News and Reviews
Blog Post
Corner of Main and Liberty to Lose A Landmark
by amy
Several local restaurants have recently joined the ever-expanding list of Ann Arbor's Lost Eateries. Champion House closed suddenly last week, as did Old Country Buffet over the weekend. But I was particularly saddened to hear that the Parthenon Restaurant, which has stood on the corner of Main and Liberty Streets since John and Steve Gavas opened in 1975, will be closing its doors. Later this year Cafe Habana, formerly located on East Washington, will be moving into 226 North Main.
The Parthenon has command of possibly the best-known intersection in town, located on the same corner as Cunningham's Drugs and Mack & Co. a generation earlier.
We found some articles, a photo, and restaurant reviews on the Parthenon in our Ann Arbor News clipping file and have digitized them here for you to savor. While you're at it, you can also read about the Flim Flam Restaurant, which recently closed its doors after 30 years in business. Don't miss the Flim Flam's recipe for their famous eclair!
Blog Post
Black and Blue: a Timeless Lesson
by Beth Manuel
Join us at the Downtown library for AADL's screening of "Black and Blue" on Wednesday January 18th from 7:00-8:30 PM. This is the story of the 1934 game between Michigan and Georgia Tech. When the Yellow Jackets agreed to play the Wolverines in Ann Arbor that season, they insisted on one condition – Willis Ward, the lone African-American player on the U of M team, had to sit out the game. Ward's teammates - especially Gerald Ford, Ward's roommate and a UM lineman - were outraged when U-M officials agreed to the demand. The incident galvanized UM students and the Ann Arbor community, which held loud and vocal protests against the decision.
Willis was later inducted into the Michigan Sports Hall of Fame. Read the article from the May 22, 1981 issue of the Ann Arbor News.
Blog Post
Ann Arbor Architecture Archive
by darla
Curious about the history of the homes and buildings around us in Ann Arbor? Be sure to visit our beautiful Ann Arbor Architecture Archive. Packed with a gallery of images and text about Ann Arbor's historic structures, this reference resource includes the full text of Historic Buildings, Ann Arbor, Michigan by Marjorie Reade and Susan Wineberg. Learn about old local breweries that were wiped out by prohibition, the Ann Arborites who had peacocks roaming their lawn in the 1800s, and so much more. For example, every year people from around the globe make pilgrimages to Rocco Desderide's grocery store here in Ann Arbor without even knowing it. If you have visited Zingerman's Deli on Detroit Street, then you've been to Rocco's too. Built back in 1902 by Italian immigrant Rocco Desderide, the iconic brick-veneered building, with bands of corbelled bricks fanning out above arched windows, served as the home of the Desderide grocery and confectionery business until 1921.
To access the Ann Arbor Architecture Archive, you can always go to the research page and select Ann Arbor Architecture Archive from the Ann Arbor category.
Blog Post
Freeing John Sinclair Website
by amy
Check out our newest local history project, Freeing John Sinclair: The Day Legends Came To Town, a website chronicling part of Ann Arbor's countercultural past - from the John Sinclair Freedom Rally and free concerts in the city's parks, to the CIA Bombing Conspiracy and the history of the Hill Street commune. The site includes original interviews and essays; historical photographs; historical audio files; and newspaper articles. You can also search or browse the full run of the Ann Arbor Sun, the underground newspaper published by the White Panther Party and Rainbow People's Party in Ann Arbor circa 1968-1975.
This is just the beginning, with photographs and more interviews to come. If you also have information or memorabilia from this period of time in Ann Arbor's history, let us know!
Blog Post
Got a new eReader? Get started with OverDrive at AADL!
by eli
Is there a new Kindle, Nook, or other eBook viewer at your house? If so, you're probably wondering "How exactly can I get library books on this thing?" AADL offers eBooks through a product called OverDrive, and while it can be a little tricky to get through the process the first time, after you've been through it once it gets a lot easier. You can take a guided tour of the service, or look through the Quick Start Guide. If you have something other than a Kindle or a Nook, you also can check to see if your device is supported.
A few things to know about this service: first, some publishers don't offer their most popular titles to this service, and some don't offer any titles at all. So, the titles you're looking for may unfortunately not be available to libraries in ebook form. Second, publishers want ebooks to be handled the same way as print books, so only one person can have a "copy" of an ebook checked out at a time, meaning that you may have to place a request and wait for your turn on popular titles. You'll get an email when it's your turn to download the eBooks you've requested.
If you run into any trouble or have any questions getting library books onto your new eReader, you might start with OverDrive's My Help, or as always, feel free to contact us with any other questions.
Enjoy your new eReader, and thanks for using your library!
Blog Post
AADL Talks To: Bruce Conforth
by amy
Rob talks with University of Michigan Professor of American Culture, Bruce Conforth, about the cultural and historical significance of the John Sinclair Freedom Rally, in particular John Lennon's decision to appear at the Rally and the role Ann Arbor played in the 1960s.
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| AADL_Talks_To-Bruce_Conforth.mp3 | 21.39 MB |
Blog Post
Freeing John Sinclair Concert with Commander Cody Band and John Sinclair
by amy
December 10, 2011, marks the 40th anniversary of the John Sinclair Freedom Rally at Crisler Arena, held to protest the ten-year prison term given John Sinclair for the possession of two marijuana cigarettes (he was released soon after the Rally). On the evening before the anniversary, we'll celebrate the launch of our Freeing John Sinclair website (coming December 9!) with a FREE concert at The Ark featuring the Commander Cody Band (Commander Cody and the Lost Planet Airmen played at the original Rally), with special guest John Sinclair & Beatnik Youth.
Admission is FREE, and first-come, first-served, so get there early!
Friday, December 9, 2011 | 8:00 pm (doors open at 7:30) | The Ark | Ann Arbor
Blog Post
Paul is dead: old evidence brought to light
by amy
If you're a Beatles fan old enough to have owned the 'White' album and fondly recall playing it backwards listening to "Turn me on, dead man" -- as well as other clues that Paul McCartney was dead -- you have Fred LaBour to thank, and you can do so at The Ark on Monday, December 5. LaBour, bassist for the fun retro-cowboy band Riders in the Sky, was a U-M student back in October of 1969 when he wrote a satirical review of the Beatles' "Abbey Road" album for the Michigan Daily that began with the headline, "McCartney dead; new evidence brought to light." In his review, LaBour invented several clues that McCartney had died and was replaced by a double named William Campbell, thereby fueling an urban legend that quickly swept America. The Ann Arbor News covered the hoax a week later in October 1969, and Alan Glenn, chronicler of Ann Arbor in the 1960s, wrote about the story in 2009.
Riders in the Sky will appear at the Ark on Monday, December 5, in which LaBour (as his stage alter ego, "Too Slim") plays a mean double bass.
Blog Post
Library Closed On Thursday, November 24
by TimG
All AADL Library locations will be closed on Thanksgiving - Thursday, November 24.
Regular Library hours will resume on Friday, November 25.
Blog Post
"Freeing John Sinclair" website and events coming in December
by amy
On the eve of the 40th anniversary of the John Sinclair Freedom Rally, which took place in Ann Arbor on December 10, 1971, the Library will launch a website documenting the history of the White Panther Party and Rainbow People's Party in Ann Arbor circa 1968-1975. The site will include the full run of both parties' underground newspaper, the Ann Arbor Sun; a series of original essays; audio files from the Bentley Historical Library's John and Leni Sinclair Papers; and dozens of hours of interviews with people central to this period in Ann Arbor history. For all of this and more, check out freeingjohnsinclair.org on December 9!
To launch the site, the Library is sponsoring a series of events and an exhibit titled "Rock and Revolution", on display at the Downtown Library from December 2 - January 15.
Related events in December are:
December 2, 7:00 pm: "Rock and Revolution" exhibit opening with appearances by Gary Grimshaw, Leni Sinclair and an illustrated talk on Michigan rock poster art by . (Downtown Library)
December 9, 8:00 pm: a free concert with the Commander Cody Band and special guest John Sinclair & Beatnik Youth (The Ark, 316, S. Main St, Ann Arbor) ( map)
December 10, 1:00 pm: "Culture Jamming: A Long View Back", a panel discussion featuring John Sinclair, Leni Sinclair, Pun Plamondon, David Fenton and Genie Parker. With host and moderator, U-M professor (Pendleton Room, Michigan Union, 530 S. State St, Ann Arbor) ( map)
Blog Post
Downtown Library Open Saturday morning 9 am
by TimG
On Friday, November 4, the Downtown Library was closed all day due to water main work but opened Saturday, November 5, at 9 am.
Holds that would have expired at 9 pm on Friday will remain on the hold shelves until 6 pm on Sunday, November 6th. Overdue fines for the Friday closure will not be charged.
We apologize for any inconvenience.
Blog Post
AADL Talks To Heritage Business Owners Charles Schlanderer Jr. and Charles Schlanderer Sr.
by muffy
Schlanderer & Sons, Jewelers and Silversmiths has occupied the same prime location on Main Street for over seven decades. It is one of the few local businesses that survived and thrived continuously in the hands of the same family through cycles of boom-and-bust. Recently we sat down with Charles Schlanderer, Sr. (Charlie) and Charles Schlanderer, Jr. (Chuck) – the third and fourth generation of store owners, for a conversation about history of the family business.
In 1933 C. Henry Schlanderer and his two sons Paul and Arthur opened the store in a historic building at 208 South Main. We learned why, at the height of the Depression, Henry chose to open a store for “luxury goods”; how each successive generation came into the business and the improvements they have made; their decision to stay “downtown” against the gradual exodus of others to the malls; and more importantly, their vision of the retail landscape in the near future.
The Schlanderers also reminisced with us about their most memorable sales over the years, the friendships formed; and loyalty of their clients.
Apart from the discussion about the business, we talked about families; growing up in Ann Arbor, Hillsdale College and Michigan Hockey (Want to know why? Listen to the podcast). You can read articles about Schlanderer & Sons in Old News.
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| AADL_Talks_To-Charles_Schlanderer_Jr_and_Sr.mp3 | 10.7 MB |
Blog Post
Ann Arbor in the Sixties: Were you there?
by amy
Students for a Democratic Society. White Panthers. Student Riots. Sit-ins. The Great UFO Chase. Concerts in West Park. Sheriff Doug Harvey.
Were you in Ann Arbor during the Sixties? Do you have a story to tell? Award-winning author and archivist of popular culture Michael Erlewine, founder of the All-Music Guide (and related All-Movie Guide and All-Game Guide), ClassicPosters.com, and lead singer for the Prime Movers Blues Band (Iggy Pop was his drummer), will share some of his personal memories of the cultural shifts that took place in Ann Arbor during the Sixties and early Seventies. If you were there, we'd like to hear from you as well.
We'll also let you know about a related series of events the Library is planning in collaboration with the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in December to mark the 40th anniversary of the John Sinclair Freedom Rally that took place on December 10, 1971.
Ann Arbor in the Sixties -- 7:00 p.m., Wednesday, October 12, 2011 -- Downtown Library Multi-Purpose Room
Blog Post
Ann Arbor/Ypsilanti Reads Book Finalists
by hillary dorwart
The Ann Arbor/Ypsilanti area has a decade-long history of successful community reads programs which encourage all of Ann Arbor and Ypsilanti to read one book. University, Library, bookstore and community representatives from both Ann Arbor and Ypsilanti have now been busily planning Ann Arbor/Ypsilanti Reads 2012.
In 2012, the program will encourage readers of all ages to explore the subject of Language: How We Communicate.
A screening committee has narrowed book choices covering this theme down to three titles:
• Eva Hoffman, Lost In Translation: A Life In A New Language. New York: E.P Dutton, 1989.
• Susan Schaller, A Man Without Words. New York: Summit Books, 1991.
• Daniel Tammet, Born On A Blue Day: Inside The Extraordinary Mind Of An Autistic Savant. New York: Free Press, 2007.
Visit the finalists page and read more about the books. The site also acts as a platform for the public to post comments about which book they would be the most excited for the selection committee to choose. Books are available in our catalog - check them out or place a hold on them!
Blog Post
Crime & Punishment in Washtenaw County: A Women's History
by Debbie G.
A more infamous side of Washtenaw County history will come to life in Fallen Women & Female Felons, a presentation by Susan Nenadic that covers everything from pickpocketing to murder by the fairer sex. The program will be held at the Bentley Historical Library on Sunday, Sept. 18th, 2:00 p.m. ~ 4:00 p.m. The WCHS program is free and open to the public. For more information, call 734.662.9092 or email wchs-500@ameritech.net.
Blog Post
2 Weeks to go: SUPER HUGE SUMMER GAME SHOP NEWS! and even more NEW BADGES!
by eli
With just 2 weeks to go in the 2011 Summer Game, we've got another BONANZA of new stuff for all you dedicated players! First the score report; total score has now passed the 30 MILLION point mark with 4800 players completing an ASTONISHING 490,000 actions! And now, the news you've all been waiting for: THE GIGA CHOCOLATE VICTORY PACKAGE has been RESTOCKED! There are 20 more AADL Chocolate Logos now available in the Summer Game Shop, and in addition to that, we've got 6 NEW ITEMS this week! But first, our second-to-last crop of code seeking badges, then keep on reading to find out about this week's EXCITING Shop News!
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Find these on the Badge Page to start your search, and you might find this AADL Local History Product helpful for some of them! We've got some tough ones and some easy ones this week; it shouldn't take you long to figure out which is which... Also, for those of you waiting for more AMAZING AADL MAGIC BAGS, we will have another load of 100 to post in the shop next week! But if you can't wait for that, you might consider our new, second most awesome deluxe prize package.... the PENULTIMATE SUMMER GAME SILVER SET!!!
Starting with our SUPER HOT Magic Bag, and including amazing greats such as the CHOCOLATE LOGO and the Classic Summer Game Button Collector Starter Set, plus several bonus goodies, this almost-supremely-incredible set also includes a SUPER RARE AADL Staff Water Bottle, previously only available to AADL Employees! And buying the PENULTIMATE SUMMER GAME SILVER SET is the only way to get one! NOTE: If you've already won the game by earning the SOLD OUT SUPREME SUMMER GAME MASTER SET, please give other players a chance to get this set before snapping it up, no matter how amazing it is!
BUT THAT'S NOT ALL! Hot on the Heels of the hotly demanded Classic Summer Reading Game Button Collector Starter Set come 5 new Classic Summer Reading buttons from the AADL schwag archives, some of which are EXTREMELY RARE! Rare as in, we've only got 6 of them available! Now, because there are so few of them, these collector buttons aren't cheap, but they also each come with a code for a Badge to match each one, and some of these badges will certainly be the very RAREST of our now over 100 Summer Game Badges! You can find the new buttons in the shop, or don't miss the shortcut to the Classic Button Shop at the top of the Shop page.
Remember, scoring AS YOU KNOW IT will end at midnight on Friday, August 26, two weeks from today, and then what? You'll just have to wait and see, but also remember that the Summer Game Shop will stay open for orders through September 18th so you can spend your points! Also, make sure you've earned the Summer Reader Badge by completing the Classic Paper Game and taking it to any AADL desk for a small prize... you'll find out why on Monday!
As always, let us know what you think, if you're stuck, or if you're having fun all summer at your library.... and THANKS FOR PLAYING!
Blog Post
AADL Talks to Ed Surovell
by amy
The Michigan Library Association recently announced that long-time Trustee of the Ann Arbor District Library, Ed Surovell, will receive this year's MLA Trustee Citation of Merit, the highest award bestowed by the Association for a Library Board Trustee. In this episode, Ed talks with us about the origins of his successful real estate company, Edward Surovell Realtors; his long history with libraries and the book industry; and his personal collections and interests. He also discusses the responsibilities of an elected Trustee and recollects some of the challenges he faced while serving on the inaugural AADL Board of 1996.
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| AADL_Talks_To-Ed_Surovell.mp3 | 20.5 MB |
Blog Post
AADL's Summer Game Shop: NOW OPEN!
by eli
OH MY WOW! With HUGE thanks to the Friends of the Ann Arbor District Library for providing all this great stuff, we are pleased to introduce the AADL SUMMER GAME SHOP! Now you have something to do with all those points you've been earning; spend them on COOL AADL PREMIUMS! Here's a price list for your perusal, but really, just click on over (there's a summer game shop button at the bottom of the menu to the left) and start shopping! You even get points just for browsing the shop. Thanks for playing, and just contact us if you have any questions or trouble!
Standard items:
Summer Game Sand Pail: 2000 points
Summer Game Silly Putty: 2000 points
AADL logo hat: 3500 points
AADL summer game tshirt: 4000 points
AADL Travel Mug: 5000 points
AADL Square Tote: 4000 points
AXIS sport pack: 3000 points
AADL-GT sport pack: 3000 points
AADL water bottle: 4000 points
Bonus items: (new items will be revealed weekly)
????? : 8000 points
????? : 10000 points
?????: 12000 points
????? : 15000 points
????? : 20000 points
????? : 50000 points
????? : 100000 points
Blog Post
AADL Summer Game Begins!
by iottJen
Get Started playing AADL's all new Summer Game for All Ages today! Earn points for using YOUR library, going to events, reading/listening to books, watching movies, posting reviews! Get prizes for completion (kids get a mid-way prize, too). Get the details at play.aadl.org!
Blog Post
Heritage Quest: Benjamin Franklin as a Genealogist by John W. Jordan
by Stewart
In 1899, John Woolf Jordan (historian and genealogy writer of the late 1800's and early 1900's) wrote an article for the Pennsylvania Magazine of History and Biography titled, “Franklin as a Genealogist”. Mr. Jordan obtained original letters and records and wrote about Benjamin Franklin’s genealogical quest. Benjamin Franklin investigated his family line and created what Mr. Jordan referred to as a pedigree (a family tree, a portion of Benjamin Franklin's pedigree is displayed in the blog photo). You too can see the original documents (some in Benjamin Franklin’s own hand) using the Heritage Quest research database.
The Heritage Quest database (available @ AADL) has documents imaged from the 1790 - 1930 U.S. federal censuses and images from over 20,000 book titles, including family and local histories. To access the Heritage Quest database from home, simply login to your online library account. You can search census data, books and local histories, revolutionary war pension and bounty-land-warrant application files, Freedman's Bank documents, and Serial Set documents. I searched for books about Ann Arbor and found several, including: Polk's Ann Arbor City Directory,1915 and the Ann Arbor, Ypsilanti and Washtenaw County Directory, 1888-9.
Blog Post
AADL Used Equipment Sale! This Saturday, 9 AM - 1 PM!
by eli
Here at AADL, we work hard to keep the best, most up-to-date equipment on the floor for our users. That means stuff wears out quickly, and periodically, we round it all up and have a HUGE equipment sale with great stuff at amazing prices! This Saturday, 6/11, from 9 AM to 1 PM, come to the multipurpose room in the lower level of the downtown library for some AMAZING bargains on computer equipment and furniture. All sales are final, as-is, cash and carry only. We will have a test bench set up for you to test things before you buy, but we can't help with that. Here are just a few of the items available at this year's sale: check our twitter at http://twitter.com/aadl for pictures! Come early for the best deals!
- TONS of 15" LCD monitors, $5
- LCD touchscreen monitors, $10
- OODLES of cables, drives, mice, keyboards, printers, and other peripherals, $1
- a CYBEX 8-channel, 2-headed KVM with cable sets for only $10
- Digital Cameras of Yore, $5
- upholstered sled-base chairs, $5
- Steel filing cabinets, $10
- The old Malletts Locker System, $40
- old-school steel desk, $20
- Pop-up power & ethernet drops for table mounting, $1 each.
- Wyse winterms, $1 each
- DEC VT420 monochrome (orange) serial terminal, works great, $10
- 1997 DEC Alpha Server, no HDD, with tape backup & OS CD, $50
- HP procurve network switch, $40
- HP Proliant Rackmount server, no HDD, $40
- Handspring Visor proto-PDA, $1
- Rackmount hubs & switches, $10
- Misc Servers, No HDD, $20
- TONS of Desktop PCs of varying vintages, no HDD, $10
Plus other surprises. Don't miss this rare opportunity to pick up some great stuff for a song! 9 AM this Saturday at the Downtown Library. Cash only!
Blog Post
African American Downtown Festival & the history of African Americans in Ann Arbor
by KristinL
This Saturday, June 4th, will be the annual African American Downtown Festival in Ann Arbor! The festival will be a multicultural and multi-generational celebration of African American history in Ann Arbor. The location of the festival (4th and Ann) is significant due to it being the historical epicenter in Ann Arbor of African American owned businesses, culture and family life. Fun times to be had by all!
If you're interested in doing some research into the history of African Americans in Washtenaw County, the AADL has several resources for you:
- A pictorial history titled, "Another Ann Arbor" by Carol Gibson & Lola M. Jones.
- "Unconquered Souls: The History of the African American in Ypsilanti by Albert P. Marshall.
- The documentary "A Woman's Town" (1991) chronicling the history of African American women in Ann Arbor from the mid-nineteenth century to the late nineteenth century.
- Abolitionist history in Ann Arbor with the Signal of Liberty newspaper database
- An AADL Productions Podcast with Lola Jones and Carol Gibson, the founders of the website "Another Ann Arbor" & authors of the book of the same name.
Additional local resources include:
- The African American Cultural and Historical Museum, dedicated to preserving the history and culture of African Americans in Washtenaw County.
- The website and organization, "Another Ann Arbor", created by Lola Jones and Carol Gibson to chronicle African American life in Ann Arbor.
- The Bentley Historical Library at the University of Michigan has a number of collections dedicated to African American history in Ann Arbor.
Blog Post
The Dexter-Ann Arbor Run: From 195 to a Cast of Thousands
by Debbie G.
They were a hale and hearty group in 1974 despite being temporarily delayed by a passing train at the first Dexter-Ann Arbor Run. We've gathered together a few articles and pictures from the Ann Arbor News Archives about the a href="http://www.dexterannarborrun.com/">Dexter-Ann Arbor Run to jog your memory and get you motivated for this year's race on Sunday, June 5th.
Check out a few items from the archives:
-Photo of runners pack in the 1979 Dexter-Ann Arbor Run
Blog Post
Celebrities love The Making of Ann Arbor
by KristinL
The Local History databases aren't just for Ann Arborites, international celebrities like them too! The AADL's resources got some national attention this weekend when Russell Crowe retweeted a link to our The Making of Ann Arbor database!
Ann Arbor has been a used as a film location for many years, which means we've had our fair share of celebrity visitors to our fair city. This weekend, actor Russell Crowe tweeted about enjoying a visit to Ann Arbor and asked his followers if they knew the origin of the name. Local History Databases to the rescue! Woo hoo!
As Russell and his followers soon found out, the origin of the name "Ann Arbor" is still hotly debated. Ann's Arbor? Annarbour? Depending on which tome you consult, the name has a different origin. There are a litany of possible Ann's from history that could hold the honor of having the city named after them but which one? The world may never know! But if you want to do your own research beyond The Making of Ann Arbor be sure and check out:
Blog Post
Malletts Creek Branch Opens On Monday, April 18
by TimG
Malletts Creek Branch will open on Monday, April 18 at 10:00 am. The Branch will be closed until that time for maintenance.
Library materials may still be returned to Malletts Creek Branch or any other Library location during this period.
Holds ready for pickup through Sunday, April 17 at the Malletts Creek Branch will be held at the Downtown Library through 6 pm. that evening.
These holds will then be returned to Malletts Creek, to be available when the branch reopens on Monday, April 18 at 10:00 am. Those holds that would have expired on April 17 or April 18 will then remain ready for pickup through Tuesday, April 19, at 9 p.m.
Blog Post
New York Times databases
by lucroe
The library subscribes to two slightly different New York Times databases. The first provides full text articles of the newspaper from 1980 to the present. The second is the New York Times Historical database covering the period 1851-2007. The historical database provides scanned copies of the original newspapers including obituaries and images when available as PDFs. A great resource for genealogists and history buffs alike! The daily New York Times in print is available at all our branches and we retain 6 weeks worth.
Blog Post
Clang, Clang, Clang Went the Trolley
by amy
While browsing through old newspapers and listening to the radio at our archive this afternoon, I caught part of a 2006 interview with Hugh Martin, composer, lyricist and arranger of such classics as "Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas," "The Boy Next Door" and "The Trolley Song" from the great 1944 musical Meet Me In St. Louis. Martin, who died last Friday explained that he was browsing through an old newspaper at the Beverly Hills Library when he saw a photograph of a trolley with the caption, "Clang! Clang! went the trolley"...and three hours later the song was done. In his honor, and because my love of old musicals, libraries, newspapers and photographs just collided and I can't help myself, here's a photograph of an old Ann Arbor trolley. May it inspire you to write the next great American song.
Thanks to Site 3 of the Downtown Historical Street Exhibits Program there are several photographs of old Ann Arbor trolleys to choose from. And if songwriting isn't really your thing, we have an entire book on the subject.
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!