The United Nations has designated June 5th as World Environment Day (WED). WED was first observed in 1972 and since that time has “become the one of the main vehicles through which the UN stimulates worldwide awareness of the environment and encourages political attention and action.”

The theme for this year’s celebration is “Forests: Nature at your Service.”

By Signaleer, from Wikimedia Commons

Memorial Day is observed on the last Monday of May, and honors American men and women who died in military service to their country. It was started to honor Union soldiers who died during the Civil War, but now includes those who died in any war or military action. Many towns hold Memorial Day parades and many people visit cemeteries and memorials.

This year Memorial Day falls on Monday May 30th.

If you’re using your smartphone or tablet to read e-books from our NOBLE Digital Collection, it’s time to update your apps! The latest version allows you to return your e-books early, which makes the book available to another user. It also lets you check out another book if you had reached our four-book limit. To return books, look for the option to Delete, and you’ll see that you now have the choice to either Delete and Return the book or to just Delete it but leave it checked out to your account.

You’ll find the new versions of the OverDrive Media Console app in the apps store or marketplace site for your device.

Next week is Bike to Work Week! One of the highlights of National Bike Month, Bike to Work Week is a great time to dust off your bike, get a tune-up and get back in the saddle. If a full week of riding is a little too ambitious, consider riding your bike to work on Friday May 20th — Bike to Work Day.

May is Asian Pacific American Heritage Month. This annual observance, first celebrated in 1978, focuses on the culture and history of Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders and on their many contributions to American society.