

The 2012 Kia Optima Hybrid I test drove had a 2.4-liter four cylinder Atkinson gasoline engine that produced 166 horsepower, a synchronous electric motor that produced 40 horsepower and 151 pound-feet of torque in full electric mode. The car had a six speed automatic transmission and it delivered 35 MPG in the city and 40 MPG on the highway.

A hundred years ago, most of the food we ate came from within 50 miles of our homes. But when people moved from rural to urban settings, large producers flourished and local food sources began to disappear. 

 

In the 21st century, some people are trying to reverse that trend. The current farm to table movement promotes the idea of producing, purchasing and consuming food close to home, resulting in a boost to the local economy, a greener planet and a healthier population. 

By Reference Librarian Anne R.

 

Viola Davis

 

At the Screen Actors Guild Award ceremony last month, Viola Davis and Octavia Spencer, who both appeared in the movie adaptation of Kathryn Stockett’s popular novel The Help, made history together. They were the first pair of African American actresses to win both the Best Actress and the Best Supporting Actress   awards.

 

Hattie McDaniel was the first African American to win an Oscar®

 

When the Academy Awards event airs on Sunday, Feb. 26, this milestone may be repeated. That’s an encouraging sign, since the history of African Americans and the Oscar® is a troubling one. In 1940, Hattie McDaniel was the first African American to win, taking home the Best Supporting Actress award for her performance as housemaid Mammy in Gone with the Wind. It would be an astonishing 23 years before another African American actor took home an Oscar®.

By Frank S. Washington

 

DETROIT, MI – I think consumers see the Mercedes-Benz SLK and don’t realize what they’re looking at. Now entering its third generation, the SLK was the first car to have a successful retracting roof. That’s right, just like its predecessor the 2012 Mercedes-Benz SLK350 is a hardtop convertible.

 

My test vehicle featured the panorama (glass) roof but it did not feature the option that lets you change the color of the tint. Still, my tester did have the optional neck-level heating system, as Mercedes said, that blew warm air from the driver and passenger-seat head restraints.