The Accelate Michigan Innovation Competition is an international business plan competition designed to highlight Michigan as a robust and vibrant venue for innovation and business opportunity.

Any undergraduate or graduate student enrolled for at least 2 classes in a Michigan public or private university or college for the fall 2011 semester are eligible. The deadline date for students' entries is September 30, 2011.

(Photo Credit: Knight-Ridder/Tribune News Service. 08 Jul. 2004. eLibrary. Web. 10 Aug. 2011.)

Are you looking for something fun and exciting to read? Well, look no more, have we got the section for you. Check out the J Nonfiction 300 to 399 section for all sorts of great reads including folktales, fairytales, environmental topics, career books, government books, Boy Scout badge books, Girl Scout books, and so much more. See you there!

Some recent viewpoints regarding society's business customer service ratings make for some interesting reading in the July 2011 issue of Consumer Reports. The article on the Consumer Reports website contains these comments. CR is part of the CPL adult magazine collection and is also available for patron in-library use located at Adult Reference.

Join TechTown on June 30 at NextEnergy for BOOM! The Entrepreneur, the latest in a series of programs for would-be entrepreneurs over the age of 50.

This two-hour workshop, sponsored by BOOM! The New Economy, motivates and inspires baby boomers to take the next steps in starting a business.

Randal Charlton, executive director of TechTown and a serial entrepreneur in his own right, will lead the group in a discovery of what it takes to be an entrepreneur. The program also includes one-on-one counseling sessions with TechTown business experts.
Date: Thursday, June 30, 8:30 to 11:00AM
Location: NextEnergy, 461 Burroughs Street, Detroit
This program is free, but you must register to attend.

Celebrate writing, books and area authors at this annual event. We have many great authors lined up to speak about their craft. All authors will be selling their books and signing them for you. How fun! Join us on May 19 at 7:00PM in the Community Room. No registration is needed.

There are many approaches to seeking self-actualization; and the library is a great place to find self-help materials about them. If you're interested in realizing your full potential, your method of achieving that goal might include minimalism, and it will likely require time management:

Work

• The Pomodoro Technique [Free eBook]
• Time Management for Creative People [Free eBook]
• 10 Time-Management Tips That Work by Entrepreneur

Getting things done: the art of stress-free productivity by David Allen

Looking to get out of the rat race? Striving for less? Check out these books for great minimalist tips:

Philosophy of Simplicity

Enough already!: clearing mental clutter to become the best you by Peter Walsh

Simplexity: why simple things become complex (and how complex things can be made simple) by Jeffrey Kluger

Practice random acts of kindness: bring more peace, love, and compassion into the world by the editors of Random Acts of Kindness; foreword by Harold Kushner; preface to the new edition by Will Glennon

Give it up: my year of learning to live better with less by Mary Carlomagno

National Organ Donor Day is February 14, 2011. Celebrate Valentine's Day by giving the ultimate gift of love by signing up to become an organ and tissue donor. In the time it takes you to order flowers or buy a box of chocolates, you can register and become an organ donor.

Become an organ donor at Donate Life.

Remember Linda Greenlaw, the highly acclaimed sword boat captain of the commercial fishing boat the “Hannah Boden?” She was touted in the book “The Perfect Storm,” by Sebastian Junger as being one of the best captains in the sword fishing industry, surviving the disastrous North Atlantic storm of 1991 that capsized her sister ship the “Andrea Gail”. Did you also know she is the often humorous author of six books? She has penned four non-fiction books highlighting her career as a fishing boat Captain, including her latest book, “Seaworthy,” along with two mystery fiction books, with plots also centered around the sea. Check all her newest book Seaworthy, as well as all her other books here at CPL.

Have you ever considered a career in video games? Maybe writing game scripts is your calling. 26 year old Jeffrey Yohalem talks about being the head writer for Assassin's Creed Brotherhood in this article. When Yohalem approached Jordan Mechner (writer for The Prince of Persia) about what classes to take to pursue a career in game script writing, he suggested screen writing and architecture. Who would have guessed?!