Staff Report / Lansinglocal.org

**Celebrate Black History Month with Essential Reads from Black Voices Collection**

The Capital Area District Libraries in Lansing, MI, is spotlighting notable fiction selections in celebration of Black History Month. These curated book recommendations shine a light on stories written by and about Black voices. Titles currently available include:

- *The Color Purple* by Alice Walker

- *A Rage in Harlem* by Chester Himes

- *Home Bodies* by Terrace Denton-Hurst

- *Nappily Ever After* by Trisha R. Thomas

- *Troubled Waters* by Mary Angela Regier

- *The Light Always Breaks* by Angela Johnson-Brown

Readers can borrow these books through the library, with the convenience of accessing them via the Libby app. The Libby app provides an easy-to-use digital bookshelf for library collections, offering features such as offline reading, mobile compatibility with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, and seamless transfer of loans, holds, and wish lists. For more details, visit [meet.libbyapp.com](https://meet.libbyapp.com).

**Focus on Kindness: Inspiring Stories Now Available**

The library's “It’s All About Kindness” collection brings together uplifting and thoughtful reads delivering powerful narratives that connect with the heart. Selections include:

- *Finding Audrey* by Sophie Kinsella

- *I Have Lost My Way* by Gayle Forman

- *The Beginning* by K.D. McDanel

- *A Man Called Ove* by Fredrik Backman

- *Non-Random Acts of Kindness* by Lauren Myracle

**Just Added Titles**

The library also announced fresh new additions to its Want List, featuring a mix of fiction and non-fiction books. Recently added titles are:

- *Mona Acs Out!* by Mischa Berlinski

- *The Family Inside* by Katie Garner

- *An African History of Africa* by Zeinab Badawi

- *Queen of Clubs* by Ezyy Marhs

- *Retreat* by Krysten Ritter

Library patrons can also access curated lists such as "Popular Magazines," "Too Hot to Hold," "Garden Dreams," and "Michigan Notable Books" directly on Libby or OverDrive. Explore all current lists here: [Browse Library Lists](https://bit.ly/41ffzJX). Celebrate storytelling this Black History Month and discover a world of inspiring books only a click away!

Source: Capital Area District Libraries | Lansing MI

Source Type: Library

Source Location: Lansing

Savanah, GA

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Kim Leon Helps Wake County Dogs Find Homes

Kim Leon has spent 11 years fostering Wake County dogs after starting as a volunteer walker, helping them decompress, heal and adjust before finding loving homes.

Volunteer Spotlight Honors Kimberly Fields at Walnut Creek Elementary

Apex, N.C. — During National Volunteer Appreciation Week, Wake County Public School System officials spotlight Kimberly Fields, a Walnut Creek Elementary parent volunteer who supports kindergarten classrooms, chaperones field trips and helps organize events while also serving on the School Improvement Team, with administrators praising her commitment and impact on students, staff and families.

Wake County officials celebrate families serving as precinct officials

During Volunteer Month, the Wake County Board of Elections highlighted three-generation precinct officials, such as the Griffin family, whose members serve Wake County voters, noting nearly 400 families have relatives in precinct duties and inviting others to become precinct officials.

Wake County Volunteers Honored During National Volunteer Week

Wake County Public Schools in Apex, North Carolina, celebrated National Volunteer Week by honoring more than 50,000 volunteers districtwide, including Judy Ellis of Green Magnet Elementary, whose four-year foster grandparent role helps students feel welcome and supported.

Apex resident volunteers on Raleigh affordable housing project

Terry Mahaffey of Apex says volunteering with Wake County Habitat for Humanity on Raleigh's Old Poole Place development is helping build affordable housing and pave the way for more projects, while noting the group's policy to turn off engines when overnight temperatures exceed 40 degrees to keep downtown Raleigh quieter.

54 Volunteers Help Clean Wake County Roadsides

54 volunteers helped remove litter and beautify Wake County roadsides during the Service Raleigh Cleanup, a collaboration of Wake County Waste and Recycling, NC State University, and Service Raleigh.

Wake County Board of Elections finishes packing materials for retention.

RALEIGH, N.C. — The Wake County Board of Elections says it has finished packing up election materials for secure retention after the March Primary and is now inventorying and preparing other supplies for the next election, as nearly 2,000 voter cards were mailed this week, bringing the total mailed since the March Primary to more than 20,000.

East Wake High marks 2,000 new library books

East Wake High School in Apex, North Carolina, kicked off School Library Month by adding more than 2,000 new books to its library, according to Wake County Public Schools, as students enjoyed a pep band performance and browsed the collection.

Wake County libraries celebrate National Library Week

Wake County Public Libraries in Raleigh are celebrating National Library Week April 19-25, inviting the public to visit the system’s 23 libraries, join an April 22 Bookmobile event and recognize library workers on National Library Workers Day.

Wake County partners feed children, seek SHARE program donations

Wake County Government in Raleigh, North Carolina, says a partnership among Wake County Waste and Recycling, the Wake County Public School System, Toward Zero Waste and the N.C. Cooperative Extension—Wake County Center aims to feed children rather than send edible food to landfills and is inviting donations to the SHARE program to expand the effort.