Special Exhibit: The Migrant Project: Contemporary California Farm Workers - Photographs and Text by Rick Nahmias

Now through November 10, 2008 -- Downtown Library: 3rd Floor Exhibit

The Migrant Project: Contemporary California Farm Workers is an art, humanities and educational exhibition that uses a photojournalistic lens to look closely at the lives of California's agricultural workforce, and through them, ask questions about the human cost of feeding America. Through forty images and bi-lingual text, this multi-layered portrait details the lives and struggles of the rarely seen faces of this invisible and consistently neglected population.

Rick Nahmias is a photographer, writer, and filmmaker whose work has been shown across North America, Europe, and Asia. As an Artist-in-Residence with LA Theatre Works he has created photo-essay workshops on social justice and environmental issues. In recognition of "The Migrant Project," he was awarded a U.S. Congressional Citation, and the inaugural 2002-2003 Jason K. Stern Scholarship by the Julia Dean Photo Workshops in Los Angeles. This exhibit is cosponsored by California Rural Legal Assistance, Inc.; University of California Berkeley’s Center for Latino Policy Research and The Kurz Family Foundation.

50 Years of Originality: ArtZones at the Street Art Fair, the Original

Now through October 14, 2008 -- Downtown Library: Multi-Purpose Room Exhibit

This photo exhibit is both a retrospective of the early years of Street Art Fairs - a showcase of photos of the visual art workshops, artist demonstrations, children’s activities and performances from the 2008 Street Art Fair - as well as a glimpse into the future as we look toward our 50th Anniversary in 2009.

Archival photographs are displayed alongside current photos taken by Street Art Fair staff to highlight where we’ve been and where we’re going. The exhibit also features a display of still frames taken from time based media pieces created as part of our New Art New Artists program, highlighting inventive techniques in innovative new media. The New Art New Artists program was made possible by a grant from the Michigan Council for Arts and Cultural Affairs and the Arts Alliance.

Paintings & Drawings by 20th Century Russian Artist Frida Neygauz

Now through October 14, 2008 -- Downtown Library: Lower Level Display Cases

This exhibition introduces the art of Frida Neygauz to the American public for the first time. Frida Neygauz (1906-1991) was a native of Odessa and lived in Russia during the epoch of revolutions, wars and the Soviet regime. After World War II, she studied drawing and painting in Moscow.

Her distinctive style cannot be confused with any other artist, and her paintings are visual imprints of an already lost time of Russian culture and daily life. This exhibit contains 30 originals and reproductions of Frida’s paintings and drawings, representing a joyful world of fairy-tale landscapes and still lifes, old-fashioned interiors and colorful cats.

Quotidian Objects from Far and Near: Paintings of Lidia Kaku

Now through October 30, 2008 -- Malletts Creek Branch: Exhibits

We are always in search of that something that completes us or that let’s us express ourselves. The affinity people find in objects, art and music of cultures other than their own is a phenomenon that has always fascinated Lidia Kaku.

Her paintings are still lifes of objects: ornaments, bowls, bottles - utilitarian objects used or looked at daily in the multi-cultural homes of Ann Arbor. The fascinating arrangement of these life compositions make up the paintings of this exhibition.

Playgroups

Monday October 6, 2008: 10:30 am to 11:30 am -- Downtown Library: Youth Story Corner

This is a time for babies up to 24 months and their grown-ups to gather and play. The Library will provide the space and a variety of toys.

Each playgroup includes 15 minutes of stories, rhymes and songs. Parents/guardians must remain with their children.

No older siblings, please.

MS Word Lab

Monday October 6, 2008: 1:00 pm to 3:00 pm -- West Branch: Training Lab

The MS Word Lab is for anyone who needs practice using Microsoft Word and has questions about how to use basic functions. Labs are available on a first-come, first-served basis, and space is limited.

Book Discussion for Teachers: 'A Whole New Mind: Why Right-Brainers Will Rule the Future'

Monday October 6, 2008: 4:30 pm to 6:30 pm -- Downtown Library: Multi-Purpose Room

University Musical Society and Ann Arbor Public Schools present Robin Bailey (Ann Arbor Public Schools), Mark Clague (UM School of Music, Theatre & Dance) and Chris Genteel (Google Ann Arbor) in a discussion of "A Whole New Mind." This event is open to educators and school administrators at no charge. REGISTRATION IS REQUIRED: Contact the UMS Education office at 734.615.0122 or email umsyouth@umich.edu

The first 30 participants to register will receive a copy of the book.

Matt Weiland, Co-editor of the New Book 'State by State: A Panoramic Portrait of America' Discusses This Collection of Essays by Famous Americans and Presents a Related Film

Monday October 6, 2008: 7:00 pm to 8:30 pm -- Downtown Library: 4th Floor Meeting Room

Edited by Matt Weiland and Sean Wilsey, "State by State" creates a portrait of America as it is today. Fifty of our foremost writers, including Sarah Vowell, Jonathan Franzen, and Dave Eggers, have produced original pieces of reportage and memoir that capture the 50 states in our time. Contributor Saïd Sayrafiezadeh will join Matt Weiland in a discussion of the book and screening of a related, entertaining film, showing some of these articulate contributors reading their personal essays. The event will feature a booksigning with books for sale. Cosponsored by Shaman Drum Bookshop

The 38-minute film about "State by State" features many of its 50 contributors, including Daphne Beal, Will Blythe, Charles Bock, Susan Choi, Joshua Ferris, Dagoberto Gilb, Myla Goldberg, Rick Moody, Susan Orlean, and Saïd Sayrafiezadeh. Sayrafiezadeh’s essays and stories have appeared in The Paris Review, Granta, Open City, and elsewhere. His memoir about growing up communist in the U.S. will be published by Dial Press in 2009. He lives in New York.

del.icio.us

Monday October 6, 2008: 7:00 pm to 9:00 pm -- Malletts Creek Branch: Training Center

*Registration required: [Login to Register]

Have you ever logged onto a public computer only to realize that the website you wanted to visit was saved in your bookmarks at home? Social book marking sites, like del.icio.us, allow users to take their bookmarks anywhere they go. Best of all, they allow people to share their favorite sites with the world. Class participants will create del.icio.us accounts and learn ways to organize the information they store.

Register online or call 327.4560.

Playgroups

Tuesday October 7, 2008: 10:00 am to 11:00 am -- Malletts Creek Branch: Program Room AB

This is a time for babies up to 24 months and their grown-ups to gather and play. The Library will provide the space and a variety of toys.

Each playgroup includes 15 minutes of stories, rhymes and songs. Parents/guardians must remain with their children.

No older siblings, please.

Preschool Storytimes

Tuesday October 7, 2008: 10:00 am to 10:30 am -- Downtown Library: Youth Story Corner

This storytime features stories and songs, for listeners age two and up, accompanied by an adult. Siblings are welcome.

Microsoft Word Basics Session 1

Tuesday October 7, 2008: 10:00 am to 12:00 pm -- Pittsfield Branch: Training Center

*Registration required: [Login to Register]

In this two session class participants will be introduced to highlighting, cutting and pasting features, grammar check, and saving to a disk. Prior computer and mouse skill experience is needed. Session two will be offered Wednesday, October 8.

Register online or call 327.4560.

Excel Basics Session 1

Tuesday October 7, 2008: 1:00 pm to 3:00 pm -- Traverwood Branch: Training Center

*Registration required: [Login to Register]

This class consists of two sessions. Learn the fundamentals of a worksheet and how it can work for you. Learn how to format a cell and add data. Find out what a worksheet is to a workbook. Session two will be offered on October 14.

Register online or call 327.4560.

TweenSpace: Felt Frenzy

Tuesday October 7, 2008: 4:00 pm to 5:30 pm -- Traverwood Branch: Program Room

Make cool felt pouches for your precious and high–tech treasures.

Playgroups

Tuesday October 7, 2008: 6:30 pm to 7:30 pm -- Pittsfield Branch: Program Room

This is a time for babies up to 24 months and their grown-ups to gather and play. The Library will provide the space and a variety of toys.

Each playgroup includes 15 minutes of stories, rhymes and songs. Parents/guardians must remain with their children.

No older siblings, please.

Sports Illustrated Reporter Richard Deitsch Discusses His Experiences Covering the 2008 Olympics In Beijing

Tuesday October 7, 2008: 7:00 pm to 8:30 pm -- Downtown Library: Multi-Purpose Room

A total of 10,500 athletes took part in 302 events in 28 sports in the recent 2008 Summer Olympic games. Richard Deitsch, a UM Knight-Wallace Fellow, is special projects editor and media writer for SI.com. He has covered four Olympic Games, including Salt Lake City, Athens, Turin and Beijing. At this program, Deitsch will give his eye-witness account of the '08 games. Cosponsored by the UM Knight-Wallace Fellows Program

A resident of New York City, Richard Deitsch is a Knight-Wallace Fellow for the 2008-09 academic year at the University of Michigan, where he will explore the relevancy of the Olympics in the 21st century.

iPod Fever

Tuesday October 7, 2008: 7:00 pm to 9:00 pm -- Downtown Library: Training Center

*Registration required: [Login to Register]

This class will wow you with the iPod's potential. Features of the iPod will be demonstrated, such as: downloading, making play lists, safety tips, the use of photos and backing up your files. Learn how easy it is to put your music collection and more in your pocket.

Register online or call 327.4560.

Preschool Storytimes

Wednesday October 8, 2008: 10:00 am to 10:30 am -- Malletts Creek Branch: Program Room AB

This storytime features stories and songs, for listeners age two and up, accompanied by an adult. Siblings are welcome.

Preschool Storytimes

Wednesday October 8, 2008: 11:00 am to 11:30 am -- Downtown Library: Youth Story Corner

This storytime features stories and songs, for listeners age two and up, accompanied by an adult. Siblings are welcome.

PowerPoint Basics Session 1

Wednesday October 8, 2008: 1:00 pm to 3:00 pm -- West Branch: Training Lab

*Registration required: [Login to Register]

This two-session class will cover the basic tools of the PowerPoint window and working with presentation slides. Using the Auto Content wizard and PowerPoint options, participants in the class will make a PowerPoint presentation. Session two will be offered on Friday, October 10.

Register online or call 327.4560.