Blog Post
New feature: Magazines are now Requestable!
by eli
Good News, Everyone! AADL's mammoth collection of over 25,000 magazine issues is now requestable! That means you can search our collection of over 600 magazine titles and request a specific issue to be held for pickup for you at any of our locations, just like any other library item. The only difference is that after you choose your pickup location, you'll be asked which issue of the magazine you'd like to request.
The newest issue of each magazine is not requestable to keep them on the shelf while they're new, but as soon as the next issue arrives, the previous issue becomes requestable too. Maybe Giant Robot is what you're looking for, or the new Home Power Magazine, or maybe you're seeking one of our 100+ issues of National Geographic. No matter what you're looking for, getting your hands on magazine issues at your library just got a lot easier. Try it out and let us know what you think, either by commenting on this post or contacting us!
Blog Post
National Library Service for the Blind and Physically Handicapped Celebrates 80th Anniversary!
by monkk
On March 3, 2011, the National Library Service for the Blind and Physically Handicapped (NLS), the Library of Congress’ talking-book and braille program, celebrated 80 years of helping visually impaired and physically handicapped individuals enjoy reading their favorite books and magazines.
This free library program brings reading materials in digital audio and braille formats straight to the homes of patrons from preschoolers to centenarians. Books on digital cartridge, digital talking-book players and braille books are sent to patrons via the U.S. mail at no cost to users. People who sign up with the program also have the option of downloading books and magazines over the Internet in audio or braille format.
"The NLS collection of more than 400,000 titles of bestsellers, classics, biographies, romance, and other genres delights even the most selective readers. Magazine-lovers enjoy free subscriptions to more than 40 periodicals in audio format, including Consumer Reports, National Geographic, and Sports Illustrated for Kids, and 30 periodicals in braille, such as Ladies Home Journal, ESPN: The Magazine and the New York Times Large-Print Weekly."
For more information on eligibility and to apply for this service through the Washtenaw Library for the Blind & Physically Disabled @ AADL, please visit our website at: wlbpd.aadl.org.
Blog Post
1040 Instruction Booklets are here!
by KristinL
The time we've all been waiting for is here, the 1040 Instruction Booklets have arrived at the Ann Arbor District Library! Come Downtown or to any of the branch libraries to pick one up! Happy Tax Season, everyone!
Blog Post
Thank You Library Users! AADL again awarded 5 stars in Library Journal's Star Libraries Report!
by eli
Thanks to the patrons of the Ann Arbor District Library who continue to use their library in astonishing numbers, AADL has once again been named by Library Journal as one of the top libraries in the country!
The journal’s annual survey, America’s Star Libraries, recognizing the libraries that are the most heavily used by their communities, has again awarded its top ranking – 5 stars – to the Ann Arbor District Library. AADL was one of only two libraries in Michigan receiving kudos by the journal (Kent County received 3 stars) and was one of only 85 libraries throughout the U.S. to receive the highest 5 star ranking. This is the third time that AADL has received this honor.
High patron usage per capita - circulation transactions (checkouts and renewals); visits to library buildings; public Internet terminal usage and program attendance – form the basis for America’s Star Libraries rankings, and AADL would like to take this opportunity to thank its patrons for their enthusiastic use and continued support.
Traditionally, many public library decision-makers have focused on circulation alone as the performance indicator for a successful library. Today, the full range of library services now includes electronic access, facilities use, and programming. Recognizing this, Library Journal uses these statistics in calculating America’s Star Libraries. Top libraries are organized into star tiers, much like the Michelin guide, for example, with five, four, or three stars. Libraries are scored in key service areas in relation to other peer libraries based on total operating expenditures for the library rather than on population.
The 2010 survey was based on data reported to Institute of Museum and Library Services for 2008 and, since this data was collected, AADL’s service statistics have risen dramatically.
AADL had total checkouts and renewals that year of 8.2 million (rising to 9.1 million this past year – an 11 % increase); visits to library buildings of 1.6 million (1.8 million this past year – a 7.5 % increase); public Internet terminal usage of 259,338 (281,310 this past year – an 8.5 % increase) and attendance at programs of 52,891 (62,584 this past year – an 18.3 % increase).
AADL patrons truly support their library and the services that it offers – the statistics attest to this fact – and this outstanding support has made AADL one of the top libraries in the country.
For more information about Library Journal’s, America’s Star Libraries, visit http://libraryjournal.com.
Blog Post
Introducing the Wishlist!
by eli
You've asked for it, and waited patiently, and now it's here! Our most-requested patron feature, a Wishlist that you can use to keep track of items you're interested in but not yet ready to request, is now a part of the AADL catalog. Here's what you need to know:
* A Wishlist is created for you the first time you add an item to your Wishlist in the catalog
* You can add any item to your Wishlist, where it will stay until you request or delete it
* You can see what items on your Wishlist are currently available
* You can also make other lists with whatever name you'd like
* Lists, including the Wishlist, are private unless you check the box to make them public
* Requesting is also much simpler requiring fewer clicks and allowing you to stay on your list of items
In short, if you want something but not right now, just add it to your Wishlist instead of requesting it and you can see it under My Lists on your my account page. There's lots of potential for this new feature, and there may be some glitches here or there, but just let us know if you see anything strange or have any questions, concerns, or suggestions about Lists, either by commenting on this post or by contacting us. Thanks very much for your patience as we've worked on this, enjoy it, and thanks for using the Library!
Blog Post
aadl.org: Down for Upgrades on Monday!
by eli
As all AADL locations are closed Monday for our annual staff training day, we're taking the opportunity to roll out some upgrades to aadl.org. In the process, aadl.org will be unavailable most of the day Monday. We've set it up so that nothing is due on Monday, so take a day off from managing your AADL account and relax as we implement some long-awaited new features! You can get a sneak peek at http://usability.aadl.org, or as always don't hesitate to contact us if you have any questions or concerns before or after the upgrades. Thanks for your patience, and thanks for using the Library!
Blog Post
Special Note Regarding July 13 Events
by shannon riffe
The following events that were scheduled at the Downtown Library for July 13th will be moved to other locations:
Make Lab: Clothing! will be held on 7/13, 7:00 - 9:00 pm at the Traverwood Branch.
The AADL Catalog class will be held on 7/13, 3:30 - 5:30 pm at the West Branch.
The 10:00 Storytime at the Downtown Library will take place as usual.
Blog Post
Family Time at the Ann Arbor Film Festival
by shannon riffe
Looking for some family fun at the Ann Arbor Film Festival? We have a discount code set up for the AADL community to receive $2 off advance online tickets for the The Kids Are Alright program on Saturday, 3/27 at 11am at the Michigan Theater. Order advance tickets on the Festival website by entering the discount code 48AAFFAADL. The Kids Are Alright will feature a colorful mix of shorts that will engage engage film fans with a youthful spirit (recommended ages 6+). Includes a special live musical performance.
Blog Post
Friday at AADL: Bison Boys & Famous Monsters of Michigan!
by lly
The Ann Arbor Film Festival, the longest running independent film festival in the U.S., will hold its 48th festival on March 23 - 28. At this pre-Festival event, Saginaw Valley State University Associate Professor Mike Mosher will discuss Bison Boys & Famous Monsters of Michigan: the 1970s Super-8mm Films of Jimm Juback and Cary Loren. Loren and Juback were teenagers in the early 1970s, as well as eager viewers of the Ann Arbor Film Festivals.
The discussion will take place in the Downtown library from 7:00-8:30 p.m. downstairs in the Multi-Purpose Room.
Blog Post
...and we're back!
by eli
Due to the construction next door, the fiber that connects the downtown library to our branches and to the internet (via the glass cabinet on the 2nd floor of the Ann Arbor Hands-on Museum) needed to be rerouted to avoid the upcoming excavation. What was supposed to be a 15-minute splice actually took the contractor 5 hours to troubleshoot, but we're back up now! Thanks very much for your patience, and please contactus if you have any other questions or trouble.