InfoCentral

Every week the library publishes an article in the Westland Observer on a new subject. Below is this week's article.

The Race Is On

InfoCentral, February 1 - 7, 2007

Unless you've been sharing close quarters with Punxsutawney Phil, you're probably only a handful of Americans who aren't aware that the race is on. That's right: the 2008 presidential race is taking shape. To date, approximately 26 presidential hopefuls have either set up an exploratory committee, are thinking about it, or have already thrown in their hat in hopes of becoming the 44th president of the United States.

To get a little perspective on presidential elections throughout our country's history stop by the William P. Faust Public Library of Westland. A vast array of titles, including Selecting the president: from 1789 to 1996, published by Congressional Quarterly, Robert North Robert's notable Encyclopedia of presidential campaigns, slogans, issues, and platforms, and Alan Schroeder's Presidential debates: forty years of high-risk TV, might just do the job.

However, if campaign financing peaks your interest, take some time to read Alan Marzilli's Election reform, Bradley A. Smith's Unfree speech: the folly of campaign finance reform, or any of the many other titles that line the shelves.

If all this talk has you wondering whether you should start penning your own platform, how about checking out Susan Guber's How to win your 1st election, Dick W. Simpson's Winning elections: a handbook of modern participatory politics or even William S. Bike's Winning political campaigns: a comprehensive guide to electoral success?

What election would be complete without an array of political trinkets? For the collector in all of us, find the true value of your favorite campaign giveaways in Theodore L. Hake's books, Collectible pin-back buttons, 1896 – 1986: an illustrated price guide and Hake's guide to presidential campaign collectibles: an illustrated price guide to artifacts from 1789 -1988. These books are sure to keep you busy until the balloting begins.

For the purists, enjoy listening to the voice of the great political leaders when checking out the sound recording Great American speeches: 80 years of political oratory, or Greatest presidential speeches of the 20th century. Relax and listen to the 1st inaugural speech of Franklin Roosevelt (1933), John F. Kennedy (1960) and Ronald Reagan (1981), just to name a few.

So no matter whether you're in a blue, red or green state, your library has something for you. Just stop by or visit us on the web. Call 734-326-6123 or logon to www.westland.lib.mi.us.